Under the able guidance of this impassive pagan, who merely waved his hands in the direction in which he wanted the ship to go, she was brought gently to her allotted1 moorings in the splendid harbour, amid the great crowd of cosmopolitan2 shipping3 which is the outward and visible sign of this mighty4 seaport5 of the Far East. Down went one anchor after another in orthodox style (which beautiful manœuvre I would like to explain, but dare not for fear of being tedious), the sails were clewed up or hauled down, and the deed was done.
“Give the sails a harbour furl, men,” shouted Mr. Cope; and lovingly they rolled and patted into regulation shape the great squares of canvas, whose precision of outline when fast owed nothing to painted coverings put on afterwards, but were the hall mark of good seamanship. Then the yards were trimmed and squared, the ropes coiled up, the decks swept, and at four o’clock, “That’ll do for to-day, men,” sounded gratefully on the ears of the crew, who sauntered towards the forecastle with the air of men who had earned their reward.
In the next berth8 lay a big Yankee ship, the[223] Colorado, of New York, which had come in almost side by side with the Sealark. But what an amazing difference in the methods followed on board of the two ships! In the English vessel9, an occasional quiet order which was just sufficiently10 loud to be heard; in the American, a very hurricane of oaths and yells which raged incessantly11, no matter how well and rapidly the work was done. Of course it was done well, slipshod seamanship in a Yank being quite unthinkable; but at what a price! Then when the Sealark’s crew received that consideration from their commander to which they were really entitled, the crowd of the Colorado seemed only just to have begun their work. Frank watched, fascinated, the tremendous energy of the mates, the desperate efforts of the men, heard the ghastly chorus of profanity by which the whole work was accompanied.
As I have said, the work on board the Sealark ceased at four o’clock, the ship being made snug12 and harbour-worthy13 for the night; but on board the Colorado there was not one moment’s respite14 from labour until everything on board was as if she had been in harbour a month—sails unbent and stowed away, running gear stopped up, cargo16 gear prepared ready for the morning, and a host of other things, leaving the hapless crew, when they entered the fo’c’sle at eight o’clock, relieved at last, so weary as to be almost unable to crawl when the relief came. I believe in work, and hard work, but a feeling of utter disgust comes over me when I see how men are driven under the flag of the great Republic. Nowhere in the world is the last ounce[224] so mercilessly extracted from poor flesh and blood as it is there, or less concession17 made to human weakness or limitations.
I said that Frank was fascinated, and with reason, for he could hardly tear himself away from the rail to his supper. But when the second mate sauntered up to him and said, “That’s the way to get a ship’s work done, my lad; no crawling there,” Frank looked quickly round and said, “I see they’re smart, sir, but it isn’t necessary to work them so long or curse them so hard. The work is not so pressing as all that, surely.” The old black scowl18 came over the second mate’s face as he muttered, “You so-and-so lime-juicers don’t know what a man is,” and turned away.
For which sentiment I cannot help hating him and his like, while fully7 appreciating their splendid seamanship. The sight not only held Frank fascinated, as I have said, but it fired his blood; and he made a mental vow19 that whatever happened he would, if ever he had the power, treat his men as remembering that they were made of the same material as himself.
He was drawn20 from the contemplation of brutality21 by one of the small boys calling his attention to a sampan, or a Chinese boat, which had stolen up alongside. It was not much bigger than a large rowing-boat, but rising in a graceful22 curve at the bow, and completely decked over except for a domed23 cabin aft. In this craft there were obviously three generations—grandfather and grandmother, father and mother, and a family of five children of varying ages, the youngest being a toddles24 of about[225] three, who staggered about the deck with a big bladder attached to its waist by a stout25 cord.
The use of this appendage26 bothered Frank very much, until he saw the tiny creature stumble, and take an involuntary dive over the unprotected side of the boat. As coolly as possible the mother, who was standing27 at the big steer-oar, lifted a boat-hook from the deck, and hooking the child by the bladder cord as it floated quite safely, hauled it on board, and, giving it a shake, set it on deck to drain, at the same time scolding it in what seemed a very discordant29, loudly-sung song.
Meanwhile all the other members of the family were begging with eloquent30 gestures, pointing to their attenuated31 bodies and their mouths alternately. Frank went and fetched some bread, and was about to give it to them, when the mate espied32 him, and calling him said, “Now remember, Frank, you must never give these people anything; if you do, the ship will be surrounded with sampans from morning till night, and there will not only be annoyance33 but danger from them. There are 30,000 people like that living upon the waters of this harbour, who do not know from whence their next meal will come, and who are consequently pressed so much that they will stick at nothing to get plunder34 of any kind. They must not go ashore35, and every boat is registered and numbered, as you see; so that if a crime is committed they are easily traced, but that is like locking the stable after the horse is gone. The only wise thing to do is to keep them at a distance.”
And so saying he mounted the rail, and in a fierce[226] voice with violent gestures made the boat clear off, the head of the family looking at mate and ship alternately with utterly36 expressionless face, as if nothing in life interested him at all.
“I can’t understand,” said the mate, turning away, “why they don’t make an organised raid some night upon a ship like this, and steal or murder as they like. But I suppose they’ve got no power of combining for a purpose of that sort, besides having, as a race, a tremendous respect for the law. Hello, here comes the skipper.”
