Turn we now to Miss Pritty—and a pretty sight she is when we turn to her! In her normal condition Miss Pritty is the pink of propriety1 and neatness. At the present moment she lies with her mouth open, and her eyes shut, hair dishevelled, garments disordered, slippers2 off, and stockings not properly on. Need we say that the sea is at the bottom of it? One of the most modest, gentle, unassuming, amiable3 of women has been brought to the condition of calmly and deliberately4 asserting that she “doesn’t care!”—doesn’t care for appearances; doesn’t care for character; doesn’t care for past reminiscences or future prospects5; doesn’t care, in short, for anything—life and death included. It is a sad state of mind and body—happily a transient!
“Stewardess6.”
“Yes, Miss?”
“I shall die.”
“Oh no, Miss, don’t say so. You’ll be quite well in a short time,” (the stewardess has a pleasant motherly way of encouraging the faint-hearted). “Don’t give way to it, Miss. You’ve no idea what a happytite you’ll ’ave in a few days. You’ll be soon able to eat hoceans of soup and ’eaps of fat pork, and—”
She stops abruptly7, for Miss Pritty has gone into sudden convulsions, in the midst of which she begs the stewardess, quite fiercely, to “Go away.”
Let us draw a veil over the scene.
Miss Pritty has been brought to this pass by Mr Charles Hazlit, whose daughter, Aileen, has been taken ill in China. Being a man of unbounded wealth, and understanding that Miss Pritty is a sympathetic friend of his daughter and an admirable nurse, he has written home to that lady requesting her, in rather peremptory9 terms, to “come out to them.” Miss Pritty, resenting the tone of the request as much as it was in her nature to resent anything, went off instanter, in a gush10 of tender love and sympathy, and took passage in the first ship that presented itself as being bound for the China seas. She did not know much about ships. Her maritime11 ideas were vague. If a washing-tub had been advertised just then as being A1 at Lloyds’ and about to put forth12 for that region of the earth with every possible convenience on board for the delight of human beings, she would have taken a berth14 in it at once.
We do not intend to inflict15 Miss Pritty’s voyage on our reader. Suffice it to say that she survived it, reached China in robust16 health, and found her sick friend,—who had recovered,—in a somewhat similar condition.
After an embrace such as women alone can bestow17 on each other, Miss Pritty, holding her friend’s hand, sat down to talk. After an hour of interjectional, exclamatory, disconnected, irrelevant18, and largely idiotical converse19—sustained chiefly by herself—Miss Pritty said:—
“And oh! The pirates!”
She said this with an expression of such awful solemnity that Aileen could not forbear smiling as she asked—
“Did you see any?”
“Gracious! No,” exclaimed Miss Pritty, with a look of horror, “but we heard of them. Only think of that! If I have one horror on earth which transcends20 all other horrors in horribleness, that horror is—pirates. I once had the misfortune to read of them when quite a girl—they were called Buccaneers, I think, in the book—and I have never got over it. Well, one day when we were sailing past the straits of Malacca,—I think it was,—our captain said they were swarming22 in these regions, and that he had actually seen them—more than that, had slain23 them with his own—oh! It is too horrible to think of. And our captain was such a dear good man too. Not fierce one bit, and so kind to everybody on board, especially the ladies! I really cannot understand it. There are such dreadfully strange mixtures of character in this world. No, he did not say he had slain them, but he used nautical26 expressions which amount to the same thing, I believe; he said he had spiflicated lots of ’em and sent no end of ’em to somebody’s locker27. It may be wrong in me even to quote such expressions, dear Aileen, but I cannot explain myself properly if I don’t. It is fearful to know there are so many of them, ‘swarming,’ as our captain said.”
“The worst of it is that many of the boatmen and small traders on the coast,” said Aileen, “are also pirates, or little better.”
“Dreadful!” exclaimed her friend. “Why, oh why do people go to sea at all?”
“To transport merchandise, I suppose,” said Aileen. “We should be rather badly off without tea, and silk, and spices, and such things—shouldn’t we?”
