In the noon of a September day in the year of our dear Lord 1395, a merchant vessel1 nodded sleepily upon the gentle swells2 of warm water flowing in upon the Syrian coast. A modern seafarer, looking from the deck of one of the Messagerie steamers now plying3 the same line of trade, would regard her curiously4, thankful to the calm which held her while he slaked5 his wonder, yet more thankful that he was not of her passage.
She could not have exceeded a hundred tons burthen. At the bow and stern she was decked, and those quarters were fairly raised. Amidship she was low and open, and pierced for twenty oars6, ten to a side, all swaying listlessly from the narrow ports in which they were hung. Sometimes they knocked against each other. One sail, square and of a dingy7 white, drooped8 from a broad yard-arm, which was itself tilted9, and now and then creaked against the yellow mast complainingly, unmindful of the simple tackle designed to keep it in control. A watchman crouched10 in the meagre shade of a fan-like structure overhanging the bow deck. The roofing and the floor, where exposed, were clean, even bright; in all other parts subject to the weather and the wash there was only the blackness of pitch. The steersman sat on a bench at the stern. Occasionally, from force of habit, he rested a hand upon the rudder-oar to be sure it was yet in reach. With exception of the two, the lookout11 and the steersman, all on board, officers, oarsmen, and sailors, were asleep--such confidence could a Mediterranean12 calm inspire in those accustomed to life on the beautiful sea. As if Neptune13 never became angry there, and blowing his conch, and smiting14 with his trident, splashed the sky with the yeast15 of waves! However, in 1395 Neptune had disappeared; like the great god Pan, he was dead.
The next remarkable16 thing about the ship was the absence of the signs of business usual with merchantmen. There were no barrels, boxes, bales, or packages visible. Nothing indicated a cargo17. In her deepest undulations the water-line was not once submerged. The leather shields of the oar-ports were high and dry. Possibly she had passengers aboard. Ah, yes! There under the awning18, stretched halfway19 across the deck dominated by the steersman, was a group of persons all unlike seamen20. Pausing to note them, we may find the motive21 of the voyage.
Four men composed the group. One was lying upon a pallet, asleep yet restless. A black velvet22 cap had slipped from his head, giving freedom to thick black hair tinged23 with white. Starting from the temples, a beard with scarce a suggestion of gray swept in dark waves upon the neck and throat, and even invaded the pillow. Between the hair and beard there was a narrow margin24 of sallow flesh for features somewhat crowded by knots of wrinkle. His body was wrapped in a loose woollen gown of brownish-black. A hand, apparently25 all bone, rested upon the breast, clutching a fold of the gown. The feet twitched26 nervously27 in the loosened thongs28 of old-fashioned sandals. Glancing at the others of the group, it was plain this sleeper29 was master and they his slaves. Two of them were stretched on the bare boards at the lower end of the pallet, and they were white. The third was a son of Ethiopia of unmixed blood and gigantic frame. He sat at the left of the couch, cross-legged, and, like the rest, was in a doze30; now and then, however, he raised his head, and, without fully31 opening his eyes, shook a fan of peacock feathers from head to foot over the recumbent figure. The two whites were clad in gowns of coarse linen33 belted to their waists; while, saving a cincture around his loins, the negro was naked.
There is often much personal revelation to be gleaned34 from the properties a man carries with him from home. Applying the rule here, by the pallet there was a walking-stick of unusual length, and severely35 hand-worn a little above the middle. In emergency it might have been used as a weapon. Three bundles loosely wrapped had been cast against a timber of the ship; presumably they contained the plunder36 of the slaves reduced to the minimum allowance of travel. But the most noticeable item was a leather roll of very ancient appearance, held by a number of broad straps37 deeply stamped and secured by buckles38 of a metal blackened like neglected silver.
The attention of a close observer would have been attracted to this parcel, not so much by its antique showing, as by the grip with which its owner clung to it with his right hand. Even in sleep he held it of infinite consequence. It could not have contained coin or any bulky matter. Possibly the man was on some special commission, with his credentials39 in the old roll. Ay, who was he?
Thus started, the observer would have bent32 himself to study of the face; and immediately something would have suggested that while the stranger was of this period of the world he did not belong to it. Such were the magicians of the story-loving Al-Raschid. Or he was of the type Rabbinical that sat with Caiphas in judgment40 upon the gentle Nazarene. Only the centuries could have evolved the apparition41. Who was he?
In the course of half an hour the man stirred, raised his head, looked hurriedly at his attendants, then at the parts of the ship in view, then at the steersman still dozing42 by the rudder; then he sat up, and brought the roll to his lap, whereat the rigor43 of his expression relaxed. The parcel was safe! And the conditions about him were as they should be!
He next set about undoing44 the buckles of his treasure. The long fingers were expert; but just when the roll was ready to open he lifted his face, and fixed45 his eyes upon the section of blue expanse outside the edge of the awning, and dropped into thought. And straightway it was settled that he was not a diplomatist or a statesman or a man of business of any kind. The reflection which occupied him had nothing to do with intrigues46 or statecraft; its centre was in his heart as the look proved. So, in tender moods, a father gazes upon his child, a husband at the beloved wife, restfully, lovingly.
And that moment the observer, continuing his study, would have forgotten the parcel, the white slaves, the gigantic negro, the self-willed hair and beard of pride--the face alone would have held him. The countenance47 of the Sphinx has no beauty now; and standing48 before it, we feel no stir of the admiration49 always a certificate that what we are beholding50 is charming out of the common lines; yet we are drawn51 to it irresistibly52, and by a wish vague, foolish--so foolish we would hesitate long before putting it in words to be heard by our best lover--a wish that the monster would tell us all about itself. The feeling awakened53 by the face of the traveller would have been similar, for it was distinctly Israelitish, with exaggerated eyes set deeply in cavernous hollows--a mobile mask, in fact, concealing54 a life in some way unlike other lives. Unlike? That was the very attraction. If the man would only speak, what a tale he could unfold!