He went to the gangway to receive Captain Jenkins, who had been ashore in the agent’s smart little launch, and was now returning with a promising37 little bundle in his hand that said “Letters from home.” In five minutes Frank was transported from all his surroundings by the magic of the written word, was oblivious38 of strange sights and sounds and smells, and actually listening to the well-remembered tones of the dear ones at home.
There was quite an accumulation for him, for his people were wise, and knew how eagerly prized were their letters; so they all wrote to him once a month, and consequently, owing to their long long passage, there were at least a dozen letters. No more getting a word out of Frank that evening, or claiming his attention even for meals. He was perfectly39 happy, for the letters breathed only love and the calm, even flow of a prosperous life, which he could not help mentally comparing, to its disadvantage, with the stirring times through which he had just passed, or feeling that a special Providence[227] had watched over him in answer to his mother’s tender prayers.
I am glad to say that he immediately set about writing a long letter of reply, that is, as soon as he had mastered the contents of his budget. It was boy-like, and glossed41 over many of the thrilling incidents of the passage in curt42, careless fashion; but it must always be remembered to a young man’s credit who occupies a position like Frank’s, that such letter-writing as he does is pursued under great difficulties in the matter of position and light. There is no comfortable table for him to spread his materials upon, and there are usually many interruptions; so that, when the parents get a good letter, they ought to bear in mind that it means much perseverance43 against odds44.
Next day they commenced to discharge, and this was also a revelation to Frank. For the appliances were of the simplest—just shallow, saucer-like baskets and spades, and a hundred or so sturdy Chinese to handle them. A huge scow-like junk came alongside, a tarpaulin45 was carefully stretched between her and the ship to catch any falling lumps, and gangways were laid, along which, when once the business was started, there went a never-ending procession of naked men bearing baskets full of coal, which, as they reached the side, they emptied over into the junk, and then returned by another route to where they found full baskets awaiting them. The air was full of coal-dust, the heat was melting, and the noise bewildering.
In the midst of it all stood a spectacled Chinese, a wadded teapot by his side, from which he continually[228] refreshed himself with tiny cups of straw-coloured, tepid46 tea, as impervious47 apparently48 to the discomfort49 and din28 of his surroundings, as if he were carved out of wood. Overside the scene was stranger still. There were at least twenty sampans, the occupants of which were diligently50 engaged in dredging the bottom for such small fragments of coal as, in spite of all care, would occasionally bounce overboard. And these energetic snappers up of unconsidered trifles conducted all their operations amid a deafening51 uproar52 of languages that sounded quite uncanny, and made Frank wonder whether such a queer concatenation of sounds could in any possible way serve to communicate thought. In which he was only following a line of fancy trodden by very many before him.
There was, however, one cry which, especially in the evenings and early mornings, resounded53 over the waters of the harbour and puzzled Frank a great deal. He had considerable difficulty in locating its source, but did so at last. He found that it proceeded from the solitary54 occupant of a small canoe-like boat that was apparently drifting aimlessly about the bay doing nothing at all.
And then one night there suddenly broke out in the forecastle a furious and exceedingly bloody55 fight, in which the good, peaceable men who composed the crew were changed into devils incarnate56, with a mad lust57 to rend58 and tear each other to pieces. The skipper and two mates rushed forward to quell59 the frightful60 outbreak, but soon found that they were not dealing61 with sane62 men, but with[229] raving63 lunatics, and were bound to retire and leave them to fight it out, since to persist in the endeavour to separate the warring fiends was only to court destruction themselves. They waited outside, though full of anxiety, and wondered mightily64 whatever could be the meaning of it all. Drink, of course, but whence obtained, and what kind of drink that could thus change this peaceable crew so entirely65?
Neither the skipper nor second mate had ever been to China before, and so they were inclined to believe that the bumboatman employed to supply the crew with fresh fruit, bread, eggs, vegetables, &c. was guilty. But Mr. Cope, who had made one visit to Hong-Kong before, scouted66 the idea. He said that he had heard that the bumboatmen were above suspicion in that direction, knowing that they would certainly be found out, and when that happened they would forfeit67 all the money due to them from the crew, for such was the law, besides getting a long term of imprisonment68. Mr. Cope, however, could find no reasonable explanation of the source whence liquor could have come.
Then it was that Frank bethought him of the weird69 cry and the drifting canoe, and going up to the skipper he told him of what he had seen, and suggested modestly that there might here be found some explanation. At that very time, and just as Frank had finished speaking, the cry was heard again, quite softly but clearly, close under the bows. The skipper rushed forrard and nipped over the bows, where he struck a match, held it[230] blazing for a moment, and then extinguished it. There was silence for a moment or two, and then the grating of a boat against the cable below, while a soft voice called up through the darkness, “Wanchee samshaw, Johnny?”
“Yes, yes,” hurriedly whispered the skipper, “What thing wanchee for one bottle?”
“You no catchee dolla, my takee shirtee, Climean shirtee good one, shabee?”
“All right, John, I catchee,” whispered the skipper, lowering the end of the jib downhaul; “you makee fast one bottle, I bring shirtee chop chop.”
