Charlie and Bill Sturdy looked at each other, uncertain where the blow was to fall.
[223]
"It must be Antonio," thought our hero.
Evidently Antonio was of the same opinion, for over his swarthy face there stole a pallor which showed his apprehension3.
Such was the understanding of the crew also, as they could think of no other wrongdoer. Little pity was excited in behalf of the supposed sufferer. He had so abused his position when champion of the crew, that he had forfeited5 the good-will of all; and even if this had not been the case, his treacherous6 and mean attempt to bring Charlie into trouble would have been sufficient to bring him into disfavor.
The uncertainty7 as to the victim was dissipated by the captain's next words.
"Jack8 Randall, come here!"
Charlie came forward.
"Boy," said Captain Brace, sternly, "you were guilty of insolence9 to me this morning. This shall never go unpunished while I am in command of a vessel10. As to the ring, you may or may not have stolen it. It rests between you and Antonio. As it cannot be proved of either, neither will be punished on this account."
Antonio's sallow face lighted up with joy at this unexpected escape, a joy which was not reflected on the faces of the crew.
[224]
"It is for insolence, therefore, and not on account of theft," pursued the captain, "that I sentence you, Jack Randall, to a dozen lashes11 on the bare back. Off with your jacket!"
Charlie was a brave boy, but the prospect13 of this ignominious14 punishment caused his check to pale and his voice to tremble, as he exclaimed, "Captain Brace, if I have been guilty of insolence or want of proper respect to you, it was not intentional15. Do not compel me to submit to this disgraceful punishment."
There was a movement of sympathy among the crew, and more than one heart softened16 at the sight of Charlie's manly17 front, though his lips quivered, and pride alone kept back the tears from his eyes. Bill Sturdy started, but checked himself, to hear what the captain would say in response.
"It is too late," he said, coldly. "You should have thought of all that before you indulged in insolence."
"But——"
"It is too late, I say," roared the captain, irritated. "Strip, you young rascal18, or you shall have some help about it, and that of a rough kind."
It seemed as if all chance of escape was[225] over for poor Charlie. But at that moment Bill Sturdy pressed forward, and, hitching19 up his trousers, as he was wont20 to do preparatory to speaking, said, in a distinct tone of voice, "Captain Brace."
"Well?" said the captain. "What have you to say?"
"I should like to make a proposal to you, sir."
"A proposal," repeated the captain, mystified. "What am I to understand by that?"
"It's just this, Captain Brace. You're the captain of this vessel, and you've got a right to flog that boy, I suppose, according to the law.
"Of course I have," said the captain, fiercely. "Do you presume to question that right?"
"I don't think proper to question it just now," said Bill; "but, Captain Brace, just look at that boy. Look at his bright, honest face, and you can't have the heart to abuse him."
"Abuse him!" exclaimed the captain, stamping on the deck in his fury; "say that again, and I'll have you flogged with him."
"It was something of that kind that I was going to propose," said Bill Sturdy.
[226]
Captain Brace stared at him in astonishment21, a feeling which was shared by the crew.
"If you want to be flogged," said the captain, grimly, "we will try to accommodate you."
"It is in this way that I mean," exclaimed Bill. "I've taken a liking22 to that lad, and I've promised him I'll stand his friend. Now, Captain Brace, if somebody must be flogged, spare him, and flog me in his place."
Surprise was depicted23 on every face, and the sunburnt and rough-visaged men about him felt an involuntary thrill of respect and admiration24, as Sturdy manfully came forward and offered his own back to the punishment, which is properly regarded as an insult to manhood, though the disgrace attaches not to the one who endures, but to the one who inflicts25 it.
Charlie was the first to speak. His generous heart revolted at the idea of escaping punishment at the expense of his friend.
"No, Bill Sturdy," said he, manfully, "I don't want you to suffer in my place. It'll be hard to bear it," and his lip quivered; "but it would be weak and cowardly for me to let anybody else suffer in my place."
Charlie began to take off his jacket.
[227]
There was a murmuring among the crew, testifying to the excitement which they felt.
"Put on your jacket, my lad," said Bill. "I'm older and tougher than you, and I can bear it better."
And the stout26 seaman27 pulled off his shirt, and displayed his brawny28 shoulders, and a chest whose breadth and depth betokened29 a strength which could not be styled less than Herculean.
Antonio looked on, his eye blazing with vindictive30 joy. Whichever was flogged, his satisfaction would be equal.
"Hark you!" exclaimed Captain Brace, interfering31 at this juncture32. "I think that I shall choose to have a voice in this matter. So you wish," turning to Sturdy, "to relieve this boy of his punishment, do you?"
"I do," said the old seaman.
"I don't want him to," interrupted Charlie. "It is mine, and I will bear it."
"It seems the parties are not agreed," said the captain, sardonically33.
"Spare him," said Bill Sturdy, his eyes resting affectionately on Charlie. "He is so young."
"Perhaps the best way in which I can please you both is to divide the punishment between you. I had sentenced this lad to[228] receive twelve lashes. Since you wish to do him a service, you shall receive six, and he the other six."
"I do not consent," said Sturdy, comprehending the captain's purpose to humiliate34 both. "If his back is to receive a single lash12, my offer will not save him from the disgrace, and that is worse than the pain."
At this juncture the mate whispered something in the captain's ear.
The face of the latter lighted up with satisfaction, and his next words revealed the nature of the mate's suggestion.
"I consent to the substitution," he said, and then paused.
Bill Sturdy's face glowed with generous satisfaction, and with heroic forgetfulness of self, he began to strip for punishment.
A moment, and his back, broad and ample, was bared and the thick, corded muscles could be seen.
"Antonio, come forward," said Captain Brace.
Antonio advanced amid the general surprise of the crew, and somewhat to his own, and stood still, awaiting orders.
"Now," said Captain Brace, his tone showing his malignant35 satisfaction. "I appoint you as my deputy to administer twelve[229] lashes to this man; mind that you don't spare him."
Antonio did not need this injunction. His eyes were full of fiendish triumph, as he seized the instrument of torture, and flourished it above his head.
As for Bill Sturdy, when he knew that Antonio was to be employed to inflict1 punishment upon him, this refinement36 of torture shook his resolution for a moment. It was, indeed, the bitterest drop in the cup. But not for an instant did his resolution falter37. He would save Charlie at all hazards. He quickly recovered himself, and said, in a firm voice, "I am ready."
Instantly the lash was whirled aloft, and buried itself in his flesh.
There was a quiver, and that was all.
One—two—three—four—
In fast succession the blows fall upon his flesh, he meanwhile standing4 firmly braced38, though his cheek was paler than its wont.
Charlie's heart sickened, and he closed his eyes to shut out the fearful spectacle.
As for Antonio, he seemed to revel39 in the task which had been assigned him. His eyes fairly danced with baleful light, and he seemed almost beside himself. It was this, perhaps,[230] that led him to exceed by one the strokes which he had been ordered to administer.
A moment after, and the lash was wrested40 from him by Bill Sturdy, who threw him to the deck, with one powerful grasp tore the covering from his back, and buried the lash which had scarred his own back in the flesh of his late executioner who with face distorted with fright and pain roared for mercy.
"That is to pay for the blow you struck on your own account, you scoundrel," exclaimed Sturdy. "And now," as the lash descended41 once more with prodigious42 force, and the victim fairly writhed43 under it, "you are one in my debt."
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1
inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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2
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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3
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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4
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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5
forfeited
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| （因违反协议、犯规、受罚等）丧失，失去( forfeit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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6
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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7
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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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
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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10
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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11
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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12
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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13
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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14
ignominious
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| adj.可鄙的，不光彩的，耻辱的 | |
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15
intentional
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| adj.故意的，有意（识）的 | |
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16
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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17
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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18
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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19
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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20
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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21
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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22
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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23
depicted
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| 描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述 | |
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24
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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25
inflicts
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的第三人称单数 ) | |
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27
seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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28
brawny
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| adj.强壮的 | |
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29
betokened
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| v.预示，表示( betoken的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30
vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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31
interfering
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| adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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32
juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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33
sardonically
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| adv.讽刺地，冷嘲地 | |
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34
humiliate
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| v.使羞辱，使丢脸[同]disgrace | |
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35
malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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36
refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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37
falter
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| vi.(嗓音)颤抖，结巴地说；犹豫；蹒跚 | |
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38
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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39
revel
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| vi.狂欢作乐，陶醉；n.作乐，狂欢 | |
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40
wrested
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| （用力）拧( wrest的过去式和过去分词 )； 费力取得； （从…）攫取； （ 从… ） 强行取去… | |
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41
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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42
prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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43
writhed
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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