I pushed my way on deck, but on my arrival found that it was raining hard, which accounted for the emigrants being crowded below. There[33] was shelter to be had under the break of the poop, as the ledge13 of deck is called that overhangs the entrance to the cuddy; and there I stood awhile, gazing along the dark length of gleaming, streaming deck that was deserted14, and listening to the complaining of the wind, amid the stirless shadow of the spars and rigging on high, or watching the damp and dusky winking15 of the lamps ashore16, or of the lights of ships at anchor round about us. Ah! thought I, this is not so comfortable as being in my father’s snug17 parlour at home, with a sweet and airy bedroom all to myself to pass the night in, and a kind mother at the fresh and fragrant18 breakfast table next morning to help me to a plateful of eggs and bacon, and a cup of fine aromatic19 coffee and cream! Maybe I shed a tear or two; I was but a little boy fresh from home, and amidst a great strange scene, with the darkness and the sobbing20 of the rain and the deserted deck, and the cold noise of the running waters of the river washing along[34] the ship’s side to bitterly increase the sense of loneliness in my childish heart.
It was not long before I went below. Most of the midshipmen were turned in, that is to say, they were lying down in their clothes and shoes with nothing but their jackets removed. I thought I could not do better than follow their example and how wearied I was I could not have imagined till I put my head down upon the bolster22 at the end of my bunk23, when I almost instantly fell asleep.
Being a very green, raw, quite young hand, I could be of no use on deck for the present, and it was for this reason, I suppose, they let me sleep in the morning, for when I woke I was the only midshipman in the cabin. There was a queer noise of scraping overhead, sounds as of the flinging down of coils of rope, the noises of water being swooshed along the planks24; and the sunlight that shone through the portholes was tremulous with the play of glittering, moving waters. I went on deck and found the ship in tow of the tug25, with the land a long way past Gravesend gliding26 astern, and the river so wide that over the bows it looked like the ocean. There were jibs and staysails hoisted27, and the ship appeared to be sailing along. It was a fresh, windy morning; there were great white clouds rolling from off the distant land over our mast-heads, and the dark brown smoke of the tug ahead fled in a wild scattering28 low down upon the[35] waters. The decks were being “washed down” as it is called at sea; sailors on legs naked to the knees were scrubbing and pounding away with brushes, buckets of water were being emptied over the planks, and a sturdy mariner29 with a whistle round his neck and great whiskers standing30 out from his cheeks, went about amongst the seamen31, directing them in a voice that sounded like a roll of thunder. He was the boatswain. I was not a little surprised to find the midshipmen with scrubbing brushes in their hands washing down the poop. I mounted the ladder and stood a moment looking on. One of them worked a pump just before the mizzen-mast, whilst another filled buckets at it, the third mate threw the water about, and the middies plied32 their brooms with the energy of a crossing-sweeper. The youth with a great nose who spoke33 with a lisp was polishing the brass-rail that ran athwartship in front of the poop. A man in a long coat and a tall rusty34 hat paced the deck alone. His face might have been carved out of a large piece of mottled soap. I afterwards found out that he was the pilot. There was another man standing near the wheel. He had a ginger-coloured beard that forked out from under his chin, pleasant dark-blue eyes and a copper-coloured face. It was not long before I discovered that he was Mr. Johnson, the chief officer. He came along in a pleasant way to where I stood staring.
[36]
“How is it you’re not at work, youngster?” said he.
“I’ve just woke up,” said I.
“Look here,” said he, “if you don’t call me sir, I shall have to call you sir, and I am sure it’s easier for you to say it than for me. Pull your boots and stockings off like a man, put them in that coil of rope there upon the hencoop, tuck your trousers up, lay hold of that scrubbing brush yonder and see what sort of job you’re going to make at whitening these decks.”
In a minute I was scrubbing with the rest of them, and it made me feel as if I was on the Margate sands to be trotting35 about with bare feet, with the salt brine sparkling and flashing about my ankles.
My memory at this point grows dim again, for I was rapidly approaching the unpleasant experience of sea-sickness. I recollect36 that I helped to dry the decks with a swab that was so heavy I could scarcely flourish it, and that I was shown by the third mate how to coil away a rope over a pin, also that I dragged with the others upon some gear which caused a staysail between the mainmast and the mizzen-mast to ascend37; I then went below to breakfast, at which there was served up a dish of hissing38 brown steaks, each of them wide enough to have served as a garment for my young ribs39. But by this time something of the weight of the wide sea beyond was in the river, the ship was faintly pitching,[37] much too faintly perhaps to be taken notice of by anything but a delicate young stomach like mine. I felt that I was pale, and the sight of the heap of great brown steaks floating handsomely in grease, which took a caking of white, even as the eye watched, added not a little to the uncomfortable sensation that possessed40 me. The others plunged41 their knives and forks into the layers of meat and ate with avidity; but for my part I could only look on.
