Getting to my feet, I found my head sorely cut and bruised2, and wondered what had happened. A throbbing3 pain across the eyes did little to aid my thoughts, and, while I stood holding to the ladder down which I had been flung, the scuttle4 above me was thrust back and the fellow Martin started down.
“Aha!” he said when he saw me, “’twas a guid wan5 ye got ain yer haid. A clout6 will do ye na harm, ye thievin’ trixter, ye deceivin’ rascal7. Now I’ll give you one for ald lang syne8, an’ teach ye better to deceive a honest mon ag’in.”
While talking, he turned back the sleeves of his jumper and made ready to carry out his threat. He saw I made no movement, however, and hesitated.
31“Defend yairself, mon, defend yairself. Do not let me whollop yer like a babe,” and he advanced toward me with his hands before him in some very fair style.
“See here,” I said, “what the mischief9 has happened? What are you driving at? I’ve played no trick, but it looks like some one has played a trick on me.”
“Ah, na backslidin’, ye corward, na backslidin’! Yer can’t fool a canny10 sailormaun that way. Put yer hands before yer ugly face, or I’ll whollop ye like er babe.”
“I’m not afraid of your wholloping, Scotty. Let me get a turn about my head a bit, and pull this ragged11 shirt off. Wonderful clean fo’castle this. No drunks, no filthy12 dunnage overhauled13, no--what infernal ship is this, anyway?”
He saw I was not joking. Indeed, my appearance, as his eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, put joking aside, and my last remark about the vessel14 was true.
He dropped his hands and stared at me.
“Ware ye sure rung in like the rest? Waren’t ye in the game?” Then he burst into a hoarse15 laugh and held out his hand. At that minute the tramp of feet sounded overhead, and a half-score of men came clattering16 down the companion-ladder.
It was a mixed crew,--Norwegians, Swedes, dagoes, 32and Dutchmen,--but all with the unmistakable swing of the deep-water sailor. They stared at me, and then started a gabble of language that in my disturbed condition I failed to understand. They crowded around me and asked questions, and I noticed Anderson eyeing me suspiciously. Then Martin, with a sweep of his hand, cut them off, and began telling how I came aboard. When he was through with his flowery description of Henry, I noticed several men shake their clenched17 hands aft.
“Well,” said I, “I’m the mate, and I guess I’ll go aft and find out who rapped me over the head. Some fellows in the other watch, I suppose.”
They burst into derisive18 laughter.
“We’re all mates and captains here,” sung out a big Norwegian addressed as Bill. “You better turn in while you may, friend Heywood. You’re in Henry’s watch, an’ the captain ain’t turned out yet.”
“Who’s the old man?” I asked, bewildered, and thinking I must still be daffy from the crack on the head.
“Ain’t seen him yet,” said several at once.
“Well, what infernal hooker am I in, anyway?” I asked Martin.
“They call her The Gentle Hand, but there ain’t na name painted on her. Some says she’s the Fly-by-Night, 33Howard’s old pirate barque, but that canna weel be. She’s light. Not a hundred ton below decks, an’ that’s mostly stores.”
“The Fly-by-Night was a cruising brig before the first war with England,” I said. “It can’t possibly be that old hooker. Besides, she was used against the French by your General Braddock.”
“Well, when you find out just what we’ve gotten into, coom an’ tell us,” said Martin.
It had been slowly dawning upon me that I had been the victim of a trick, and I felt in my pocket for the advance I had received the day before. The barque was under way, that was certain, but no one seemed to know where she was bound, and, as I fumbled19 through my clothes, Martin laughed.
“’Twas guid money, Heywood, but ’tis gone. I missed mine this morning. Maybe Anderson can tell where it is,” and he grinned.
The money was gone. That was certain. Yet it was no dream. I had received it fair enough. Feeling anger and hatred20 for the trick upon me, I bound up my head and went up the ladder to the deck to have a look around. Several men called out to me to have a care of the mate, but most of them were busy arranging their belongings21, quarrelling and fighting among themselves over the possession of what clothes happened to be common to the crowd. I saw Martin steal a pair of tarpaulin22 trousers from 34a fellow who was wrestling with the sailor Bill for the possession of a bag of straw bedding. Then I stepped on deck.
The cool air did me good. I went to the rail and looked over. The barque was going steadily23 to the southward with every rag set. She was heeling but gently, and there was little wind or sea. She was braced24 a bit to starboard, her port tack25 aboard, and by her trimming I saw she was under English officers. Every yard just in line with its fellow, from the big main to the little royal that crossed a good hundred and seventy feet above the sea. Far away to the eastward26 showed the even outline of the French coast, and between us many sails strung along the band of blue, their hulls27 either just below or rising above the horizon’s line. The day was fine and the easterly breeze gentle, and the barque was swinging easily along.
I looked aft and saw men of the mate’s watch at work setting up the backstays in the main-rigging, and some on the mizzen topsail-yard, apparently28 under the direction of Richards, serving a worn foot-rope. The canvas covers were off the guns, and a dozen bright twelve-pounders of polished brass29 shone in the sunlight. The white deck beneath and the varnished30 spars above made a pretty picture, and I grew warm to think that I was not indeed the mate of such a craft. They had played 35a fine trick on me to get me aboard sober and without compulsion, signing a receipt for an advance equal to a couple of months’ ordinary wages. There were plenty of sailors about the pier-heads, for the war had turned many adrift without means of getting a ship, and there seemed to be no reason why these fellows should try their land-shark game in getting a crew.
