He did not come into the room, but stood in the doorway9, his fierce eyes fixed10 upon my face, and his long, drooping11 moustache hanging below his jowls, giving him a most sinister12 appearance. Our companion appeared not to perceive his presence at first, and only when he tilted13 his mug and threw his head back did his weasel eyes seem to fall in with those of the stranger.
“Come in, you terrier!” I cried. “Come in and have a mug to soak your whiskers in. Sink me, but barbers must be scarce around here. Soldier o’ the guard, hey? No one but a Voltigeer-r-r o’ the guard-r-rd would wear such hangers14.”
“Young man,” said the stranger, quietly, “your language is rather unseemly, and should not be applied15 to one of the cloth. Hark ye! I am a man of peace, sir. I am Richard Raymond, chaplain of the Guerrière frigate16. I never indulge.” He raised a lean, sinewy17 hand and shook his head gently at the proffered18 ale.
“May the devil seize me if you ain’t the holy joe I’m looking for!” I cried. “Sit down, man, sit down.”
“Not in such a place. I but came to plead with 10you not to fill yourself with that liquid. It is ruinous.” Here he looked across the room where the proprietor19 was attending to a group of sailors who were about a table. “It is ruinous, I say, and here I implore20 you not to drink too much. As a man of God, I ask you, and the chaplain of the Guerrière,” and he raised his eyes aloft and clasped his hands as if in prayer. I now noticed his clothes were somewhat clerical in cut, though shabby. At this moment, a buxom21 maid brought some fresh mugs, foaming22 full, and I tossed her a piece of money. She looked at me and smiled, saying something I failed to understand. Then casting a look at the tall man in the door, she laughed and went her way.
“And why not on the frigate now?” I asked Mr. Raymond, who still seemed to be absorbed in prayer.
“Lost, man, lost!” said my little companion, taking a fresh mug. “Don’t you know she was lost?”
“Well,” I cried, “what difference? Should a holy man desert his ship any the sooner for being holy, hey? Answer me that. Why didn’t you get lost in her? Sink me, but I like a man who will do something more than talk for the good of a soul. I like a bit o’ sacrifice now and again to show the meaning true. I’d like to see our friend drink 11this mug of ale to save me from the devil, for, if he’ll drink it, I vow24 I’ll not buy another for myself.”
“Deliver us from evil,” moaned Raymond. “Oh, Henry, I couldn’t do it,” and his eyes rolled up.
“So your name is Henry, is it?” I asked my little companion.
He looked queerly at me.
“Why didn’t you say so before?” I asked, roughly.
“You never asked me,” said he. “The chaplain has known me many years.”
“Well,” I cried, rising and advancing upon Mr. Raymond, “you’ll either drink this ale or get it in the face, for I’ll not be badgered by every hairy heaven-yelper I run against. Drink!” and I held the mug toward him.
His fierce eyes gleamed curiously25, and he reached for the tankard. Then he raised it to his lips, and the long moustache was buried half a foot in the foam23. When he let it down it was empty. The next instant something crashed against my head, and I saw many stars. Then came a blank. It must have been some minutes before I came to, and, when I did, I found myself lying upon the floor with my Mr. Henry and the barmaid wiping the blood from my face. The tall man had disappeared, and I struggled to my feet, my head whirling. Upon the floor lay pieces of the mug.
12“Did that sky-pilot do it?” I asked, feebly.
Henry grinned.
“Ah, ah, pauvre gar?on, pauvre, pauvre--what eet is, boy? Pauvre boy. C’est poar boy, poar boy,” said the stout26 girl, wiping my clothes gently and laying a hand on my shoulder.
The effect of a little sympathy was strange, especially from a woman.
“Never mind,” I said, taking her hand from my shoulder and holding it a moment. “Get some fresh ale. There is no damage done. If that fellow was a man of peace, I should not like to come across his breed as man of war. Sit down, you son of a fox,” I continued to Henry, “and let’s have your yarn27, and if I see you so much as grin, this shop will be unlucky.” We drew up again to the table.
“I should think,” said Richards, “you have had your say long enough now, and would listen to reason. Steady yourself and get back into some ship before you get in jail. I don’t care any more for the hooker you just left than you do, and wouldn’t go back in her if there was any other vessel28 wanting hands.”
“I feel flattered at your attentions, my dear Peter,” said I. “It is good of you to follow me to take care of one so young. My morals are pretty bad, and I need a nurse.”
13“That is certain,” said the sailor, with conviction that angered me not a little.
Richards’s manner was a bit trying to me at all times when I wanted to have a say, and this time I lost patience. Yet, when I thought of it afterward29, I saw a steady head would have kept me out of much trouble. He was a perfectly30 balanced man. He would neither lose his head with joy, nor sink with despair at some seeming desperate trouble. He had learned this by experience, and his steady eyes were not those of a dullard. He felt as much as any one, as I soon learned when I gave him the sharp edge of my tongue. He was not a large man, but rather small and wiry. His size, I often thought, had governed his actions, for aboard ship a small man cannot talk too loud. Since he had served with me, I had reason to believe his body had little to do with his mind.
“Peter,” I said, acidly, “I’m looking for a ship. Will you go along in her with me?”
“That I will,” he said, but I thought he was simply falling into my trap to gain time.