But he did not speak. Indeed, he seemed to have regarded speech a weakness to be fortified55 against. Putting the pleasant thought aside, he opened the roll, and with exceeding tenderness of touch brought forth56 a sheet of vellum dry to brittleness57, and yellow as a faded sycamore leaf. There were lines upon it as of a geometrical drawing, and an inscription58 in strange characters. He bent over the chart, if such it may be called, eagerly, and read it through; then, with a satisfied expression, he folded it back into the cover, rebuckled the straps, and placed the parcel under the pillow. Evidently the business drawing him was proceeding59 as he would have had it. Next he woke the negro with a touch. The black in salute60 bent his body forward, and raised his hands palm out, the thumbs at the forehead. Attention singularly intense settled upon his countenance; he appeared to listen with his soul. It was time for speech, yet the master merely pointed61 to one of the sleepers62. The watchful63 negro caught the idea, and going to the man, aroused him, then resumed his place and posture64 by the pallet. The action revealed his proportions. He looked as if he could have lifted the gates of Gaza, and borne them easily away; and to the strength there were superadded the grace, suppleness65, and softness of motion of a cat. One could not have helped thinking the slave might have all the elements to make him a superior agent in fields of bad as well as good.
The second slave arose, and waited respectfully. It would have been difficult to determine his nationality. He had the lean face, the high nose, sallow complexion66, and low stature67 of an Armenian. His countenance was pleasant and intelligent. In addressing him, the master made signs with hand and finger; and they appeared sufficient, for the servant walked away quickly as if on an errand. A short time, and he came back bringing a companion of the genus sailor, very red-faced, heavily built, stupid, his rolling gait unrelieved by a suggestion of good manners. Taking position before the black-gowned personage, his feet wide apart, the mariner68 said:
"You sent for me?"
The question was couched in Byzantine Greek.
"Yes," the passenger replied, in the same tongue, though with better accent. "Where are we?"
"But for this calm we should be at Sidon. The lookout reports the mountains in view."
The passenger reflected a moment, then asked, "Resorting to the oars, when can we reach the city?"
"By midnight."
"Very well. Listen now."
The speaker's manner changed; fixing his big eyes upon the sailor's lesser69 orbs70, he continued:
"A few stadia north of Sidon there is what may be called a bay. It is about four miles across. Two little rivers empty into it, one on each side. Near the middle of the bend of the shore there is a well of sweet water, with flow enough to support a few villagers and their camels. Do you know the bay?"
The skipper would have become familiar.
"You are well acquainted with this coast," he said.
"Do you know of such a bay?" the passenger repeated.
"I have heard of it."
"Could you find it at night?"
"I believe so."
"That is enough. Take me into the bay, and land me at midnight. I will not go to the city. Get out all the oars now. At the proper time I will tell you what further I wish. Remember I am to be set ashore71 at midnight at a place which I will show you."
The directions though few were clear. Having given them, the passenger signed the negro to fan him, and stretched himself upon the pallet; and thenceforth there was no longer a question who was in control. It became the more interesting, however, to know the object of the landing at midnight on the shore of a lonesome unnamed bay.
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1
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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swells
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| 增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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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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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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slaked
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| v.满足( slake的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tilted
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| v. 倾斜的 | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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Neptune
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| n.海王星 | |
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smiting
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的现在分词 ) | |
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yeast
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| n.酵母；酵母片；泡沫；v.发酵；起泡沫 | |
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16
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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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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awning
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| n.遮阳篷；雨篷 | |
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halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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21
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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23
tinged
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| v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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25
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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28
thongs
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| 的东西 | |
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29
sleeper
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| n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺 | |
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30
doze
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| v.打瞌睡；n.打盹，假寐 | |
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31
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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32
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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34
gleaned
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| v.一点点地收集（资料、事实）( glean的过去式和过去分词 )；（收割后）拾穗 | |
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35
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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37
straps
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| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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38
buckles
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| 搭扣，扣环( buckle的名词复数 ) | |
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39
credentials
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| n.证明，资格，证明书，证件 | |
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40
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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41
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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42
dozing
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| v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
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43
rigor
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| n.严酷，严格，严厉 | |
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44
undoing
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| n.毁灭的原因，祸根；破坏，毁灭 | |
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45
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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46
intrigues
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| n.密谋策划( intrigue的名词复数 )；神秘气氛；引人入胜的复杂情节v.搞阴谋诡计( intrigue的第三人称单数 )；激起…的好奇心 | |
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47
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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48
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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49
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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50
beholding
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| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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51
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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52
irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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53
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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54
concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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55
fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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56
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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brittleness
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| n.脆性，脆度，脆弱性 | |
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58
inscription
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| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
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59
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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60
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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61
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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sleepers
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| n.卧铺（通常以复数形式出现）；卧车( sleeper的名词复数 )；轨枕；睡觉（呈某种状态）的人；小耳环 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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suppleness
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| 柔软； 灵活； 易弯曲； 顺从 | |
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66
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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68
mariner
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| n.水手号不载人航天探测器，海员，航海者 | |
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lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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orbs
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| abbr.off-reservation boarding school 在校寄宿学校n.球，天体，圆形物( orb的名词复数 ) | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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