We loafed away three pleasant weeks among the islands, loitering along the beautiful sea channels, merely killing6 time until Captain Shorey should arrive from San Francisco by steamer. Once we sailed within distant view of Molokai. It was as beautiful in its tropical verdure as any of the other islands of the group,but its very name was fraught7 with sinister8 and tragic9 suggestiveness;—it was the home of the lepers, the island of the Living Death.
We did not anchor at any time. None of the whaling fleet which meets here every spring ever anchors. The lure10 of the tropical shores is strong and there would be many desertions if the ships lay in port. We sailed close to shore in the day time, often entering Honolulu harbor, but at night we lay off and on, as the sailor term is—that is we tacked11 off shore and back again, rarely venturing closer than two or three miles, a distance the hardiest12 swimmer, bent13 upon desertion, would not be apt to attempt in those shark-haunted waters.
Many attempts to escape from vessels14 of the whaling fleet occur in the islands every year. We heard many yarns16 of these adventures. A week before we arrived, five sailors had overpowered the night watch aboard their ship and escaped to shore in a whale boat. They were captured in the hills back of Honolulu and returned to their vessel15. This is usually the fate of runaways19. A standing20 reward of $25 a man is offered by whaling ships for the capture and return of deserters, consequently all the natives of the islands, especially the police, are constantly on the lookout21 for runaways from whaling crews.
When we drew near the islands the runaway18 fever became epidemic22 in the forecastle. Each sailor had his own little scheme for getting away. Big Taylor talked of knocking the officers of the night watch over the head with a belaying-pin and stealing ashore23 in a boat. Ole Oleson cut up his suit of oil-skins and sewed them into two air-tight bags with one of which under each arm, he proposed to float ashore. Bill White, an Englishman, got possession of a lot of canvas from the cabin and was clandestinely24 busy for days making it into a boat in which he fondly hoped to paddle ashore some fine night in the dark of the moon. "Slim," our Irish grenadier, stuffed half his belongings25 into his long sea-boots which he planned to press into service both as carry-alls and life-preservers. Peter Swenson, the forecastle's baby boy, plugged up some big empty oil cans and made life buoys26 of them by fastening a number of them together.
Just at the time when the forecastle conspiracies27 were at their height we killed a thirteen-foot shark off Diamond Head. Our catch was one of a school of thirty or forty monsters that came swarming28 about the brig, gliding slowly like gray ghosts only a few feet below the surface, nosing close to the ship's side for garbage and turning slightly on their sides to look out of their evil eyes at the sailors peering down upon them over the rail. Long John, the boat-steerer, got out a harpoon29, and standing on the bulwarks30 shot the iron up to the wooden haft into the back of one of the sharks, the spear-point of the weapon passing through the creature and sticking out on the under side. The stout31 manila hemp32 attached to the harpoon had been made fast to the fore17 bitt. It was well that this was so, for the shark plunged33 and fought with terrific fury, lashing34 the sea into white froth. But the harpoon had pierced a vital part and in a little while the great fish ceased its struggles and lay still, belly36 up on the surface.
It was hauled close alongside, and a boat having been lowered, a large patch of the shark's skin was cut off. Then the carcass was cut adrift. The skin was as rough as sandpaper. It was cut into small squares, which were used in scouring37 metal and for all the polishing purposes for which sandpaper serves ashore.
Life aboard the brig seemed less intolerable thereafter, and an essay at escape through waters infested38 by such great, silent, ravenous39 sea-wolves seemed a hazard less desirable than before. Taylor talked no more about slugging the night watch. Slim unpacked40 his sea-boots and put his effects back into his chest. Peter threw his plugged oil cans overboard. Bill White turned his canvas boat into curtains for his bunk41, and Ole Oleson voiced in the lilting measure of Scandinavia his deep regret that he had cut up a valuable suit of oil-skins.
The captain of one of the whaling ships came one afternoon to visit our skipper and his small boat was left dragging in our wake as the brig skimmed along under short sail. It occurred to me, and at the same time to my two Kanaka shipmates, that here was a fine opportunity to escape. It was coming on dusk, and if we could get into the boat and cut loose we might have a splendid chance to get away. The Kanakas and I climbed over the bow, intending to let ourselves into the sea and drift astern to the boat, but the breeze had freshened and the brig was traveling so fast we did not believe we could catch the boat; and if we failed to do so, we might confidently expect the sharks to finish us. We abandoned the plan after we had remained squatting42 on the stays over the bow for a half hour considering our chances and getting soaked to the skin from the dashing spray.
