"I'd have given you mine with pleasure," said Job, "but although it's pleasant and airy, it's difficult to manage. You want to know it thoroughly3 or you come to grief. In a rough sea you stand a good chance of being washed out if the door is left open, and you might forget to shut it."
Jack Redland said they were quite satisfied with their present quarters, and had no desire to turn the skipper or anyone else out.
He had bid a hurried farewell to Sir Lester and Winnie, and the parting was keener than he anticipated.
Left alone with the girl he was sorely tempted4 to ask her to be his wife, but he knew it would not be fair to bind5 her in any way. He saw by her face that she was deeply moved, and his heart beat high with hope. She might wait for him. She might be true to the unspoken love they both felt. If he made a fortune in a few years all might be well, but he knew he must hurry and leave no stone unturned if he meant to win her.
"Take this, Jack," she said, handing him a small miniature of herself, which her father had had painted not long before. "It will remind you of me in the distant land, and I hope, make you feel you have a friend whose thoughts are with you at all times."
"It is the greatest treasure I have," he said, and then, unable to control himself longer, he took her in his arms and kissed her. In another moment he was gone, hurrying from the house, almost afraid of what he had done; but as he turned round to wave farewell, he saw her standing7 there, both arms outstretched, as though she would call him back at the last moment. He knew he would never forget that picture or the kiss he had given her. Winnie was sorrowful, and yet happy. Jack had betrayed himself, and she knew he loved her.
"Poor Jack," she murmured, "I will wait for him until he returns, no matter how many years it may be."
She told her father, and he smiled. Jack was out of the way, and she might forget. He could afford to be generous; at the same time he sympathised with them, and had financial matters been other than they were, nothing would have pleased him better than to have the young man for his son-in-law.
"I gave him my miniature, I hope you do not mind," she said. "I wished him to have some remembrance of me."
"You did quite right; nothing could have pleased him more, and you can have another painted," he replied.
So the "Golden Land" steamed on her way, parting the lovers as the ocean has parted thousands for ages past.
Although an old boat, she acted fairly well, and was not quite so coffin-like as her skipper described her.
They coaled at Port Said, where Jack and his friend went ashore8, to find the usual cosmopolitan9 crowd, as dirty and unclean as ever. They were not sorry to be on board again, and when they left the Red Sea behind and steamed out into the wide ocean, the refreshing10 breezes invigorated and put new life into them. The sea air seemed to tell of hope and fortune, and Harry Marton especially was not at all sorry he had left London far behind.
"We'll have a night ashore at Colombo, young men," said the skipper the day before they arrived at Ceylon. "There's plenty to see, and it will be a change for you; and it's our last port of call."
They were nothing loath11, and when the ship entered the harbour she was quickly surrounded with all manner of small boats, of various shapes and sizes, manned by noisy shouting natives, clamouring for custom.
Job Seagrave was not long in putting things in order, and leaving the chief officer in charge, they were pulled ashore by a couple of villainous looking dark-skinned natives.
"A nice couple of niggers to row respectable white men," said Job.
One of the men grinned. He evidently had some idea of the nature of the remark.
"You look uglier than ever now," said Job. "Take my advice, and keep your smile for dark nights; it's far too powerful for daylight."
They walked through the bazaars12 and the skipper showed them most of the sights that were interesting. Everything was new to them: the bright coloured garments, the waving tropical trees, with their huge leaves, the almost naked natives and rickshaw runners. It was difficult to tell the women from the men. Outside the town swarms13 of dark-eyed naked children surrounded them, clamouring for coins, no matter how small, and showering blessings14 upon their path, in quaint15 broken English, as they walked along.
They strolled about for the greater part of the night, and in the early morning returned to the ship.
"They turn night into day here," said Jack, "and no wonder, for it must be unpleasantly hot in the burning sun."
"You are right, it is," replied Job, "but you'll find it a lot hotter where you are going to, and if you tackle Barry Tuxford's pearling business you'll be as near to a certain place as it is possible to get in this world."
