The drunken men and their chests were all taken down into the forecastle; but when we attempted to follow, we were told to stay on deck and do our work, though what that work was proved a mystery to us.
Seeing men coiling up ropes and hanging them on to belaying pins, we tried to do the same, but only got cuffs2 and blows for doing it wrong; so we sheltered ourselves under the long-boat, thinking that if this was going to sea, it would have been much better to have remained in the workhouse to become a carpenter and a shoemaker.
Here we cowered3 away during the long and dreary4 night, and to add to our discomfort5, the ship being close to the wind, bobbing into a choppy head-sea, we became dreadfully seasick6.
At last daylight came, and we were found and routed out of our refuge, and brought before the mate who had the morning watch.
“Hallo! Who are you, and where did you come from?” he shouted.
We stood sillily before him, and answered, “Please, sir, we’re the two apprentices7 Captain Haxell brought off last night.”
“Apprentices! I never heard of our old man having apprentices before; but where’s your kit8, and the rest?”
“Kit, sir—what’s that?”
“Your chests, beds, clothes, you greenhorns.”
“Please, sir, we’ve only what we’ve got on.”
“Well, I don’t know what to do. I’ll see the captain when he comes on deck. Here, what are your names?”
When we told him, the mate said: “Well, Hawse, you are starboard watch; and, Seaman10, you are port watch. Hawse, your watch below; Seaman, on deck.”
All this was Greek to us, but one of the men, in obedience11 to the mate, put a swab into Bill’s hand, and told him to dry the deck, while I was left alone. I was standing12 amidships, wondering at what was going on and what would become of us, when I felt a hand laid on my shoulder, and a voice, the first with a tone of kindness in it that I had heard on board, saying, “What cheer, shipmate?”
Looking round, I saw a boy with a good-humoured smile on his face.
“Oh,” I said, “what am I to do, and where can I go?”
“Not I. I and Bill there,” pointing to him, “are apprentices, and came on board last night with the captain.”
“Apprentices are you? Where are your chests and hammocks? Got nothing but what you stand up in? You’re funny ’prentices, and I don’t think the old man is likely to have ’prentices bound to him, from what I can see since I’ve been aboard of the hooker.”
When I explained to the speaker, who told me his name was Tom Arbor14, and that he had shipped two days before the ship sailed, how we had come aboard, he laughed heartily15, and said, “You’re no ’prentices. The old man maybe wanted boys for something or other, and he took you. Never mind, I’ll do what I can for you both.”
Our conversation was interrupted by the captain coming on deck, and calling for us. “Now, my brave sailor-boys, how d’ye like the sea?”
Captain Haxell, as he spoke16, looked even more like a bird of prey17 than he had the day before, and though his words were cheery, there was something in the way he said them which chilled us with fear.
I, however, plucked up courage, and asked where we were to live, and for some dry clothes.
“Clothes, you workhouse brats18; let them dry on you. Now you’ve got to work before you eat. Here,” catching19 hold of me by the ear, “you go to the steward20, and say he said he wanted a boy, and I’ve got him one; and you”—to Bill—“go to the cook for his mate.”
We were told off thus roughly to our duties, and forewarned that those under whom we had to work were worse tyrants21 than any we had had to do with in the workhouse, but that they were kindness itself when compared with the captain and mate.
Indeed from no one on board did we receive any kindness, except from Tom Arbor, and he himself had to undergo much ill-treatment. We often longed to be back at the workhouse again, for there we were sure of our night’s rest, and of sufficient food, while if we were treated severely22, we had not to suffer from actual cruelty.
After leaving England we were at sea four or five months, and had during the latter part to suffer from thirst; for our supply of water was but scanty23, and Bill and I were always the last served, and sometimes had to go without.
Notwithstanding rough treatment and thirst, we were fortunate enough to keep our health; and when we first anchored, which was at one of the coral islands in the Pacific, we were so delighted with all that we saw of scenery and people—all was so strange, new, and wonderful—that we thought little of the pains and hardships we had undergone.
