He no longer sailed against baffling winds, but went quite contentedly6 in any direction in which the wind chose to blow him. The consequence was that he visited many curious out-of-the-way places, and saw many strange sights; besides having a considerable number of peculiar7 adventures. The week following that in which he first saw the sun all night was particularly full of small adventures. Let me briefly8 relate a few.
One day, having left the schooner9 becalmed close to the mainland, they took the boat and rowed towards the land. While they were pulling along-shore under a tremendous cliff that rose out of the sea like a wall, they heard voices on the top of the cliff. The top was lined with bushes, so that they could see no one, but the sounds led them to suppose that some persons were disputing there. Presently a crash was heard, and, looking up, they beheld10 a dark object in the air. They had just time to observe that this object was a pony11 and cariole, which had evidently fallen from the top of the cliff, when they were drenched12 with spray, and a mass of foam13 indicated the spot not three yards off, where the whole affair had disappeared beneath the waves! In a few seconds the pony came kicking to the surface. It had broken loose from the cariole, and, strange to say, reached the shore unhurt and in safety.
Another day they saw a whale. It may not, perhaps, have occurred to many people that, although a whale is a very well-known fish, and his picture extremely familiar to us, the sight of a live whale about six or eight yards under one’s feet is an uncommonly14 startling and impressive vision. Such a sight our voyagers saw while sailing up the Skars Fiord.
It was a calm day, and a pleasant day withal; and I think it right to state that, although they did at times grumble15 at prolonged calms, their grumbling16 was more than half feigned17; while their gratitude18 for good weather, bright days, not to mention nights, and pleasant scenes, was sincere. But, to return to the point, it was a calm day, and they were doing nothing—that is, nothing worthy19 of mention. The waters of the fiord were deep and blue and clear, so that, looking over the side of the yacht, they could see very far down in reality—countless fathoms20 in imagination—into the mysterious abyss.
Presently some one cried, “Hullo! look there!”
“Hullo! look where?” inquired all the rest.
“There, close astern, it’s a—a—”
“Whale!” shouted the whole ship’s company.
That it really was a whale, and a big one too, became very apparent three minutes later, for it thrust a great blunt nose, like the end of a large boat, out of the water, and gave a prolonged puff21. A few minutes later, and the nose appeared close off the starboard bow, then it came up not far from the larboard quarter; so they were convinced that the creature was taking a survey of the yacht. Perhaps it took it for another whale, and felt inclined to be social. After one or two circuits it drew nearer, and at last the huge fish could be seen as if in the depths of a bad looking-glass, swimming round and round the yacht, ever and anon coming to the surface, and showing the whole length and depth of its bulky body.
They were considerably22 excited, as may be supposed, at such an unexpected visit, and the near approach of such a visitant. As they gazed at him with eager eyes, he suddenly turned his head straight towards the side of the vessel23, and, sinking down sufficiently24 to clear the keel, dived right under it, and came up on the other side.
So clear was the water, and so near was the fish to the surface, that they saw its great fins25 driving it along, and observed its comparatively little eyes looking inquisitively26 up at them. On clearing the yacht he came to the surface not more that thirty yards from the side. In fact he had shaved it as near as possible without actually touching27. “Familiarity breeds contempt,” saith the proverb. The longer this whale played round them, the more did he exhibit a growing tendency to play with them, and as there was no saying what fancies he might take into his great head, Fred resolved to give him a shot.
Accordingly, the rifle—a double-barrel—was brought up, and, watching his opportunity, Fred put two leaden balls into the back of his head. The insulted monster wisely took the hint, gave a final flourish of his tail, and disappeared for ever!
On another occasion they landed at the head of a remote fiord, where the natives seldom had the chance of seeing strangers, and were, therefore, overjoyed to receive them. Here Sam Sorrel had a small adventure. His companions had left him to sketch28. While thus engaged, a fat, hearty29, good-natured fellow found him and insisted on him paying a visit to his cottage. The houses of the people in Norway, generally, are built of wood, and are roofed with red tiles. Floors, walls, ceilings, tables, chairs, beds, etcetera, all are of wood, and usually unpainted. All have iron stoves for winter use; no carpets cover the floors, and no ornaments30 grace the walls, save one or two prints, and a number of large tobacco-pipes, for the Norsemen are great smokers31 and chewers of tobacco.
