Now, if her crew were to be credited, the Leviathan was not the craft to our mind. But I had seen the captain, and liked him. He was an uncommonly5 tall, robust6, fine-looking man, in the prime of life. There was a deep crimson7 spot in the middle of each sunburnt cheek, doubtless the effect of his sea-potations. He was a Vineyarder, or native of the island of Martha's Vineyard (adjoining Nantucket), and—I would have sworn it—a sailor, and no tyrant8.
Previous to this, we had rather avoided the Leviathan's men, when they came ashore; but now, we purposely threw ourselves in their way, in order to learn more of the vessel9.
We became acquainted with the third mate, a Prussian, and an old merchant-seaman—a right jolly fellow, with a face like a ruby10. We took him to Po-Po's, and gave him a dinner of baked pig and breadfruit; with pipes and tobacco for dessert. The account he gave us of the ship agreed with my own surmises11. A cosier12 old craft never floated; and the captain was the finest man in the world. There was plenty to eat, too; and, at sea, nothing to do but sit on the windlass and sail. The only bad trait about the vessel was this: she had been launched under some baleful star; and so was a luckless ship in the fishery. She dropped her boats into the brine often enough, and they frequently got fast to the whales; but lance and harpoon14 almost invariably "drew" when darted15 by the men of the Leviathan. But what of that? We would have all the sport of chasing the monsters, with none of the detestable work which follows their capture. So, hurrah16 for the coast of Japan! Thither17 the ship was bound.
A word now about the hard stories we heard the first time we visited the ship. They were nothing but idle fictions, got up by the sailors for the purpose of frightening us away, so as to oblige the captain, who was in want of more hands, to lie the longer in a pleasant harbour.
The next time the Vineyarder came ashore, we flung ourselves in his path. When informed of our desire to sail with him, he wanted to know our history; and, above all, what countrymen we were. We said that we had left a whaler in Tahiti, some time previous; and, since then, had been—in the most praiseworthy manner—employed upon a plantation18. As for our country, sailors belong to no nation in particular; we were, on this occasion, both Yankees. Upon this he looked decidedly incredulous; and freely told us that he verily believed we were both from Sydney.
Be it known here that American sea captains, in the Pacific, are mortally afraid of these Sydney gentry20; who, to tell the truth, wherever known, are in excessively bad odour. Is there a mutiny on board a ship in the South Seas, ten to one a Sydney man is the ringleader. Ashore, these fellows are equally riotous21.
It was on this account that we were anxious to conceal22 the fact of our having belonged to the Julia, though it annoyed me much, thus to deny the dashing little craft. For the same reason, also, the doctor fibbed about his birthplace.
Unfortunately, one part of our raiment—Arfretee's blue frocks—we deemed a sort of collateral23 evidence against us. For, curiously24 enough, an American sailor is generally distinguished25 by his red frock; and an English tar13 by his blue one: thus reversing the national colours. The circumstance was pointed1 out by the captain; and we quickly explained the anomaly. But, in vain: he seemed inveterately26 prejudiced against us; and, in particular, eyed the doctor most distrustfully.
By way of propping27 the tatter's pretensions28, I was throwing out a hint concerning Kentucky, as a land of tall men, when our Vine-yarder turned away abruptly29, and desired to hear nothing more. It was evident that he took Long Ghost for an exceedingly problematical character.
Perceiving this, I resolved to see what a private interview would do. So, one afternoon, I found the captain smoking a pipe in the dwelling30 of a portly old native—one Mai-Mai—who, for a reasonable compensation, did the honours of Partoowye to illustrious strangers.
His guest had just risen from a sumptuous31 meal of baked pig and taro32 pudding; and the remnants of the repast were still visible. Two reeking33 bottles, also, with their necks wrenched34 off, lay upon the mat. All this was encouraging; for, after a good dinner, one feels affluent35 and amiable36, and peculiarly open to conviction. So, at all events, I found the noble Vineyarder.
I began by saying that I called for the purpose of setting him right touching37 certain opinions of his concerning the place of my nativity:—I was an American—thank heaven!—and wanted to convince him of the fact.
After looking me in the eye for some time, and, by so doing, revealing an obvious unsteadiness in his own visual organs, he begged me to reach forth38 my arm. I did so; wondering what upon earth that useful member had to do with the matter in hand.
He placed his fingers upon my wrist; and holding them there for a moment, sprang to his feet, and, with much enthusiasm, pronounced me a Yankee, every beat of my pulse!
"Here, Mai-Mai!" he cried, "another bottle!" And, when it came, with one stroke of a knife, he summarily beheaded it, and commanded me to drain it to the bottom. He then told me that if I would come on board his vessel the following morning, I would find the ship's articles on the cabin transom.
This was getting along famously. But what was to become of the doctor?
I forthwith made an adroit39 allusion40 to my long friend. But it was worse than useless. The Vineyarder swore he would have nothing to do with him—he (my long friend) was a "bird" from Sydney, and nothing would make him (the man of little faith) believe otherwise.
I could not help loving the free-hearted captain; but indignant at this most unaccountable prejudice against my comrade, I abruptly took leave.
Upon informing the doctor of the result of the interview, he was greatly amused; and laughingly declared that the Vineyarder must be a penetrating41 fellow. He then insisted upon my going to sea in the ship, since he well knew how anxious I was to leave. As for himself, on second thoughts, he was no sailor; and although "lands—' men" very often compose part of a whaler's crew, he did not quite relish42 the idea of occupying a position so humble43. In short, he had made up his mind to tarry awhile in Imeeo.
I turned the matter over: and at last decided19 upon quitting the island. The impulse urging me to sea once more, and the prospect44 of eventually reaching home, were too much to be resisted; especially as the Leviathan, so comfortable a craft, was now bound on her last whaling cruise, and, in little more than a year's time, would be going round Cape45 Horn.
I did not, however, covenant46 to remain in the vessel for the residue47 of the voyage; which would have been needlessly binding48 myself. I merely stipulated49 for the coming cruise, leaving my subsequent movements unrestrained; for there was no knowing that I might not change my mind, and prefer journeying home by short and easy stages.
The next day I paddled off to the ship, signed and sealed, and stepped ashore with my "advance"—fifteen Spanish dollars—tasseling the ends of my neck-handkerchief.
I forced half of the silver on Long Ghost; and having little use for the remainder, would have given it to Po-Po as some small return for his kindness; but, although he well knew the value of the coin, not a dollar would he accept.
In three days' time the Prussian came to Po-Po's, and told us that the captain, having made good the number of his crew by shipping50 several islanders, had determined upon sailing with the land breeze at dawn the following morning. These tidings were received in the afternoon. The doctor immediately disappeared, returning soon after with a couple of flasks51 of wine concealed52 in the folds of his frock. Through the agency of the Marquesan, he had purchased them from an understrapper of the court.
I prevailed upon Po-Po to drink a parting shell; and even little Loo, actually looking conscious that one of her hopeless admirers was about leaving Partoowye for ever, sipped53 a few drops from a folded leaf. As for the warm-hearted Arfretee, her grief was unbounded. She even besought54 me to spend my last night under her own palm-thatch; and then, in the morning, she would herself paddle me off to the ship.
But this I would not consent to; and so, as something to remember her by, she presented me with a roll of fine matting, and another of tappa. These gifts placed in my hammock, I afterward55 found very agreeable in the warm latitudes56 to which we were bound; nor did they fail to awaken57 most grateful remembrances.
About nightfall, we broke away from this generous-hearted household, and hurried down to the water.
It was a mad, merry night among the sailors; they had on tap a small cask of wine, procured58 in the same way as the doctor's flasks.
An hour or two after midnight, everything was noiseless; but when the first streak59 of the dawn showed itself over the mountains, a sharp voice hailed the forecastle, and ordered the ship unmoored.
The anchors came up cheerily; the sails were soon set; and with the early breath of the tropical morning, fresh and fragrant60 from the hillsides, we slowly glided61 down the bay, and were swept through the opening in the reef. Presently we "hove to," and the canoes came alongside to take off the islanders who had accompanied us thus far. As he stepped over the side, I shook the doctor long and heartily62 by the hand. I have never seen or heard of him since.
Crowding all sail, we braced63 the yards square; and, the breeze freshening, bowled straight away from the land. Once more the sailor's cradle rocked under me, and I found myself rolling in my gait.
By noon, the island had gone down in the horizon; and all before us was the wide Pacific.
The End
The End
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1
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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trespass
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| n./v.侵犯，闯入私人领地 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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6
robust
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| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
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7
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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8
tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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9
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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10
ruby
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| n.红宝石，红宝石色 | |
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11
surmises
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的第三人称单数 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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12
cosier
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| adj.温暖舒适的( cosy的比较级 )；亲切友好的 | |
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13
tar
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| n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于 | |
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14
harpoon
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| n.鱼叉；vt.用鱼叉叉，用鱼叉捕获 | |
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15
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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16
hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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17
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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18
plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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19
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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20
gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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21
riotous
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| adj.骚乱的；狂欢的 | |
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22
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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23
collateral
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| adj.平行的；旁系的；n.担保品 | |
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24
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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25
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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inveterately
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| adv.根深蒂固地，积习地 | |
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27
propping
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| 支撑 | |
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pretensions
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| 自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力 | |
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29
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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30
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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31
sumptuous
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| adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的 | |
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32
taro
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| n.芋，芋头 | |
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33
reeking
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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34
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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35
affluent
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| adj.富裕的，富有的，丰富的，富饶的 | |
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36
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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37
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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38
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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39
adroit
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| adj.熟练的，灵巧的 | |
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40
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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41
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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42
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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43
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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44
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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45
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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46
covenant
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| n.盟约，契约；v.订盟约 | |
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47
residue
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| n.残余，剩余，残渣 | |
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48
binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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49
stipulated
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| vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的 | |
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50
shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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51
flasks
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| n.瓶，长颈瓶， 烧瓶( flask的名词复数 ) | |
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52
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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53
sipped
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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55
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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56
latitudes
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| 纬度 | |
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57
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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58
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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59
streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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60
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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61
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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62
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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63
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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