The Dolphin shot bravely across the water, and fulfilled the utmost expectations of both builder and captain. Soon she passed the limit of British seas; there was not a ship in sight; the great ocean route was free; besides, no ship of the Federal marine4 would have a right to attack her beneath the English flag. Followed she might be, and prevented from forcing the blockade, and precisely5 for this reason had James Playfair sacrificed everything to the speed of his ship, in order not to be pursued.
Howbeit a careful watch was kept on board, and, in spite of the extreme cold, a man was always in the rigging ready to signal the smallest sail that appeared on the horizon. When evening came, Captain James gave the most precise orders to Mr. Mathew.
"Don't leave the man on watch too long in the rigging; the cold may seize him, and in that case it is impossible to keep a good look-out; change your men often."
"I understand, Captain," replied Mr. Mathew.
"Try Crockston for that work; the fellow pretends to have excellent sight; it must be put to trial; put him on the morning watch, he will have the morning mists to see through. If anything particular happens call me."
This said, James Playfair went to his cabin. Mr. Mathew called Crockston, and told him the Captain's orders.
"To-morrow, at six o'clock," said he, "you are to relieve watch of the main masthead."
For reply, Crockston gave a decided6 grunt7, but Mr. Mathew had hardly turned his back when the sailor muttered some incomprehensible words, and then cried:
"What on earth did he say about the mainmast?"
At this moment his nephew, John Stiggs, joined him on the forecastle.
"Well, my good Crockston," said he.
"It's all right, all right," said the seaman8, with a forced smile; "there is only one thing, this wretched boat shakes herself like a dog coming out of the water, and it makes my head confused."
"Dear Crockston, and it is for my sake."
"For you and him," replied Crockston, "but not a word about that, John. Trust in God, and He will not forsake10 you."
So saying, John Stiggs and Crockston went to the sailor's berth11, but the sailor did not lie down before he had seen the young novice12 comfortably settled in the narrow cabin which he had got for him.
The next day, at six o'clock in the morning, Crockston got up to go to his place; he went on deck, where the first officer ordered him to go up into the rigging, and keep good watch.
At these words the sailor seemed undecided what to do; then, making up his mind, he went towards the bows of the Dolphin.
"Well, where are you off to now?" cried Mr. Mathew.
"Where you sent me," answered Crockston.
"I told you to go to the mainmast."
"And I am going there," replied the sailor, in an ununconcerned tone, continuing his way to the poop.
"Are you a fool?" cried Mr. Mathew, impatiently; "you are looking for the bars of the main on the foremast. You are like a cockney, who doesn't know how to twist a cat-o'-nine-tails, or make a splice13. On board what ship can you have been, man? The mainmast, stupid, the mainmast!"
The sailors who had run up to hear what was going on burst out laughing when they saw Crockston's disconcerted look, as he went back to the forecastle.
"So," said he, looking up the mast, the top of which was quite invisible through the morning mists; "so, am I to climb up here?"
"Yes," replied Mr. Mathew, "and hurry yourself! By St. Patrick, a Federal ship would have time to get her bowsprit fast in our rigging before that lazy fellow could get to his post. Will you go up?"
Without a word, Crockston got on the bulwarks14 with some difficulty; then he began to climb the rigging with most visible awkwardness, like a man who did not know how to make use of his hands or feet. When he had reached the topgallant, instead of springing lightly on to it, he remained motionless, clinging to the ropes, as if he had been seized with giddiness. Mr. Mathew, irritated by his stupidity, ordered him to come down immediately.
"That fellow there," said he to the boatswain, "has never been a sailor in his life. Johnston, just go and see what he has in his bundle."
The boatswain made haste to the sailor's berth.
In the meantime Crockston was with difficulty coming down again, but, his foot having slipped, he slid down the rope he had hold of, and fell heavily on the deck.
"Clumsy blockhead! land-lubber!" cried Mr. Mathew, by way of consolation15. "What did you come to do on board the Dolphin! Ah! you entered as an able seaman, and you cannot even distinguish the main from the foremast! I shall have a little talk with you."
Crockston made no attempt to speak; he bent16 his back like a man resigned to anything he might have to bear; just then the boatswain returned.
"This," said he to the first officer, "is all that I have found; a suspicious portfolio17 with letters."
"Give them here," said Mr. Mathew. "Letters with Federal stamps! Mr. Halliburtt, of Boston! An Abolitionist! a Federalist! Wretch9! you are nothing but a traitor18, and have sneaked19 on board to betray us! Never mind, you will be paid for your trouble with the cat-o'-nine-tails! Boatswain, call the Captain, and you others just keep an eye on that rogue20 there."
Crockston received these compliments with a hideous21 grimace22, but he did not open his lips. They had fastened him to the capstan, and he could move neither hand nor foot.
A few minutes later James Playfair came out of his cabin and went to the forecastle, where Mr. Mathew immediately acquainted him with the details of the case.
"What have you to say?" asked James Playfair, scarcely able to restrain his anger.
"Nothing," replied Crockston.
"And what did you come on board my ship for?"
"Nothing."
"And what do you expect from me now?"
"Nothing."
"Who are you? An American, as letters seem to prove?" Crockston did not answer.
"Boatswain," said James Playfair, "fifty lashes23 with the cat-o'-nine-tails to loosen his tongue. Will that be enough, Crockston?"
"It will remain to be seen," replied John Stiggs' uncle without moving a muscle.
"Now then, come along, men," said the boatswain.
At this order, two strong sailors stripped Crockston of his woollen jersey24; they had already seized the formidable weapon, and laid it across the prisoner's shoulders, when the novice, John Stiggs, pale and agitated25, hurried on deck.
"Captain!" exclaimed he.
"Ah! the nephew!" remarked James Playfair.
"Captain," repeated the novice, with a violent effort to steady his voice, "I will tell you what Crockston does not want to say. I will hide it no longer; yes, he is American, and so am I; we are both enemies of the slave-holders, but not traitors26 come on board to betray the Dolphin into the hands of the Federalists."
"What did you come to do, then?" asked the Captain, in a severe tone, examining the novice attentively27. The latter hesitated a few seconds before replying, then he said, "Captain, I should like to speak to you in private."
Whilst John Stiggs made this request, James Playfair did not cease to look carefully at him; the sweet young face of the novice, his peculiarly gentle voice, the delicacy28 and whiteness of his hands, hardly disguised by paint, the large eyes, the animation29 of which could not bide30 their tenderness-all this together gave rise to a certain suspicion in the Captain's mind. When John Stiggs had made his request, Playfair glanced fixedly31 at Crockston, who shrugged32 his shoulders; then he fastened a questioning look on the novice, which the latter could not withstand, and said simply to him, "Come."
John Stiggs followed the Captain on to the poop, and then James Playfair, opening the door of his cabin, said to the novice, whose cheeks were pale with emotion, "Be so kind as to walk in, miss."
John, thus addressed, blushed violently, and two tears rolled involuntarily down his cheeks.
"Don't be alarmed, miss," said James Playfair, in a gentle voice, "but be so good as to tell me how I come to have the honour of having you on board?"
The young girl hesitated a moment, then, reassured33 by the Captain's look, she made up her mind to speak.
"Sir," said she, "I wanted to join my father at Charleston; the town is besieged34 by land and blockaded by sea. I knew not how to get there, when I heard that the Dolphin meant to force the blockade. I came on board your ship, and I beg you to forgive me if I acted without your consent, which you would have refused me."
"Certainly," said James Playfair.
"I did well, then, not to ask you," resumed the young girl, with a firmer voice.
The Captain crossed his arms, walked round his cabin, and then came back.
"What is your name?" said he.
"Jenny Halliburtt."
"Your father, if I remember rightly the address on the letters, is he not from Boston?"
"Yes, sir."
"And a Northerner is thus in a southern town in the thickest of the war?"
"My father is a prisoner; he was at Charleston when the first shot of the Civil War was fired, and the troops of the union driven from Fort Sumter by the Confederates. My father's opinions exposed him to the hatred35 of the slavist part, and by the order of General Beauregard he was imprisoned36. I was then in England, living with a relation who has just died, and left alone, with no help but that of Crockston, our faithful servant, I wished to go to my father and share his prison with him."
"What was Mr. Halliburtt, then?" asked James Playfair.
"A loyal and brave journalist," replied Jenny proudly, "one of the noblest editors of the Tribune, and the one who was the boldest in defending the cause of the negroes."
"An Abolitionist," cried the Captain angrily; "one of those men who, under the vain pretence37 of abolishing slavery, have deluged38 their country with blood and ruin."
"Sir!" replied Jenny Halliburtt, growing pale, "you are insulting my father; you must not forget that I stand alone to defend him."
The young Captain blushed scarlet39; anger mingled40 with shame struggled in his breast; perhaps he would have answered the young girl, but he succeeded in restraining himself, and, opening the door of the cabin, he called "Boatswain!"
The boatswain came to him directly.
"This cabin will henceforward belong to Miss Jenny Halliburtt. Have a cot made ready for me at the end of the poop; that's all I want."
The boatswain looked with a stupefied stare at the young novice addressed in a feminine name, but on a sign from James Playfair he went out.
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1
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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2
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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3
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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4
marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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5
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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6
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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7
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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8
seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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9
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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10
forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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11
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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novice
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| adj.新手的，生手的 | |
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splice
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| v.接合，衔接；n.胶接处，粘接处 | |
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14
bulwarks
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| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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15
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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16
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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17
portfolio
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| n.公事包；文件夹；大臣及部长职位 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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19
sneaked
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| v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
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20
rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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21
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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22
grimace
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| v.做鬼脸，面部歪扭 | |
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23
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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24
jersey
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| n.运动衫 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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27
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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28
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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29
animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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30
bide
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| v.忍耐；等候；住 | |
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31
fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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32
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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33
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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34
besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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36
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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38
deluged
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| v.使淹没( deluge的过去式和过去分词 )；淹没；被洪水般涌来的事物所淹没；穷于应付 | |
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39
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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40
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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41
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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