The language here perplexed32 our artist not a little. Being a lazy student, he had left Fred to do all the talking, but now he found himself for the first time alone with a Norwegian! fairly left to his own resources. Well, he accompanied his fat friend, and began by stringing together all the Norse he knew (which wasn’t much), and endeavoured to look as if he knew a great deal more; but his speech quickly degenerated33 into sounds which were quite unintelligible34 either to his new friend or himself; at last he terminated in a mixture of bad Norse and broad Scotch35! Having dwelt many years in Scotland, Sam found his knowledge of Lowland Scotch to be of use, for there is great similarity between it and the Norwegian tongue.
For instance, they call a cow a ko or a coo. Bring me meen skoe (I spell as pronounced) is, Bring me my shoes. Gae til land is, Go ashore36. Tak place is, Take place, or sit down. If you talk of bathing, they will advise you to dook oonder; and should a mother present her baby to you she will call it her smook barn, her pretty bairn or child, smook being the Norse word for pretty. And it is a curious fact, worthy of particular note, that all the mothers in Norway think their bairns smook, very smook! and they never hesitate to tell you so; why, I cannot imagine, unless it be that if you were not told, you would not be likely to find it out for yourself.
Well, Sam and his fat friend soon became very amicable37 on this system. The Norseman told him no end of stories, of which he did not comprehend a sentence, but, nevertheless, looked as if he did; smiled, nodded his head, and said “Ya, ya,” (yes, yes), to which the other replied “Ya, ya,” waving his arms, slapping his breast, and rolling his eyes as he bustled38 along towards his dwelling39.
The house was perched on a rock, close to the water’s edge. It was very small, quite like a bandbox with windows in it. Here the man found another subject to rave40 about and dance round, in the shape of his own baby, a soft, smooth copy of himself, which lay sleeping like a cupid in its cradle. The man was evidently very fond—perhaps even proud—of this infant. He went quite into ecstasies41 about it; now gazing into its chubby42 face with looks of pensive43 admiration44; anon starting and looking at Sam with eager glance, as if to say, “Did you ever, in all your life, see such a magnificent cherub45?” His enthusiasm was quite catching46. Sam afterwards confessed that he actually began to feel quite a fatherly interest in the cherub.
“Ya, ya,” said Sam, “smook barn,” though it must be confessed that if he had called it a smoked bairn he would have been nearer the mark, for it was as brown as a red herring.
In proof of his admiration of this baby our artist made a sketch of it on the spot, and presented it to the delighted father, after which he was introduced to the Norseman’s wife, and treated to a cup of coffee. When Sam returned from this visit, he told his companions that he was quite amazed at having got on so well with the language, and was warm in praise of his host, who, he said, laughed more heartily48 than any man he had ever met with. It is just possible that the Norseman may have had more occasion afforded him for laughter than usual, for Sam had waxed very talkative, and had been particularly profuse49 in the use and abuse of his pet phrase, ver so goot.
Soon after this the yacht’s head was turned into the Nord Fiord, at the head of which dwelt the father and mother of Hans Ericsson. Here Hans, to his unutterable delight, found the fair Raneilda on a visit to her mother; for Raneilda was a native of that remote valley, and had gone to Bergen only a year before this time.
Here, too, Sam Sorrel found splendid scenery to paint, and Grant obtained numerous specimens50 of birds for his museum.
This reminds me, by the way, that our naturalist51, who was amiable52 and eccentric, on one occasion nearly drove his comrades out of the yacht. One day he shot a young unfledged gull53 or puffin, or some such creature, whose brief existence had only conducted it the length of a down coat, a little round body, and a pair of tremendously long legs. Well, this object was laid carefully past (sic) in a spare berth54 of the yacht, in which they used to stow away all manner of useless articles—chairs and stools that had broken their legs, etcetera—and which went by the name of the infirmary in consequence. About a week after, there was a most unaccountable smell in the infirmary. Several stuffed birds hanging there were suspected and smelt55, but were found to be quite fresh. One or two of them were put out to air, but still the smell grew worse and worse, until the most obtuse56 nose did not dare to go near the infirmary. At last they became desperate. A general and thorough investigation57 was instituted, and there, in a dark corner, under a hair mattress58, and flat as a pancake, lay the poor puffin, alive!—but not with the life wherewith it had lived before it was shot—and emitting an odour that is indescribable, a description of which, therefore, would be quite unprofitable. The puffin was pitched overboard, and it was half insinuated59 that they ought to pitch the naturalist overboard along with it!
At the head of this fiord, also, Fred Temple, to his inexpressible joy, found a mighty60 river in which were hundreds of salmon61 that had never yet been tempted62 by the angler with gaudy63 fly, though they had been sometimes wooed by the natives with a bunch of worms on a clumsy cod-hook. Thus both Fred and Hans found themselves in an earthly paradise. The number of splendid salmon that were caught here in a couple of weeks was wonderful; not to mention the risks run, and the adventures. Space will only permit of one or two examples being given.
On the day of their arrival, Fred seized his rod, and taking Hans to gaff the fish and show him the river, sallied forth4, accompanied by about a score of natives, chiefly men and boys, who were eager to see the new style of fishing. They soon came to a fine-looking part of the stream, and Fred put together his rod. He was much amused at the looks of the men when they saw the thin supple64 point of the rod. They shook their heads gravely, and said, “He cannot hold a big fish with that.” They were right so far, but they did not understand the use of the reel and the running line. Presently Fred cast, and almost immediately a large salmon took his fly, the rod bent65 like a hoop66, and the reel whizzed furiously as the line ran out.
Sam Sorrel, who was there at the time, afterwards said that he was divided between interest in the movements of the fish, and amusement at the open mouths and staring eyes of the natives.
This fish was a very active one; it dashed up, down, and across the river several times, running out nearly the whole of the line more than once, and compelling Fred to take to the water as deep as his waist. At last, after a fight of half an hour, it was brought close to the bank, and Hans put the gaff-hook cleverly into its side, and hauled it ashore, amid the shouts of the astonished people, for the salmon weighed eighteen pounds.
After a time the natives began to understand the principles of fly-fishing with a rod, and regarded Fred Temple with deep respect. On all his fishing excursions in that fiord, he was attended by a band of eager admirers, to whom he gave most of the fish; for he caught so many of all sizes that his friends and his crew were not able to eat the quarter of them. The catching of his largest salmon was a stirring incident.
It happened on the evening of a very bright day. He had been unfortunate. The sun being too bright, the fish would not rise. This annoyed him much, because on that particular day he had been accompanied by the Captain and Bob Bowie, as well as his two companions, all of whom were anxious to see him catch fish, and learn a lesson in the art. Fred was up to his middle in a rough part of the river. It was all he could do to retain his foothold, the water was so strong.
“It won’t do,” said he, “the sun is too bright.”
His friends on shore looked grave and disappointed.
“Hallo! hey!” shouted Grant, who observed that at that moment Fred’s legs had been swept from under him, and he was gone!
Before any one could speak or act, Fred reappeared a little farther down the river, holding tight to the rod, and staggering into shallower water.
“None the worse of it,” cried Fred, bursting into a laugh.
Just as he said this, and while he was paying no attention to his rod, a salmon rose and seized the fly. In an instant Fred and his comrades utterly68 forgot all about the ducking, and were filled with the excitement of the sport.
Fred’s rod bent like a willow69 wand. His eyes seemed to flash, and his lips were tightly pressed together, for he felt that he had on a very large fish. Suddenly it darted70 up stream, and did what the large fish seldom do—leaped quite out of the water.
“A whale! stand by!” roared Bob Bowie.
There was a cry from the others, for at that moment the salmon set off down stream,—a most dangerous proceeding71 at all times. Fred made for the bank, and let out line as fast as possible. When he gained the bank he ran down the stream, leaping over bushes and stones like a wild goat. The places he went over in that run were terribly rugged72. It seemed a miracle that he escaped without broken bones. Presently he came to a steep rock that projected into the water. There was no getting round it, so in he dashed. It took him only up to the knees. This passed, he came to another place of the same sort. Here he put a strain on the fish, and tried to stop it. But it was not to be stopped. It had clearly made up its mind to go right down to the sea. Fred looked at the pool, hesitated one moment, and then leaped in. It took him up to the neck, and he was carried down by the current fifty yards or so, when his feet caught bottom again, and he managed to raise his rod, fully expecting to find that the salmon had broken off. But it was still on, and lively. Meanwhile, his comrades on the bank were keeping pace with him, shouting and yelling with excitement as they ran.
“The rapid, mind the rapid!” roared Grant.
Fred saw a foaming73 rapid before him. He became anxious. It was dangerous to venture down this. If he should touch a rock on the way down, the chances were that he would get a limb broken. The banks here were so thickly covered with bushes that it was impossible to pass. The fish still held on its headlong course. “What shall I do?” thought Fred. “If I stop he will break all to pieces, and I shall lose him. Lose him! no, never!”
But the advice came too late. Fred was already in the foaming current. In a moment he was swept down into the comparatively still water below the rapid. His friends lost sight of him, for they had to run round through the bushes. When they got to the foot of the rapid, they found Fred on the bank, panting violently, and holding tight to the rod, for the salmon had stopped there, and was now “sulking” at the bottom of a deep hole. For a full hour did the fisher labour to pull him out of that hole in vain; for in this kind of fishing nothing can be done by main force. The great beauty of the art consists in getting the salmon to move, and in humouring his movements, so that you tire him out, and get him gradually close to your side.
At last the fish came out of the deep pool. Then there was another short struggle of quarter of an hour, and the fisher’s perseverance75 and skill were rewarded. The salmon at last turned up its silvery side. Fred drew it slowly to the bank (in breathless anxiety, for many a fish is lost at this point). Hans struck the gaff in neatly76, and with a huge effort flung it floundering on the bank, amid the hearty cheers of all present.
This salmon weighed 34 pounds, and was about four feet long! It was a magnificent fish, and it may well be believed that Fred Temple did not grudge77 the two hours’ battle, and the risk that he had run in the catching of it.
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1
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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latitude
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| n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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15
grumble
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| vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声 | |
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grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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fins
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| [医]散热片；鱼鳍；飞边；鸭掌 | |
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inquisitively
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| 过分好奇地； 好问地 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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smokers
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| 吸烟者( smoker的名词复数 ) | |
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perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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degenerated
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| 衰退，堕落，退化( degenerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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amicable
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| adj.和平的，友好的；友善的 | |
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bustled
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| 闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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rave
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| vi.胡言乱语；热衷谈论；n.热情赞扬 | |
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ecstasies
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| 狂喜( ecstasy的名词复数 )； 出神； 入迷； 迷幻药 | |
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chubby
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| adj.丰满的，圆胖的 | |
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pensive
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| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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45
cherub
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| n.小天使，胖娃娃 | |
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46
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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profuse
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| adj.很多的，大量的，极其丰富的 | |
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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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naturalist
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| n.博物学家(尤指直接观察动植物者) | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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gull
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| n.鸥；受骗的人；v.欺诈 | |
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berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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smelt
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| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
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56
obtuse
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| adj.钝的；愚钝的 | |
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investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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mattress
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| n.床垫，床褥 | |
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59
insinuated
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| v.暗示( insinuate的过去式和过去分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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salmon
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| n.鲑，大马哈鱼，橙红色的 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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gaudy
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| adj.华而不实的；俗丽的 | |
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64
supple
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| adj.柔软的，易弯的，逢迎的，顺从的，灵活的；vt.使柔软，使柔顺，使顺从；vi.变柔软，变柔顺 | |
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65
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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66
hoop
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| n.（篮球）篮圈，篮 | |
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67
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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68
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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69
willow
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| n.柳树 | |
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70
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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71
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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72
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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73
foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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74
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75
perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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76
neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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77
grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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