Being warmed and fed, two satisfactory experiences to which I had long been a stranger, I was in no hurry to leave such comfortable quarters for the bleak17 outer world. But during the morning I ran over to the ship, and finding there the cook, I learned that she was to be paid off the next day. I determined18 to present myself with the rest at the shipping-office, although my hopes of getting any money were very faint. Still I knew enough of the world to be certain that, without money, I should not be allowed to remain at my present lodgings19. So at the appointed hour I marched up to the Sailors' Home, meeting with a cordial welcome from my shipmates, especially the little Frenchman. Better still, as each of them received their money, they very kindly21 gave me a little, the total amount thus contributed being twenty-two shillings. Then came my turn to appear at the pay table. My heart beat fast with apprehension22 as I faced Captain Jones, my head only just appearing above the counter. His words were gruff and his manner unkind, but I believe he was moved with pity for my forlorn position, for he actually gave me two pounds ten shillings, pay at the rate of one pound a month. I was so glad that I knew not what to say, but I hastily retreated lest he should change his mind and take the money away again. As fast as my legs would carry me, I ran back to the boarding-house to exhibit my wealth to the landlady23. I had never had so much money of my own before, and was proportionately elated, the thought of how much I needed it never entering my head. The landlady immediately suggested that I should treat her and her crony from next door, who was in conversation with her, at which proposition I felt quite a man, and inquired loftily what the ladies would take. A little drop of "Donovans" appeared to be the favourite liquor, a totally unknown beverage24 to me, but I should have agreed had it been champagne25. The little niece was dispatched for it, as well as a couple of bottles of ginger-beer for us, who were too young and wise to thirst for "Donovans"—which I knew, as soon as it arrived, to be rum.
To do my landlady justice, she interested herself in getting me some decent clothing, and promised to keep me on what remained of my money until I got another ship or some employment ashore26. But getting a ship, I found, was an impossible task. My diminutive27 size and weakly appearance obtained for me only derision when I ventured to ask for a berth28 on what I considered likely-looking craft, and it soon appeared hopeless to look in that direction any more. Help came from an unexpected quarter. Next door to my lodging20-place was the workshop of a figure-head carver, who was a young, energetic man of great skill, and very intimate with my landlady. He was kind enough to employ me in his business, where I soon became useful in sharpening tools and roughing-out work for him and his brother to finish. He paid me sufficient for my board and lodging, which, considering that he was teaching me his trade, was very generous. Here I was quite happy, for my new master was kindness itself; and I believe I was really quick to profit by all I was taught, so as to be worth my pay. But my evil genius pursued me still. His brother became jealous of the attentions I received, and, after I had been with them a couple of months, quarrels between them on my account were of almost daily occurrence. This unsatisfactory state of things culminated29 in my getting knocked senseless one morning by my enemy during his brother's absence at a job. When Mr. R. returned he was alarmed at my appearance, for I had an ugly cut on the head which made me look quite ghastly. A tremendous row followed, the upshot of which was that Mr. R. sorrowfully informed me that he was obliged to send me away before serious harm was done. He advised me to return to London, where I was better known(?), and gave me ten shillings to pay my fare thither30. I took his advice forthwith, finding no difficulty in getting a half ticket to Euston, where I arrived with two shillings and sixpence in my pocket.
The well-known streets looked strange to me after my long absence. In fact, I felt more in the way than ever. I knew nobody that could or would shelter me, and I had got out of the way of street life. Husbanding my scanty31 store of coppers32 as well as I could, I haunted Thames Street in the hope that I might pick up a coaster at the King's Head, where, in those days, skippers of small craft used to get most of their crews. There is a cook-shop with a tank of pea-soup in the window, where for a penny I could always get a bellyfull of the thick, comforting stuff—the best value for money in the grub line that I knew of, and I was no bad judge. It—the tank—used to be cleaned out every three days, and a fresh jorum of soup made. On the first day it was comparatively thin; on the second, being filled up without removing the solid matter settled at the bottom, it was better; but on the third day you could almost cut it—a spoon would stand upright in it. And, anxious to clear it out, they gave bigger penn'orths. I often used to go without on the second day, so that I could have two separate portions on the third; after which I felt as bloated as an alderman after a civic33 feast. But the pence failed, and I picked up very few more; so that, though I slept in any hole or corner I could find, to avoid the expense of lodgings, the time soon came when I was face to face with starvation again. Then a bright idea occurred to me, so obvious that I wondered why it hadn't struck me before. I had my discharge from the Sea Gem34. I would seek a kindly boarding-master, and ask him to keep me till I got a ship, paying himself out of my advance. I knew better than to go to the so-called "Sailors' Home." They don't take in hard-up seamen35 there. It is only a home for those who can pay down for their accommodation.
