Madden had neglected this. While the American was in the engine room, the cockneys in the cook's galley2 had found intoxicants, had poured raw whiskey into their empty stomachs and the result was the quickest and most complete intoxication3. When Madden regained4 the deck he found his crew singing, laughing, fighting, quarreling in an absurd medley5.
Deschaillon roared out a French song. Two cockneys quarreled bitterly over what words he was saying. Mike Hogan jigged6 to the Frenchman's tune7, but shouted as he danced that he was spoiling for a fight. The smell of spirits reeked8 over the tug9 as if someone had sprinkled her deck with liquor.
Madden looked with anxious eyes for Caradoc, but did not see him. Smith was probably stuck away in some hole, senseless with poison, his effort at sobriety frustrated10, his moral courage shattered, his weeks of painful reform smashed.
Whatever humor there might have been in the ill-starred situation was destroyed for Madden by his friend's moral relapse. It was much as if some invalid11, nursing a broken leg, should fall and break it over again.
Gaskin was the first man who came in reach of the wrathful American. Madden caught his arm, whirled him about.
Gaskin revolved13 with dignity and considered his accuser. "You wouldn't think Hi'd do such a thing, sor!"
"Then how did they get it?" Leonard shook the fat arm sharply.
"In spite o' me, sor! In spite o' me!" defended the cook, shaking his fat jowls earnestly. "Hi rebooked 'em, sor. Says Hi, 'Gents, this is lootin', it is piratin', it is——'"
"You should have refused them a drop!"
"Refuse—Hi did refuse, sor! Hi did more. Hi blocked 'em! Hi—Hi fought hout, like a demon14, sor! There were too many! Hoverpowered me, sor, they did! I was fightin' and blockin', fightin' and blockin', like a d-demon, sor, b-but—b-but——"
Here Gaskin's utterance15 grew thicker, his fat head bobbed, then he slithered down by the rail in the hot sunshine; his face stared skyward and stewed16 sweat in the terrific heat. Madden gave a grunt17 of disgust. Gaskin was fast asleep.
There was nothing to be done. The men were drunk and he would have to wait till they became sober before making an attempt to run the Vulcan. He stood a moment, staring disgustedly at his useless crew, then finally stooped and dragged Gaskin to the shady side of the superstructure. As he passed with his burden some of the men made clumsy tangle-footed efforts to salute18.
In the shade Leonard found a deck chair, perched himself on its arm so as not to touch its hot canvas, and sat brooding glumly19. He banished20 the drunken uproar21 from his brain and began totting up his prospects22 for escape from this foully23 beautiful sea. His mind jumped from topic to topic in an exhausted24 fashion. He wondered whether or not Galton really knew anything of marine25 engines? If the dock would be discovered by a passing ship? If the tug's crew had really gone demented and leaped overboard? If there were any connection between the fate of the Minnie B and the Vulcan?
It seemed to Madden that he had been in the heat and brilliant garishness26 of the Sargasso for centuries. He wondered if the men would become so starved that they would draw lots to see who should be killed and eaten.
Anything, everything, was possible in this isolated27 sea. Its normal happenings were unreasonable28. It was a place of madness. He recalled the words of the navvy on the London dock, "Everything is unreasonable at sea." Certainly that was true of the vast stewing29 labyrinth30 of the Sargasso. He had lived abnormally so long that it seemed strange to him now to think that there were comfortable, well-ordered places on the face of the earth. Just as one cannot imagine snow and ice in the depth of summer, so Madden could not imagine the simple comforts of life. It seemed to him the whole world shriveled under a furnace heat.
Such heat, such congestion31, he thought, might well breed sea-monsters. After all, why should there not be a sea monster? Who could be sure that the old megalosauri, and megalichthys were extinct? Those monsters existed once upon a time, certainly. He was half persuaded that they still existed.
A sea serpent!
He wondered what a sea serpent would look like? One might well drive a man insane, cause him to leap overboard in utter horror.
His feverish32 brooding was interrupted by a wild flood of abuse from the starboard deck. It was Galton's voice bellowing33:
"Were is 'e? Were is that bloody34 Hamerican? 'E 'it me! 'It me in th' eye for trying to 'elp 'im! You lads goin' to see me murdered for nothin'?"
Came a medley of drunken questions:
"That Hamerican chap!" bawled36 Galton savagely37. "'E 'it me for 'elpin' 'im make a fire! Goin' to see me run over an' killed?"
"Faith Oi didn't see nawthin'," panted Malone, fresh from his dance
"Sure we will!"
"We're Hinglish!"
"Son of a shark!"
"Man-killin' crimp!"
The whole crew came lurching around toward Madden, filled with the wordy anger of intoxicated41 men.
The American arose to his feet with little emotion save a return of his old disgust. He knew he could defend himself from any assault the crew might make in that condition. But they made none. They stopped a little way from him, some drunkenly grave, others winking42 or leering, some abusive and threatening.
"Go'n' tuh 'lect 'nother captain," announced Mulcher thickly. "You no reg'lar hofficer!"
"You 'it a man for 'elpin' you, and 'urt 'is eye!"
"Make 'im walk a plank!" flared43 out Galton, shaking a big fist at Leonard. "Make 'im walk a plank!" Leonard observed that the fellow's nose and forehead were badly bruised44, and dark circles had settled under his eyes. He started for Madden, when Hogan caught him under the arms.
"I don't b'lieve 'e can walk a plank," surmised46 a cockney gravely. "'E's too drunk; 'e'd fall hoff."