“Tea and silk! Aileen. I would be content to wear cotton and drink coffee or cocoa—which latter I hate—if we only got rid of pirates.”
“Even cotton, coffee, and cocoa are imported, I fear,” suggested Aileen.
“Then I’d wear wool and drink water—anything for peace. Oh how I wish,” said Miss Pritty, with as much solemn enthusiasm as if she were the first who had wished it, “that I were the Queen of England—then I’d let the world see something.”
“What would you do, dear?” asked Aileen.
“Do! Well, I’ll tell you. Being the head of the greatest nation of the earth—except, of course, the Americans, who assert their supremacy28 so constantly that they must be right—being the head, I say, of the greatest earthly nation, with that exception, I would order out all my gun-ships and turret-boats, and build new ones, and send them all round to the eastern seas, attack the pirates in their strongholds, and—and—blow them all out o’ the water, or send the whole concern to the bottom! You needn’t laugh, Aileen. Of course I do not use my own language. I quote from our captain. Really you have no idea what strong, and to me quite new expressions that dear man used. So powerful too, but never naughty. No, never. I often felt as if I ought to have been shocked by them, but on consideration I never was, for it was more the manner than the matter that seemed shocking. He was so gentle and kind, too, with it all. I shall never forget how he gave me his arm the first day I was able to come on deck, after being reduced to a mere29 shadow by sea-sickness, and how tenderly he led me up and down, preventing me, as he expressed it, from lurching into the lee-scuppers, or going slap through the quarter-rails into the sea.”
After a little more desultory30 converse, Aileen asked her friend if she were prepared to hear some bad news.
Miss Pritty declared that she was, and evinced the truth of her declaration by looking prematurely31 horrified32.
Aileen, although by no means demonstrative, could not refrain from laying her head on her friend’s shoulder as she said, “Well then, dear Laura, we are beggars! Dear papa has failed in business, and we have not a penny in the world!”
Miss Pritty was not nearly so horrified as she had anticipated being. Poor thing, she was so frequently in the condition of being without a penny that she had become accustomed to it. Her face, however, expressed deep sympathy, and her words corresponded therewith.
“How did it happen?” she asked, at the close of a torrent33 of condolence.
“Indeed I don’t know,” replied Aileen, looking up with a smile as she brushed away the two tears which the mention of their distress34 had forced into her eyes. “Papa says it was owing to the mismanagement of a head clerk and the dishonesty of a foreign agent, but whatever the cause, the fact is that we are ruined. Of course that means, I suppose, that we shall have no more than enough to procure35 the bare necessaries of life, and shall now, alas36! Know experimentally what it is to be poor.”
Miss Pritty, when in possession of “enough to procure the bare necessaries of life,” had been wont37 to consider herself rich, but her powers of sympathy were great. She scorned petty details, and poured herself out on her poor friend as a true comforter—counselled resignation as a matter of course, but suggested such a series of bright impossibilities for the future as caused Aileen to laugh, despite her grief.
In the midst of one of these bursts of hilarity38 Mr Hazlit entered the room. The sound seemed to grate on his feelings, for he frowned as he walked, in an absent mood, up to a glass case full of gaudy39 birds, and turned his back to it under the impression, apparently40, that it was a fire.
“Aileen,” he said, jingling41 some loose coin in his pocket with one hand, while with the other he twisted the links of a massive gold chain, “your mirth is ill-timed. I am sorry, Miss Pritty, to have to announce to you, so soon after your arrival, that I am a beggar.”
As he spoke42 he drew himself up to his full height, and looked, on the whole, like an over-fed, highly ornamented43, and well-to-do beggar.
“Yes,” he said, repeating the word with emphasis as if he were rather proud of it, “a beggar. I have not a possession in the world save the clothes on my back, which common decency44 demands that my creditors45 should allow to remain there. Now, I have all my life been a man of action, promptitude, decision. We return to England immediately—I do not mean before luncheon46, but as soon as the vessel47 in which I have taken our passage is ready for sea, which will probably be in a few days. I am sorry, Miss Pritty, that I have put you to so much unnecessary trouble, but of course I could not foresee what was impending48. All I can do now is to thank you, and pay your passage back in the same vessel with ourselves if you are disposed to go. That vessel, I may tell you, has been selected by me with strict regard to my altered position. It is a very small one, a mere schooner49, in which there are no luxuries though enough of necessaries. You will therefore, my child, prepare for departure without delay.”
In accordance with this decision Mr and Miss Hazlit and Miss Pritty found themselves not long afterwards on board the Fairy Queen as the only passengers, and, in process of time, were conveyed by winds and currents to the neighbourhood of the island of Borneo, where we will leave them while we proceed onward50 to the island of Ceylon. Time and distance are a hindrance51 to most people. They are fortunately nothing whatever in the way of writers and readers!
Here a strange scene presents itself; numerous pearl-divers52 are at work—most of them native, some European. But with these we have nothing particular to do, except in so far as they engage the attention of a certain man in a small boat, whose movements we will watch. The man had been rowed to the scene of action by two Malays from a large junk, or Chinese vessel, which lay in the offing. He was himself a Malay—tall, dark, stern, handsome, and of very powerful build. The rowers were perfectly53 silent and observant of his orders, which were more frequently conveyed by a glance or a nod than by words.
Threading his way among the boats of the divers, the Malay skipper, for such he seemed, signed to the rowers to stop, and directed his attention specially24 to one boat. In truth this boat seemed worthy54 of attention because of the energy of the men on board of it. A diver had just leaped from its side into the sea. He was a stalwart man of colour, quite naked, and aided his descent by means of a large stone attached to each of the sandals which he wore. These sandals, on his desiring to return to the surface, could be thrown off, being recoverable by means of cords fastened to them. Just as he went down another naked diver came up from the bottom, and was assisted into the boat. A little blood trickled55 from his nose and ears, and he appeared altogether much exhausted56. No wonder. He had not indeed remained down at any time more than a minute and a half, but he had dived nearly fifty times that day, and sent up a basket containing a hundred pearl oysters57 each time.
Presently the man who had just descended60 reappeared. He also looked fagged, but after a short rest prepared again to descend59. He had been under water about ninety seconds. Few divers can remain longer. The average time is one minute and a half, sometimes two minutes. It is said that these men are short-lived, and we can well believe it, for their work, although performed only during a short period of each year, is in violent opposition61 to the laws of nature.
Directing his men to row on, our skipper soon came to another boat, which not only arrested his attention but aroused his curiosity, for never before had he seen so strange a sight. It was a large boat with novel apparatus62 on board of it, and white men—in very strange costume. In fact it was a party of European divers using the diving-dress among the pearl-fishers of Ceylon, and great was the interest they created, as well as the unbelief, scepticism, misgiving63, and doubt which they drew forth—for, although not quite a novelty in those waters, the dress was new to many of the natives present on that occasion, and Easterns, not less than Westerns, are liable to prejudice!
A large concourse of boats watched the costuming of the divers, and breathless interest was aroused as they went calmly over the side and remained down for more than an hour, sending up immense quantities of oysters. Of course liberal-minded men were made converts on the spot, and, equally of course, the narrow-minded remained “of the same opinion still.” Nevertheless, that day’s trial of Western ingenuity64 has borne much fruit, for we are now told, by the best authorities, that at the present time the diving-dress is very extensively used in sponge, pearl, and coral fisheries in many parts of the world where naked divers alone were employed not many years ago; and that in the Greek Archipelago and on the Turkish and Barbary coasts alone upwards65 of three hundred diving apparatuses66 are employed in the sponge fisheries, with immense advantage to all concerned and to the world at large.
Leaving this interesting sight, our Malay skipper threaded his way through the fleet of boats and made for the shores of the Bay of Condatchy, which was crowded with eager men of many nations.