And away he went, hurriedly explaining the situation to the two officers, and telling them to get each as big a lump of coal as they could handle and bring it forward to him when he had got a shirt ready. Then the obtained shirt was exchanged for a bottle, but as soon as the latter was safely hauled up the two masses of coal, each weighing at least half a hundredweight, were hurled70 down through the darkness on top of the purveyor71 of madness. There was an awful crash and a yell, then all was silence, as the skipper said with a sigh of relief, “I hope there is one villain72 less in the world.” Indeed it seemed so, for their utmost peering through the gloom could not descry73 a trace of anything, even wreckage74.
The bottle was taken aft and opened. Its contents stunk75 of all the foul76 things imaginable, while as for the taste, no description of it would be adequate.
“And this was the stuff those unspeakable asses[231] forward have been poisoning themselves with after buying it at such a rate. Well, well!” said the skipper, “the folly77 of sailors is surely without limit. But, thank God, that infernal devil will never poison a poor fool of a sailor any more.”
“Indeed I don’t know so much about that,” said Mr. Cope. “It’s harder to kill a Chinaman than a cat, and I shouldn’t be a bit surprised if that fellow isn’t about again plying78 his vile79 business in a day or two. But at any rate we know now, thanks to Frank’s keeping his weather eye lifting, and others are not likely to come along here any more without getting their due.”
“Yes,” went on Mr. Jacks80, “that boy gets smarter and better every day. I never saw a more likely lad, or one that shaped for a first-class seaman6 more steadily81 than he does.”
“I’ll have a talk to him presently,” said the skipper; “meanwhile let’s go and have a look at those poor fools in the forecastle, they seem to have quieted down a bit now.”
So they went forward to the forecastle, and hearing only groans82 and heavy breathing went in, to find the place a very slaughter-house, reminding one more of a Roman arena83 after a gladiatorial show than anything else. Fortunately no knives had been used, so that although blood had flowed in a ghastly manner the wounds were only superficial. But the bodies were nearly all naked, the clothes having been torn off them in shreds84, beards and hair had been torn out by handfuls, and—but you can imagine what would happen if a dozen homicidal maniacs85 were suddenly turned loose upon[232] one another, and further attempts at description would be disgusting.
Captain Jenkins turned away from the miserable86 spectacle with a sigh, feeling that he could do literally87 nothing at present until the fumes88 of that horrible poison had died out of its victims. But he went and found Frank and thanked him warmly for his help in locating the source of the evil.
Then, as a sudden idea came to him, he led the young man forward and showed him the forecastle, “Look at that, Frank,” he said, “and remember it all your life. The poor sailor has many drawbacks to a comfortable existence, but he has none greater than himself. And yet he is much to be pitied. Don’t forget this when you come to be in command, as I feel sure you will be; always remember that a sailor, in a ship like this at any rate, needs to be protected against himself in spite of himself, and, if you find a man who is all right, he deserves and should get every encouragement that you can safely give him, and you needn’t patronise him, which is of all things the treatment which disgusts him. Now go and turn in, and don’t forget that what you have done to-night has saved more trouble and suffering than you have any idea of, to say nothing of the expense to the ship.”
And so they parted for the night, Frank feeling at least an inch taller. But when Johnson asked him what on earth the old man had been gassing about for so long and he told him, Johnson replied discontentedly, “Some people have all the blessed[233] luck.” As if luck could have anything to do with the matter.
Oh, but she was a sad ship the next day. The condition of the crew was too pitiful for words. Their injuries, severe as they were in many cases, were as nothing compared with the state of their brains and stomachs from the poison. The doctor paid his usual visit in the morning when the forecastle had been cleansed90 a little and the sufferers had got into their bunks91. He gave it as his opinion that, despite the proverbial toughness of the sailor, it would be fully a week before any of them were fit for work again.
The skipper asked if nothing could be done officially to prevent the possibility of such horrors. The doctor shrugged92 his shoulders, saying, “The policing of this great harbour with its 30,000 of a floating population ready for any deed of darkness which they may do with impunity93 is hard enough, especially when you remember that one side of it is Chinese territory, and the only thing that can be done is to keep a good look-out. But I admit that all captains that are new-comers should be warned of the possibility of such an occurrence as yours. Which you certainly were not.” And he went away, leaving Captain Jenkins both angry and sorrowful, but, with all a sailor’s cheery optimism, ready to admit that it might have been a good deal worse.
Fortunately the ship was in very good order aloft, as the crew had been employed there out of the way of the smother94 on deck since she came in, and therefore the loss of their services was[234] not so much felt. The discharging went on steadily, and the ballast came in natural sequence without any disturbance95, so that by the time the crew were all fit again the ship, except for the bending of her sails, was ready for her passage across to Manila, where she was to load hemp96 for New York.
But as soon as it was evident that she was ready for sea, those men, only newly risen from their bunks of pain, came aft and demanded the usual twenty-four hours’ liberty and a month’s wages. This presented a cruel problem to Captain Jenkins. He was no admirer of the system by which alone among workmen the sailor is kept out of his money for a period sometimes of two years, and then, getting it all in a lump, is liable to be robbed of it in a lump, but he saw a great danger ahead now. These men were obviously unfit to be trusted, for, if he was any judge, he felt sure they would not profit a bit by the awful lesson they had received.
