Next came John Appleton, a business man from Melbourne, who had visited the United States on business. He was a plain, substantial-looking person, of perhaps forty-five. Next came Montgomery Clinton, from Brooklyn, a young man of twenty-four, foolishly attired5, who wore an eyeglass and anxiously aped the Londen swell6, though born within sight of Boston State house. Harry regarded him with considerable amusement, and though he treated him with outward respect, mentally voted him very soft. Fifth on the list was a tall, sallow, thin individual, with a melancholy7 countenance8, who was troubled with numerous symptoms, and was persuaded that he had not long to live. He was from Pennsylvania. He carried with him in his trunk a large assortment9 of pills and liquid medicines, one or another of which he took about once an hour. This gentleman’s name was Marmaduke Timmins. Last came a tall, lean Yankee, the discoverer and proprietor10 of a valuable invention, which it was his purpose to introduce into Australia. Mr. Jonathan Stubbs, for this was his name, was by no means an undesirable11 addition to the little circle, and often excited a smile by his quaintly12 put and shrewd observations on topics of passing interest.
It was the third day at sea, when Harry, who had suffered but little from seasickness13, came on deck, after a good dinner, and saw the dudish passenger, till now invisible, holding himself steady with an effort, and gazing sadly out upon the wild waste of waters without the help of his eyeglass.
“How do you feel, Mr. Clinton?” asked Harry.
“Horribly, Mr. Vane,” answered Clinton, with a languid shudder15. “I never thought it was such a bore, crossing the ocean, don’t you know. I’ve a great idea of offering the captain a handsome sum to land somewhere, I don’t care where.”
“I don’t think we shall go near any land, Mr. Clinton. I think you will have to make the best of it.”
Hearing a step behind him, Harry turned, and his eyes rested on the melancholy countenance of Marmaduke Timmins, the chronic16 invalid17.
“Good-morning, Mr. Timmins,” said our hero. “I hope you stand the voyage well?”
“I’ve had several new symptoms since I came on board,” responded Mr. Timmins, gloomily, “and I’ve made a dreadful discovery.”
“What is it?” inquired Montgomery Clinton, in alarm.
“I find I’ve mislaid or forgotten to bring my box of Remedial pills. I don’t know what I shall do without them.”
“I’ve got a box of Brandeth’s pills downstairs,” said Clinton. “You’re welcome to a part of them, I’m sure.”
“They wouldn’t do! What can you be thinking of, young man? Do you think there’s no difference between pills?”
“I’m sure I can’t tell, don’t you know?”
“Young man, you are sadly ignorant,” said Timmins, severely18. “I’ve got five other kinds of pills downstairs, for different maladies I am subject to, but none of them will take the place of Remedial pills.”
“Will any of them cure seasickness?” asked the dude, eagerly.
“I can give you a remedy for seasickness, Mr. Clinton,” said Mr. Holdfast, the mate, who chanced to overhear the inquiry19.
“What is it, Mr. Holdfast? I shall be really grateful, I assure you, if you can cure that beastly malady20.”
“Swallow a piece of raw salt pork about an inch square,” said the mate gravely, “and follow it up by a glass of sea water, taken at a gulp21.”
“That’s horrid22, awfully23 horrid!” gasped24 Clinton, shuddering25, and looking very pale. “It actually makes me sick to think of it, don’t you know,” and he retreated to the cabin, with one hand pressed on his stomach.
“That young man’s a fool!” said Mr. Timmins. “He knows no more about pills than a baby.”
“Nor do I, Mr. Timmins,” said Harry, smiling.
“I pity you then. My life has been saved several times by pills.”
“I’d rather live without them.”
Marmaduke sadly shook his head as he walked away.
“That man’s a walking drug store,” said the mate, looking after him. “I’d rather go to Davy’s locker26, and be done with it, than to fill myself up with pills and potions.”
“You’re looking chipper, my boy,” said a newcomer, in a nasal voice. “Haven’t been seasick14, I guess.”
Harry recognized the voice of the Yankee inventor, Jonathan Stubbs.
“No, sir; I have had very little trouble.”
“I’m goin’ to get up a cure for seasickness when I have time—a kind of a self-acting, automatic belt—I guess there’d be plenty of money in it.”
“Do you mean that languishin’ creeter with an eyeglass and spindle legs? What are such fellows made for?”
The voyage was to be a long one, and after a couple of weeks they all had their sea legs on. All had become acquainted, and settled down to a regular routine. But the time dragged, and as there were no morning or evening papers, something seemed necessary to break the monotony.
“Harry,” said the professor, “I have an idea.”
“What is it, professor?”
“Suppose we give an exhibition for the benefit of our fellow passengers and the crew.”
“I am ready to do my part.”
“Then I will speak to the captain.”
The result was that on the first quiet day Professor Hemenway and his assistant gave a matinee performance on the deck of the Nantucket, at which all who could possibly be spared were present. To some of the sailors it was a novelty, and the magician’s tricks actually inspired some with the feeling that he was possessed30 of supernatural powers.
“Will you lend me your hat, Mr. Clinton?” he asked presently, of the dude.
“Certainly, professor,” drawled the young man.
The professor took it, and tapped it.
“Are you sure there is nothing in it?” he asked.
“I am sure of it. Really, I don’t carry things in my hat, don’t you know.”
