Since steering4 for the land, our prospects5 had been much talked over. By many it was supposed that, should the captain leave the ship, the crew were no longer bound by her articles. This was the opinion of our forecastle Cokes; though, probably, it would not have been sanctioned by the Marine7 Courts of Law. At any rate, such was the state of both vessel8 and crew that, whatever might be the event, a long stay, and many holidays in Tahiti, were confidently predicted.
Everybody was in high spirits. The sick, who had been improving day by day since the change in our destination, were on deck, and leaning over the bulwarks9; some all animation10, and others silently admiring an object unrivalled for its stately beauty—Tahiti from the sea.
The quarter-deck, however, furnished a marked contrast to what was going on at the other end of the ship. The Mowree was there, as usual, scowling11 by himself; and Jermin walked to and fro in deep thought, every now and then looking to windward, or darting12 into the cabin and quickly returning.
With all our light sails wooingly spread, we held on our way, until, with the doctor's glass, Papeetee, the village metropolis13 of Tahiti, came into view. Several ships were descried14 lying in the harbour, and among them, one which loomed15 up black and large; her two rows of teeth proclaiming a frigate16. This was the Reine Blanche, last from the Marquesas, and carrying at the fore6 the flag of Rear-Admiral Du Petit Thouars. Hardly had we made her out, when the booming of her guns came over the water. She was firing a salute17, which afterwards turned out to be in honour of a treaty; or rather—as far as the natives were concerned—a forced cession18 of Tahiti to the French, that morning concluded.
The cannonading had hardly died away, when Jermin's voice was heard giving an order so unexpected that everyone started. "Stand by to haul back the main-yard!"
"What's that mean?" shouted the men, "are we not going into port?"
"Tumble after here, and no words!" cried the mate; and in a moment the main-yard swung round, when, with her jib-boom pointing out to sea, the Julia lay as quiet as a duck. We all looked blank—what was to come next?
Presently the steward19 made his appearance, carrying a mattress20, which he spread out in the stern-sheets of the captain's boat; two or three chests, and other things belonging to his master, were similarly disposed of.
This was enough. A slight hint suffices for a sailor.
Still adhering to his resolution to keep the ship at sea in spite of everything, the captain, doubtless, intended to set himself ashore21, leaving the vessel, under the mate, to resume her voyage at once; but after a certain period agreed upon, to touch at the island, and take him off. All this, of course, could easily be done without approaching any nearer the land with the Julia than we now were. Invalid22 whaling captains often adopt a plan like this; but, in the present instance, it was wholly unwarranted; and, everything considered, at war with the commonest principles of prudence23 and humanity. And, although, on Guy's part, this resolution showed more hardihood than he had ever been given credit for, it, at the same time, argued an unaccountable simplicity24, in supposing that such a crew would, in any way, submit to the outrage25.
It was soon made plain that we were right in our suspicions; and the men became furious. The cooper and carpenter volunteered to head a mutiny forthwith; and while Jermin was below, four or five rushed aft to fasten down the cabin scuttle26; others, throwing down the main-braces, called out to the rest to lend a hand, and fill away for the land. All this was done in an instant; and things were looking critical, when Doctor Long Ghost and myself prevailed upon them to wait a while, and do nothing hastily; there was plenty of time, and the ship was completely in our power.
While the preparations were still going on in the cabin, we mustered27 the men together, and went into counsel upon the forecastle.
It was with much difficulty that we could bring these rash spirits to a calm consideration of the case. But the doctor's influence at last began to tell; and, with a few exceptions, they agreed to be guided by him; assured that, if they did so, the ship would eventually be brought to her anchors without anyone getting into trouble. Still they told us, up and down, that if peaceable means failed, they would seize Little Jule, and carry her into Papeetee, if they all swung for it; but, for the present, the captain should have his own way.
By this time everything was ready; the boat was lowered and brought to the gangway; and the captain was helped on deck by the mate and steward. It was the first time we had seen him in more than two weeks, and he was greatly altered. As if anxious to elude28 every eye, a broad-brimmed Payata hat was pulled down over his brow; so that his face was only visible when the brim flapped aside. By a sling29, rigged from the main-yard, the cook and Bembo now assisted in lowering him into the boat. As he went moaning over the side, he must have heard the whispered maledictions of his crew.
While the steward was busy adjusting matters in the boat, the mate, after a private interview with the Mowree, turned round abruptly30, and told us that he was going ashore with the captain, to return as soon as possible. In his absence, Bembo, as next in rank, would command; there being nothing to do but keep the ship at a safe distance from the land. He then sprang into the boat, and, with only the cook and steward as oarsmen, steered31 for the shore.
Guy's thus leaving the ship in the men's hands, contrary to the mate's advice, was another evidence of his simplicity; for at this particular juncture32, had neither the doctor nor myself been aboard, there is no telling what they might have done.
For the nonce, Bembo was captain; and, so far as mere33 seamanship was concerned, he was as competent to command as anyone. In truth, a better seaman34 never swore. This accomplishment35, by the bye, together with a surprising familiarity with most nautical36 names and phrases, comprised about all the English he knew.
Being a harpooner37, and, as such, having access to the cabin, this man, though not yet civilized39, was, according to sea usages, which know no exceptions, held superior to the sailors; and therefore nothing was said against his being left in charge of the ship; nor did it occasion any surprise.
Some additional account must be given of Bembo. In the first place, he was far from being liked. A dark, moody40 savage41, everybody but the mate more or less distrusted or feared him. Nor were these feelings unreciprocated. Unless duty called, he seldom went among the crew. Hard stories too were told about him; something, in particular, concerning an hereditary42 propensity43 to kill men and eat them. True, he came from a race of cannibals; but that was all that was known to a certainty.
Whatever unpleasant ideas were connected with the Mowree, his personal appearance no way lessened44 them. Unlike most of his countrymen, he was, if anything, below the ordinary height; but then, he was all compact, and under his swart, tattooed45 skin, the muscles worked like steel rods. Hair, crisp and coal-black, curled over shaggy brows, and ambushed46 small, intense eyes, always on the glare. In short, he was none of your effeminate barbarians47.
Previous to this, he had been two or three voyages in Sydney whalemen; always, however, as in the present instance, shipping48 at the Bay of Islands, and receiving his discharge there on the homeward-bound passage. In this way, his countrymen frequently enter on board the colonial whaling vessels49.
There was a man among us who had sailed with the Mowree on his first voyage, and he told me that he had not changed a particle since then.
Some queer things this fellow told me. The following is one of his stories. I give it for what it is worth; premising, however, that from what I know of Bembo, and the foolhardy, dare-devil feats50 sometimes performed in the sperm-whale fishery, I believe in its substantial truth.
As may be believed, Bembo was a wild one after a fish; indeed, all New Zealanders engaged in this business are; it seems to harmonize sweetly with their blood-thirsty propensities51. At sea, the best English they speak is the South Seaman's slogan in lowering away, "A dead whale, or a stove boat!" Game to the marrow52, these fellows are generally selected for harpooners; a post in which a nervous, timid man would be rather out of his element.
In darting, the harpooner, of course, stands erect53 in the head of the boat, one knee braced54 against a support. But Bembo disdained55 this; and was always pulled up to his fish, balancing himself right on the gunwale.
But to my story. One morning, at daybreak, they brought him up to a large, long whale. He darted56 his harpoon38, and missed; and the fish sounded. After a while, the monster rose again, about a mile off, and they made after him. But he was frightened, or "gallied," as they call it; and noon came, and the boat was still chasing him. In whaling, as long as the fish is in sight, and no matter what may have been previously57 undergone, there is no giving up, except when night comes; and nowadays, when whales are so hard to be got, frequently not even then. At last, Bembo's whale was alongside for the second time. He darted both harpoons58; but, as sometimes happens to the best men, by some unaccountable chance, once more missed. Though it is well known that such failures will happen at times, they, nevertheless, occasion the bitterest disappointment to a boat's crew, generally expressed in curses both loud and deep. And no wonder. Let any man pull with might and main for hours and hours together, under a burning sun; and if it do not make him a little peevish59, he is no sailor.
The taunts60 of the seamen61 may have maddened the Mowree; however it was, no sooner was he brought up again, than, harpoon in hand, he bounded upon the whale's back, and for one dizzy second was seen there. The next, all was foam62 and fury, and both were out of sight. The men sheered off, flinging overboard the line as fast as they could; while ahead, nothing was seen but a red whirlpool of blood and brine.
Presently, a dark object swam out; the line began to straighten; then smoked round the loggerhead, and, quick as thought, the boat sped like an arrow through the water. They were "fast," and the whale was running.
Where was the Mowree? His brown hand was on the boat's gunwale; and he was hauled aboard in the very midst of the mad bubbles that burst under the bows.
Such a man, or devil, if you will, was Bembo.
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1
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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2
anticipations
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| 预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物 | |
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3
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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4
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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5
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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6
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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7
marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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8
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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9
bulwarks
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| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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10
animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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11
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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12
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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13
metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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14
descried
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| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
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15
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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16
frigate
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| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
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17
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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18
cession
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| n.割让，转让 | |
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19
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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20
mattress
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| n.床垫，床褥 | |
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21
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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22
invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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23
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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24
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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25
outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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26
scuttle
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| v.急赶，疾走，逃避；n.天窗；舷窗 | |
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27
mustered
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的过去式和过去分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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28
elude
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| v.躲避，困惑 | |
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29
sling
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| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
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30
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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31
steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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32
juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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33
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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34
seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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35
accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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36
nautical
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| adj.海上的，航海的，船员的 | |
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37
harpooner
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38
harpoon
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| n.鱼叉；vt.用鱼叉叉，用鱼叉捕获 | |
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39
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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40
moody
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| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
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41
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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42
hereditary
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| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
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43
propensity
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| n.倾向；习性 | |
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44
lessened
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| 减少的，减弱的 | |
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45
tattooed
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| v.刺青，文身( tattoo的过去式和过去分词 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击 | |
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46
ambushed
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| v.埋伏( ambush的过去式和过去分词 )；埋伏着 | |
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47
barbarians
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| n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人 | |
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48
shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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49
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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50
feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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51
propensities
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| n.倾向，习性( propensity的名词复数 ) | |
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52
marrow
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| n.骨髓；精华；活力 | |
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53
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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54
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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55
disdained
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| 鄙视( disdain的过去式和过去分词 )； 不屑于做，不愿意做 | |
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56
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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57
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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58
harpoons
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| n.鱼镖，鱼叉( harpoon的名词复数 )v.鱼镖，鱼叉( harpoon的第三人称单数 ) | |
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59
peevish
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| adj.易怒的，坏脾气的 | |
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60
taunts
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| 嘲弄的言语，嘲笑，奚落( taunt的名词复数 ) | |
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61
seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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62
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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