But he felt bound to make the attempt, so he said, “Now, men, I am quite aware that a day’s liberty and some money to spend is due to you by the usual custom, and if you are bent15 upon having it I don’t feel justified97 in driving you into any foolishness by refusing it. But you know very well how ill you have all been through that filthy98 liquor you bought so dearly. Now the same kind of stuff is obtainable ashore, and if it drives you mad as it did before, you’ll get locked up and have a very bad time, while I shall lose the services of as good a crew as I’ve ever had.[235] Don’t you think you’d better wait until we get to Manila and have your liberty there? You’ll have had more time to get thoroughly99 well.”
The two Britons at once growled100 out a reply that they wanted their liberty, and the skipper, looking round upon the rest of them, saw only sullen102 insistence103 upon their right in every face, so, angrily, but feeling deeply sorry for the foolish fellows at the same time, he said, “Very well, then, the starboard watch can go ashore to-morrow, and the port watch the day after, Saturday. Come to me in the morning, you starboard watch men, and I’ll give you your liberty money.”
The only reply was a series of satisfied grunts104, conveying the idea that he had tried to bluff105 them out of their rights, but he had found he couldn’t do as he liked with them, and so on. So they parted, and the skipper returned to his cabin and held a consultation106 with his officers on the immediate40 probability of their having to get a new crew of such wastrels107 and loafers as Hong-Kong usually affords. Nothing could be done, though, but hope that the men would come aboard again not more than ordinarily drunk; in their then surly condition of mind evidently too much to hope for.
Why prolong this pitiful part of my story, the starboard watch went ashore the next morning in the best rig they had, and although they certainly did drop a few of their hard-earned dollars in the curio-shops, it was not long before they got to the bad end of the Queen’s Road, and had commenced an orgie which finally landed them[236] all in the lock-up in a most deplorable condition, the more so because their stamina108 was still very low.
The news was brought off to the skipper, who received it with an outburst of keenest sorrow, and immediately called the port watch aft to hear what had become of their shipmates. And so far from it making any favourable109 impression upon them, it seemed as if it only spurred their appetite for such fearful joys, and a spokesman stepped forward saying, “I s’pose you ain’t goin’ to stop the port watch’s liberty because the starboard watch ’as got into chokey, sir?”
“Since you ask me,” responded the skipper, “that is just what I am going to do. As I told you yesterday, I don’t want to lose a good lot of men like you by giving in to your foolishness, and until I see whether I can get the starboard watch back there’s no beach for you, make up your mind to that. You’re just a pack of fools and idiots, and must be treated as such.”
“All right, sir,” answered Micky, “that’s what you say; what I say is that I don’t do another hand’s turn aboard this hooker until I have had my liberty, and my watchmates say the same; don’t ye, boys?”
A fierce growl101 of assent110 clinched111 this outburst, and, turning sharply round, the watch went forrard into the fo’c’sle.
I must digress for a moment to point out that such an occurrence as this was by no means uncommon112 in the days I am writing of, twenty years ago, and is certainly not unknown to-day.[237] It serves to show the peculiar113 character of the “deep water” sailor, and the difficulty of dealing with him. The Sealark was certainly not a bad ship, and the crew were, as we have seen, very good men, but whether it is the sight of land and the thought of its allurements114, a sense of irresponsibility, and an impatience115 of the long confinement116, or some such kindred feeling, I know not; I can only say that, incredible as it must appear to landsfolk, men will and do act as I have described without any provocation117 or other inducement than the prospect118 of a debauch119. And nothing is more likely to stir up this tendency to revolt than the stoppage of liberty for any cause whatever.
The next morning the skipper went ashore, having first ascertained120 definitely that the port watch were firm in their determination to do nothing more unless they had their liberty, he being equally firm in his refusal to grant it to them. He interviewed the authorities, who informed him that his men had been so savage121 and had so severely122 injured several Sikh policemen that fines would not satisfy justice, and they must be imprisoned123. Then he laid the case of his mutineers on board before them, and it was decided124 that he must take a posse of police on board and put the mutineers in irons if they still persisted in their refusal and he was determined125 to take them to sea. So he returned on board with the police, and the foolish men, after being almost implored126 to be sensible for once, and being told of the condition of their companions,[238] and still remaining obstinate127, were ironed and placed in the after part of the ’tween decks with all sorts of evil passions raging in their hearts at what they considered the gross and shameful128 injustice129 of their treatment.
Then he had to go ashore again, taking with him the effects of the men who were in prison, go through all the formality of paying them off after duly deducting130 the charges he had been put to, and then go and hunt up some more men. But here he found a difficulty, men appeared to be very scarce, and in the end he was fain to be content with eight Lascars, natives of India, who had been landed as shipwrecked men from a sailing ship. He was distressed131 about this, but his duty to his owners in the matter of getting the ship away compelled him to leave no stone unturned for that purpose.
In the result he sailed on Monday morning with his swarthy recruits doing very well, and the second mate was duly warned not to be too severe in handling them, while the stubborn men down below aft, with a spirit that nothing seemed able to quell, munched132 their bread and drank their water of affliction and made no sign of being discontented therewith. The ship, being in ballast, was fairly tender, and so he (the captain) did not dare to carry a press of sail to the strong breeze blowing, even had he been efficiently133 manned.