"Where's Farnol Greer, Mulcher?" snapped Madden disgustedly. "Is he drunk, too?"
"D-drunk—you don't think we're drunk, sor?"
"We 'ave been drinkin' a little, sor, but we're not drunk."
"Oi am," nodded Hogan, resting his chin on Galton's shoulder as if from deep affection.
"Oi don't a—ack loike it, you—hic—you couldn't tell it on me, b-but Oi—Oi—Oi'm drunk, aw roight."
"I theenk Greer ees in the cook's galley," smiled Deschaillon, who appeared to be rational; then he added coolly: "Eef there ees any fighting, I weel help you, Meester Madden."
"An' th' grub, too!" added Hogan.
This news completely disorganized the court martial and election committee. Galton himself forgot his revenge in his thirst. They started aft pellmell in confused haste to help Greer finish the rum.
Leonard made no objection. They were already drunk. They might as well dispose of the liquor once for all, and then it would trouble discipline no more.
When the men and their turmoil48 had disappeared, Madden remained on deck, filled with a dull, heavy feeling of lassitude and bitterness. It was one of those moments when a man's hope is swamped in present difficulties.
The sun swung slowly down into the western sea, and its reflections made long blinding streaks49 in the Sargasso. Its yellow light transformed the great red dock into an orange structure that rested on the sea as lightly as the pavilions of the evening clouds.
The perpetual bizarre beauty of the scene was tiring to the youth. For some reason he thought again of the sea serpent. It occurred to Madden that an enormous scaly50 thing, in vivid spangling colors, embossed with sword-like spines51, with a long convoluted52 tail, huge red-fanged mouth, would be in keeping with the scene before him, would indeed produce a gorgeously decorative53 effect, such as he had seen in Chinese pictures.
His thoughts took all sorts of queer turns. He wondered what he would do if he should see such a creature? He walked over and stood by the rail, staring intently into the colorful west, half expecting to see some wild dragon of his imagination. If it should come, he wished for a camera—a moving picture camera. A moving picture of a dragon attacking a ship!
Just then he caught a strange noise that seemed to emanate54 from the air above his head. He stood quite still, hands on rail, listening. It was repeated. It was a human noise. It seemed to come from the vacant bronze-colored sky above his head. He wondered if he were going insane? Just then he caught sight of Caradoc's torso thrust out from a barrel up in the shrouding55 of the foremast. The crew of the Vulcan had run up the barrel like a whaler's lookout56 to post a watch. Into this barrel Caradoc had climbed.
The face of Smith wore a strained, desperate look. Madden stared at him for several seconds, quite taken aback by finding him in such an unexpected place. One thing, however, filled the American with deep gratification. The man was not drunk.
"What you doing up there?" called Madden in surprise.
Caradoc's broad shoulders sagged57 drearily58. "I don't know," he said dully. "I fancy I might as well jump overboard and be done with it."
Madden became instantly alert. "Jump overboard! What for?" A sudden thought hit him. Maybe this was the way they all went? Then another fear entered his heart.
"Say, have you seen anything up there, Smith?... A dragon, or... sea serpent, or..." Madden stared dumbfounded at his friend, marveling what manner of sight had put suicidal thoughts into Smith's head.
"Heavens, yes... dragons, dragons, dragons!"
A weak, watery59 feeling went through Madden's legs. He felt doddery. "Many dragons!" All idea of beauty was lost in grisly horror.
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1
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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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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intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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medley
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| n.混合 | |
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jigged
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| v.（使）上下急动( jig的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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8
reeked
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的过去式和过去分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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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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10
frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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11
invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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12
hogs
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| n.（尤指喂肥供食用的）猪( hog的名词复数 )；（供食用的）阉公猪；彻底地做某事；自私的或贪婪的人 | |
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13
revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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14
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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15
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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16
stewed
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| adj.焦虑不安的，烂醉的v.炖( stew的过去式和过去分词 )；煨；思考；担忧 | |
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17
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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18
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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19
glumly
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| adv.忧郁地，闷闷不乐地；阴郁地 | |
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20
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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22
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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23
foully
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| ad.卑鄙地 | |
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24
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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25
marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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26
garishness
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| n.鲜艳夺目，炫耀 | |
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27
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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29
stewing
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| 炖 | |
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labyrinth
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| n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路 | |
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31
congestion
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| n.阻塞，消化不良 | |
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32
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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33
bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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34
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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35
bloodied
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| v.血污的( bloody的过去式和过去分词 )；流血的；屠杀的；残忍的 | |
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36
bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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37
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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38
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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39
martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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40
plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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41
intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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42
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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43
Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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44
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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45
scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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46
surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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47
sputtered
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| v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的过去式和过去分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
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48
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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49
streaks
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| n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹 | |
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50
scaly
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| adj.鱼鳞状的；干燥粗糙的 | |
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51
spines
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| n.脊柱( spine的名词复数 )；脊椎；（动植物的）刺；书脊 | |
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52
convoluted
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| adj.旋绕的；复杂的 | |
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53
decorative
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| adj.装饰的，可作装饰的 | |
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54
emanate
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| v.发自，来自，出自 | |
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55
shrouding
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| n.覆盖v.隐瞒( shroud的现在分词 )；保密 | |
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56
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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57
sagged
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| 下垂的 | |
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58
drearily
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| 沉寂地，厌倦地，可怕地 | |
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59
watery
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| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
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60
chattered
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| （人）喋喋不休( chatter的过去式 )； 唠叨； （牙齿）打战； （机器）震颤 | |
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