So unforeseen had been our departure in the first place; so rapid our journey; so unaccountable the conduct of Harry2; and so sudden our return; that all united to overwhelm me. That I had been at all in London seemed impossible; and that I had been there, and come away little the wiser, was almost distracting to one who, like me, had so longed to behold3 that metropolis4 of marvels5.
I looked hard at Harry as he walked in silence at my side; I stared at the houses we passed; I thought of the cab, the gas lighted hall in the Palace of Aladdin, the pictures, the letter, the oath, the dirk; the mysterious place where all these mysteries had occurred; and then, was almost ready to conclude, that the pale yellow wine had been drugged.
As for Harry, stuffing his false whiskers and mustache into his pocket, he now led the way to the boarding-house; and saluting7 the landlady8, was shown to his room; where we immediately shifted our clothes, appearing once more in our sailor habiliments.
"Well, what do you propose to do now, Harry?" said I, with a heavy heart.
"Why, visit your Yankee land in the Highlander9, of course—what else?" he replied.
"And is it to be a visit, or a long stay?" asked I.
"That's as it may turn out," said Harry; "but I have now more than ever resolved upon the sea. There is nothing like the sea for a fellow like me, Redburn; a desperate man can not get any further than the wharf10, you know; and the next step must be a long jump. But come, let's see what they have to eat here, and then for a cigar and a stroll. I feel better already. Never say die, is my motto."
We went to supper; after that, sallied out; and walking along the quay11 of Prince's Dock, heard that the ship Highlander had that morning been advertised to sail in two days' time.
"Good!" exclaimed Harry; and I was glad enough myself.
Although I had now been absent from the ship a full forty-eight hours, and intended to return to her, yet I did not anticipate being called to any severe account for it from the officers; for several of our men had absented themselves longer than I had, and upon their return, little or nothing was said to them. Indeed, in some cases, the mate seemed to know nothing about it. During the whole time we lay in Liverpool, the discipline of the ship was altogether relaxed; and I could hardly believe they were the same officers who were so dictatorial12 at sea. The reason of this was, that we had nothing important to do; and although the captain might now legally refuse to receive me on board, yet I was not afraid of that, as I was as stout13 a lad for my years, and worked as cheap, as any one he could engage to take my place on the homeward passage.
Next morning we made our appearance on board before the rest of the crew; and the mate perceiving me, said with an oath, "Well, sir, you have thought best to return then, have you? Captain Riga and I were flattering ourselves that you had made a run of it for good."
Then, thought I, the captain, who seems to affect to know nothing of the proceedings14 of the sailors, has been aware of my absence.
"But turn to, sir, turn to," added the mate; "here! aloft there, and free that pennant15; it's foul16 of the backstay—jump!"
The captain coming on board soon after, looked very benevolently17 at Harry; but, as usual, pretended not to take the slightest notice of myself.
We were all now very busy in getting things ready for sea. The cargo19 had been already stowed in the hold by the stevedores20 and lumpers from shore; but it became the crew's business to clear away the between-decks, extending from the cabin bulkhead to the forecastle, for the reception of about five hundred emigrants22, some of whose boxes were already littering the decks.
To provide for their wants, a far larger supply of water was needed than upon the outward-bound passage. Accordingly, besides the usual number of casks on deck, rows of immense tierces were lashed23 amid-ships, all along the between-decks, forming a sort of aisle24 on each side, furnishing access to four rows of bunks25,—three tiers, one above another,—against the ship's sides; two tiers being placed over the tierces of water in the middle. These bunks were rapidly knocked together with coarse planks27. They looked more like dog-kennels than any thing else; especially as the place was so gloomy and dark; no light coming down except through the fore1 and after hatchways, both of which were covered with little houses called "booby-hatches." Upon the main-hatches, which were well calked and covered over with heavy tarpaulins28, the "passengers-galley29" was solidly lashed down.
This galley was a large open stove, or iron range—made expressly for emigrant21 ships, wholly unprotected from the weather, and where alone the emigrants are permitted to cook their food while at sea.
After two days' work, every thing was in readiness; most of the emigrants on board; and in the evening we worked the ship close into the outlet30 of Prince's Dock, with the bow against the water-gate, to go out with the tide in the morning.
In the morning, the bustle31 and confusion about us was indescribable. Added to the ordinary clamor of the docks, was the hurrying to and fro of our five hundred emigrants, the last of whom, with their baggage, were now coming on board; the appearance of the cabin passengers, following porters with their trunks; the loud orders of the dock-masters, ordering the various ships behind us to preserve their order of going out; the leave-takings, and good-by's, and God-bless-you's, between the emigrants and their friends; and the cheers of the surrounding ships.