But a smart passage was quite out of the question anyhow, and he felt a glow of satisfaction as he saw how capable were his Lascars and how ardent[239] his two senior apprentices134. The two younger boys, unhappily, were neither of them at all adapted for a sea life, and regarded every opportunity afforded them for acquiring practical knowledge as a hardship and an additional outrage135 upon their already offended sensibilities. Which was a serious loss to them as well as an annoyance to other people.
So the passage across progressed most favourably136 for the willing workers, and Captain Jenkins’ hopes rose high that he should after all be able to make so successful a voyage as would justify137 his appointment, a matter that is usually, or was usually, a serious consideration for every new-fledged skipper in those days. And to crown his satisfaction, the day before they sighted Luzon the mate came to him and said that the recalcitrant138 watch confined in the ’tween decks had at last weakened, and expressed a wish to see the skipper.
He went down at once, and addressing them said, “Well, men, I hear you have something to say to me. What is it you want to say?”
There was an uneasy movement among the pathetic little group, and then the young Welshman, who had been the leader of the party of revolt, said, “Beg ye pardon, cap’n, we’re ready to turn to.”
The skipper waited a few moments in case there should be anything else, and then replied, “I’m glad to hear it. Don’t think I’ve had any pleasure in seeing you suffer as you must have done, but if you had gone ashore and behaved as the men of[240] the starboard watch did you’d be far worse off than you are. Now, I want to make a bargain with you. If you’ll only go back to your work, and behave as you did on the passage out, I promise you that neither my officers nor myself will make any difference in our treatment of you from what you received then, treatment that you said you were perfectly satisfied with. More than that, although I have of course entered all this affair up in my official log, I promise you it shan’t be mentioned again or charged against you. But you must not think of going ashore at Manila, and you must treat these Lascars properly whom I have had to engage instead of the starboard watch, and who have behaved splendidly. I’ve put them all on the starboard side of the fo’c’sle so that you needn’t mix, but I will have them treated like men, for they are quite worthy of it. Is it a bargain?”
“Yes, sir,” was the simultaneous answer. Whereupon the skipper, raising his voice, shouted, “Mr. Cope, bring the key of these irons. The port watch is resuming duty.”
So for once a difficult and dangerous situation was ended in a way entirely satisfactory to all concerned. Alas139! the causes where such temporary aberrations140 of intellect on the part of our sailors have led to widespread misery141 and awful crime have been only too common. And most of their horrors might have been averted142 if only those in command had been fully competent and firm. In such a case weakness is a crime, but few there be among men who are judicially143 convinced of this most fundamental fact or believe[241] that justice impartially144 administered is the truest mercy; or indeed know what justice is. But I must not pursue this subject further. I would not have trenched upon it now but to show how entirely good was the schooling145 my hero was receiving thus early in his sea career, as I hope I have shown how capable he was of acquiring the same.
Now all was peace and satisfaction on board the Sealark, for the skipper gave orders that the released watch should be furnished with an extra good meal before resuming duty—well he knew how gratefully it would come to men who had been champing the dry biscuit which used to be the sole bread of the sailor. And when they came on deck in the afternoon, eager to take hold again, glad to feel the fresh breeze blowing upon them, and glad also to sniff146 the briny147 air, they were delighted to get the order from Mr. Jacks to make sail.
They sprang to his call, giving him as much pleasure as his saturnine148 nature was capable of feeling, for he, like many others of his class, had a positive hatred149 of niggers, as he called them all without distinction, and preferred the rowdiest, most undisciplined crowd you could find anywhere to a gang of willing, subservient150 dark men, who had to be pushed and pulled and handled generally like a flock of sheep by a shepherd without a dog. The chief officer, on the other hand, was quite contented89 with his docile151 crowd, who not merely did the best they were capable of, but were really good specimens152 of the seafaring Indians, whose[242] capacity is always highly spoken of by those who have had the opportunity of commanding them.
Only twenty-four hours afterwards the good ship Sealark sailed into the bay of Cavité with as favourable wind and weather as could possibly be desired, and anchored off the old city of Manila amid a goodly company of sailing ships of all nations, and one Spanish steamer. Here she lay in the most comfortable quarters, except for the fact that, with the well-known carelessness and freedom from provision on the part of the Spanish authorities, she was left alone for the remainder of the day, until her skipper had almost fretted153 himself into a fever, knowing well that he dare not go ashore until the authorities had given him permission. But some men are like that, great emergencies find them prepared and able, little things get on their nerves, irritating them almost beyond endurance.
I feel, however, that of late I have been letting my favourite slip into the background too much. He has been accorded his proper place in the scheme of things though, occupying as he does an entirely subordinate position in the ship, having a minor154 part to play, and although playing it extremely well, not being of any supreme155 importance to any one except his own immediate family and himself. Fortunately Frank was one of those well-balanced youths who was not always dwelling156 upon his position and wondering whether other people thought as well of him as he deserved. And this freedom from introspection[243] stood him in splendid stead both at this time and afterwards, saving him much mental trouble.