“What do you say to this, then?” and Professor Hemenway drew out of the hat half a dozen onions, a couple of potatoes, and a ship biscuit.
“My dear sir, I think you are mistaken,” he said. “I see you carry your lunch in your hat.”
“Are you fond of onions, Mr. Clinton?” asked Harry.
“I wouldn’t eat one for—for a new suit of clothes!” protested Clinton, earnestly.
“Allow me to return your hat, Mr. Clinton,” said the professor, politely. “I suppose you want the vegetables too. Here are the onions, and the rest.”
“They are not mine, on my honor,” said Clinton, very much embarrassed. “Here, my good man, can you make use of these?”
The sailor whom he addressed accepted the gift with a grin.
“I have no use for them, my good man. I never ate an onion in my life.”
“Then I don’t think you know what’s good,” said Mr. Stubbs. “An onion, let me tell you, is mighty34 good eatin’, and healthy, too.”
At the close of the magical entertainment, Harry sang by request, and no part of the performance was more popular. He received many warm congratulations.
“Really, Mr. Vane, you sing like a nightingale, don’t you know,” was the tribute of Clinton.
“Bless me!” said Mr. Timmins; “I was so absorbed in your song that I have forgotten to take my catarrh medicine.”
“Thank you, sir; that is the best compliment I have received,” returned Harry, with a smile.
Little has been said thus far of Captain Hill, the chief officer of the Nantucket. He was a stout35, red-faced seaman36, nearing fifty years of age, and had been in service ever since he was fifteen. He was a thorough sailor, and fitted in every way but one to take charge of a ship bound to any part of the world. His one disqualification may be stated briefly—he had a passion for drink.
It was not immediately that this was found out. He took his meals with the passengers, but it was not then that he indulged his appetite. He kept a private store of liquors in his cabin, and had recourse to them when by himself, under the impression that he could keep it a secret. But intemperance37, like murder, will out.
Harry and the professor were standing38 by the rail looking out at sea, one day, when a thick voice greeted them, “Good-mor’n’, gentlemen,” this address being followed by a hiccough.
Both turned quickly, and exchanged a significant glance when they recognized the captain.
“Yes,” answered Professor Hemenway, “it is indeed a fine morning.”
“I am sorry to see this, Harry,” said the professor.
“Yes, sir; it is a pity any gentleman should drink too much.”
“Yes, but that isn’t all,” said the professor, earnestly; “it is a pity, of course, that Captain Hill should so sin against his own health, but we must consider furthermore, that he has our lives under his control. Our safety depends on his prudent39 management.”
“He seems to understand his business,” said Harry.
“Granted; but no man, however good a seaman, is fit to manage a vessel when he allows liquor to rob him of his senses. I wish I had had a knowledge beforehand of the captain’s infirmity.”
“Suppose you had, sir?”
“I wouldn’t have trusted myself on board the Nantucket, you may be sure of that.”
“It may be only an exceptional case.”
“Let us hope so.”
The next occasion on which the captain displayed his infirmity was rather a laughable one. He came up from the cabin about three o’clock in the afternoon so full that he was forced to stagger as he walked. Directly in front of him the young dude, Montgomery Clinton, was pacing the deck, carrying in his hand a rattan40 cane41 such as he used on shore. As he overhauled42 him, Captain Hill, with the instinct of a drunken man, locked arms with the young man, and forced him to promenade43 in his company, talking rather incoherently meanwhile. Clinton’s look of distress44 and perplexity, as he submitted to his fate, caused Harry nearly to explode with laughter. They were indeed a singular pair.
Finally there came a disaster. A lurch45 of the vessel proved too much for the captain, who, in losing his equilibrium46, also upset Clinton, and the two rolled down under one of the ship’s boats, which was slung47 on one side.
Montgomery Clinton picked himself up, and hurriedly betook himself to his cabin, fearing that he might fall again into the clutches of his unwelcome companion. The captain was helped to his feet by the mate, and was persuaded also to go downstairs.
“The captain was pretty well slewed48, professor,” said Mr. Stubbs, who chanced to be on deck at the time.
“It looks like it,” answered Professor Hemenway.
“Just what I am thinking, Mr. Stubbs.”
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1
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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stanch
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| v.止住（血等）；adj.坚固的；坚定的 | |
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complement
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| n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足 | |
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4
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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5
attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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6
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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7
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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8
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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9
assortment
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| n.分类，各色俱备之物，聚集 | |
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10
proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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11
undesirable
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| adj.不受欢迎的，不良的，不合意的，讨厌的；n.不受欢迎的人，不良分子 | |
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12
quaintly
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| adv.古怪离奇地 | |
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13
seasickness
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| n.晕船 | |
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seasick
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| adj.晕船的 | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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16
chronic
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| adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的 | |
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invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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18
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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19
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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malady
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| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
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21
gulp
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| vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽 | |
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22
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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24
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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25
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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26
locker
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| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
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27
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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28
ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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29
guffaw
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| n.哄笑；突然的大笑 | |
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30
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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31
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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32
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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37
intemperance
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| n.放纵 | |
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38
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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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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40
rattan
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| n.藤条，藤杖 | |
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41
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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42
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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43
promenade
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| n./v.散步 | |
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44
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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45
lurch
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| n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行 | |
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46
equilibrium
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| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
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47
slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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48
slewed
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| adj.喝醉的v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去式 )( slew的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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