As I looked aft it dawned upon me that these men were much better than the ordinary run of common sailors. There was something in the fellow’s walk I now saw crossing the deck that spoke31 of the war-ship. Even the watch I had just seen below were remarkably32 rough and tough specimens33 of a rugged34 humanity.
While I stood there taking in the scene, I saw a man come from aft and walk to the break of the poop. He looked over the barque carefully, and as his gaze came down the fore-rigging it stopped upon me.
He was dressed something after the manner of a preacher, with black cloth coat and stock, and his hair was cut short. As I took his figure in, there was little difficulty in recognizing Richard Raymond, the man of peace. He beckoned35 me to come aft, and, as I did so, he removed the huge drooping36 moustache he had been wearing and tossed it over the side.
36“I reckon you know me now, Heywood,” said he, “though it’s been over six years since we parted. I wanted you on this voyage, and took some pains to get ye. That was the old man who welted ye over the head. I’m sorry for it.”
It was Hawkson, sure enough. I recognized him easily now in spite of his gray hair and older look. How I failed to recognize him at first even in his disguise puzzled me. We had made the cruise in the Petrel together, and had served on the man-of-war.
“Well, you’ve got me fast enough, though you played a mean trick getting me. Now what’s the game?” said I.
The old privateersman smiled, and his jaws37 worked as though muttering to himself. His face creased38 into ugly lines about his large mouth, and he showed his teeth.
“I’m first officer here. That fellow Gull39 you fouled40 this morning is second. Remember this first and the rest’ll come easy. Henry is third mate, and I hear them say that you’re to be made gunner. How’s that?”
“Who’s them?” I asked, somewhat nettled41.
“Them’s us, sonny. The old man, the two gentlemen aft, myself, and the rest.”
“Where are we bound for, and what’s the hooker’s 37name? It’s all well enough to be cribbed aboard a ship, but I’m going to find out what’s the game.”
“We’re bound for the South Pacific; that’s all clear as mud, an’ we’ve got a picked crew because the business in hand needs honest men.”
“I bow to myself,” I answered. “It’s well to know.”
“What more do you want, hey? Go forrads an’ turn in, an’ I’ll square ye with the fellow Gull. Don’t let them see me talkin’ too much with ye, sonny, or I’ll have to forget the past for the needs o’ the present. You’re aboard a fine ship.”
“Well,” I answered, “that’s all good enough, but I would like to know her name and who’s her skipper,--and what’s more, I’m going to find out right away.”
Hawkson’s eyes glinted with that light I knew so well meant danger, and his ugly mouth worked nervously42.
“Perhaps you’d care to go aft and interview the captain about it,” said he, with his drawl. “He’s a gentleman every inch, and will be a revelation to ye after them packets you’ve sailed in. Suppose you lay aft and make out your own case. You were always an obstinate43 youngster, but I reckon since you’ve been mate your head’s swelled44 worse’n ever.”
I knew Hawkson to be one of the most dangerous 38men afloat when aroused, but about this time I was not exactly a lambkin myself. A man does not become mate of a western ocean packet with anything lamblike in his make-up, unless it is by accident for one voyage. I was not quarrelsome, but resented with righteous indignation the manner in which I had been kidnapped in broad daylight without even being under the influence of liquor. The simplicity45 of the whole affair maddened me, and not even the fellowship of Martin and Anderson or others in the list of victims detracted one jot46 from the implied lack of ordinary precautions and common sense. I started up the weather side of the poop to go aft, and I noticed several fellows to leeward47 looking at me.
“Go to lor’ard,” growled48 Hawkson, fiercely.
But I paid no attention, and was half-way up the steps when a man came up the after companion and walked toward me. As he reached the deck and turned before I had gotten up, I stopped short, looking at him. It was Captain Howard, the pirate.
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1
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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bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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scuttle
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| v.急赶，疾走，逃避；n.天窗；舷窗 | |
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wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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clout
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| n.用手猛击；权力，影响力 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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syne
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| adv.自彼时至此时，曾经 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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canny
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| adj.谨慎的，节俭的 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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overhauled
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| v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
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14
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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clattering
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的现在分词形式） | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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derisive
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| adj.嘲弄的 | |
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fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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tarpaulin
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| n.涂油防水布，防水衣，防水帽 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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24
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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tack
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| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
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eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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hulls
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| 船体( hull的名词复数 )； 船身； 外壳； 豆荚 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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varnished
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| 浸渍过的，涂漆的 | |
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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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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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35
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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37
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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38
creased
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| （使…）起折痕，弄皱( crease的过去式和过去分词 )； （皮肤）皱起，使起皱纹； 皱皱巴巴 | |
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39
gull
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| n.鸥；受骗的人；v.欺诈 | |
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40
fouled
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| v.使污秽( foul的过去式和过去分词 )；弄脏；击球出界；（通常用废物）弄脏 | |
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41
nettled
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| v.拿荨麻打，拿荨麻刺（nettle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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42
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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43
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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44
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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45
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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46
jot
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| n.少量；vi.草草记下；vt.匆匆写下 | |
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47
leeward
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| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
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48
growled
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| 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 | |
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