As regards his actual duties, I doubt whether he had ever been so happy in his life. For the skipper had rigged a boat with a suit of sails with that loving care that only a good sailor bestows157 upon a pet hobby. Having made her complete, he asked Frank and Johnson whether either of them knew anything about handling a boat under sail, and Frank, who had been taught at Lytham, after waiting for Johnson’s denial, modestly said he thought he would be able to do so now, having done it before he came to sea.
So the skipper, to his intense delight, gave him charge of the boat, with the two junior apprentices to teach also, and set him free of all ship work whatever. It is a good long distance from the anchorage off Manila into the “Canash,” as sailors will persist in calling the carenage, and sometimes there is a very strong breeze, necessitating158 three reefs, but Frank rose to the occasion and, like a veteran boatman, handled the craft of which he had suddenly been made commander. Moreover he drilled those two slack youngsters ruthlessly, making them dress neatly159, keep themselves clean, and practised them at rowing until they behaved themselves in the boat as if they had an object in life.
Now there may be better ways of making a boy self-reliant and resourceful than giving him a boat to handle under sail where he is likely to meet with bad weather occasionally, but I do not know of them. And if in addition the boy is passionately[244] addicted160 to the sport, the rapidity with which he will acquire those qualities to which I have alluded161, and others, is amazing. The beauty of boat-sailing is that the novice162 there learns that difficult art of feeling the direction of the wind, that impalpable force which means so much to the sailing craft in proportion to her size.
Hitherto, of course, Frank had been obliged to gather what little knowledge he possessed163 of how to trim the yards to the wind by what the second mate did while he was at the wheel. Now he was learning practically, finding out how when he jammed her up into the wind she drifted crabwise to leeward164, and how he who was not too greedy of stealing to windward, and never let his craft shake a stitch, was sure, so long as he was not lavish165, and let her swagger off the wind, to get to windward of those would-be smarties who were always fancying they could reverse the laws of mechanics, and imagining that they could outpoint the wind.
Nor was this all. He learned here by practice how the trim of a vessel affects her sailing powers, a law which applies equally to the ship’s boat under sail and the 3000-ton four-master; learned how to dispose of his crew of two to the best advantage, and to study the effect that even their slight weight had upon the weatherly qualities of his boat or her speed with a free wind. Also he learned to command; to give no unnecessary orders, but to have such orders as he did give carried out instanter, or else to visit with condign166 punishment the slack offender167.
But there is no doubt that he was heavily handicapped[245] by the character of the two boys placed under his charge. They did nothing willingly. The only thing that appealed to them was fear of a punching from him, or of being reported to the skipper. Ideas of honour, truth, or honesty they had none, and Frank, who could not understand them at all, had to watch them like a warder watching convicts, or, when the boat was waiting at the bund in the Canash for the captain, to exercise constant vigilance lest they should run away into some of the filthy native quarters and get into serious trouble.
By all of which I do not mean to suggest that Frank was anything of a prig or a prude. He was essentially168 a manly169 boy, with a high sense of trustworthiness, and while, if he were on liberty with fellows of his own class and age, he would doubtless kick up his heels like a young colt in a meadow, yet when in a position of responsibility he was as sternly bent upon doing his duty to the best of his ability as any man old enough to be his father. Of course captain and officers noted170 this, and enjoyed it quietly, but after the manner of their kind said nothing, only occasionally showing by their actions how much they trusted him. And this only on his second voyage. True they were long voyages, and the circumstances highly educational, but still we must recognise the rapidity with which a lad of Frank’s type will rise, given fitting occasion.
The time spent by the Sealark in Manila was almost idyllic171 in its peace and simplicity172. The weather was all that could be desired, the men[246] were most tenderly handled by way of compensation for their enforced abstinence from the dubious173 delights of what sailors always term “the beach”; and owing to the complete division of the white portion of the crew from the Lascars, there was no friction174 there either. True, they had never yet been called to work side by side in a position of danger or emergency, but in the daily work of the ship harmony reigned175. The ballast was discharged by native labourers, and the hemp began to arrive all in most leisurely176 fashion, for when did ever a Spaniard hurry except to fight.
But the chief thing was that no trouble ensued from either end of the ship; and when at last the flag was run up to show that the last bale of hemp was rammed177 into its place, and all that now remained was to carry it to New York, although some of the white men forward did certainly look longingly178 at the shore, there was no word of grumbling179 at the inevitable180 decision of the skipper that no leave should be granted. Johnson growled consumedly, telling Frank what a shame he thought it that his junior should be so privileged, just because he possessed a little knowledge of boat-sailing; but Frank speedily appeased181 him by repeating his asseverations of the absolute unattractiveness of the place, as far as he had been able to see it. Besides, the cholera182 was raging, and it would have been constructive183 murder to send fellows ashore on liberty in such a reeking184 hole.
