Even when the peculiar7 duties of my friend, Paul Harley, called him away from England, the lure8 of this miniature Orient which I had first explored under his guidance, often called me from my chambers9. In the house with the two doors in Wade10 Street, Limehouse, I would discard the armour11 of respectability, and, dressed in a manner unlikely to provoke comment in dockland, would haunt those dreary12 ways sometimes from midnight until close upon dawn. Yet, well as I knew the district and the strange and often dangerous creatures lurking13 in its many burrows14, I experienced a chill partly physical and partly of apprehension15 to-night; indeed, strange though it may sound, I hastened my footsteps in order the sooner to reach the low den16 for which I was bound—Malay Jack's—a spot marked plainly on the crimes-map and which few respectable travellers would have regarded as a haven17 of refuge.
But the chill of the adjacent river, and some quality of utter desolation which seemed to emanate18 from the deserted19 wharves20 and ramshackle buildings about me, were driving me thither21 now; for I knew that human companionship, of a sort, and a glass of good liquor—from a store which the Customs would have been happy to locate—awaited me there. I might chance, too, upon Durham or Wessex, of New Scotland Yard, both good friends of mine, or even upon the Terror of Chinatown, Chief Inspector22 Kerry, a man for whom I had an esteem23 which none of his ungracious manners could diminish.
I was just about to turn to the right into a narrow and nameless alley24, lying at right angles to the Thames, when I pulled up sharply, clenching25 my fists and listening.
A confused and continuous sound, not unlike that which might be occasioned by several large and savage26 hounds at close grips, was proceeding27 out of the darkness ahead of me; a worrying, growling28, and scuffling which presently I identified as human, although in fact it was animal enough. A moment I hesitated, then, distinguishing among the sounds of conflict an unmistakable, though subdued29, cry for help, I leaped forward and found myself in the midst of the melee30. This was taking place in the lee of a high, dilapidated brick wall. A lamp in a sort of iron bracket spluttered dimly above on the right, but the scene of the conflict lay in densest31 shadow, so that the figures were indistinguishable.
“Help! By Gawd! they're strangling me———”
From almost at my feet the cry arose and was drowned in Chinese chattering32. But guided by it I now managed to make out that the struggle in progress waged between a burly English sailorman and two lithe33 Chinese. The yellow men seemed to have gained the advantage and my course was clear.
A straight right on the jaw34 of the Chinaman who was engaged in endeavouring to throttle35 the victim laid him prone36 in the dirty roadway. His companion, who was holding the wrist of the recumbent man, sprang upright as though propelled by a spring. I struck out at him savagely37. He uttered a shrill38 scream not unlike that of a stricken hare, and fled so rapidly that he seemed to melt in the mist.
“Gawd bless you, mate!” came chokingly from the ground—and the rescued man, extricating39 himself from beneath the body of his stunned40 assailant, rose unsteadily to his feet and lurched toward me.
As I had surmised41, he was a sailor, wearing a rough, blue-serge jacket and having his greasy42 trousers thrust into heavy seaboots—by which I judged that he was but newly come ashore43. He stooped and picked up his cap. It was covered in mud, as were the rest of his garments, but he brushed it with his sleeve as though it had been but slightly soiled and clapped it on his head.
“I'd had one or two, mate,” he confided45 huskily (the confession47 was unnecessary). “It was them two in the Blue Anchor as did it; if I 'adn't 'ad them last two, I could 'ave broke up them Chinks with one 'and tied behind me.”
“That's all right,” I said hastily, “but what are we going to do about this Chink here?” I added, endeavouring at the same time to extricate48 my hand from the vise-like grip in which he persistently49 held it. “He hit the tiles pretty heavy when he went down.”
As if to settle my doubts, the recumbent figure suddenly arose and without a word fled into the darkness and was gone like a phantom50. My new friend made no attempt to follow, but:
“You can't kill a bloody51 Chink,” he confided, still clutching my hand; “it ain't 'umanly possible. It's easier to kill a cat. Come along o' me and 'ave one; then I'll tell you somethink. I'll put you on somethink, I will.”
With surprising steadiness of gait, considering the liquid cargo52 he had aboard, the man, releasing my hand and now seizing me firmly by the arm, confidently led me by divers53 narrow ways, which I knew, to a little beerhouse frequented by persons of his class.
My own attire54 was such as to excite no suspicion in these surroundings, and although I considered that my acquaintance had imbibed55 more than enough for one night, I let him have his own way in order that I might learn the story which he seemed disposed to confide46 in me. Settled in the corner of the beerhouse—which chanced to be nearly empty—with portentous56 pewters before us, the conversation was opened by my new friend:
“I've been paid off from the Jupiter—Samuelson's Planet Line,” he explained. “What I am is a fireman.”
“She was from Singapore to London?” I asked.
“She was,” he replied, “and it was at Suez it 'appened—at Suez.”
I did not interrupt him.
“I was ashore at Suez—we all was, owin' to a 'itch57 with the canal company—a matter of money, I may say. They make yer pay before they'll take yer through. Do you know that?”
I nodded.
“Suez is a place,” he continued, “where they don't sell whisky, only poison. Was you ever at Suez?”
Again I nodded, being most anxious to avoid diverting the current of my friend's thoughts.
“Well, then,” he continued, “you know Greek Jimmy's—and that's where I'd been.”
I did not know Greek Jimmy's, but I thought it unnecessary to mention the fact.