“Take and turn in, my lad,” said the third mate kindly42; “it’s bound to occupy you a day or two to get rid of your longshore swash, and then we’ll be having you jockeying the weather mizzen-topsail yard-arm, and bawling43 ‘haul out to leeward’ in a voice loud enough to be heard at Blackwall.”
I was glad to take his advice, and was presently at my length in the bunk, too ill to speak, yet with a glimmering44 enough of mind in me to bitterly deplore45 that I had not heeded46 my mother’s counsel and remained at home.
The wind hardened as the river widened, and much dismal48 creaking and groaning49 rose out of the hold and sides, the bulkheads, strong fastenings and freight of the lofty fabric50 as she went rolling stately in the wake of the tug that was thrashing through the hard green Channel ridges51 in a smother52 of foam53. The wind was south-east, I heard some of our fellows say, with a lot of loose black scud54 flying[38] along the marble face of the sky, and a gloomy thickness to windward, that was promise of tough weather, ere we should have settled the South Foreland well down upon the quarter. One of the lads said that if the wind headed us yet more, we should bring up in the Downs, and lie there till it blew a fair breeze, which might signify a fortnight’s waiting.
“If so,” says he, “I shall put on a clean shirt and go straight ashore, then button my ears behind me, and never stop running till I get to London town; for twenty miles of salt water’s enough for me; and here we are bound away for six thousand leagues of it, with all the way back again on top!”
In this fashion the lads would talk as they came below from the deck, and sick as I was I managed to heed47 enough of their conversation to pick up what was going forward. I cannot express how I envied their freedom from sea-sickness. Some were making their third voyage, others their second. I was the only “first-voyager” as they call it. It sometimes rained on deck, and the fellows would come below gleaming in oilskins, the sight of which made me feel pitifully girlish, insomuch that on three several occasions I made a desperate effort to get up and act my part of a sailor as they did theirs; but the oppression of nausea55 was too violent, and down I lay again, saving the third time when, contriving56 to feel my feet, the ship at the instant[39] gave a lurch57 which sent me headlong into one of the fore21 and aft bunks58 where I lay half stunned59, and so miserably60 sick that the third mate had to lift me in his arms to enable me to return to my own bed.
Sea-nausea is at all times distressing61, and I do not know that one is easier for suffering in a fine saloon, with looking-glasses and flowers and the electric-light, and the fresh breezes of heaven blowing through the open skylights to keep the place sweet. But if this mal de mer, as the French call it, is more unendurable in one interior than in another it must be so I think in a midshipmen’s berth—at least such a berth as ours was:—Twelve sleeping shelves and nine lads to sleep in them, with a huge giant of a third mate to fill the tenth; a sort of twilight62 draining in through the three scuttles63, the immensely thick glass of which was often eclipsed by the roaring wash of a green sea sweeping64 along the sides; a lamp burning night and day, from whose untrimmed flame there arose to the ceiling of the cabin a pestilential coil of smoke.
In these narrow gloomy quarters we lived and moved, and had our being. Here we ate our meals, here we slept, here we washed ourselves, here the youngsters smoked. Hardest part of all were the confusing noises made by the emigrants just outside our berth. Unlashed chests slided to and fro;[40] children were incessantly65 falling down and squealing66; many heart-disturbing lamentations arose from such of the poor wretches67 as lay sick and helpless in their dark bulkheaded compartments68. They had to fetch their meals from the galley69, and not yet having acquired the art of walking on a tumbling deck, those who had to bring the rations70 of beef or pork along, would repeatedly come with a run through the booby-hatch, and lie at the bottom of the ladder badly scalded in a little lake of pease-soup, or with the beef rolling away among the chests, whilst the air resounded71 with execrations, scarcely stifled72 by the complaining sounds of the ship’s fabric.
The third mate was very kind to me; told me there was no hurry; I was welcome to lie in my bunk till I felt equal to coming on deck.
“I was sick for a fortnight when I first went to sea,” I heard him say. “I was one of four apprentices73. Those shipmates of mine were brutes74, and the very first night we were out they hauled me from my hammock and ran me to the mizzen shrouds75, up which they forced me to go, saying that the topgallant sail would be clewing up shortly, and I must be in the cross-trees in readiness to help furl it. A ratline carried away, and I fell through the rigging on to the deck. I broke no bones, but I lay senseless, which so terrified the young bullies76 that when I was taken to my hammock[41] they never more offered to trouble me. I was ill for a fortnight, I say, and the memory of it makes me sorry for every youngster when he first comes to the life and is sea-sick.”
However, on the morning of the third day from our quitting Gravesend, though I was still very ill, I could stand no longer the miseries77 of my confinement78 to the cabin. Since I was bound to suffer, I thought it was better to feel wretched in the open air than amid the smells and noise and gloom of the midshipmen’s berth.
“I FELL THROUGH THE RIGGING.”
It was the forenoon watch, as the hours from[42] eight to twelve are called. The fellows who had been on deck since four o’clock had come below at eight bells, and after breakfasting had turned in to smoke a pipe and then get some sleep. They were in the port or chief mate’s watch, to which division of the ship’s company I was supposed to belong, though I don’t remember how I came to know this. We were still in “soundings” as it is termed—that is to say, not yet out of the Channel, though we were a long way down it.