Therefore, without any difficulty whatever, behold[247] the Sealark at daybreak on a lovely Monday morning getting under weigh for her long long passage, her crew singing lustily at the windlass brakes, but without much concord185, because the Lascars could not savvy186 English singing, and yet would try to assist, with the strangest and most unmusical results. The wind blew fair for the passage down the bay, and the men, if not exactly satisfied, were at least resigned to what they considered their loss of the pleasures (?) that Manila could afford. And such good progress did they make that before dusk they had passed out between the heads of the great bay, and saw the island of Luzon fade away like a huge blue-black cloud in the dim and indefinite distance. They got a fine offing, then the wind faltered187 and died away to a dead calm. The vessel lay listlessly rolling upon the black expanse of waters under a sky of deepest violet, while the stars shone down upon the unreflecting waters like pin-points of white-hot metal without a twinkle.
Then a strange transformation188 took place in that dark, placid189 sea. It began to be streaked190 with greenish lambent light in ridges191, and little pools of glare appeared to rise from the inscrutable depths, so uncanny that it seemed impossible to give them the name of light. There was also a faint suggestion of rippling192 sound, as if the silken surface of the ocean were being disturbed by sudden currents. This extraordinary glare grew in intensity193, until the awed194 observers noticed that the lustre195 of the stars paled to a dead white, and the beautiful violet of the sky,[248] with its soft suggestions of after-glow, became of a velvety196 blackness, such as those who sail in far northern seas are wont197 to associate with the middle of the auroral198 arch.
Then through and through the growing whiteness of the sea there began to run bands of brighter light, that marked the passage of the sea creatures as they came and went in their never-ending quest for food. And occasionally a series of ripples199, untraceable to any cause, would break against the vessel’s side, lighting200 it up with a ghostly glare, and reflecting upon the faces of the onlookers201 with something of the same effect which may be observed in a darkened room from the flare202 of burning spirit in a dish. This wonderful appearance of the ocean, which is known by the entirely inadequate203 name among sailors of a “milk sea,” lasted about four hours, and then passed away as suddenly as it had come, with no atmospheric204 disturbance following it except that there was a gentle breeze sprang up from the northward205, which gradually freshened into a wind that carried the good ship along at the rate of five knots an hour directly on her homeward course.
And now, as I have the interests of my young readers at heart, I must pass very rapidly over the easy, eventless course of the next fifty days. They were easy days, for the winds blew generally fair if light, and the passage through the Sunda Straits, except for one terrific thunderstorm, was unmarked by any difficulty. The crew were contented, not too hard worked, but still kept fully[249] employed during the watch on deck in the daytime, and the upper gear of the ship was put in as good repair as was possible to conceive of, the white men doing all the sailorising, sail-mending, &c., and the Lascars doing all the cleaning, scraping, &c., which demands not so much manual skill as patience and a complete indifference206 as to the nature of the work the man is engaged upon, an indifference which it is hard to find among men who put their brains into their work, as good sailors should.
So that there was absolutely nothing worth chronicling throughout the passage of the Indian Ocean, and even getting round the Cape207 was unattended by anything more exciting than a strong wind, not amounting to a gale208. The only fact that I am obliged to record is that Captain Jenkins took it into his head to invite Frank and Johnson into the saloon in the second dog-watch to study navigation, and was immeasurably surprised to find that they knew the theory of it almost as well as he did. So he set them to practise with the sextant and chronometer209, until, as he declared, they were as well able to navigate210 a vessel as he was.
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1
allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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2
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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shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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seaport
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| n.海港，港口，港市 | |
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seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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8
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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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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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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13
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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respite
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| n.休息，中止，暂缓 | |
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15
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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16
cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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17
concession
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| n.让步，妥协；特许(权) | |
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18
scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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19
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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20
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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21
brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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22
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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23
domed
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| adj. 圆屋顶的, 半球形的, 拱曲的 动词dome的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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24
toddles
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| v.（幼儿等）东倒西歪地走( toddle的第三人称单数 )；蹒跚行走；溜达；散步 | |
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26
appendage
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| n.附加物 | |
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27
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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28
din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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29
discordant
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| adj.不调和的 | |
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30
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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31
attenuated
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| v.（使）变细( attenuate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）变薄；（使）变小；减弱 | |
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32
espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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34
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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35
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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36
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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37
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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38
oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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39
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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40
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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41
glossed
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| v.注解( gloss的过去式和过去分词 )；掩饰（错误）；粉饰；把…搪塞过去 | |
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42
curt
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| adj.简短的，草率的 | |
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43
perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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44
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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45
tarpaulin
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| n.涂油防水布，防水衣，防水帽 | |
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46
tepid
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| adj.微温的，温热的，不太热心的 | |
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47
impervious
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| adj.不能渗透的，不能穿过的，不易伤害的 | |
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48
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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49
discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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50
diligently
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| ad.industriously;carefully | |
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51
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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52
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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53
resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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54
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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55
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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56
incarnate
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| adj.化身的，人体化的，肉色的 | |
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57
lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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58
rend
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| vt.把…撕开，割裂；把…揪下来，强行夺取 | |
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59
quell
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| v.压制，平息，减轻 | |
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60
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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61
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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62
sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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63
raving
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| adj.说胡话的；疯狂的，怒吼的；非常漂亮的；令人醉心[痴心]的v.胡言乱语(rave的现在分词)n.胡话；疯话adv.胡言乱语地；疯狂地 | |
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64
mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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65
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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66
scouted
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| 寻找，侦察( scout的过去式和过去分词 )； 物色（优秀运动员、演员、音乐家等） | |
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67
forfeit
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| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
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68
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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69
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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70
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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71
purveyor
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| n.承办商，伙食承办商 | |
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72
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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73
descry
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| v.远远看到；发现；责备 | |
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74
wreckage
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| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
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75
stunk
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| v.散发出恶臭( stink的过去分词 )；发臭味；名声臭；糟透 | |
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76
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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77
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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78
plying
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的现在分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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79
vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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80
jacks
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| n.抓子游戏；千斤顶( jack的名词复数 )；（电）插孔；[电子学]插座；放弃 | |
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81
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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82
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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83
arena
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| n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台 | |
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84
shreds
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| v.撕碎，切碎( shred的第三人称单数 )；用撕毁机撕毁（文件） | |
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85
maniacs
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| n.疯子（maniac的复数形式） | |
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86
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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87
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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88
fumes
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| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
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89
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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90
cleansed
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| 弄干净，清洗( cleanse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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91
bunks
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| n.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的名词复数 )；空话，废话v.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的第三人称单数 )；空话，废话 | |
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92