“It was just about this time on a steamin' 'ot night as I come out of Jimmy's and started for the ship. I was walkin' along the Waghorn Quay58, same as I might be walkin' along to-night, all by myself—bit of a list to port but nothing much—full o' joy an' happiness, 'appy an' free—'appy an' free. Just like you might have noticed to-night, I noticed a knot of Chinks scrappin' on the ground all amongst the dust right in front of me. I rammed59 in, windmillin' all round and knocking 'em down like skittles. Seemed to me there was about ten of 'em, but allowin' for Jimmy's whisky, maybe there wasn't more than three. Anyway, they all shifted and left me standin' there in the empty street with this 'ere in my 'and.”
At that, without more ado, he thrust his hand deep into some concealed61 pocket and jerked out a Chinese pigtail, which had been severed62, apparently63 some three inches from the scalp, by a clean cut. My acquaintance, with somewhat bleared eyes glistening64 in appreciation65 of his own dramatic skill—for I could not conceal60 my surprise—dangled it before me triumphantly66.
“Which of 'em it belong to,” he continued, thrusting it into another pocket and drumming loudly on the counter for more beer, “I can't say, 'cos I don't know. But that ain't all.”
The tankards being refilled and my friend having sampled the contents of his own:
“That ain't all,” he continued. “I thought I'd keep it as a sort of relic67, like. What 'appened? I'll tell you. Amongst the crew there's three Chinks—see? We ain't through the canal before one of 'em, a new one to me—Li Ping is his name—offers me five bob for the pigtail, which he sees me looking at one mornin'. I give him a punch on the nose an' 'e don't renew the offer: but that night (we're layin' at Port Said) 'e tries to pinch it! I dam' near broke his neck, and 'e don't try any more. To-night”—he extended his right arm forensically—“a deppitation of Chinks waits on me at the dock gates; they explains as from a patriotic68 point of view they feels it to be their dooty to buy that pigtail off of me, and they bids a quid, a bar of gold—a Jimmy o' Goblin!”
He snapped his fingers contemptuously and emptied his pewter. A sense of what was coming began to dawn on me. That the “hold-up” near the riverside formed part of the scheme was possible, and, reflecting on my rough treatment of the two Chinamen, I chuckled69 inwardly. Possibly, however, the scheme had germinated70 in my acquaintance's mind merely as a result of an otherwise common assault, of a kind not unusual in these parts, but, whether elaborate or comparatively simple, that the story of the pigtail was a “plant” designed to reach my pocket, seemed a reasonable hypothesis.
“I told him to go to China,” concluded the object of my suspicion, again rapping upon the counter, “and you see what come of it. All I got to say is this: If they're so bloody patriotic, I says one thing: I ain't the man to stand in their way. You done me a good turn to-night, mate; I'm doing you one. 'Ere's the bloody pigtail, 'ere's my empty mug. Fill the mug and the pigtail's yours. It's good for a quid at the dock gates any day!”
My suspicions vanished; my interest arose to boiling point. I refilled my acquaintance's mug, pressed a sovereign upon him (in honesty I must confess that he was loath71 to take it), and departed with the pigtail coiled neatly72 in an inner pocket of my jacket. I entered the house in Wade Street by the side door, and half an hour later let myself out by the front door, having cast off my dockland disguise.
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1
drizzle
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| v.下毛毛雨；n.毛毛雨，蒙蒙细雨 | |
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stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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4
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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5
hooting
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| （使）作汽笛声响，作汽车喇叭声( hoot的现在分词 )； 倒好儿； 倒彩 | |
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6
weirdness
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| n.古怪，离奇，不可思议 | |
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7
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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9
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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wade
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| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
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armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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13
lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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burrows
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| n.地洞( burrow的名词复数 )v.挖掘（洞穴），挖洞( burrow的第三人称单数 )；翻寻 | |
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15
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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haven
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| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
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18
emanate
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| v.发自，来自，出自 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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wharves
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| n.码头，停泊处( wharf的名词复数 ) | |
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21
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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23
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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24
alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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25
clenching
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的现在分词 ) | |
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26
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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27
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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28
growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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29
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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30
melee
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| n.混战；混战的人群 | |
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31
densest
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| 密集的( dense的最高级 )； 密度大的； 愚笨的； （信息量大得）难理解的 | |
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32
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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33
lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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35
throttle
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| n.节流阀，节气阀，喉咙；v.扼喉咙，使窒息，压 | |
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36
prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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37
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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38
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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39
extricating
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| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的现在分词 ) | |
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40
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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41
surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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42
greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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43
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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44
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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45
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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46
confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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47
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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48
extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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49
persistently
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| ad.坚持地；固执地 | |
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50
phantom
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| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
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51
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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52
cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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53
divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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54
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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55
imbibed
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| v.吸收( imbibe的过去式和过去分词 )；喝；吸取；吸气 | |
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56
portentous
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| adj.不祥的，可怕的，装腔作势的 | |
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57
itch
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| n.痒，渴望，疥癣；vi.发痒，渴望 | |
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58
quay
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| n.码头，靠岸处 | |
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59
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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60
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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61
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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62
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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63
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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64
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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65
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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66
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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67
relic
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| n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物 | |
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68
patriotic
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| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
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69
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
germinated
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| v.（使）发芽( germinate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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71
loath
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| adj.不愿意的；勉强的 | |
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72
neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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