At this time we lay in such a way, that no one could board us except by the bowsprit, which overhung the quay. Staggering along that bowsprit, now came a one-eyed crimp leading a drunken tar6 by the collar, who had been shipped to sail with us the day previous. It has been stated before, that two or three of our men had left us for good, while in port. When the crimp had got this man and another safely lodged32 in a bunk26 below, he returned on shore; and going to a miserable33 cab, pulled out still another apparently34 drunken fellow, who proved completely helpless. However, the ship now swinging her broadside more toward the quay, this stupefied sailor, with a Scotch35 cap pulled down over his closed eyes, only revealing a sallow Portuguese36 complexion37, was lowered on board by a rope under his arms, and passed forward by the crew, who put him likewise into a bunk in the forecastle, the crimp himself carefully tucking him in, and bidding the bystanders not to disturb him till the ship was away from the land.
This done, the confusion increased, as we now glided38 out of the dock. Hats and handkerchiefs were waved; hurrahs were exchanged; and tears were shed; and the last thing I saw, as we shot into the stream, was a policeman collaring a boy, and walking him off to the guard-house.
A steam-tug, the Goliath, now took us by the arm, and gallanted us down the river past the fort.
The scene was most striking.
Owing to a strong breeze, which had been blowing up the river for four days past, holding wind-bound in the various docks a multitude of ships for all parts of the world; there was now under weigh, a vast fleet of merchantmen, all steering39 broad out to sea. The white sails glistened40 in the clear morning air like a great Eastern encampment of sultans; and from many a forecastle, came the deep mellow41 old song Ho-o-he-yo, cheerily men! as the crews called their anchors.
The wind was fair; the weather mild; the sea most smooth; and the poor emigrants were in high spirits at so auspicious42 a beginning of their voyage. They were reclining all over the decks, talking of soon seeing America, and relating how the agent had told them, that twenty days would be an uncommonly43 long voyage.
Here it must be mentioned, that owing to the great number of ships sailing to the Yankee ports from Liverpool, the competition among them in obtaining emigrant passengers, who as a cargo are much more remunerative44 than crates45 and bales, is exceedingly great; so much so, that some of the agents they employ, do not scruple46 to deceive the poor applicants47 for passage, with all manner of fables48 concerning the short space of time, in which their ships make the run across the ocean.
This often induces the emigrants to provide a much smaller stock of provisions than they otherwise would; the effect of which sometimes proves to be in the last degree lamentable49; as will be seen further on. And though benevolent18 societies have been long organized in Liverpool, for the purpose of keeping offices, where the emigrants can obtain reliable information and advice, concerning their best mode of embarkation50, and other matters interesting to them; and though the English authorities have imposed a law, providing that every captain of an emigrant ship bound for any port of America shall see to it, that each passenger is provided with rations51 of food for sixty days; yet, all this has not deterred52 mercenary ship-masters and unprincipled agents from practicing the grossest deception53; nor exempted54 the emigrants themselves, from the very sufferings intended to be averted55.
No sooner had we fairly gained the expanse of the Irish Sea, and, one by one, lost sight of our thousand consorts56, than the weather changed into the most miserable cold, wet, and cheerless days and nights imaginable. The wind was tempestuous57, and dead in our teeth; and the hearts of the emigrants fell. Nearly all of them had now hied below, to escape the uncomfortable and perilous58 decks: and from the two "booby-hatches" came the steady hum of a subterranean59 wailing60 and weeping. That irresistible61 wrestler62, sea-sickness, had overthrown63 the stoutest64 of their number, and the women and children were embracing and sobbing65 in all the agonies of the poor emigrant's first storm at sea.
Bad enough is it at such times with ladies and gentlemen in the cabin, who have nice little state-rooms; and plenty of privacy; and stewards66 to run for them at a word, and put pillows under their heads, and tenderly inquire how they are getting along, and mix them a posset: and even then, in the abandonment of this soul and body subduing67 malady68, such ladies and gentlemen will often give up life itself as unendurable, and put up the most pressing petitions for a speedy annihilation; all of which, however, only arises from their intense anxiety to preserve their valuable lives.
How, then, with the friendless emigrants, stowed away like bales of cotton, and packed like slaves in a slave-ship; confined in a place that, during storm time, must be closed against both light and air; who can do no cooking, nor warm so much as a cup of water; for the drenching69 seas would instantly flood their fire in their exposed galley on deck? How, then, with these men, and women, and children, to whom a first voyage, under the most advantageous70 circumstances, must come just as hard as to the Honorable De Lancey Fitz Clarence, lady, daughter, and seventeen servants.