This bay, on the west coast of Ceylon, is the busy scene of one of the world’s great fisheries of the pearl oyster58. The fishing, being in the hands of Government, is kept under strict control. It is farmed out. The beds of oysters are annually-surveyed and reported on. They are divided into four equal portions, only one of which is worked each year. As the fishing produces vast wealth and affords scope for much speculation67 during the short period of its exercise, the bay during February, March, and April of each year presents a wondrous68 spectacle, for here Jews, Indians, merchants, jewellers, boatmen, conjurors to charm off the dreaded69 sharks, Brahmins, Roman Catholic priests, and many other professions and nationalities are represented, all in a state of speculation, hope, and excitement that fill their faces with animation70 and their frames with activity.
The fleet of boats leaves the shore at 10 p.m. on the firing of a signal-gun, and returns at noon next day, when again the gun is fired, flags are hoisted71, and Babel immediately ensues.
It was noon when our Malay skipper landed. The gun had just been fired. Many of the boats were in, others were arriving. Leaving his boat in charge of his men, the skipper wended his way quickly through the excited crowd with the wandering yet earnest gaze of a man who searches for some one. Being head and shoulders above most of the men around him, he could do this with ease. For some time he was unsuccessful, but at last he espied72 an old grey-bearded Jew, and pushed his way towards him.
“Ha! Pungarin, my excellent friend,” exclaimed the Jew, extending his hand, which the skipper merely condescended73 to touch, “how do you do? I am so overjoyed to see you; you have business to transact74 eh?”
“You may be quite sure, Moses, that I did not come to this nest of sharpers merely for pleasure,” replied Pungarin, brusquely.
“Ah, my friend, you are really too severe. No doubt we are sharp, but that is a proper business qualification. Besides, our trade is legitimate75, while yours, my friend, is—”
The Jew stopped and cast a twinkling glance at his tall companion.
“Is not legitimate, you would say,” observed Pungarin, “but that is open to dispute. In my opinion this is a world of robbers; the only difference among us is that some are sneaking76 robbers, others are open. Every man to his taste. I have been doing a little of the world’s work openly of late, and I come here with part of the result to give you a chance of robbing me in the other way.”
“Nay77, nay, you are altogether too hard,” returned the Jew, with a deprecating smile; “but come to my little office. We shall have more privacy there. How comes it, Pungarin, that you are so far from your own waters? It is a longish way from Ceylon to Borneo.”
“How comes it,” replied the Malay, “that the sea-mew flies far from home? There is no limit to the flight of a sea-rover, save the sea-shore.”
“True, true,” returned the Jew, with a nod of intelligence; “but here is my place of business. Enter my humble78 abode79, and pray be seated.”
Pungarin stooped to pass the low doorway80, and seated himself beside a small deal table which, although destitute81 of a cloth, was thickly covered with ink-stains. The Malay rover was clad in a thin loose red jacket, a short petticoat or kilt, and yellow trousers. A red fez, with a kerchief wound round it turban fashion, covered his head. He was a well-made stalwart man, with a handsome but fierce-looking countenance82.
From beneath the loose jacket Pungarin drew forth a small, richly chased, metal casket. Placing it on the table he opened it, and, turning it upside down, poured from it a little cataract83 of glittering jewellery.
“Ha! My friend,” exclaimed his companion, “you have got a prize. Where did you find it?”
“I might answer, ‘What is that to you?’ but I won’t, for I wish to keep you in good humour till our business is concluded. Here, then, are the facts connected with the case. Not long ago some Englishmen came out to Hong-Kong to dive to a vessel which had been wrecked85 on an island off the coast. My worthy agent there, Dwarro, cast his eyes on them and soon found out all about their plans. Dwarro is a very intelligent fellow. Like yourself, he has a good deal of the sneaking robber about him. He ascertained86 that the wreck84 had much gold coin in it, and so managed that they hired his boat to go off to it with their diving apparatus. Somewhat against their will he accompanied them. They were very successful. The first time they went on shore, they took with them gold to the value of about twenty thousand pounds. Dwarro cleverly managed to have this secured a few hours after it was landed. He also made arrangements to have a fleet of my fellows ready, so that when more gold had been recovered from the wreck they might surround them on the spot and secure it. But the young Englishman at the head of the party was more than a match for us. He cowed Dwarro, and cleverly escaped to land. There, however, another of my agents had the good fortune to discover the Englishmen while they were landing their gold. He was too late, indeed, to secure the gold, which had been sent on inland in charge of two Chinamen, but he was lucky enough to discover this casket in the stern-sheets of their boat. The Englishmen fought hard for it, especially the young fellow in command, who was more like a tiger than a man, and knocked down half a dozen of our men before he was overpowered. We would have cut his throat then and there, but a party of inhabitants, guided by one of the Chinamen, came to the rescue, and we were glad to push off with what we had got. Now, Moses, this casket is worth a good round sum. Dwarro wisely took the trouble to make inquiries87 about it through one of the Chinamen, who happened to be an honest man and fortunately also very stupid. From this man, Chok-foo, who is easily imposed on, he learned that the casket belongs to a very rich English merchant, who would give anything to recover it, because it belonged to his wife, who is dead—”
“A rich English merchant?” interrupted Moses, “we Jews are acquainted pretty well with all the rich English merchants. Do you know his name?”
“Yes; Charles Hazlit,” answered the Malay.
“Indeed! Well—go on.”
“Well,” said Pungarin, abruptly, “I have nothing more to say, except, what will you give for these things?”
“One thousand pounds would be a large sum to offer,” said the Jew, slowly.
“And a very small one to accept,” returned Pungarin, as he slowly gathered the gems88 together and put them back into the casket.
“Nay, my friend, be not so hasty,” said Moses; “what do you ask for them?”
“I shall ask nothing,” replied the Malay; “the fact is, I think it probable that I may be able to screw more than their value out of Mr Hazlit.”
“I am sorry to disappoint your expectations,” returned the Jew, with something approaching to a sneer89, as he rose; and, selecting one from a pile of English newspapers, slowly read out to his companion the announcement of the failure of the firm of Hazlit and Company. “You see, my good friend, we Jews are very knowing as well as sharp. It were better for you to transact your little business with me.”
Knowing and sharp as he was, the Jew was not sufficiently90 so to foresee the result of his line of conduct with the Malay rover. Instead of giving in and making the best of circumstances, that freebooter, with characteristic impetuosity, shut the steel box with a loud snap, put it under his arm, rose, and walked out of the place without uttering a word. He went down to the beach and rowed away, leaving Moses to moralise on the uncertainty91 of all human affairs.
Favouring gales92 carried the Malay pirate-junk swiftly to the east. The same gales checked, baffled, and retarded93 the schooner Fairy Queen on her voyage to the west.
“Darling Aileen,” said Miss Pritty, recovering from a paroxysm, “did you ever hear of any one dying of sea-sickness?”
“I never did,” answered Aileen, with a languid smile.
Both ladies lay in their berths94, their pale cheeks resting on the woodwork thereof, and their eyes resting pitifully on each other.
“It is awful—horrible!” sighed Miss Pritty at at the end of another paroxysm.
Aileen, who was not so ill as her friend, smiled but said nothing. Miss Pritty was past smiling, but not quite past speaking.
“What dreadful noises occur on board ships,” she said, after a long pause; “such rattling95, and thumping96, and creaking, and stamping. Perhaps the sailors get their feet wet and are so cold that they require to stamp constantly to warm them!”
Aileen displayed all her teeth and said, “Perhaps.”
At that moment the stamping became so great, and was accompanied by so much shouting, that both ladies became attentive97.
A few moments later their door opened violently, and Mr Hazlit appeared with a very pale face. He was obviously in a state of great perturbation.
“My dears,” he said, hurriedly, “excuse my intruding—we are—attacked—pirates—get up; put on your things!”
His retreat and the closing of the door was followed by a crash overhead and a yell. Immediately after the schooner quivered from stem to stern, under the shock of her only carronade, which was fired at the moment; the shot being accompanied by a loud cheer.
“Oh horror!” exclaimed Miss Pritty, “my worst fears are realised!”
Poor Miss Pritty was wrong. Like many people whose “worst fears” have been engendered98 at a civilised fireside, she was only beginning to realise a few of her fears. She lived to learn that her “worst fears” were mere child’s play to the world’s dread25 realities.
Her sea-sickness, however, vanished as if by magic, and in a few minutes she and her companion were dressed.
During those few minutes the noise on deck had increased, and the shouts, yells, and curses told them too plainly that men were engaged in doing what we might well believe is the work only of devils. Then shrieks99 of despair followed.
Presently all was silent. In a few minutes the cabin door opened, and Pungarin entered.
“Go on deck,” he said, in a quiet tone.
The poor ladies obeyed. On reaching the deck the first sight that met them was Mr Hazlit standing8 by the binnacle. A Malay pirate with a drawn101 sword stood beside him, but he was otherwise unfettered. They evidently thought him harmless. Near to him stood the skipper of the Fairy Queen with the stern resolution of a true Briton on his countenance, yet with the sad thoughtful glance of one trained under Christian102 influences in his eye. His hands were bound, and a Malay pirate stood on either side of him. He was obviously not deemed harmless!
The decks were everywhere covered with blood, but not a man of the crew was to be seen.
“You are the captain of this schooner?” asked Pungarin.
“Yes,” replied the prisoner, firmly.
“Have you treasure on board?”
“No.”
“We shall soon find out the truth as to that. Meanwhile, who is this?” (pointing to Mr Hazlit.)
The captain was silent and thoughtful for a few moments. He was well aware of the nature of the men with whom he had to do. He had seen his crew murdered in cold blood. He knew that his own end drew near.
“This gentleman,” he said, slowly, “is a wealthy British merchant—well-known and respected in England. He has rich friends. It may be worth your while to spare him.”
“And this,” added the pirate captain, pointing to Aileen.
“Is his only child,” answered the other.
“Your name?” asked Pungarin.
“Charles Hazlit,” said the hapless merchant.
A sudden flash of intelligence lit up for a moment the swarthy features of the pirate. It passed quickly. Then he spoke in an undertone to one of his men, who, with the assistance of another, led the captain of the schooner to the forward part of the ship. A stifled103 groan104, followed by a plunge105, was heard by the horrified survivors106. That was all they ever knew of the fate of their late captain. But for what some would term a mere accident, even that and their own fate would have remained unknown to the world—at least during the revolution of Time. The romances of life are often enacted107 by commonplace people. Many good ships with ordinary people on board, (like you and me, reader), leave port, and are “never again heard of.” Who can tell what tales may be revealed in regard to such, in Eternity108?
The Fairy Queen was one of those vessels109 whose fate it was to have her “fate” revealed in Time.
We cannot state with certainty what were the motives110 which induced Pungarin to spare the lives of Mr Hazlit and his family; all we know is, that he transferred them to his junk. After taking everything of value out of the schooner, he scuttled111 her.
Not many days after, he attacked a small hamlet on the coast of Borneo, massacred most of the men, saved a few of the young and powerful of them—to serve his purposes—also some of the younger women and children, and continued his voyage.
The poor English victims whom he had thus got possession of lived, meanwhile, in a condition of what we may term unreality. They could not absolutely credit their senses. They felt strangely impelled112 to believe that a hideous113 nightmare had beset114 them—that they were dreaming; that they would unquestionably awake at last, and find that it was time to get up to a substantial and very commonplace English breakfast. But, mingled115 with this feeling, or rather, underlying116 it, there was a terrible assurance that the dream was true. So is it throughout life. What is fiction to you, reader, is fact to some one else, and that which is your fact is some one else’s fiction. If any lesson is taught by this, surely it is the lesson of sympathy—that we should try more earnestly than we do to throw ourselves out of ourselves into the place of others.
Poor Miss Pritty and Aileen learned this lesson. From that date forward, instead of merely shaking their heads and sighing in a hopeless sort of way, and doing nothing—or nearly nothing—to check the evils they deplored117, they became red-hot enthusiasts118 in condemning119 piracy120 and slavery, (which latter is the grossest form of piracy), and despotism of every kind, whether practised by a private pirate like Pungarin, or by a weak pirate like the Sultan of Zanzibar, or by comparatively strong pirates like the nations of Spain and Portugal.
In course of time the pirate-junk anchored at the mouth of a river, and much of her freight, with all her captives, was transferred to native boats. These were propelled by means of numerous oars121, and the male captives were now set to work at these oars.
Mr Hazlit and his daughter and Miss Pritty were allowed to sit idle in the stem of one of the boats, and for a time they felt their drooping122 spirits revive a little under the influence of the sweet sunshine while they rowed along shore, but as time passed these feelings were rudely put to flight.
The captives were various in their character and nationality, as well as in their spirits and temperaments123. These had all to be brought into quick subjection and working order. There were far more captives than the pirates knew what to do with. One of those who sat on the thwart124 next to the Hazlits had been a policeman in one of the China ports. He was a high-spirited young fellow. It was obvious that his soul was seething125 into rebellion. The pirate in charge of the boat noted126 the fact, and whispered to one of his men, who thereupon ordered the policeman to pull harder, and accompanied his order with a cut from a bamboo cane21.
Instantly the youth sprang up, and tried to burst his bonds. He succeeded, but before he could do anything, he was overpowered by half a dozen men, and re-bound. Then two men sat down beside him, each with a small stick, with which they beat the muscles of his arms and legs, until their power was completely taken away. This done, they left him, a living heap of impotent flesh in the bottom of the boat, and a salutary warning to the rebellious127.
But it did not end here. As soon as the poor fellow had recovered sufficiently to move, he was again set to the oar13, and forced to row as best he could.
The voyage along the coast, and up a river into which they finally turned, occupied several days. At first, on starting, Aileen and her companions had looked with tender pity on the captives as they toiled129 at the heavy oars, but this deepened into earnest solicitude130 as they saw them, after hours of toil128, gasping131 for want of water and apparently faint from want of food. Next day, although they had lain down in the bottom of the boat supperless, the rest had refreshed most of them, and they pulled on with some degree of vigour132. But noon came, and with it culminated133 the heat of a burning sun. Still no water was served out, no food distributed. Mr Hazlit and his party had biscuit and water given them in the morning and at noon. During the latter meal Aileen observed the native policeman regarding her food with such eager wolfish eyes that under an impulse of uncontrollable feeling she held out her can of water to him. He seized and drank the half of it before one of the pirates had time to dash it from his lips.
Presently a youth, who seemed less robust than his comrades, uttered a wild shriek100, threw up his hands, and fell backwards134. At once the pirates detached him from his oar, threw him into the sea, and made another captive fill his place. And now, to their inexpressible horror, the Hazlits discovered that the practice of these wretches—when they happened to have a super-abundance of captives—was to make them row on without meat or drink, until they dropt at the oar, and then throw them overboard! Reader, we do not deal in fiction here, we describe what we have heard from the mouth of a trustworthy eye-witness.
In these circumstances the harrowing scenes that were enacted before the English ladies were indeed fitted to arouse that “horror” which poor Miss Pritty, in her innocence135, had imagined to have reached its worst. We will pass it over. Many of the captives died. A few of the strongest survived, and these, at last, were fed a little in order to enable them to complete the journey. Among them was the native policeman, who had suddenly discovered that his wisest course of action, in the meantime, was submission136.
At last the boats reached a village in one of those rivers whose low and wooded shores afford shelter to too many nests of Malay pirates even at the present time—and no wonder! When the rulers and grandees137 of some Eastern nations live by plunder138, what can be expected of the people?
The few captives who survived were sent ashore139. Among them were our English friends.