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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93
impunity
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| n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除 | |
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94
smother
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| vt./vi.使窒息；抑制；闷死；n.浓烟；窒息 | |
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95
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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96
hemp
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| n.大麻；纤维 | |
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97
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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98
filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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99
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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100
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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101
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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102
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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103
insistence
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| n.坚持；强调；坚决主张 | |
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104
grunts
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的第三人称单数 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说； 石鲈 | |
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105
bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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106
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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107
wastrels
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| n.无用的人，废物( wastrel的名词复数 )；浪子 | |
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108
stamina
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| n.体力；精力；耐力 | |
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109
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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110
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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111
clinched
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| v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议） | |
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112
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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113
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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114
allurements
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| n.诱惑( allurement的名词复数 )；吸引；诱惑物；有诱惑力的事物 | |
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115
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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116
confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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117
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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118
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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119
debauch
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| v.使堕落，放纵 | |
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120
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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121
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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122
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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123
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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124
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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125
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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126
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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127
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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128
shameful
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| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
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129
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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130
deducting
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| v.扣除，减去( deduct的现在分词 ) | |
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131
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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132
munched
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| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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133
efficiently
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| adv.高效率地，有能力地 | |
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134
apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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135
outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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136
favourably
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| adv. 善意地，赞成地 =favorably | |
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137
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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138
recalcitrant
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| adj.倔强的 | |
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139
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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140
aberrations
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| n.偏差( aberration的名词复数 )；差错；脱离常规；心理失常 | |
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141
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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142
averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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143
judicially
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| 依法判决地，公平地 | |
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144
impartially
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| adv.公平地，无私地 | |
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145
schooling
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| n.教育；正规学校教育 | |
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146
sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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147
briny
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| adj.盐水的；很咸的；n.海洋 | |
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148
saturnine
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| adj.忧郁的，沉默寡言的，阴沉的，感染铅毒的 | |
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149
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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150
subservient
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| adj.卑屈的，阿谀的 | |
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151
docile
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| adj.驯服的，易控制的，容易教的 | |
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152
specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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153
fretted
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| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 | |
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154
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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155
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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156
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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157
bestows
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的第三人称单数 ) | |
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158
necessitating
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| 使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的现在分词 ) | |
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159
neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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160
addicted
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| adj.沉溺于....的，对...上瘾的 | |
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161
alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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162
novice
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| adj.新手的，生手的 | |
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163
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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164
leeward
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| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
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165
lavish
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| adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍 | |
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166
condign
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| adj.应得的，相当的 | |
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167
offender
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| n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者 | |
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168
essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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169
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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170
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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171
idyllic
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| adj.质朴宜人的，田园风光的 | |
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172
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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173
dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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174
friction
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| n.摩擦，摩擦力 | |
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175
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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176
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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177
rammed
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| v.夯实（土等）( ram的过去式和过去分词 )；猛撞；猛压；反复灌输 | |
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178
longingly
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| adv. 渴望地 热望地 | |
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179
grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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180
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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181
appeased
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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182
cholera
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| n.霍乱 | |
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183
constructive
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| adj.建设的，建设性的 | |
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184
reeking
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 )；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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185
concord
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| n.和谐；协调 | |
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186
savvy
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| v.知道，了解；n.理解能力，机智，悟性；adj.有见识的，懂实际知识的，通情达理的 | |
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187
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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188
transformation
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| n.变化；改造；转变 | |
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189
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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190
streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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191
ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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192
rippling
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| 起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的 | |
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193
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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194
awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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195
lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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196
velvety
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| adj. 像天鹅绒的, 轻软光滑的, 柔软的 | |
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197
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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198
auroral
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| adj.曙光的；玫瑰色的 | |
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199
ripples
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| 逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
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200
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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201
onlookers
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| n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 ) | |
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202
flare
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| v.闪耀，闪烁；n.潮红；突发 | |
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203
inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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204
atmospheric
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| adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的 | |
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205
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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206
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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207
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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208
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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209
chronometer
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| n.精密的计时器 | |
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210
navigate
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| v.航行，飞行；导航，领航 | |
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