Nor is this all: for in some of these ships, as in the case of the Highlander, the emigrant passengers are cut off from the most indispensable conveniences of a civilized71 dwelling72. This forces them in storm time to such extremities73, that no wonder fevers and plagues are the result. We had not been at sea one week, when to hold your head down the fore hatchway was like holding it down a suddenly opened cesspool.
But still more than this. Such is the aristocracy maintained on board some of these ships, that the most arbitrary measures are enforced, to prevent the emigrants from intruding74 upon the most holy precincts of the quarter-deck, the only completely open space on ship-board. Consequently—even in fine weather—when they come up from below, they are crowded in the waist of the ship, and jammed among the boats, casks, and spars; abused by the seamen75, and sometimes cuffed76 by the officers, for unavoidably standing77 in the way of working the vessel78.
The cabin-passengers of the Highlander numbered some fifteen in all; and to protect this detachment of gentility from the barbarian79 incursions of the "wild Irish" emigrants, ropes were passed athwart-ships, by the main-mast, from side to side: which defined the boundary line between those who had paid three pounds passage-money, from those who had paid twenty guineas. And the cabin-passengers themselves were the most urgent in having this regulation maintained.
Lucky would it be for the pretensions80 of some parvenus81, whose souls are deposited at their banker's, and whose bodies but serve to carry about purses, knit of poor men's heartstrings, if thus easily they could precisely82 define, ashore83, the difference between them and the rest of humanity.
But, I, Redburn, am a poor fellow, who have hardly ever known what it is to have five silver dollars in my pocket at one time; so, no doubt, this circumstance has something to do with my slight and harmless indignation at these things.
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1
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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tar
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| n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于 | |
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saluting
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的现在分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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landlady
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| n.女房东，女地主 | |
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highlander
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| n.高地的人，苏格兰高地地区的人 | |
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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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quay
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| n.码头，靠岸处 | |
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dictatorial
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| adj. 独裁的，专断的 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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pennant
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| n.三角旗；锦标旗 | |
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16
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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17
benevolently
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| adv.仁慈地，行善地 | |
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benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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stevedores
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| n.码头装卸工人，搬运工( stevedore的名词复数 ) | |
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emigrant
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| adj.移居的，移民的；n.移居外国的人，移民 | |
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emigrants
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| n.（从本国移往他国的）移民( emigrant的名词复数 ) | |
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23
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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aisle
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| n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道 | |
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bunks
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| n.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的名词复数 )；空话，废话v.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的第三人称单数 )；空话，废话 | |
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bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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tarpaulins
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| n.防水帆布，防水帆布罩( tarpaulin的名词复数 ) | |
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galley
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| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
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outlet
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| n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄 | |
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bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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Portuguese
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| n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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38
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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steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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glistened
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| v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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auspicious
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| adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的 | |
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uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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remunerative
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| adj.有报酬的 | |
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crates
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| n. 板条箱, 篓子, 旧汽车 vt. 装进纸条箱 | |
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scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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applicants
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| 申请人，求职人( applicant的名词复数 ) | |
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fables
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| n.寓言( fable的名词复数 )；神话，传说 | |
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lamentable
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| adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的 | |
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embarkation
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| n. 乘船, 搭机, 开船 | |
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51
rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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deterred
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| v.阻止，制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
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exempted
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| 使免除[豁免]( exempt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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consorts
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| n.配偶( consort的名词复数 )；（演奏古典音乐的）一组乐师；一组古典乐器；一起v.结伴( consort的第三人称单数 )；交往；相称；调和 | |
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57
tempestuous
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| adj.狂暴的 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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wrestler
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| n.摔角选手，扭 | |
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overthrown
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| adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词 | |
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stoutest
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| 粗壮的( stout的最高级 )； 结实的； 坚固的； 坚定的 | |
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sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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stewards
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| （轮船、飞机等的）乘务员( steward的名词复数 )； （俱乐部、旅馆、工会等的）管理员； （大型活动的）组织者； （私人家中的）管家 | |
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subduing
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| 征服( subdue的现在分词 )； 克制； 制服； 色变暗 | |
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malady
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| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
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drenching
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| n.湿透v.使湿透( drench的现在分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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advantageous
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| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
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civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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extremities
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| n.端点( extremity的名词复数 )；尽头；手和足；极窘迫的境地 | |
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intruding
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| v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的现在分词)；把…强加于 | |
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75
seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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cuffed
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| v.掌打，拳打( cuff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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78
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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79
barbarian
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| n.野蛮人；adj.野蛮(人)的；未开化的 | |
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80
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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81
parvenus
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| n.暴富者( parvenu的名词复数 )；暴发户；新贵；傲慢自负的人 | |
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82
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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