It was not long after midnight, when we were wakened in the forecastle by the lion roar of Jermin's voice, ordering a pull at the jib-halyards; and soon afterwards, a handspike struck the scuttle7, and all hands were called to take the ship into port.
This was wholly unexpected; but we learned directly that the mate, no longer relying upon the consul8, and renouncing9 all thought of inducing the men to change their minds, had suddenly made up his own. He was going to beat up to the entrance of the harbour, so as to show a signal for a pilot before sunrise.
Notwithstanding this, the sailors absolutely refused to assist in working the ship under any circumstances whatever: to all mine and the doctor's entreaties10 lending a deaf ear. Sink or strike, they swore they would have nothing more to do with her. This perverse-ness was to be attributed, in a great measure, to the effects of their late debauch11.
With a strong breeze, all sail set, and the ship in the hands of four or five men, exhausted by two nights' watching, our situation was bad enough; especially as the mate seemed more reckless than ever, and we were now to tack4 ship several times close under the land.
Well knowing that if anything untoward12 happened to the vessel13 before morning, it would be imputed14 to the conduct of the crew, and so lead to serious results, should they ever be brought to trial; I called together those on deck to witness my declaration;—that now that the Julia was destined15 for the harbour (the only object for which I, at least, had been struggling), I was willing to do what I could toward carrying her in safely. In this step I was followed by the doctor.
The hours passed anxiously until morning; when, being well to windward of the mouth of the harbour, we bore up for it, with the union-jack at the fore6. No sign, however, of boat or pilot was seen; and after running close in several times, the ensign was set at the mizzen-peak, union down in distress16. But it was of no avail.
Attributing to Wilson this unaccountable remissness17 on the part of those ashore18, Jermin, quite enraged19, now determined20 to stand boldly in upon his own responsibility; trusting solely21 to what he remembered of the harbour on a visit there many years previous.
This resolution was characteristic. Even with a competent pilot, Papeetee Bay, is considered a ticklish22, one to enter. Formed by a bold sweep of the shore, it is protected seaward by the coral reef, upon which the rollers break with great violence. After stretching across the bay, the barrier extends on toward Point Venus, in the district of Matavia, eight or nine miles distant. Here there is an opening, by which ships enter, and glide23 down the smooth, deep canal, between the reef and the shore, to the harbour. But, by seamen24 generally, the leeward25 entrance is preferred, as the wind is extremely variable inside the reef. This latter entrance is a break in the barrier directly facing the bay and village of Papeetee. It is very narrow; and from the baffling winds, currents, and sunken rocks, ships now and then grate their keels against the coral.
But the mate was not to be daunted26; so, stationing what men he had at the braces27, he sprang upon the bulwarks28, and, bidding everybody keep wide awake, ordered the helm up. In a few moments, we were running in. Being toward noon, the wind was fast leaving us, and, by the time the breakers were roaring on either hand, little more than steerage-way was left. But on we glided—smoothly and deftly29; avoiding the green, darkling objects here and there strewn in our path; Jermin occasionally looking down in the water, and then about him, with the utmost calmness, and not a word spoken. Just fanned along thus, it was not many minutes ere we were past all danger, and floated into the placid30 basin within. This was the cleverest specimen31 of his seamanship that he ever gave us.
As we held on toward the frigate32 and shipping33, a canoe, coming out from among them, approached. In it were a boy and an old man—both islanders; the former nearly naked, and the latter dressed in an old naval34 frock-coat. Both were paddling with might and main; the old man, once in a while, tearing his paddle out of the water; and, after rapping his companion over the head, both fell to with fresh vigour35. As they came within hail, the old fellow, springing to his feet and flourishing his paddle, cut some of the queerest capers36; all the while jabbering37 something which at first we could not understand.
Presently we made out the following:—"Ah! you pemi, ah!—you come!—What for you come?—You be fine for come no pilot.—I say, you hear?—I say, you ita maitui (no good).—You hear?—You no pilot.—Yes, you d—— me, you no pilot 't all; I d—— you; you hear?"
This tirade38, which showed plainly that, whatever the profane39 old rascal40 was at, he was in right good earnest, produced peals41 of laughter from the ship. Upon which, he seemed to get beside himself; and the boy, who, with suspended paddle, was staring about him, received a sound box over the head, which set him to work in a twinkling, and brought the canoe quite near. The orator42 now opening afresh, it turned out that his vehement43 rhetoric44 was all addressed to the mate, still standing conspicuously45 on the bulwarks.