With my fortunate idea burning in my mind, I hastened down the West India Dock Road, attacking the first house I saw with "boarding-house for seamen" painted up over it. The proprietor36, an old bo'sun, grumbled37 at my request a good deal, but he took me in, God bless him! More than that, he got me a ship three days after by means of his influence that way, and once again I was freed from the misery38 of being masterless. The vessel39 in which I was to sail was a splendid barque, reminding me strongly of the luckless Discoverer, and about the same size. I shall call her the Bonanza40, for reasons of my own, though that was not her name. She was bound to a port in Jamaica, with a general cargo41 for new owners, and with a new captain and officers. When we came up to sign on at "Green's Home," I found, to my delight, that I was to have twenty shillings a month. Like all the rest, I received a month's advance, out of which my boarding-master paid himself, and provided me with a "donkey's breakfast" (straw-bed), hook-pot, pannikin, and plate; a knife, and a suit of oilskins. So he didn't rob me to any great extent. He also gave me a few odds42 and ends of clothing, which had been left by boarders, out of which, being a fair hand with my needle, I managed to botch up enough garments to change. I bade him good-bye with hearty43 feelings of gratitude44, which he fully10 deserved, and took my departure on board my ship.
点击收听单词发音
1 decrepit | |
adj.衰老的,破旧的 | |
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2 bunk | |
n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位;废话 | |
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3 desolate | |
adj.荒凉的,荒芜的;孤独的,凄凉的;v.使荒芜,使孤寂 | |
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4 dreary | |
adj.令人沮丧的,沉闷的,单调乏味的 | |
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5 ravenously | |
adv.大嚼地,饥饿地 | |
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6 galley | |
n.(飞机或船上的)厨房单层甲板大帆船;军舰舰长用的大划艇; | |
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7 noted | |
adj.著名的,知名的 | |
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8 lodge | |
v.临时住宿,寄宿,寄存,容纳;n.传达室,小旅馆 | |
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9 outfit | |
n.(为特殊用途的)全套装备,全套服装 | |
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10 fully | |
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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11 apparently | |
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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12 fragrant | |
adj.芬香的,馥郁的,愉快的 | |
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13 miseries | |
n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 );痛苦的事;穷困;常发牢骚的人 | |
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14 awe | |
n.敬畏,惊惧;vt.使敬畏,使惊惧 | |
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15 demolishing | |
v.摧毁( demolish的现在分词 );推翻;拆毁(尤指大建筑物);吃光 | |
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16 crimson | |
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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17 bleak | |
adj.(天气)阴冷的;凄凉的;暗淡的 | |
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18 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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19 lodgings | |
n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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20 lodging | |
n.寄宿,住所;(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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21 kindly | |
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 | |
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22 apprehension | |
n.理解,领悟;逮捕,拘捕;忧虑 | |
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23 landlady | |
n.女房东,女地主 | |
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24 beverage | |
n.(水,酒等之外的)饮料 | |
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25 champagne | |
n.香槟酒;微黄色 | |
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26 ashore | |
adv.在(向)岸上,上岸 | |
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27 diminutive | |
adj.小巧可爱的,小的 | |
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28 berth | |
n.卧铺,停泊地,锚位;v.使停泊 | |
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29 culminated | |
v.达到极点( culminate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30 thither | |
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的 | |
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31 scanty | |
adj.缺乏的,仅有的,节省的,狭小的,不够的 | |
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32 coppers | |
铜( copper的名词复数 ); 铜币 | |
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33 civic | |
adj.城市的,都市的,市民的,公民的 | |
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34 gem | |
n.宝石,珠宝;受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
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35 seamen | |
n.海员 | |
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36 proprietor | |
n.所有人;业主;经营者 | |
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37 grumbled | |
抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 ); 发牢骚; 咕哝; 发哼声 | |
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38 misery | |
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦 | |
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39 vessel | |
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
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40 bonanza | |
n.富矿带,幸运,带来好运的事 | |
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41 cargo | |
n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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42 odds | |
n.让步,机率,可能性,比率;胜败优劣之别 | |
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43 hearty | |
adj.热情友好的;衷心的;尽情的,纵情的 | |
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44 gratitude | |
adj.感激,感谢 | |
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