A pathetic incident grew out of the visit of the captain from the other ship. Tomas Mendez's brother, a boat-steerer, came aboard with the boat's crew. He was a young negro whom all the boat-steerers and officers knew. He came swinging lightly over our rail, laughing and happy over the prospect43 of seeing his brother.
"Hello, fellers," he called to the Portuguese44 officers and boat-steerers who welcomed him. "Where's my brudder?"
"Dead, my boy," said one of the boat-steerers gently.
"Dead?" echoed Mendez.
He staggered back. When he had heard the details of his brother's death, he burst into tears. All the time his skipper remained aboard, the poor fellow stood by the cooper's bench and sobbed45.
While drifting at the mouth of Honolulu harbor one morning, Captain Winchester called for a boat's crew to row him ashore. All hands wanted to go. I was one of the lucky ones to be chosen. The morning was calm and beautiful, the water was smooth, and we pulled away with a will.
The city looked inviting46 at the foot of its green mountains, its quaint47 houses embowered in tropical foliage48. On our starboard beam rose the fine, bold promontory49 of Diamond Head, and in between the headland and the city lay Waikiki, the fashionable bathing beach. We could see the bathers taking the surf in the bright morning sunlight, while beyond stretched a delectable50 wooded country, above the tops of whose trees peeped manors51 and villas52 of wealthy citizens.
We reached the long pier35 at last and tied up the boat. While the captain went into the city the sailors remained on the dock in charge of Long John, the boat-steerer. Three snaky-eyed Kanaka policemen in blue uniforms hung about, watching our every movement. We were not allowed to stir off the dock. There was a street corner within a stone's throw. A little red brick store stood upon it. A lazy Kanaka lounged against the building, smoking a cigarette. That corner fascinated me. If I only could dodge53 around it! How near it seemed, and yet how unattainable!
But if we sailormen could not get into town, we at least had the freedom of the long pier. This was several hundred feet long and piled thick with freight of all descriptions, which shut its harbor end from view. With a casual and indifferent air I sauntered out along the pier. In a moment I was hidden behind the merchandise from the unsuspecting Long John and the policemen. I soon reached the harbor end. I saw that a sharp curve in the shore line brought the part of the pier on which I was standing close to land. It seemed easy to dive off the pier, swim past a big four-masted English ship unloading alongside, gain the land, and escape to the cane54 fields which swept up to the edge of the city.
I sat down behind some freight and began to take off my shoes. I had one off when a barefooted Kanaka suddenly stepped into view from behind a pile of bales and boxes. He was tip-toeing and peering about him furtively55. I knew him for a spy instantly. Directly he saw me staring at him he looked as guilty as one taken in crime, and slunk away sheepishly. I knew he was on his way to inform on me and made up my mind not to get my clothes wet by any hopeless attempt to run away.
I put my shoe back on and strolled back toward the boat. I saw one of my shipmates—it was Richard, the deep-water German sailor—walking up the gang-plank of the English ship alongside the dock. I followed him. When we reached the deck, we saw a gang of sailors working about an open hatch.
"Hello, mates," said Richard. "We are merchant seamen56 and want to clear out from a blooming whaler. Stow us away, won't you?"
The sailors didn't seem to take kindly57 to the proposition. Perhaps they were afraid of getting into trouble. But they told us we might go down in the fore-peak of the ship and stow ourselves away. Richard and I climbed down three decks and found ourselves in the chain lockers58 deep in the ship's bow. It was pitch dark down there and we lay upon the ship's cable in the farthest corners. For three hours we huddled59 there in silence.
Just when we were beginning to congratulate ourselves that our escape would be successful, the hatch was pulled off suddenly and three Kanaka policemen with drawn60 clubs came leaping down upon us.