“Then, my weasel,” said I, turning to Mr. Henry, “you have two bully31 boys at your tow-line, for, sink me, I’ll hold my mate to his word if I ship in nothing better than a West Indian sugar-boat. Sail in, my bully. Let’s have the old tune32 I’ve heard so often.”
14Henry drew up his chair and gloated over us. We were two good enough men to tempt33 any sort of crimp, but, on account of my size, he addressed himself to me as the leader. I have always had this happen when there were others around, but I take no especial note of it, for it was nothing that I was a well-put-up man. I had nothing whatever to do with my birth.
“You see,” said he, “I don’t make any bones wot I’m up to. I’m after men sech as you an’ me. My father were a Yankee sailor, though my mother were sech as I have to break the commandment wot arguefies for a long life every time I think of her.”
“You can honour her memory by keeping her name off your tongue,” I growled34.
“Perhaps so,” he assented35; “maybe, but she were hung right here in this town, and her property taken, so that’s why I’m lookin’ out fer men wot’s men. I get ten shillings a head per sailormen, an’ I stands in with the crowd. No shanghai business with me. It don’t pay. Why should a man ruin his business just to shanghai one or two men who will turn against him as soon as they come back, hey? A matter o’ a pound or two an’ a good name fer fair dealin’ gone. Oh, no! I don’t run fer bad ships. I only takes the clippers, an’ I give handsome.”
“What’s the hooker’s name?” I asked.
15“That’s just what I’m coming to if you’ll only say the word to go in her. They want a mate, and they’ll pay a big whack36 for a good man.”
“Name, you wolf,” I repeated, draining my mug. “Give the name, or pay for this ale and clear.”
“I’ll take you to her--”
He was interrupted by the entrance of a small man who strode quickly into the room and sat at once in an empty chair near the door. As the newcomer entered, Henry half-rose and saluted37, receiving a slight nod of recognition in return.
“Who’s your friend?” I asked, gruffly.
“Sh-h! not so loud,” and he scowled38 at me. “That’s Captain Howard.”
“Who the saints is Captain Howard? Can he drink ale?” I asked.
“I wouldn’t ask him if I were you. He’s not a man of peace,” and he looked at me slantwise.
“I see,” I answered, and I looked the stranger over carefully. He was quite small in stature39 and his face was pale. His hands were soft, white, and effeminate-looking. Upon one finger a huge diamond sparkled. Just then he turned his gaze to meet mine, and I must admit his eyes gave me quite a turn. They were as glassy and expressionless as those of a fish. His whole smooth face, in fact, seemed to express nothing but vacancy40. I had never seen a human face so devoid41 of expression. There 16was hardly a line in it save about the drooping corners of his mouth.
“He don’t look dangerous,” I said, with a chuckle42. “However, I’m not hunting trouble, and, if you think he’ll be offended at my acquaintance, he can go without it.”
“He’s related to the great English house,--them--them ar’stocrats, ye know. That’s the way he’s got the king’s pardon.”
“Pardon for what?” I asked.
He glanced sidewise at me with that ferret look upon his face. “You’ve heard, sure? No? Well, then, that’s the skipper that held up the Indian Prince.”
Then I remembered well enough. He was the little fellow with the pirate crew that had held up the big East-Indianman in the China Sea some years back. It was he who took the treasure and squandered43 it in mad riot in the streets of Singapore, and defied the authorities. Here, indeed, was the man feared by both whites and savages44 of the Eastern seas, sitting in this little ale-house as unconcerned as though nothing unusual had happened to excite curiosity. I was so taken up looking at him and wondering at his foul45 crimes that he had received and drunk off his liquor before I realized what had happened. As he left, I seized my mug and drank it.
17“Come along,” I said. “Show me your ship,” and Mr. Henry paid the score and started for the door, while I followed. As I reached it, I turned to see what Richards would do, but he was game.
“Here comes your nourse, sonny,” he said. “I was paid off yesterday, and don’t mind a change if it’s for better,” and he looked so serious that I burst out laughing.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
brawling
|
|
| n.争吵，喧嚷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
disposition
|
|
| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
pate
|
|
| n.头顶；光顶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
den
|
|
| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
dour
|
|
| adj.冷酷的，严厉的；（岩石）嶙峋的；顽强不屈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
inmates
|
|
| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
pious
|
|
| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
drooping
|
|
| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
sinister
|
|
| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
tilted
|
|
| v. 倾斜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
hangers
|
|
| n.衣架( hanger的名词复数 )；挂耳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
applied
|
|
| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
frigate
|
|
| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
sinewy
|
|
| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
proffered
|
|
| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
proprietor
|
|
| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
implore
|
|
| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
buxom
|
|
| adj.（妇女）丰满的，有健康美的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
foaming
|
|
| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
foam
|
|
| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
vow
|
|
| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
curiously
|
|
| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
yarn
|
|
| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
afterward
|
|
| adv.后来；以后 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
bully
|
|
| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
tune
|
|
| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
tempt
|
|
| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
growled
|
|
| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
assented
|
|
| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
whack
|
|
| v.敲击，重打，瓜分；n.重击，重打，尝试，一份 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
saluted
|
|
| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
scowled
|
|
| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
stature
|
|
| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
vacancy
|
|
| n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
devoid
|
|
| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
chuckle
|
|
| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
squandered
|
|
| v.（指钱，财产等）浪费，乱花( squander的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
savages
|
|
| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
foul
|
|
| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |