Captain Brace5 bit his lip, and Randall's face darkened with rage. They felt that the humiliation6 which they had intended for Bill Sturdy had recoiled7 upon the head of their own agent.
The worst of it was they could not prudently8 resent it. Antonio had in the eyes of all been guilty of a glaring offence in exceeding his orders, and had justly brought upon himself the punishment he had received. However, the justice or injustice9 of the matter would have weighed little with Captain Brace if he had not been assured that it would not be safe for him to go further. The law, at the time of which I am speaking, gave almost unlimited10 power to the commander of a vessel11 over the lives and liberties of those who were placed under him, yet most were aware that there was a point at which it was wise to pause. At the commencement of the scene, there had been audible murmurs12 among the crew, the significance of which the captain and mate would understand. The habit of subordination, and the knowledge that this was in a certain sense a[232] voluntary act on the part of Bill Sturdy, had prevented anything more, but if the captain had gone to greater extremities13, the consequences might have been serious.
Meanwhile Antonio picked himself up, smarting under the terrible wounds which had been inflicted by the lash14 wielded15 with the whole of Bill Sturdy's enormous strength. Indeed, although he had received but two stripes, and his enemy thirteen, it may be doubted whether the pain inflicted by those two were not equal to that of the greater number.
Antonio had slunk down into the forecastle to bathe his back and obtain fresh clothes, for his shirt had been rent asunder16. Bill Sturdy, on the other hand, proceeded to attire17 himself on deck and went about his work, without showing outwardly the pain which he must have been suffering.
Captain Brace took no public notice of the retribution which had followed the punishment. He didn't dare to act as he wished, and therefore chose to pass it unnoticed. But an hour afterwards, as he sat in conference with the mate, his fury burst the bounds he had imposed upon it.
"Curse that fellow!" he exclaimed. "Is he forever destined18 to thwart19 my designs? I[233] felt that I could willingly have flogged him myself till the last breath left his body."
"It is a pity Antonio ventured to exceed his orders."
"Yes, the fool was richly repaid for his act, but I could wish it had been by a different hand."
"That extra blow gave Sturdy a pretext20 for his summary vengeance21. But for that his conduct could have been construed22 into mutiny and disrespect to you."
"And then I might have put him in irons."
"You might do it now, but for——"
"But for the crew, you would say. That alone prevents me. The fellow, unluckily, has secured their sympathy. Would that I could devise some way for taking vengeance safely upon this rebellious23 scoundrel."
The mate leaned his head upon his hand, and gave himself up to reflection. Something occurred to him, for lifting his head again, he asked,—
"Have you ever been in Rio Janeiro, Captain Brace?"
"Never but once, and that some nine or ten years since."
"There are desperadoes in that city, as in others," pursued Randall, fixing his eyes intently upon the captain.
[234]
"I do not quite catch your meaning, Mr. Randall."
"Men who are little troubled by conscientious24 scruples25, but are willing to undertake the most dangerous and illegal enterprises—for small consideration.
"I begin to understand you now," said the captain.
"Shall I proceed?"
"Do so."
The mate rightly construed this into an intimation that his proposition, though hinting at crime, would not prove distasteful to the captain. This, knowing the character of his superior officer, did not surprise him, and he proceeded.
"I think you apprehend26 my meaning, Captain Brace. This man is a thorn in our sides. He is exerting a bad influence on board the ship. He is undermining your influence with the crew."
"That is all true, Mr. Randall. What, then, is your advice in this state of affairs?"
"My advice is, that this fellow should be removed."
"To a place better fitted for him," suggested the captain, with a grim smile.
"Precisely27 so."
[235]
"And through the agency of such men as you have spoken of?"
"That is my proposition."
"It deserves thinking of. May I ask if you have any acquaintance among the fraternity, or whether you have ever had any occasion to employ their services?"
"I did on one occasion."
"Do you mind giving the particulars?"
"To you, no. Some years since I shipped as common sailor on board the Porcupine29, bound from New York to Rio. On the voyage one of the sailors on several occasions insulted me, and I determined30 upon revenge. At Rio I fell in with a desperate character, who for a comparatively small sum engaged to do my bidding."
"Well?"
"There is not much to tell. One night this man was passing through a narrow street, quite unsuspicious of danger, when he was suddenly struck from behind by a bludgeon, and—he never came back to the ship."
"Did no suspicion attach to you?"
"How should there? Who was to betray me? Not my agent, or in so doing he would betray himself. This is the first time I have ever spoken of it, but I am safe with you."
[236]
"Perfectly31. You say the consideration was small."
"Fifty dollars only. I dare say the fellow considered himself well paid. Besides he took whatever his victim had about him."
"Thank you for the suggestion, Mr. Randall. I will furnish the money, if you will undertake the management of the business when we reach Rio."
"With pleasure," replied the mate, and he probably spoke28 the truth.
While this conversation was going on, Charlie in another part of the vessel was commiserating32 Bill Sturdy on his injuries.
"And it was on my account, too," said the boy, regretfully.
"Better me than you, my lad," said the old sailor stoutly33. "Don't trouble yourself about that. It was my own free will, and if I had been unwilling34 all the power of the captain couldn't have made me submit to it. Besides there was one thing that repaid me for it all. Antonio got something he'll remember to the latest day of his life, I reckon. However that ain't what I want to say now. It's just this. I haven't any particular inducements to stay aboard this vessel, and I've about made up my mind to give[237] them the slip at the first port we come to, if you'll go with me."
"Where do we touch first?"
"At Rio, I surmise35."
"I'm ready to go with you, Bill, whenever you say the word," said Charlie, promptly36.
"That's right, my lad."
And so the agreement was made.
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收听单词发音
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1
disinterested
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| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
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2
enlisted
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| adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
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3
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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4
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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5
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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6
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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7
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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8
prudently
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| adv. 谨慎地，慎重地 | |
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9
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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10
unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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11
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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12
murmurs
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| n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕 | |
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13
extremities
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| n.端点( extremity的名词复数 )；尽头；手和足；极窘迫的境地 | |
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14
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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15
wielded
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| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的过去式和过去分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
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16
asunder
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| adj.分离的，化为碎片 | |
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17
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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18
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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19
thwart
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| v.阻挠，妨碍，反对；adj.横(断的) | |
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20
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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21
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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22
construed
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| v.解释（陈述、行为等）( construe的过去式和过去分词 )；翻译，作句法分析 | |
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23
rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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24
conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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25
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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26
apprehend
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| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
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27
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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28
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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29
porcupine
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| n.豪猪， 箭猪 | |
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30
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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31
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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32
commiserating
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| v.怜悯，同情( commiserate的现在分词 ) | |
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33
stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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34
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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35
surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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36
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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