[157]
No one of the sailors spoke2, but all looked at each other in hesitating silence.
"What was it? Are you all deaf?" demanded the mate, impatiently.
"A little fight, that is all, Mr. Randall," answered Bill Sturdy, coolly hitching3 up his pants.
"And you were one of the parties?"
"I believe I was."
"And who was the other?"
"Antonio."
"And where is he now?"
"He has gone below," said Bill, in a significant tone.
"What was the fight about?" inquired Randall, who, in ordinary cases, would not have cared to pursue the subject farther, but had an undefined idea that it was in some way connected with our hero, for whom he felt no peculiar4 affection.
"The fact is," said Bill Sturdy, "Antonio undertook to abuse that lad there," pointing to Charlie; "and I ain't one to stand by and see a boy abused. Besides," he added, with a latent humor which all understood, though[158] he did not allow it to alter the gravity of his countenance5, "I knew he was your nephew, and that made me the more anxious to defend him."
Randall was placed in an awkward predicament. He could not deny that Charlie was his nephew after his express declaration to that effect, while at the same time the relationship which he claimed was far from exciting, in his own mind, any attachment6 for the boy. Still it closed his mouth for the time. He only muttered, in an undertone, that the boy must fight his own battles, and disappeared from the deck.
"Fight his own battles!" repeated Sturdy, indignantly. "A pretty sort of an uncle he is, to match a boy of fourteen against a grown man, and a strong one at that. However," added Sturdy, complacently7, "the lad's got a friend that is a match for Antonio at any time."
"That he has," answered a comrade; "but I say, Bill; I couldn't help laughing to see how you made that old shark shut up his mouth by telling him it was his nephew you[159] were fighting for. It made him mad, but he didn't know what to say against it."
"His nephew! No, Jack8, it's well the lad isn't any kith or kin9 of his. A drop of his blood would be enough to spile a decent lad."
"Ay, that it would."
Presently Antonio came on deck with a sullen10 air, half of defiance11, half of humiliation12, at his recent defeat. He smarted under the conviction, that henceforth his authority among the crew would be small. Hitherto he had been the champion and bully13 of the quarter-deck, and although the crew had no liking14 for him, but rather a decided15 feeling of an opposite nature, yet strength and prowess always command a certain rude respect among sailors, and that respect he enjoyed. But now all was changed. He had been beaten, and that in a fair fight, where all could see that no underhand means had been employed. Strength had been matched against strength, and he had come off second best. That had been a Waterloo day to him, and he knew that he returned to the deck no longer the same man so far as consideration went.
[160]
Bill Sturdy was a generous antagonist16. He had no idea of indulging in exultation17 over his vanquished18 foe19, but treated him as if nothing had happened.
But Antonio's resentment20 was deep and implacable. He thirsted for revenge, and determined21 to lull22 to sleep the suspicions of his late opponent, until some opportunity should present itself for an effectual and safe revenge.
Accordingly he suddenly recovered from his sullenness23, and made some half advances towards Sturdy, which the latter met, but not without reserve.
"I can't kind o' feel as if the feller was to be trusted," said Bill to Charlie, one evening, as they were alone together. "There's something in his eye that I don't like; a sort of deceitful gleam, as if there was something covered up that he didn't like to show. For my part, I like to be fair and above board, and show just what I am."
"I'm sorry you have made an enemy of this man on my account," said Charlie.
"Avast, my lad, do you think I was going[161] to stand still and let him abuse you? Thank heaven, old Bill Sturdy isn't such a lubber as that."
"But he may do you a mischief24 yet, Bill."
"Let him come within the reach of my arm," said Bill, swinging his brawny25 right arm as he would a flail26, "I guess he wouldn't want to try it again."
"But he may take you at advantage."
"He will have to get up early in the morning, then," said Sturdy, in a tone of confidence. "No lubberly foreigner is likely to get ahead of Bill Sturdy, I can tell you that, my lad."
Both Bill and Charlie supposed that they were alone, and that this conversation was unheard by any other person, but in this they were mistaken.
On the other side of the mast crouched27 the dark figure of a man, who seemed to be listening intently to the conversation between the two. He remained very quiet, fearing, doubtless, that he should be observed. Evidently what he heard did not affect him pleasantly. His brow contracted, and a scowl28 of hatred[162] made his features look even more dark and forbidding than was their wont29, especially when Bill Sturdy made use of the last expression, his face exhibited a concentrated malice30, which could only have been generated in a heart full of evil passions.
He ground his white teeth together and muttered to himself, as he crept cautiously from his place of concealment31, and made his way to his bunk32 in the forecastle. "We shall see, we shall see. No man shall insult and triumph over me without repenting33 of it. He shall know, some time, what it is to excite the vengeance34 of a desperate man. He thinks the lion has become a lamb. He will find out his mistake."
Antonio might more appropriately have compared himself to a serpent, for his character had more of the subtlety35 of the noxious36 reptile37 than of the boldness and freedom of the monarch38 of the forest.
Unconscious of the concealed39 listener to their discourse40, Bill Sturdy and our young friend continued their conversation. In the hours of darkness, when night broods upon[163] the ocean, and no sound is to be heard save the dashing of the waves against the sides of the vessel41, the sailor who is obliged to stand his watch would find the hours pass wearily if it were not for some method of killing42 the time. Among these is the spinning of yarns44, for which sailors are so noted45. This it was that occurred to Bill, as he stood with Charlie leaning over the side.
"I say, my lad, suppose we spin a yarn43 apiece, and that will make the time pass quicker."
"But I am not an old sailor, Bill; I don't know anything about spinning yarns."
"Tush, lad, I don't expect a salt-water yarn from you. I want a land yarn. I am sure, you have read a good many, and can think of one now. Just lead off, and when you get through, I'll try my hand at it."
Thus adjured46, Charlie said, "Let me think a minute."
Bill leaned over the rail in silent expectation.
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1
surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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2
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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3
hitching
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| 搭乘； （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的现在分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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4
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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5
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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6
attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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7
complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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8
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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9
kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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10
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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11
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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12
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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13
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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14
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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15
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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16
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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17
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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18
vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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19
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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20
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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21
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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22
lull
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| v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇 | |
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23
sullenness
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| n. 愠怒, 沉闷, 情绪消沉 | |
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24
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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25
brawny
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| adj.强壮的 | |
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26
flail
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| v.用连枷打；击打；n.连枷（脱粒用的工具） | |
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27
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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29
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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30
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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31
concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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32
bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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33
repenting
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的现在分词 ) | |
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34
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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35
subtlety
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| n.微妙，敏锐，精巧；微妙之处，细微的区别 | |
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36
noxious
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| adj.有害的，有毒的；使道德败坏的，讨厌的 | |
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37
reptile
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| n.爬行动物；两栖动物 | |
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38
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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39
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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40
discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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41
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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42
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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43
yarn
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| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
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44
yarns
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| n.纱( yarn的名词复数 )；纱线；奇闻漫谈；旅行轶事 | |
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45
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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46
adjured
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| v.（以起誓或诅咒等形式）命令要求( adjure的过去式和过去分词 )；祈求；恳求 | |
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