Immured5 as the man-of-war's-man is, serving out his weary three years in a sort of sea-Newgate, from which he cannot escape, either by the roof or burrowing6 underground, he too often flies to the bottle to seek relief from the intolerable ennui7 of nothing to do, and nowhere to go. His ordinary government allowance of spirits, one gill per diem, is not enough to give a sufficient to his listless senses; he pronounces his grog basely watered; he scouts8 at it as thinner than muslin; he craves9 a more vigorous nip at the cable, a more sturdy swig at the halyards; and if opium10 were to be had, many would steep themselves a thousand fathoms11 down in the densest12 fumes13 of that oblivious14 drug. Tell him that the delirium15 tremens and the mania-a-potu lie in ambush16 for drunkards, he will say to you, "Let them bear down upon me, then, before the wind; anything that smacks17 of life is better than to feel Davy Jones's chest-lid on your nose." He is reckless as an avalanche18; and though his fall destroy himself and others, yet a ruinous commotion19 is better than being frozen fast in unendurable solitudes20. No wonder, then, that he goes all lengths to procure21 the thing he craves; no wonder that he pays the most exorbitant22 prices, breaks through all law, and braves the ignominious23 lash24 itself, rather than be deprived of his stimulus25.
Now, concerning no one thing in a man-of-war, are the regulations more severe than respecting the smuggling26 of grog, and being found intoxicated27. For either offence there is but one penalty, invariably enforced; and that is the degradation28 of the gangway.
All conceivable precautions are taken by most frigate29-executives to guard against the secret admission of spirits into the vessel. In the first place, no shore-boat whatever is allowed to approach a man-of-war in a foreign harbour without permission from the officer of the deck. Even the bum-boats, the small craft licensed30 by the officers to bring off fruit for the sailors, to be bought out of their own money—these are invariably inspected before permitted to hold intercourse31 with the ship's company. And not only this, but every one of the numerous ship's boats—kept almost continually plying32 to and from the shore—are similarly inspected, sometimes each boat twenty times in the day.
This inspection33 is thus performed: The boat being descried34 by the quarter-master from the poop, she is reported to the deck officer, who thereupon summons the master-at-arms, the ship's chief of police. This functionary35 now stations himself at the gangway, and as the boat's crew, one by one, come up the side, he personally overhauls36 them, making them take off their hats, and then, placing both hands upon their heads, draws his palms slowly down to their feet, carefully feeling all unusual protuberances. If nothing suspicious is felt, the man is let pass; and so on, till the whole boat's crew, averaging about sixteen men, are examined. The chief of police then descends37 into the boat, and walks from stem to stern, eyeing it all over, and poking38 his long rattan39 into every nook and cranny. This operation concluded, and nothing found, he mounts the ladder, touches his hat to the deck-officer, and reports the boat clean; whereupon she is hauled out to the booms.
Thus it will be seen that not a man of the ship's company ever enters the vessel from shore without it being rendered next to impossible, apparently41, that he should have succeeded in smuggling anything. Those individuals who are permitted to board the ship without undergoing this ordeal42, are only persons whom it would be preposterous43 to search—such as the Commodore himself, the Captain, Lieutenants44, etc., and gentlemen and ladies coming as visitors.
For anything to be clandestinely45 thrust through the lower port-holes at night, is rendered very difficult, from the watchfulness46 of the quarter-master in hailing all boats that approach, long before they draw alongside, and the vigilance of the sentries, posted on platforms overhanging the water, whose orders are to fire into a strange boat which, after being warned to withdraw, should still persist in drawing nigh. Moreover, thirty-two-pound shots are slung47 to ropes, and suspended over the bows, to drop a hole into and sink any small craft, which, spite of all precautions, by strategy should succeed in getting under the bows with liquor by night. Indeed, the whole power of martial48 law is enlisted49 in this matter; and every one of the numerous officers of the ship, besides his general zeal50 in enforcing the regulations, acids to that a personal feeling, since the sobriety of the men abridges51 his own cares and anxieties.
How then, it will be asked, in the face of an argus-eyed police, and in defiance52 even of bayonets and bullets, do men-of-war's-men contrive53 to smuggle54 their spirits? Not to enlarge upon minor55 stratagems—every few days detected, and rendered naught56 (such as rolling up, in a handkerchief, a long, slender "skin" of grog, like a sausage, and in that manner ascending57 to the deck out of a boat just from shore; or openly bringing on board cocoa-nuts and melons, procured58 from a knavish59 bum-boat filled with spirits, instead of milk or water)—we will only mention here two or three other modes, coming under my own observation.