But Jermin was in no humour for nonsense; so, with a sailor's blessing46, he ordered him off. The old fellow then flew into a regular frenzy47, cursing and swearing worse than any civilized48 being I ever heard.
"You sabbee me?" he shouted. "You know me, ah? Well; me Jim, me pilot—been pilot now long time."
"Ay," cried Jermin, quite surprised, as indeed we all were, "you are the pilot, then, you old pagan. Why didn't you come off before this?"
"Ah! me scibbee,—me know—you piratee (pirate)—see you long time, but no me come—I sabbee you—you ita maitai nuee (superlatively bad)."
But, instead of obeying the order, Jim, seizing his paddle, darted51 the canoe right up to the gangway, and, in two bounds, stood on deck.
Pulling a greasy52 silk handkerchief still lower over his brow, and improving the sit of his frock-coat with a vigorous jerk, he then strode up to the mate; and, in a more flowery style than ever, gave him to understand that the redoubtable53 "Jim," himself, was before him; that the ship was his until the anchor was down; and he should like to hear what anyone had to say to it.
As there now seemed little doubt that he was all he claimed to be, the Julia was at last surrendered.
Our gentleman now proceeded to bring us to an anchor, jumping up between the knight-heads, and bawling54 out "Luff! luff! keepy off! leeepy off!" and insisting upon each time being respectfully responded to by the man at the helm. At this time our steerage-way was almost gone; and yet, in giving his orders, the passionate55 old man made as much fuss as a white squall aboard the Flying Dutchman.
Jim turned out to be the regular pilot of the harbour; a post, be it known, of no small profit; and, in his eyes, at least, invested with immense importance. Our unceremonious entrance, therefore, was regarded as highly insulting, and tending to depreciate56 both the dignity and lucrativeness57 of his office.
The old man is something of a wizard. Having an understanding with the elements, certain phenomena58 of theirs are exhibited for his particular benefit. Unusually clear weather, with a fine steady breeze, is a certain sign that a merchantman is at hand; whale-spouts seen from the harbour are tokens of a whaling vessel's approach; and thunder and lightning, happening so seldom as they do, are proof positive that a man-of-war is drawing near.
In short, Jim, the pilot, is quite a character in his way; and no one visits Tahiti without hearing some curious story about him.
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1
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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3
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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tack
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| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
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5
tacked
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| 用平头钉钉( tack的过去式和过去分词 )； 附加，增补； 帆船抢风行驶，用粗线脚缝 | |
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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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scuttle
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| v.急赶，疾走，逃避；n.天窗；舷窗 | |
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8
consul
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| n.领事；执政官 | |
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9
renouncing
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| v.声明放弃( renounce的现在分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃 | |
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10
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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11
debauch
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| v.使堕落，放纵 | |
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12
untoward
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| adj.不利的，不幸的，困难重重的 | |
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13
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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14
imputed
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| v.把（错误等）归咎于( impute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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16
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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17
remissness
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| n.玩忽职守；马虎；怠慢；不小心 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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22
ticklish
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| adj.怕痒的；问题棘手的；adv.怕痒地；n.怕痒，小心处理 | |
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23
glide
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| n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝 | |
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24
seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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leeward
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| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
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26
daunted
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| 使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
braces
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| n.吊带，背带；托架( brace的名词复数 )；箍子；括弧；（儿童）牙箍v.支住( brace的第三人称单数 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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28
bulwarks
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| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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29
deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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30
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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31
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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32
frigate
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| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
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shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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34
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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36
capers
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| n.开玩笑( caper的名词复数 )；刺山柑v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的第三人称单数 ) | |
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37
jabbering
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| v.急切而含混不清地说( jabber的现在分词 )；急促兴奋地说话；结结巴巴 | |
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38
tirade
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| n.冗长的攻击性演说 | |
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39
profane
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| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
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40
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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41
peals
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| n.（声音大而持续或重复的）洪亮的响声( peal的名词复数 )；隆隆声；洪亮的钟声；钟乐v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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42
orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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43
vehement
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| adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的 | |
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44
rhetoric
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| n.修辞学，浮夸之言语 | |
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45
conspicuously
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| ad.明显地，惹人注目地 | |
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46
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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47
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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48
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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49
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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50
harpoon
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| n.鱼叉；vt.用鱼叉叉，用鱼叉捕获 | |
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51
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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52
greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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53
redoubtable
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| adj.可敬的；可怕的 | |
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54
bawling
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的现在分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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55
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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56
depreciate
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| v.降价，贬值，折旧 | |
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57
lucrativeness
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58
phenomena
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| n.现象 | |
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