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propriety
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slippers
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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5
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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6
stewardess
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| n.空中小姐，女乘务员 | |
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7
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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8
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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9
peremptory
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| adj.紧急的，专横的，断然的 | |
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10
gush
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| v.喷，涌；滔滔不绝(说话)；n.喷，涌流；迸发 | |
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maritime
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| adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的 | |
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12
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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13
oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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14
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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15
inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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16
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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17
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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18
irrelevant
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| adj.不恰当的，无关系的，不相干的 | |
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19
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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20
transcends
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| 超出或超越（经验、信念、描写能力等）的范围( transcend的第三人称单数 )； 优于或胜过… | |
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21
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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22
swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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23
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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24
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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25
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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26
nautical
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| adj.海上的，航海的，船员的 | |
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27
locker
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| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
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28
supremacy
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| n.至上；至高权力 | |
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29
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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30
desultory
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| adj.散漫的，无方法的 | |
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31
prematurely
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| adv.过早地，贸然地 | |
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32
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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33
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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34
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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35
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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36
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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37
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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38
hilarity
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| n.欢乐；热闹 | |
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39
gaudy
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| adj.华而不实的；俗丽的 | |
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40
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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41
jingling
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| 叮当声 | |
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42
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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43
ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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45
creditors
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| n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 ) | |
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46
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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47
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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48
impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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49
schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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50
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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51
hindrance
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| n.妨碍，障碍 | |
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52
divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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53
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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54
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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55
trickled
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| v.滴( trickle的过去式和过去分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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56
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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57
oysters
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| 牡蛎( oyster的名词复数 ) | |
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58
oyster
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| n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人 | |
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59
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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60
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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61
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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62
apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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63
misgiving
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
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64
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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65
upwards
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|
| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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66
apparatuses
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| n.器械； 装置； 设备； 仪器 | |
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67
speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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68
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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69
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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70
animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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71
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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73
condescended
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| 屈尊，俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
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74
transact
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| v.处理；做交易；谈判 | |
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75
legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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76
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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77
nay
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|
| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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78
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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79
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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80
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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81
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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82
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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83
cataract
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| n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障 | |
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84
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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85
wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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86
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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87
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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88
gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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89
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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90
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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91
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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92
gales
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| 龙猫 | |
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93
retarded
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| a.智力迟钝的，智力发育迟缓的 | |
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94
berths
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| n.（船、列车等的）卧铺( berth的名词复数 )；（船舶的）停泊位或锚位；差事；船台vt.v.停泊( berth的第三人称单数 )；占铺位 | |
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95
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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96
thumping
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| adj.重大的，巨大的；重击的；尺码大的；极好的adv.极端地；非常地v.重击(thump的现在分词)；狠打；怦怦地跳；全力支持 | |
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97
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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98
engendered
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| v.产生（某形势或状况），造成，引起( engender的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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99
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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100
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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101
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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102
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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103
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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104
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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105
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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106
survivors
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| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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107
enacted
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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108
eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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109
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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110
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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111
scuttled
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| v.使船沉没( scuttle的过去式和过去分词 )；快跑，急走 | |
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112
impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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113
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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114
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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115
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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116
underlying
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| adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的 | |
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117
deplored
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| v.悲叹，痛惜，强烈反对( deplore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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118
enthusiasts
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| n.热心人，热衷者( enthusiast的名词复数 ) | |
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119
condemning
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| v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地 | |
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120
piracy
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| n.海盗行为，剽窃，著作权侵害 | |
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121
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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122
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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123
temperaments
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| 性格( temperament的名词复数 )； （人或动物的）气质； 易冲动； （性情）暴躁 | |
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124
thwart
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| v.阻挠，妨碍，反对；adj.横(断的) | |
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125
seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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126
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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127
rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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128
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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129
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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130
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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131
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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132
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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133
culminated
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| v.达到极点( culminate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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134
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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135
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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136
submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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137
grandees
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| n.贵族，大公，显贵者( grandee的名词复数 ) | |
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138
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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139
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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