"Come out of this, you," they yelled, swearing at us and brandishing61 their billets. The jig62 was up; resistance would have got us only broken heads. We were led upon deck and escorted toward the gangway for the pier. But I was for one more try before giving up. Suddenly I darted63 for the rail on the harbor side of the ship. We were in the waist and the bulwarks reached about to my breast. Before the Kanaka policemen had recovered from their surprise I had plunged head first over the rail and dived into the water twenty or thirty feet below. When I came to the surface I struck out for shore with all my might. It was only a short swim. I soon made the land and dragged myself, dripping brine, out upon a beach.
I glanced toward the pier. The policemen, with a crowd at their backs, were dashing for me along shore. I started for the cane fields, but in my wet and heavy clothes I stumbled along as if there was lead in my shoes. Perhaps I ran a quarter of a mile. My pursuers gained on me steadily64. I was drawing near a cane field, in which I felt I should be able to lose myself; but before reaching it, my pursuers sprang upon me and bore me to the ground. Then, with a policeman on either side of me, I was marched back to the brig's boat.
The populace had turned out royally in my honor and I passed through a lane of brown humanity that bent round eyes upon me and chortled and spluttered Kanaka and seemed to get a huge amount of enjoyment65 out of my capture. As my captors paraded me onto the pier, who should be there waiting for me but Captain Shorey, our new skipper, just arrived from San Francisco by steamer. He stood with feet wide apart and arms folded on his breast and looked at me steadily with stern, cold eyes. In my wet clothes I cut a sorry figure. I felt ashamed of myself and realized that this introduction to my new captain was not all it should have been. Captain Winchester had nothing to say to Richard and me on the long pull back to the brig. Once aboard, he drew a pint66 of Jamaica rum from his pocket and gave every man of the boat's crew, except us, a swig. But no penalty of any sort was imposed upon us for our escapade. This surprised us.
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1
volcanic
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| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
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2
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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crater
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| n.火山口，弹坑 | |
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swirling
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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6
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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fraught
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| adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的 | |
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8
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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10
lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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11
tacked
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| 用平头钉钉( tack的过去式和过去分词 )； 附加，增补； 帆船抢风行驶，用粗线脚缝 | |
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12
hardiest
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| 能吃苦耐劳的，坚强的( hardy的最高级 )； （植物等）耐寒的 | |
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13
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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14
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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15
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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16
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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17
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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18
runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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19
runaways
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| （轻而易举的）胜利( runaway的名词复数 ) | |
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20
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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21
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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22
epidemic
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| n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的 | |
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23
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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24
clandestinely
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| adv.秘密地，暗中地 | |
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25
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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26
buoys
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| n.浮标( buoy的名词复数 )；航标；救生圈；救生衣v.使浮起( buoy的第三人称单数 )；支持；为…设浮标；振奋…的精神 | |
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27
conspiracies
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| n.阴谋，密谋( conspiracy的名词复数 ) | |
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28
swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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29
harpoon
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| n.鱼叉；vt.用鱼叉叉，用鱼叉捕获 | |
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30
bulwarks
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| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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32
hemp
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| n.大麻；纤维 | |
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33
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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34
lashing
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| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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35
pier
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| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
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36
belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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37
scouring
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| 擦[洗]净，冲刷，洗涤 | |
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38
infested
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| adj.为患的，大批滋生的（常与with搭配）v.害虫、野兽大批出没于( infest的过去式和过去分词 )；遍布于 | |
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39
ravenous
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| adj.极饿的，贪婪的 | |
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40
unpacked
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| v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的过去式和过去分词 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等） | |
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41
bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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42
squatting
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的现在分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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43
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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44
Portuguese
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| n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语 | |
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45
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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46
inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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47
quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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48
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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49
promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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50
delectable
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| adj.使人愉快的；美味的 | |
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51
manors
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| n.庄园（manor的复数形式） | |
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52
villas
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| 别墅，公馆( villa的名词复数 )； （城郊）住宅 | |
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53
dodge
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| v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计 | |
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54
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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55
furtively
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| adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
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56
seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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57
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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58
lockers
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| n.寄物柜( locker的名词复数 ) | |
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59
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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60
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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61
brandishing
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| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
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62
jig
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| n.快步舞（曲）；v.上下晃动；用夹具辅助加工；蹦蹦跳跳 | |
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63
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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64
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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65
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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66
pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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