While in Rio, a fore-top-man, belonging to the second cutter, paid down the money, and made an arrangement with a person encountered at the Palace-landing ashore60, to the following effect. Of a certain moonless night, he was to bring off three gallons of spirits, in skins, and moor61 them to the frigate's anchor-buoy62—some distance from the vessel—attaching something heavy, to sink them out of sight. In the middle watch of the night, the fore-top-man slips out of his hammock, and by creeping along in the shadows, eludes63 the vigilance of the master-at-arms and his mates, gains a port-hole, and softly lowers himself into the water, almost without creating a ripple—the sentries marching to and fro on their overhanging platform above him. He is an expert swimmer, and paddles along under the surface, every now and then rising a little, and lying motionless on his back to breathe—little but his nose exposed. The buoy gained, he cuts the skins adrift, ties them round his body, and in the same adroit64 manner makes good his return.
This feat65 is very seldom attempted, for it needs the utmost caution, address, and dexterity66; and no one but a super-expert burglar, and faultless Leander of a swimmer, could achieve it.
From the greater privileges which they enjoy, the "forward officers," that is, the Gunner, Boatswain, etc., have much greater opportunities for successful smuggling than the common seamen67. Coming alongside one night in a cutter, Yarn68, our boatswain, in some inexplicable69 way, contrived70 to slip several skins of brandy through the air-port of his own state-room. The feat, however, must have been perceived by one of the boat's crew, who immediately, on gaining the deck, sprung down the ladders, stole into the boatswain's room, and made away with the prize, not three minutes before the rightful owner entered to claim it. Though, from certain circumstances, the thief was known to the aggrieved71 party, yet the latter could say nothing, since he himself had infringed72 the law. But the next day, in the capacity of captain of the ship's executioners, Yarn had the satisfaction (it was so to him) of standing73 over the robber at the gangway; for, being found intoxicated with the very liquor the boatswain himself had smuggled74, the man had been condemned75 to a flogging.
This recalls another instance, still more illustrative of the knotted, trebly intertwisted villainy, accumulating at a sort of compound interest in a man-of-war. The cockswain of the Commodore's barge76 takes his crew apart, one by one, and cautiously sounds them as to their fidelity—not to the United States of America, but to himself. Three individuals, whom he deems doubtful—that is, faithful to the United States of America—he procures77 to be discharged from the barge, and men of his own selection are substituted; for he is always an influential78 character, this cockswain of the Commodore's barge. Previous to this, however, he has seen to it well, that no Temperance men—that is, sailors who do not draw their government ration40 of grog, but take the money for it—he has seen to it, that none of these balkers are numbered among his crew. Having now proved his men, he divulges79 his plan to the assembled body; a solemn oath of secrecy80 is obtained, and he waits the first fit opportunity to carry into execution his nefarious81 designs.
At last it comes. One afternoon the barge carries the Commodore across the Bay to a fine water-side settlement of noblemen's seats, called Praya Grande. The Commodore is visiting a Portuguese82 marquis, and the pair linger long over their dinner in an arbour in the garden. Meanwhile, the cockswain has liberty to roam about where he pleases. He searches out a place where some choice red-eye (brandy) is to be had, purchases six large bottles, and conceals83 them among the trees. Under the pretence84 of filling the boat-keg with water, which is always kept in the barge to refresh the crew, he now carries it off into the grove85, knocks out the head, puts the bottles inside, reheads the keg, fills it with water, carries it down to the boat, and audaciously restores it to its conspicuous86 position in the middle, with its bung-hole up. When the Commodore comes down to the beach, and they pull off for the ship, the cockswain, in a loud voice, commands the nearest man to take that bung out of the keg—that precious water will spoil. Arrived alongside the frigate, the boat's crew are overhauled87, as usual, at the gangway; and nothing being found on them, are passed. The master-at-arms now descending88 into the barge, and finding nothing suspicious, reports it clean, having put his finger into the open bung of the keg and tasted that the water was pure. The barge is ordered out to the booms, and deep night is waited for, ere the cockswain essays to snatch the bottles from the keg.
But, unfortunately for the success of this masterly smuggler89, one of his crew is a weak-pated fellow, who, having drank somewhat freely ashore, goes about the gun-deck throwing out profound, tipsy hints concerning some unutterable proceeding90 on the ship's anvil91. A knowing old sheet-anchor-man, an unprincipled fellow, putting this, that, and the other together, ferrets out the mystery; and straightway resolves to reap the goodly harvest which the cockswain has sowed. He seeks him out, takes him to one side, and addresses him thus:
"Cockswain, you have been smuggling off some red-eye, which at this moment is in your barge at the booms. Now, cockswain, I have stationed two of my mess-mates at the port-holes, on that side of the ship; and if they report to me that you, or any of your bargemen, offer to enter that barge before morning, I will immediately report you as a smuggler to the officer of the deck."
The cockswain is astounded92; for, to be reported to the deck-officer as a smuggler, would inevitably93 procure him a sound flogging, and be the disgraceful breaking of him as a petty officer, receiving four dollars a month beyond his pay as an able seaman94. He attempts to bribe95 the other to secrecy, by promising96 half the profits of the enterprise; but the sheet-anchor-man's integrity is like a rock; he is no mercenary, to be bought up for a song. The cockswain, therefore, is forced to swear that neither himself, nor any of his crew, shall enter the barge before morning. This done, the sheet-anchor-man goes to his confidants, and arranges his plans. In a word, he succeeds in introducing the six brandy bottles into the ship; five of which he sells at eight dollars a bottle; and then, with the sixth, between two guns, he secretly regales himself and confederates; while the helpless cockswain, stifling97 his rage, bitterly eyes them from afar.
Thus, though they say that there is honour among thieves, there is little among man-of-war smugglers.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
sentries
|
|
| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
calamities
|
|
| n.灾祸，灾难( calamity的名词复数 )；不幸之事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
immured
|
|
| v.禁闭，监禁( immure的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
burrowing
|
|
| v.挖掘（洞穴），挖洞( burrow的现在分词 )；翻寻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
ennui
|
|
| n.怠倦，无聊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
scouts
|
|
| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
craves
|
|
| 渴望，热望( crave的第三人称单数 )； 恳求，请求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
opium
|
|
| n.鸦片；adj.鸦片的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
fathoms
|
|
| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
densest
|
|
| 密集的( dense的最高级 )； 密度大的； 愚笨的； （信息量大得）难理解的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
fumes
|
|
| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
oblivious
|
|
| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
delirium
|
|
| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
ambush
|
|
| n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
smacks
|
|
| 掌掴（声）( smack的名词复数 )； 海洛因； （打的）一拳； 打巴掌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
avalanche
|
|
| n.雪崩，大量涌来 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
commotion
|
|
| n.骚动，动乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
solitudes
|
|
| n.独居( solitude的名词复数 )；孤独；荒僻的地方；人迹罕至的地方 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
procure
|
|
| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
exorbitant
|
|
| adj.过分的；过度的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
ignominious
|
|
| adj.可鄙的，不光彩的，耻辱的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
lash
|
|
| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
stimulus
|
|
| n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
smuggling
|
|
| n.走私 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
intoxicated
|
|
| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
degradation
|
|
| n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
frigate
|
|
| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
licensed
|
|
| adj.得到许可的v.许可，颁发执照(license的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
intercourse
|
|
| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
plying
|
|
| v.使用（工具）( ply的现在分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
inspection
|
|
| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
descried
|
|
| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
functionary
|
|
| n.官员；公职人员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
overhauls
|
|
| v.彻底检查( overhaul的第三人称单数 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
descends
|
|
| v.下来( descend的第三人称单数 )；下去；下降；下斜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
poking
|
|
| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
rattan
|
|
| n.藤条，藤杖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
ration
|
|
| n.定量(pl.)给养，口粮；vt.定量供应 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
ordeal
|
|
| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
preposterous
|
|
| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
lieutenants
|
|
| n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 )；副职官员；空军；仅低于…官阶的官员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
clandestinely
|
|
| adv.秘密地，暗中地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
watchfulness
|
|
| 警惕，留心； 警觉（性） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
slung
|
|
| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
martial
|
|
| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
enlisted
|
|
| adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
zeal
|
|
| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
abridges
|
|
| 节略( abridge的第三人称单数 )； 减少； 缩短； 剥夺（某人的）权利（或特权等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
52
defiance
|
|
| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
contrive
|
|
| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
smuggle
|
|
| vt.私运；vi.走私 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
minor
|
|
| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
naught
|
|
| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
ascending
|
|
| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
procured
|
|
| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
knavish
|
|
| adj.无赖（似）的，不正的；刁诈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
ashore
|
|
| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
moor
|
|
| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
buoy
|
|
| n.浮标；救生圈；v.支持，鼓励 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
eludes
|
|
| v.（尤指机敏地）避开( elude的第三人称单数 )；逃避；躲避；使达不到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
adroit
|
|
| adj.熟练的，灵巧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
feat
|
|
| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
dexterity
|
|
| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
seamen
|
|
| n.海员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
yarn
|
|
| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
inexplicable
|
|
| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
contrived
|
|
| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
aggrieved
|
|
| adj.愤愤不平的，受委屈的；悲痛的；（在合法权利方面）受侵害的v.令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式)；令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
infringed
|
|
| v.违反（规章等）( infringe的过去式和过去分词 )；侵犯（某人的权利）；侵害（某人的自由、权益等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
smuggled
|
|
| 水货 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
condemned
|
|
| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
barge
|
|
| n.平底载货船，驳船 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
procures
|
|
| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的第三人称单数 )；拉皮条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
influential
|
|
| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
divulges
|
|
| v.吐露，泄露( divulge的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
secrecy
|
|
| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
nefarious
|
|
| adj.恶毒的，极坏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
Portuguese
|
|
| n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
conceals
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
pretence
|
|
| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
grove
|
|
| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
conspicuous
|
|
| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
overhauled
|
|
| v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
descending
|
|
| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
smuggler
|
|
| n.走私者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
proceeding
|
|
| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
anvil
|
|
| n.铁钻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
astounded
|
|
| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
inevitably
|
|
| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
seaman
|
|
| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
bribe
|
|
| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
promising
|
|
| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
stifling
|
|
| a.令人窒息的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |