A loud voice shouting in his ear, it seemed, “Seven bells; turn out here, you sleepers,” aroused Frank to a consciousness of his surroundings again, to his utmost astonishment2, for he felt sure he had only been asleep five minutes.
As he awoke he heard Johnson muttering, “Blowin’ a gale3 o’ wind now, I should think, by the way she’s kicking about, the old beast. Here, Frank, go an’ get the dinner an’ hurry up, it’ll be all hands directly, I can see.”
Frank scrambled4 out of his bunk5, dragged his cap on, and staggered out on deck, to be met as he did so by a heavy spray which drenched6 him and nearly knocked him down. He gasped7 and clutched at the side of the house, but did not go back, although he felt a little bit alarmed. He held on his way to the galley8, however, and the cook handed him two tin dishes, one with a piece of fat boiled pork in it that made his gorge9 rise as he looked at it, and the other with some plain pea-soup.
Now he ought to have known better than to have attempted to carry both dishes, having no hand left to hold on with. But he started and got half-way towards his house, when the ship[40] gave a combined roll and pitch that shot him off his legs, and hurled10 him along the deck as helpless as a dead thing. He landed in the scuppers at the lee side of the vessel11, which were a foaming13 torrent14 of water, and when he had scrambled to his feet again his dishes and their contents were several feet away.
Pursuing them was out of the question in his then condition, so he grasped his way to the house and told Johnson of his mishap15, who bad-worded him severely16, winding17 up by saying, “I suppose I shall have to go an’ get it. I never saw such a fool in my life.” A common enough expression, but one very rarely justified18.
Away went Johnson, presently returning with the food, but grumbling19 horribly. He made haste to eat some of the pork and pea-soup, but Frank, although savagely20 hungry, was fain to stay his appetite with a biscuit; that pork was too much for his sight, to say nothing of his stomach.
As soon as Johnson had finished he pitched his plate into a corner, and his knife and spoon (he had used no fork) into his bunk, and lighting21 his pipe began to put on his oilskins and sea-boots, grimly warning Frank that he had better do the same. Frank obeyed, not without a sense of its uselessness, as he was already fairly drenched, but in the topsy-turvy world into which he had been plunged22 he did not feel at all sure that it was not the right thing to put waterproof23 clothes over wet ones. He had hardly dressed himself thus and begun to realise how utterly24 helpless and clumsy he felt, much worse than he had before, when he[41] heard a shout, “Eight bells! all hands shorten sail.”
He tumbled out on deck and looked helplessly around. But Johnson, brushing past him, said, “Come along, you can haul aft the slack anyhow.”
To a novice25 the scene was appalling26. As the ship rolled, the seas rising high above her threatened to overwhelm her; the wind roared and howled as if full of rage and desire to destroy, great sails being clewed up, slatted, and banged and crashed, making the vessel quiver as if in pain, and the weird28 wailing29 cries of the sailors hauling on the ropes added to the truly infernal din1. Without the least idea of what he was doing, or why he was doing it, Frank staggered hither and thither30, pulling at ropes and getting pushed about, trodden on and sworn at, until at last there was a general rush of the men aloft, and he, left alone, began mechanically to do the only thing he understood, coil up the straggling ropes upon the belaying-pins.
He was suddenly startled by a yell from the skipper, who from the break of the poop demanded to know why the something or other he wasn’t “up lending a hand with that main tawpsle.” He might just as well have asked him why he wasn’t leading the House of Commons. Frank gasped at him uncomprehendingly, as the mate approaching the skipper made some remark, at which the skipper gave a sarcastic32 laugh and turned away.
The mate suggested that it was not wise to send so obviously helpless a lad up where he could not possibly do any good, and whence it was more[42] than likely that he might fall and be killed; which proves that the mate’s bark was worse than his bite, for I have personally known brutes33 who would have insisted upon a lad like that going aloft under similar conditions to almost certain death.
Now Frank’s plight34 was bad enough, but his native pluck began to get the better of his physical misery35 and his mental confusion, and he actually began to think of what a fine story of adventure he would have to tell when he got home again. He had of course not the slightest idea what an ordinary everyday sea-experience he was sharing. He could, however, and did, feel some admiration36 and envy for the sailors, who, clinging like bats to the yards high above him, were struggling to secure the great thrashing sails, even wished that he could do what they were doing, for he dimly felt that their deeds were heroic, more so than all his reading had prepared him for.
The gale increased in violence very fast, and it was well on to four bells before she was snugged37 down—that is, reduced to such sail as she could carry with safety—and the wearied men who had been on watch since eight in the morning were able to crawl below and get something to eat. The watch on deck had plenty to do securing spars and other movables about the decks, and Frank watching them wondered why they did not take more notice of the threatening waves and of the great masses of water that were continually tumbling upon the deck of the deeply laden38 ship. But by this time he had begun to learn[43] the sailor’s first lesson, to endure and keep doing what there is to be done with an utter disregard of the body’s claims to attention, and had he known it, he had made a long stride in his knowledge.
Bad weather having thus set in, lasted without intermission for several days and nights, during the whole of which our hero never changed his clothes, never washed, and grew not to care a bit about it, although, had he looked at himself in a glass, which he never did, he would have been horrified39 to find how begrimed and unwholesome-looking he had become. Of course he had the example of the elder boys, who seemed quite lost to all sense of decency40 both in behaviour and conversation, from lack of any kind of supervision41.
The poor little wretch42 Harry43, from want of food and from bad air as well as sea-sickness, was just a shadow, becoming at last so bad that the second mate, who alone of the afterguard seemed to think at all of the boy’s plight, taking pity on him, induced the steward44 to give him a little attention, and a cup or two of beef tea and some cabin biscuits, which revived him and probably saved his life.
It was the second mate too, who, as soon as the weather changed, so far interested himself in the boys as to make them wash and change their clothes and scrub their house out. But if he had been like the mate and captain, goodness knows how they would have fared. It needs no argument, I think, to convince most people that[44] boys at sea should never be left to themselves, even when they have had some previous training, unless there are ample facilities for cleanliness and room to stow their belongings45 away.
With the setting in of fine weather and a steady easterly wind, there was a great change for the better in the boys’ condition. The second mate’s admonitions had so good an effect that some sort of order began to be observed in the little house, and the eldest47 apprentice48, Williams, took upon himself to make the two new-comers keep the place clean after a fashion. At the best, however, it was a miserable49 hole, from which comfort was entirely50 absent, all the minor51 decencies of life being also wanting.
But on deck Frank and Harry, who picked up wonderfully quick when once they had got over their sea-sickness, were beginning to be of some use, could handle a broom with a certain amount of ability, and get about without tumbling. They began to remember the names of things, and of the various ropes and sails, also to take an intelligent interest in the work of the ship, although of regular teaching there was none except what the second mate gave Harry, who was in his watch, and followed him about like a dog.
And now, in spite of the many drawbacks and the departure of his illusions about a sea-life, Frank really began to enjoy himself. Being perfectly53 healthy and robust54, the change of food from the best to the worst, and the sordid55 details of his surroundings below, had no power to make him miserable.
[45]Had the mate and skipper realised any responsibility towards the lads under their charge, he would now have begun to learn at a very rapid rate, for he was full of inquiries56 upon every subject connected with the work of the ship and the wonders of the sea. But all his inquiries, except those directly connected with the work given him to do, were snubbed by the only persons he was on conversational57 terms with, the two elder boys; indeed their knowledge of things he wanted to know about, was not much greater than his own. Nevertheless he did learn perforce to do such quite menial work as is required of seamen58 in steamships59, connected almost entirely with keeping the ship clean, finding that any dirty or tiresome60 piece of work was given to him to save a growl61 from the men.
To his great delight, however, he speedily learned to go aloft, having strong nerves and not being giddy. At first he felt terribly alarmed when, having climbed as high as the main-yard, he looked down at the narrow space of deck beneath and the wide blue sea around. But before his fellow-apprentice, Harry, had begun to climb at all he had learned how to loose a sail, make up a gasket, and furl a staysail, and had even accomplished62 the much more difficult task of greasing down, a task that everybody on board tries to get out of if possible, because of its dirt and its danger. For the grease must be plastered on the after side of the upper masts with the bare hands, and consequently the job of holding with greasy63 hands is a very difficult one, while the manipulation of the[46] grease-pot is a business that worries even the smartest man.
Finding him willing and able, the mate put more and more of such tasks upon him, until, besides being quite the equal of Johnson in ability, he was in a fair way of becoming as useful as the average seaman64, except that he could not as yet perform a single piece of “sailorising,” as it is called, meaning the various manipulations of rope, such as splicing65, knotting, serving, &c., neither could he steer66. And all this, because he was “gleg at the uptak,” as the Scotch67 say, before the vessel had got down to the line. This, had he known it, proved the wisdom of Captain Burns in selecting a small ship for him, for in them a boy is bound to learn, there being so many things that a boy can do if he will, and so few men to spare. It also proves the untruth of what is so frequently alleged68 as to the expense of carrying boys at sea. I have been in a great many ships, but I have never yet been in one where the boys did not earn their pay and keep quite as fully52 as any man, generally much more so, and where premium69 apprentices70 were carried, I have often seen them in their third year doing more and better work than any foremast hand in the ship.
There was one thing, however, that began to worry Frank more than a little. As soon as he became used to his surroundings, and learned to wash himself once a week in his share of half a pail of water, he also began to change his clothes. But what to do with the dirty ones (and they were exceedingly dirty) he didn’t know. He timidly[47] inquired of Johnson, who said, “When it rains you can wash ’em if you like!” That closed the inquiry71, for he was ashamed to say that he had no more idea of how to wash a shirt than of how to make a watch, so he stuffed the foul72 clothes into his bunk as well as he could and lay amongst and on top of them.
By-and-by they entered “The Doldrums”—that strip of ocean between the Trade Winds, where it seems as if all the rain-making in the world is carried on. The beautiful steady weather they had enjoyed was broken up, and with it went the “caulks” or sleeps during the watch on deck. Now it was pully hauly all night long, amid ever-recurring deluges73 of rain, and even Frank could see that the ship was making very little progress. Every one seemed to get a rough edge on their tempers, the captain especially, whose language, never very choice, became appalling, and his purple face took on a deeper hue74 and his eyes were more bloodshot. The men cursed and swore as they hauled the big yards first on one tack75 and then on the other, and there was never a laugh heard; while ever and anon the rain came down in almost solid sheets of water.
The men forrard found time and opportunity to wash out their miserable bits of duds, and with the cunning of seamen managed to dry them too in the bursts of blazing sunshine, but never a bit of washing was done by any of the boys, while clothes that were hardly soiled but had got thoroughly76 wet, hung in the house on all the nails, adding another flavour to the many odours. At last Frank, in[48] despair of knowing what to do with all his wet and filthy77 clothing, took a short way with them: he flung a couple of armfuls overboard at night while nobody was looking. Quite unknown to him, Harry Carter had been doing the same, and for the same reason, because there was no one whose business it was to tell them or show them different.
Frank had now been a month on board, for the ship was a very slow one, and so, although she had enjoyed fair weather, it had taken her all that time to get down to the line. And had he been able to indulge in retrospect78 he would have seen what an immense change had taken place in himself, and how very far removed he was from the boy who came on board the Sealark in Liverpool. To say that he was enjoying the life would not be quite true, yet he was by no means miserable, having that happy temperament79 which makes the best of things, and besides, he was rather proud of his accomplishments80. He was fairly chummy with Johnson his watch mate, who had really never imposed upon him, and the two had many a yarn81 together about their previous lives and ambitions. They were much happier than the other two boys, for Williams was a cad, and Harry, poor chap, had no backbone82, so he just degenerated83 into a little loafer who skulked84 out of everything he could, and made the only man who tried to befriend him, the second mate, so disgusted with him that he gave up trying to teach him. Frank, on the contrary, was one of the willing ones, naturally energetic and industrious85, and besides, being quite a shrewd[49] lad, he soon noticed that everything came easier when he went at it with a will.
But there was one thing that he secretly craved86 after, the ability to steer. He felt quite a fierce envy of the men who stood nonchalantly at the wheel for two hours at a time, keeping the ship on her course by just twiddling at the spokes87 as he thought. At last this longing46 grew so great that one Sunday afternoon when there was nothing else doing, and the ship was gliding88 steadily89 along with all her sails just full over an almost smooth sea, he took his courage in both hands and going up to the mate said, blushing furiously as he did so, “Please, Mr. Jenkins, may I learn to steer?”
The mate looked at him steadily for a moment, and then grumpily replied, “Yes, I s’pose so. Hansen!” (to the man at the wheel), “show this boy how to steer.”
Now Hansen was a young Dane, a smart seaman and a kindly90 fellow, and the duty now fallen upon him was quite to his taste. Indeed most foremast hands are willing enough to teach a boy anything they know themselves in the way of work, if only the boy be smart.
So the lesson commenced, Frank standing91 on the lee side of the wheel, and Hansen pointing out to him the little black mark on the compass bowl in which swung the card, and explaining how his duty was to keep a certain point on the card in line with it, said, “Ven de lubber point moof avay from de point you steering92 by, you pushes de veel as if it vas fast to de lubber point, see,” suiting the word to the action. “But you ton’t push de veel[50] too much, ’cause if you do, de lubber point sving too far de oder vay, unt den31 you got to pull it more to get it back, unt so de ship don’t steer steady, see.”
After a few minutes he allowed Frank to take the wheel, himself going to the other side and explaining, helping93 too, so that the old man dozing94 in his state-room below should not note, by the tell-tale compass hanging there, that the ship was too much off her course.
In half-an-hour Frank could keep her fairly straight, and had learned not only to watch the compass, but the ship’s head against the sky, which, he was bidden to notice, gave him warning of the movement of the vessel and of the way she wanted her helm before the compass did.
Frank was so interested that the time flew, and he felt quite sorry when eight bells sounded. Mr. Jenkins came aft and looked at him steering, and when he saw that the ship was going fairly steady on her course, said, “Well, quartermaster, how d’ye get on, hey?”
Frank answered diffidently, “I think I know how to do it now, sir.”
“Oh, ye do, eh! Very well, we’ll see you get yer trick reg’lar, then.”
And that was all from the mate, but Hansen whispered as he was relieved, “If you likes I shows you how to box de compass ven ve goes forrut.”
Frank, entirely glad, followed Hansen down to the lee ladder and there began an acquaintance which was of the highest possible service to our young friend. For Hansen was, like most of his[51] countrymen going to sea, a well-educated man, and besides he held a Danish certificate entitling him to take a position as chief mate as soon as he should have served the necessary time at sea. And he was delighted to have some one to whom he could impart his knowledge, some one like Frank, who was not only willing but eager to learn.
From that day forward Hansen and Frank were inseparables whenever it was possible for them to be together by night or by day, and Frank learned with great rapidity. For he was in the proper educational position, keen to learn and blessed with a teacher full of theoretical and practical knowledge. Not only did Hansen teach him the theory of navigation as far as he could absorb it, but he also taught him practical seamanship as far as the manipulation of knots and splices95 in rope and wire were concerned, and, whenever possible, gave him a lesson in the handling of sails aloft.
Nor was this all, for Hansen found out how very much troubled the boy was about the condition of his clothes, and he gave him practical instruction in washing and mending, which was of the highest possible value to him. But I want to make it quite plain that this blessing96 for Frank came about quite accidentally or providentially, and that as far as his rightful teachers were concerned he might have remained in the position of a mere97 unskilled deckhand, as the other boys undoubtedly98 were still. Of course much credit was also due to Frank for his willingness to learn, without which this splendid opportunity of instruction would have been wasted. As it was, he much begrudged99 the time he was[52] compelled to keep watch on the poop at night where Hansen could not be with him, and when it happened that he had one wheel or look-out and Hansen the next, a whole watch on deck at night might be wasted, except for such mental exercises as he could perform by himself.
He could not help sometimes comparing his present educational processes with what he remembered of his school days, where all the conditions were of the most favourable100 kind, every appliance and comfort were at his command, but the true spirit of learning, as well as of teaching, was entirely absent. Now he had nowhere to write or cipher101 even, except in his bunk; and unless willing to strain his eyes in the glare of the tropical moonlight on the main-hatch, there was absolutely no place where he could work in comfort.
There was another matter which gave him some trouble, the undisguised hatred102 and jealousy103 of his housemates, who lost no opportunity of annoying him and putting hindrances104 in his way, while their sneers105 and jeers106 were incessant107. Fortunately he he was one of those fine lads to whom hindrances only act as incentives108, who may be spoiled by ease, but are stimulated109 by obstacles, and so he went on his way learning in spite of all.
At last, however, he felt he must put his foot down, and the occasion for doing so quickly arrived. Johnson, his watchmate, had, among other petty annoyances111, developed a very tyrannical spirit towards him, aided by the other senior apprentice, Williams, and was always hindering him in his learning in his watch below by putting[53] all sorts of unnecessary duties upon him, fagging him in fact.
One day Frank having made up his mind that he would have no more of this, as soon as breakfast was over got into his bunk with his books and began to work out some problem that Hansen had given him the night before. He had hardly settled down before Johnson said, “Look here, Brown, you’ve got to clean the house out this morning, you’re getting thundering lazy, and I won’t have it.”
Frank looked up, and quietly said, “I did the house out last time, it’s your turn now. I’ll do my share, but I won’t do yours. I’ve got something else to do.”
At this Johnson burst into a storm of abuse, and wound up by snatching Frank by the legs and dragging him out of his bunk. For the next few minutes there was a fierce fight, go-as-you-please, no room for science and boxing. Just like a pair of wild cats they struggled and tore at each other until the second mate, passing by and hearing the uproar112, burst in and separated them. Then as they stood before him all torn and bleeding and panting from their exertions113, he sternly demanded the reason of this behaviour. Johnson having first say, complained that Frank wouldn’t do his share of the housework. Then Frank gave his version, and in the upshot they were both hurried before the skipper.
Now I have hitherto left this worthy114 severely alone, for, indeed, as far as the management or handling of the ship was concerned he might as well not have been on board. He was one of a[54] type that now, thank Heaven, has almost disappeared from the sea, a drunken, worthless man who by sheer lying and hypocritical professions had imposed upon the owners and obtained a command for which he was entirely unfitted. He was always more or less under the influence of liquor, and, having a certain amount of cunning, left everything to the mate, who ran the ship with a fair amount of success, although naturally she did not get along very fast.
Now when the two lads were brought before him he sat endeavouring to assume a judicial115 air, and heard the story from the second mate; but his muddled116 brain could not sort the items out, and so he said in a thick voice, “Now look here, if I have any more of this I’ll clap ye both in irons. I’m the only fighting man ther’ is aboard this ship, an’ if ye want t’ fight I’ll fight ye an’ beat ye too. Stoord! stop these boys’ allowance o’ marmalade for a month. Go forrard and behave yerselves, an’ don’t you let me hear of ye misbehaving yerselves again.”
It may be here explained that in this ship twelve ounces of butter were allowed to each man one week, and a pound of marmalade the next week, and so on alternately. It was not much, but the deprivation117 of it left a great gap, and did not tend to make the boys feel very benevolent118 towards each other or the skipper.
There was another serious annoyance110 threatening Frank’s advance in learning, a peculiarity119 of the sailor mind, which is prone120 to jealousy. The constant association of Hansen with Frank led to all[55] sorts of scurrilous121 remarks from his watchmates in the forecastle, who felt in some dim indefinite way that he was worming himself into the confidence of the people aft, their natural enemies. But Hansen was a sturdy soul who was apt to go his own way without bothering his head much about other people, and so, except for two or three rows which did not get as far as a fight, the bad feeling made no difference to Frank. Indeed I only mention this rather sordid detail to show how curiously122 difficult it is for a keen apprentice to learn his profession at sea, how he is beset123 by all sorts of hindrances undreamt of by his friends ashore124, and how easy it is for him to take the line of least resistance, and let things slide, except where he has the good fortune to be under the command of a conscientious125 captain who feels it his duty to teach the apprentices committed to his charge their business.
And now I come to Frank’s first adventure. Hitherto, interesting as his life had been to himself, the recital126 of his progress must appear rather humdrum127, especially as so much of the vessel’s progress must be left to the imagination, since we have been largely dealing128 with an individual.
Owing to his advance in the art of steering he had been made a regular helmsman, taking his “trick” at the wheel in regular rotation129, and giving perfect satisfaction to the taciturn mate. The ship had reached the heart of the south-east Trade Winds, and was carrying all sail to a strong breeze, when Frank came to the wheel at two o’clock one morning. He had been at his post[56] about half-an-hour, and was thoroughly enjoying the work of keeping the noble craft on her course, when he saw a figure emerge from the companion. He knew it was not the mate, for that officer had gone forrard some time before and had not returned, and besides he never came up the companion unless he had previously130 gone down that way. The figure stood for a moment or two at the top of the steps as if irresolute131, and then coming aft to Frank peered in his face. It was the skipper, and his breath seemed to be almost scorching132, while his eyes glared unnaturally133. Frank felt uneasy, but steered135 on until the skipper said hoarsely136, “Put your helm down, don’t ye see you’ll be into her in a minute?”
Mechanically Frank obeyed, for he had already learned the seaman’s duty of unquestioning obedience137, spun138 the wheel hard down, and the vessel, which was close-hauled on the starboard tack, flew up into the wind, bringing all the sails aback and causing naturally a tremendous commotion139. The mate’s great voice was heard above the flapping of the sails and the snapping of the gear shouting, “What the —— so and so is the matter?”
The skipper burst into a series of unearthly yells, almost paralysing Frank with fright; but the latter held on to the wheel according to his orders. The mate came rushing aft, and met the skipper in full career, who flew at him like a tiger, and the two were immediately locked in what appeared to be a struggle for life. The watch came rushing aft in utter bewilderment, and[57] flung themselves upon the combatants, succeeding at last in separating them. There was an extraordinary mêlée before they were both secured, no one knowing in the least what was the matter, until the mate, finding his voice again, shouted, “Secure the skipper, men, he’s gone mad.” It was even so. His long debauch140 had culminated141 in a terrible attack of delirium142 tremens, rendering143 him for the time being an appalling danger to the ship and all hands.
He was quickly secured and carried below, the steward being called and given charge of him, while the mate and all hands, who had rushed on deck thinking that some terrible catastrophe144 had taken place, were busy for the next half-hour in restoring the ship to her normal condition and getting her on her course again. Fortunately for them all the breeze was not strong enough for any actual damage to be done, but it was a terrifying experience, and there was no more sleep that night for anybody. Below in the cabin the wretched man who was the cause of it all was apparently145 suffering intolerable torments146, writhing147 in his lashings so severely that the lines literally148 cut into his flesh, yet it was impossible to release him. It was a very serious situation for the mate, who, however, rose to the occasion, and made it his first duty in the morning to rummage149 every corner of the skipper’s state-room and the lazaret—where the small stores are kept—and every drop of intoxicating150 liquor that he found was at once hove overboard.
Frank was mightily151 impressed, but quite satisfied,[58] after having been questioned most severely by the mate, that he was in no way to blame, for even had he known enough to disobey the insane order given him, he would no doubt have been attacked by the madman. But he, like every one else on board, felt that he had narrowly escaped a very great danger.
And now as the skipper lay slowly creeping towards convalescence153, the Sealark began to draw downwards154 towards the stormy latitudes155, and the mate was in a state of perplexity as to which course he should take, not knowing the skipper’s intentions. The first port of call was Levuka, Fiji, and it was possible to go either east or west, the former being the most natural and easy way. But still he hoped that the skipper would get well and take the responsibility again, his position being an extremely awkward one.
And in the meantime the mixed crew forward were getting very unruly, as such crews will when there is anything wrong in the after part of the ship. However, the skipper was very slow in his progress towards convalescence, and so Mr. Jenkins made up his mind to run east, a decision immediately noted156 and approved of by the crew, who dreaded157 the passage west around Cape152 Horn. And gradually things settled down again into a sort of armed neutrality, the crew grumbling and growling158 at every order given, and doing as little as they possibly could.
But out of this unsatisfactory state of affairs grew one blessing; the boys, with the exception of the weakling Harry, rose to the occasion, sinking[59] their differences and rallying to the aid of the two officers, who noted the change, and signified their approval by giving the youngsters better food and treatment, besides encouraging them to take a more active part in the handling of the ship. Now Frank’s assiduous study during the fine weather placed him on a footing of perfect equality with Williams and Johnson, indeed he was their superior in many things, if comparison had been made. They began to recognise a community of interest, to look upon the crew as possible enemies, and upon the officers as their natural and proper friends. Frank thought wistfully of Hansen, who in the present state of affairs was entirely debarred from communication with him, and was very sorry.
In this unsatisfactory condition, but with the machinery159 of the crew still working almost automatically, they began to run the easting down, to rush along that enormous stretch of ocean which embraces the southern hemisphere of our globe. The wind increased steadily day by day, the sky took on a permanent grimness of aspect that shut out the blessed sun as if with an impenetrable pall27 of rushing cloud, and the sea rose into mighty160 rolling waves that extended from one side of the cheerless horizon to the other.
The Sealark did not behave well, not that she was overloaded161 but badly loaded, her general cargo162 being largely composed of iron, which lay heavily in her bottom and made her dull and uneasy in a seaway. She rolled tremendously and shipped on either side enormous quantities of water, keeping[60] the decks awash from end to end. Yet it was essential to her safety that she should carry plenty of sail so as to keep well before the ravening163 sea, which threatened to overwhelm her, although it was exceedingly doubtful whether the crew were sufficiently164 strong, even had they been most willing and full of ability, to handle the sails promptly165 in an emergency.
It was a trying time for all, but especially for the mate, for the skipper seemed to have lost all his manhood, and although he was fully capable of resuming command he showed no desire to do so; he just lay in his bunk and smoked and dozed166, apparently quite oblivious167 of his responsibilities.
But strangely enough he seemed to have been nursing a sense of grievance168 against the mate, who had acted like a good man and a thorough seaman, and really saved his life by depriving him of liquor. This curious twist of the skipper’s mind, however, did not become fully evident until he had resumed command, which he did one night in the middle watch as suddenly as he had interfered169 before.
The ship was running dead before the wind with the maintopgallant sail set, which was just as much as she could bear. The darkness was profound, except for the unnatural134 glare of the foam12 rising high on either side as if about to overwhelm the flying ship, while every few minutes a furious squall came hissing170 along, laden with stinging snow-particles and making sight impossible.
During these squalls the force of the gale seemed to be doubled, yet nothing could be done but hold on and hope the gear would stand the tremendous[61] strain, while the helmsman needed all his ability and strength to keep her going straight, knowing that a very small deviation171 from her course at such a time would mean her “broaching to,” or flying round suddenly into the trough of the sea and most probably foundering172 at once with all hands. The mate stood near the wheel in readiness to help the helmsman in case of any sudden jerk of the wheel being so heavy as to overpower him; while both watched the compass with straining eyes, at the same time keeping a knowledge of the way the wind was coming by the sense of touch.
To them came suddenly the captain with a swagger, who blusteringly demanded of the mate why he was not carrying more sail. The mate was for the moment too much astonished to reply, but stood gazing at the apparition173 before him, while the helmsman’s attention being diverted from his business, allowed the ship to take a sheer which was nearly her last.
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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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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4
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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5
bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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6
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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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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8
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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9
gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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11
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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12
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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13
foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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14
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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15
mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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16
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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17
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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18
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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19
grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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20
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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21
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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22
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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23
waterproof
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| n.防水材料；adj.防水的；v.使...能防水 | |
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24
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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25
novice
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| adj.新手的，生手的 | |
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26
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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27
pall
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| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
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28
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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29
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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30
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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31
den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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32
sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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33
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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34
plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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35
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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36
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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37
snugged
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| v.整洁的( snug的过去式和过去分词 )；温暖而舒适的；非常舒适的；紧身的 | |
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38
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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39
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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40
decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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41
supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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42
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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43
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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44
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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45
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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46
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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47
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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48
apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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49
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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50
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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51
minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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52
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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53
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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54
robust
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| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
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55
sordid
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| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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56
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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57
conversational
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| adj.对话的，会话的 | |
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58
seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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59
steamships
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| n.汽船，大轮船( steamship的名词复数 ) | |
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60
tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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61
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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62
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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63
greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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64
seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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65
splicing
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| n.编接（绳）；插接；捻接；叠接v.绞接( splice的现在分词 )；捻接（两段绳子）；胶接；粘接（胶片、磁带等） | |
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66
steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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67
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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68
alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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69
premium
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| n.加付款；赠品；adj.高级的；售价高的 | |
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70
apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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71
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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72
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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73
deluges
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| v.使淹没( deluge的第三人称单数 )；淹没；被洪水般涌来的事物所淹没；穷于应付 | |
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74
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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75
tack
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| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
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76
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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77
filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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78
retrospect
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| n.回顾，追溯；v.回顾，回想，追溯 | |
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79
temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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80
accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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81
yarn
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| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
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82
backbone
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| n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气 | |
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83
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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84
skulked
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| v.潜伏，偷偷摸摸地走动，鬼鬼祟祟地活动( skulk的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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85
industrious
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| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
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86
craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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87
spokes
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| n.（车轮的）辐条( spoke的名词复数 )；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 | |
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88
gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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89
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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90
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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91
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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92
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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93
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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94
dozing
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| v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
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95
splices
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| v.绞接( splice的第三人称单数 )；捻接（两段绳子）；胶接；粘接（胶片、磁带等） | |
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96
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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97
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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98
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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99
begrudged
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| 嫉妒( begrudge的过去式和过去分词 )； 勉强做； 不乐意地付出； 吝惜 | |
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100
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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101
cipher
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| n.零；无影响力的人；密码 | |
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102
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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103
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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104
hindrances
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| 阻碍者( hindrance的名词复数 )； 障碍物； 受到妨碍的状态 | |
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105
sneers
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| 讥笑的表情（言语）( sneer的名词复数 ) | |
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106
jeers
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| n.操纵帆桁下部（使其上下的）索具；嘲讽( jeer的名词复数 )v.嘲笑( jeer的第三人称单数 ) | |
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107
incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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108
incentives
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| 激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机 | |
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109
stimulated
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| a.刺激的 | |
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110
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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111
annoyances
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| n.恼怒( annoyance的名词复数 )；烦恼；打扰；使人烦恼的事 | |
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112
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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113
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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114
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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115
judicial
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| adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的 | |
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116
muddled
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| adj.混乱的；糊涂的；头脑昏昏然的v.弄乱，弄糟( muddle的过去式)；使糊涂；对付，混日子 | |
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117
deprivation
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| n.匮乏；丧失；夺去，贫困 | |
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118
benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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119
peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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120
prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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121
scurrilous
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| adj.下流的，恶意诽谤的 | |
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122
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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123
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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124
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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125
conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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126
recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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127
humdrum
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| adj.单调的，乏味的 | |
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128
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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rotation
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| n.旋转；循环，轮流 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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irresolute
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| adj.无决断的，优柔寡断的，踌躇不定的 | |
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scorching
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| adj. 灼热的 | |
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unnaturally
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| adv.违反习俗地；不自然地；勉强地；不近人情地 | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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138
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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140
debauch
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| v.使堕落，放纵 | |
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141
culminated
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| v.达到极点( culminate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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delirium
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| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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144
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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torments
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| （肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
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writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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rummage
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| v./n.翻寻，仔细检查 | |
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intoxicating
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| a. 醉人的,使人兴奋的 | |
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mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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152
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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convalescence
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| n.病后康复期 | |
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154
downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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155
latitudes
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| 纬度 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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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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growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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overloaded
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| a.超载的，超负荷的 | |
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cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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ravening
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| a.贪婪而饥饿的 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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dozed
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| v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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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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deviation
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| n.背离，偏离；偏差，偏向；离题 | |
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foundering
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| v.创始人( founder的现在分词 ) | |
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apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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