Soon, however, we found that even delightful24 scenery and climate do not make up all that is necessary for enjoyment25, and that sailing among lovely islands, especially when one never has a chance of putting a foot ashore26, is but a poor compensation for blows and ill-treatment.
We soon found that Captain Haxell traded with the people of the islands on very peculiar27 principles. Indeed, often many of his acts were sheer robbery and piracy28, and though often Tom Arbor consulted with Bill Seaman and myself as to the possibility of running away, we were afraid to trust ourselves among the natives, lest they should avenge29 upon us the wrongs they received at the hands of our shipmates.
So matters went on, until the day when this story commences. Certainly we had learned some amount of seamanship, and were better able to look after ourselves than when we had left England; but I hope and trust that it may never again fall to the lot of English boys to undergo such ill-treatment as we constantly received. One comfort we had, and one alone, and that was that Tom Arbor had been religiously brought up, and taught where to look for consolation30, and showed us how the Christianity we had heard of in the workhouse was a real and beautiful thing, instead of, as we had regarded it, simply one of the subjects of the workhouse school.
As soon as we found that there was no ship in sight, Tom proposed that we should pray for help and guidance, and if our prayers were offered up in rough and untutored language, they were as true and fervent31 as most that are made in church.
When our prayers were finished, we began to overhaul32 the boat, to find what we had aboard of her. Fortunately she had constantly been employed in trading, and her trade-box, arms, and all other gear belonging to her were on board, except the oars33, which had unfortunately been taken out, just before we were sent in chase of the turtle, to be overhauled34, and only the three spoken of above had been passed into her before the boat was lowered, and of these three, as will now be remembered, only one remained.
We found we had the mainmast and a dipping lug35, as well as a small triangular36 mizzen, and we at once shipped the masts, and made sail to a light breeze from the westward37; and then, with Bill Seaman steering38, Tom Arbor and I opened the trade-box. On the lid we found a sheet of paper, on which was written the contents, which mainly consisted of gaudy39 beads40, brass41 wire, flints and steels, small hatchets42 and knives, and also a book, in which had been entered what had been expended43, and how much had been replaced, and in which there were many blank sheets. There was also a bottle of ink and a pen, so Tom said we could keep a log of our proceedings44.
When we found that the list and trade-book agreed with the contents of the chest, we looked to see what were in the lockers45, which were fitted under the stern sheets; and in them we found about four pounds of pigtail tobacco—which, as none of us had ever taken to smoking, we determined46 to keep for trade, knowing how fond the natives were of it—six and a half ship biscuits, a piece of boiled salt pork weighing about a pound, a bottle of rum, two cooked yams, two pistols, a large packet of ammunition47, some gun flints, a flask48 of priming powder, a bag with needles and thread, and some tin plates, pannikins, and spoons.
Lashed49 under the thwarts50 were four muskets51 in tarpaulin52 covers, and there were three small beakers or casks, one of which was half full of fresh water, a couple of balls of spun53 yarn54, two fishing-lines and hooks, and a lead and line.
When we had completed our search, Tom said, “Well, my boys, we may be thankful to have so much. Many a poor fellow has been adrift in a boat without bite or sup, while what we have here, with these two turtles, may last us some days; and before it is all finished, we may fall in with an island or a ship.”
Bill and I said we were both hungry and thirsty, and proposed to make a meal off the pork and biscuits; but Tom said that they would keep, and that we had better kill one of the turtles and live on its flesh.
One was accordingly killed and cut up by Tom, and he gave us each a piece of flesh to eat; but hungry as we were we could not stomach the idea of eating it raw, and so we all began to cast about for some means of cooking our ration55.
We had means of making fire, and the bottom boards would supply us with fuel, but what were we to use as a stove or fireplace? This puzzled us for some time, but at last a bright idea entered into my head. “Why couldn’t we fill the shell of the turtle with water, and out of the hoops56 of the bucket make a grating on which we could light a fire?”
“But let us look again in the trade-box. Perhaps there may be something there,” I answered.
“I have it,” said Bill. “I quite forgot; but I remember a day or two ago I was told to put some old cask hoops in the boat, and they are under the head sheets.”