"A nice look-out, anyway," replied Jack, "but we shall not back down."
After leaving Colombo a couple of days there were signs of a storm, and Captain Seagrave knew what that meant in this latitude16. Once he had given up all hope of saving the "Golden Land," but she pulled through, although it was a narrow squeak17. He had no desire for another such experience. Anxiously he scanned the sky, and saw great black masses rolling and chasing each other like angry billows. There was a peculiar18 moaning sound in the air like spirits in torment19; he had heard it before, and dreaded20 it. The heat was oppressive, and Jack thought the ship was as hot as an oven. He, too, watched the sky, but was not aware of the danger. He saw the skipper on the bridge and went towards it.
"Rough weather, eh?"
"Yes, we're in for it."
"We have had no occasion to grumble22 so far," replied Jack, "and we can hardly expect to get through without some kind of a rough and tumble."
Blacker and blacker grew the clouds, and the roaring sound increased in volume.
"Better get below," roared Job, "or hold hard on to something."
Jack caught hold of the rail near him, and steadied himself. He had no intention of going below and was curiously23 anxious to see a storm at sea. As he looked up at Captain Seagrave, and saw his face, he felt there was a man who could be trusted, who would never lose his courage, and he commenced to understand why the "old tub" had weathered so many storms. The skipper might be a rough man, unpolished, but his heart was in the right place, his nerves true as steel, and the desire to do his duty strong within him. Such men as these, Jack thought, have made England the nation she is, and raised her merchant vessels25 and ocean steamers to the highest pitch. Ashore Captain Seagrave might cause smiles to cross the faces of men who were as mere26 pigmies compared to him now.
Suddenly the coming storm struck the ship. She staggered, quivered, groaned27, swerved29, then righted herself and plunged30 forward into the boiling, seething31 mass of water again.
Jack held on tight, for the wind howled and shrieked32 around him, and every timber seemed to creak and groan28. Far ahead he saw Sam Slack gesticulating furiously at some of the crew; he wondered how he kept his legs with such a heaving, shivering mass beneath him. Sam, in his way, was quite as good a man as the skipper, although he was not born to control and lead like Job Seagrave. He obeyed any orders given him, no matter the danger involved in carrying them out, but he would have been afraid to give them on his own responsibility.
Jack watched him curiously, and then looked up at the bridge. Captain Seagrave was shouting through a trumpet33 to Slack, who heard him amidst all the din6, and came towards him. Then there was a roar of words which were unintelligible34 to him, but which the chief officer understood, and hurried "forrard" again. It seemed easy for him to walk the deck; Jack tried the experiment, but as he let go his hold the ship lurched; he fell heavily, and a huge wave washed him into the centre of the vessel24. He was unhurt, and laughed at his experience, but had no desire to try it again. All through the night the wind howled, and the seas swirled35 round the "Golden Land," in huge angry masses. When Jack staggered on deck again next morning he saw Captain Seagrave at his post on the bridge, braving the still furious elements, fighting them until they were beaten.
"He's been there all night," said Sam Slack, as he shouted into Jack's ear; "you never catch our old man leaving the bridge in a gale36 like this. I'll be glad when we're out of it. So long as he sticks at it we stick at it for shame's sake. Mac's been down in the engine-room all night, and he's there yet. If strong language can keep his boilers37 going it'll be done. Mac's powerful in a storm, it kind of works him up, and he knows the engines are none too good, and want watching like babies. Where's your mate?"
"Down below. He's very bad; wishes he was ashore, I think," said Jack laughing.
Towards the afternoon the storm slackened, and Job Seagrave left the bridge. Jack followed him into his cabin.
"You have had a rough night's work," he said. "I can quite understand now why the 'Golden Land' has made so many safe passages."
Job smiled as he pulled off his oilskins.
"It was pretty rough, I acknowledge; but we have been in many worse things in our time. As for me being on the bridge, I would not leave the old tub in any other hands; they'd smash her for a certainty—don't know her as well as I do. We understand each other, and when I give my orders, she obeys. Sam's all right, a real good sort, but she'd not do for him what she will for me."
"I told 'em to let me know when you'd come off the bridge," he said. "You'll be the death of me some day. It's hell down below, and every minute I'm afraid there'll be a burst up."
"Not with you in charge, Mac. I have been telling Mr. Redland the ship understands me better than any man on board, and it's the same with you and the engines."
"I know you are always nice and warm," replied Job, "but think what an advantage it is in cold weather."
"We never run into cold weather," replied Mac with a grunt40. "Why don't you take a trip to the Arctic regions to give us a chance of getting even with you?"
"I'll think it over," replied Job. "Meanwhile try this, it will do you good," and he poured out a stiff nip of whisky.
"One more will just about recompense me for a beastly night in the black hole," he said.
Job laughed and gave him another.
"Is this some of Sharp's stuff?" he asked.
"Yes, do you like it?"
"It's all right. Sharp is a much better man than I took him for; there's a probability of a rise all round when we get back."
During the remainder of the voyage the weather was glorious, and as they neared the coast of Australia, Jack and his friend were keeping a keen look-out for the promised land. The first sight of it was not prepossessing, it looked a barren uninviting coast line, but Job Seagrave told them, although it seemed inhospitable, there were plenty of grand places inland.
The "Golden Land" entered the harbour at Fremantle, and Jack and Harry felt a keen regret that the voyage was at an end. Throughout the trip everyone on board had done their best to make things pleasant, and to part with Captain Seagrave, Sam Slack and Rufus Macdonald, was like taking leave of old friends.
"You have no occasion to hurry," said Job. "Make the ship your home for a day or two longer if you like; you are quite welcome. But I expect it won't be long before we have Barry Tuxford on board. He's a quick man, is Barry, and when he hears we are in port he'll be down as soon as he can, no matter where he may be."
This was true enough, for the morning after they arrived at Fremantle he came on board. He recognised Harry Marton at once, and cast a sharp glance at Jack when he was introduced.
"They'll do, I fancy," he said to Job Seagrave, who stood by watching him with some amusement. He knew Barry's way of reckoning up people, and making up his mind on the spot.
"Yes, they'll do; mind they are not too good for you. They are clever, very clever, and far better than most of the men you get out here."
"I have had some good ones through my hands in my time," was the reply.
"Come and dine with us to-night," said Job. "We'll have a merry party on board, and it will serve to make you better acquainted. I have something important to tell you about one of these young men that will interest you very much indeed. You are fond of racing43, and you'll be surprised when you hear my yarn44."
"I like a bit of sport," replied Barry, "and I have a few good horses, but I don't let it interfere45 with my regular work, not if I know it."
"And what may be your regular work this trip?" asked Job.
Barry laughed as he replied—
"Fishing, my boy; fishing in deep waters, and what's more, finding 'em too."
"Finding what?" asked Job.
"Pearls, lovely pearls," replied Barry, "and I'll be back for dinner, skipper, and tell you all about it."
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收听单词发音
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1
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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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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bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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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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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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cosmopolitan
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| adj.世界性的，全世界的，四海为家的，全球的 | |
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refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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loath
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| adj.不愿意的；勉强的 | |
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bazaars
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| （东方国家的）市场( bazaar的名词复数 )； 义卖； 义卖市场； （出售花哨商品等的）小商品市场 | |
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swarms
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| 蜂群，一大群( swarm的名词复数 ) | |
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blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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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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squeak
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| n.吱吱声，逃脱；v.（发出）吱吱叫，侥幸通过；（俚）告密 | |
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18
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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brewing
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| n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式 | |
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grumble
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| vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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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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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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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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swirled
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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boilers
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| 锅炉，烧水器，水壶( boiler的名词复数 ) | |
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greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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39
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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40
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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41
gulp
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| vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽 | |
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42
glistened
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| v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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44
yarn
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| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
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45
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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