On this morning there was a strong sea running on the bow, but not so much wind as the motion of the ship would have led one to suppose. The mids, when they came below, had told the others who were to relieve them that the vessel79 was under all plain sail saving the flying jib and fore and mizzen royals, and that the “old man” as they termed the captain, was driving her; that they had heard the mate say that he expected it would be an “all hands” job before four bells had gone—ten o’clock. I caught all this, scarce comprehending it, and lay drowsily80 and stupidly watching the lads get their breakfast and then vault81 into their bunks with all their clothes on—“all standing” as the sea saying is—ready to rush on deck to the first summons. The ship was lying over at a sharp angle, and there was a great roaring and seething82 along her sides of swollen83 waters smitten84 into yeast85, and the cabin portholes came and went like the winking of eyes[43] to the shrouding86 of the glass by the liftings and leapings of the green billows. Presently there were certain sounds on deck which unmistakably denoted that sail was being shortened.
“It’s ‘in main royal’ now, I suppose,” said one of the middies, sleepily, “and about time too. What’s the hurry all this side of Sydney, New South Wales?”
Presently more hoarse87 songs resounded on deck, along with the echo of tramping feet and of rigging dropped hastily from the hand.
“Old man’th growing alarmed, I reckon!” exclaimed the lisping long-nosed midshipman, whose name was Kennet. “Oh, how I do with,” he cried, feigning88 to speak in a voice as though he wept, “that I had thtoptht at home to bottle vinegar for my poor deah mamma. Eh, Rockafellar? Better to bottle vinegar athore, my beauty, than to lie thick and hungry in a nathty cabin.”
As he spoke, the third mate’s voice was to be heard ringing like the roar of a bull down through the booby-hatch—“All hands reef topsails! Up you come, all you young gentlemen bee-low there! Lively, now! before the ship falls overboard!”
The youngsters sprang from their bunks, and were out of the cabin in a breath. Then it was that I made up my mind to linger no longer sea-sick in this dismal, straining cabin. I pulled on my shoes, plunged into my jacket, and, setting my cap[44] firmly upon my head, went clawing my way to the steps of the hatch, up which I staggered, feeling exceedingly ill and weak, but determined89 now to push on even to perishing sooner than suffer in darkness and loneliness below.
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收听单词发音
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1
fumes
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| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
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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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emigrants
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| n.（从本国移往他国的）移民( emigrant的名词复数 ) | |
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jumble
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| vt.使混乱，混杂；n.混乱；杂乱的一堆 | |
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vehemently
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| adv. 热烈地 | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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8
greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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12
grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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15
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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16
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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17
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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18
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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aromatic
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| adj.芳香的，有香味的 | |
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sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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bolster
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| n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励 | |
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bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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tug
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| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
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gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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mariner
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| n.水手号不载人航天探测器，海员，航海者 | |
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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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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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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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rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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trotting
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| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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36
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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40
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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41
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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42
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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43
bawling
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的现在分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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44
glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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45
deplore
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| vt.哀叹，对...深感遗憾 | |
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46
heeded
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 )；变平，使（某物）变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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48
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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49
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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50
fabric
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| n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织 | |
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51
ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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52
smother
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| vt./vi.使窒息；抑制；闷死；n.浓烟；窒息 | |
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53
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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54
scud
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| n.疾行；v.疾行 | |
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55
nausea
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| n.作呕，恶心；极端的憎恶(或厌恶) | |
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56
contriving
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| （不顾困难地）促成某事( contrive的现在分词 )； 巧妙地策划，精巧地制造（如机器）； 设法做到 | |
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57
lurch
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| n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行 | |
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58
bunks
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| n.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的名词复数 )；空话，废话v.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的第三人称单数 )；空话，废话 | |
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59
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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60
miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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61
distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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62
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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63
scuttles
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| n.天窗( scuttle的名词复数 )v.使船沉没( scuttle的第三人称单数 )；快跑，急走 | |
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64
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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squealing
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| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的现在分词 ) | |
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wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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compartments
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| n.间隔( compartment的名词复数 )；（列车车厢的）隔间；（家具或设备等的）分隔间；隔层 | |
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galley
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| 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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rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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72
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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shrouds
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| n.裹尸布( shroud的名词复数 )；寿衣；遮蔽物；覆盖物v.隐瞒( shroud的第三人称单数 )；保密 | |
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bullies
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| n.欺凌弱小者, 开球 vt.恐吓, 威胁, 欺负 | |
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miseries
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| 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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confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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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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drowsily
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| adv.睡地，懒洋洋地，昏昏欲睡地 | |
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vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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smitten
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| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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yeast
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| n.酵母；酵母片；泡沫；v.发酵；起泡沫 | |
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shrouding
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| n.覆盖v.隐瞒( shroud的现在分词 )；保密 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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feigning
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| 假装，伪装( feign的现在分词 )； 捏造（借口、理由等） | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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