Looking where he said, we found the hoops he mentioned, and before long we made a sort of fireplace, which we stood in the turtle shell, and splitting up one of the bottom boards with our knives we made a fire, over which we after a fashion cooked our turtle meat, which we washed down with a pannikin of water.
When we had finished our meal, Tom said, “Now we had best try to make some sort of paddles. There’s the loom58 of the broken oar9 and the boathook. If we fix some of the bottom boards across them, they will answer until we can arrange something better.”
No sooner said than done; and I, as carpenter, managed by dint59 of hard work before the night fell to fashion a couple of paddles, which if somewhat clumsy were at all events better than nothing. Whilst I was employed about this, Tom and Bill had taken turns in steering, and in cutting up the turtle, the second of which was also killed and cut into thin strips, which they hung on a piece of spun yarn stretched between the two masts; and when that was finished, they had cleaned the muskets and seen that they were fit for use.
At sunset, Tom, who without any talk or election had been made our captain, said we had better lower our sail, as otherwise we might run by or upon land in the darkness, as many of the coral islands were but a few feet above the surface of the water, and only visible from the cocoanut palms growing on them.
We accordingly lowered the lug, leaving the mizzen set to keep us head to wind and sea, and arranging that we should watch in turns. The two who were watch below rolled themselves up in the sail, Bill remarking that it was better than the Golden Fleece, where at the best it was watch and watch, and often watch and watch on, whereas now we were in three watches.
The morning watch fell to my lot, and just before the sun rose I saw away on the eastern horizon a line of spots which looked like the sails of ships, but which by this time I had learned were cocoanut palms on a coral island.
I instantly called my companions, and it being a dead calm, after we had made a breakfast, at which, as land was in sight, Tom allowed us half a biscuit apiece, we got out our paddles and commenced to pull in the direction in which I had seen the tops of the trees.
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1
drizzling
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| 下蒙蒙细雨，下毛毛雨( drizzle的现在分词 ) | |
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2
cuffs
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| n.袖口( cuff的名词复数 )v.掌打，拳打( cuff的第三人称单数 ) | |
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3
cowered
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
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4
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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seasick
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| adj.晕船的 | |
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7
apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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8
kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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12
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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13
stowaway
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| n.（藏于轮船，飞机中的）偷乘者 | |
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arbor
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| n.凉亭；树木 | |
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15
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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16
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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17
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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18
brats
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| n.调皮捣蛋的孩子( brat的名词复数 ) | |
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19
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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20
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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21
tyrants
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| 专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物 | |
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22
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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23
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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24
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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25
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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26
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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27
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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28
piracy
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| n.海盗行为，剽窃，著作权侵害 | |
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29
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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30
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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31
fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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32
overhaul
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| v./n.大修，仔细检查 | |
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33
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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34
overhauled
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| v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
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35
lug
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| n.柄，突出部，螺帽；(英）耳朵；（俚）笨蛋；vt.拖，拉，用力拖动 | |
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36
triangular
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| adj.三角（形）的，三者间的 | |
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37
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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38
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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39
gaudy
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| adj.华而不实的；俗丽的 | |
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40
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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41
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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42
hatchets
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| n.短柄小斧( hatchet的名词复数 )；恶毒攻击；诽谤；休战 | |
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43
expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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44
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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45
lockers
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| n.寄物柜( locker的名词复数 ) | |
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46
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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47
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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48
flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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49
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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50
thwarts
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| 阻挠( thwart的第三人称单数 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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51
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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52
tarpaulin
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| n.涂油防水布，防水衣，防水帽 | |
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53
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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54
yarn
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| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
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55
ration
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| n.定量(pl.)给养，口粮；vt.定量供应 | |
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56
hoops
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| n.箍( hoop的名词复数 )；（篮球）篮圈；（旧时儿童玩的）大环子；（两端埋在地里的）小铁弓 | |
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57
bailing
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| （凿井时用吊桶）排水 | |
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58
loom
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| n.织布机，织机；v.隐现，(危险、忧虑等)迫近 | |
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59
dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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