Whether it be from lack of imaginative power or118 an unfertile inventiveness I cannot say, but it has always appeared to me as if one need never travel outside the actual facts of his experience, however humdrum5 it may appear to the casual observer, to find matters sufficiently6 interesting to hold any intelligent reader enthralled7, always providing that matter be well presented. And in that belief I venture to tell a plain tale here, into which no fiction enters except proper names.
Drifting about the world, as the great fucus wanders from shore to shore, having once been dislodged from its parent rock, I one day found myself ashore9 at Quilimane, desperately10 anxious to get a berth11 in any capacity on board ship for the sole purpose of getting away. My prospects12 were not very rosy13, for the only vessels14 in the hateful place were two or three crazy country craft with Arab crews, that looked exceedingly like slavers to me. At last, to my intense relief, a smart looking barquentine entered the port and anchored. I was, as usual, lounging about the beach (it seemed the healthiest place I could find) and my longing16 eyes followed every move of the crew as they busied themselves in getting the boat out. When the captain stepped ashore I was waiting to meet him, and the first words he heard were—
“Do you want a hand, cap’n?”
Taking keen stock of me, he said, “What sort of a berth do you want?”
“Well, sir,” I replied, “I’ve got a second-mate’s ticket, but I’ll go as boy for the chance of getting away from here, if necessary.”
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“I want a cook-and-steward,” he murmured dubiously17, “and as I’ve got my wife aboard the cooking’s rather important.”
“I’m your man, sir,” I cried, “if I can’t cook you can dump me overboard. I never shipped as cook yet, but I’ve had to teach a good few cooks how to boil salt water without burning it.”
He smiled pleasantly at this, and said, “I must say I like your looks and—well there, jump into the boat. I’ll be back directly.”
Sure enough, in a couple of hours I was busy in her cosy18 galley19, while the chaps were rattling20 the windlass round with a will, anxious enough to get clear of that sweltering coast. From the first my relations with all hands were of the pleasantest kind. They had suffered many things at the hands of several so-called cooks during the eighteen months they had been away from home, each dirty destroyer of provisions being worse than his predecessor21. But especially were my efforts appreciated in the cabin. The skipper had with him his wife and two little girls, aged22 four and five respectively, who made that little corner of the ship seem to a homeless, friendless wanderer like myself a small heaven. Mrs. Brunton was a sweet-faced grey-eyed woman of about thirty, with a quiet tenderness of manner and speech that made a peaceful atmosphere about her like that of a summer Sunday evening in some tiny English village. Her husband was a grand specimen23 of a British seaman24, stalwart and fair-haired, with a great sweeping25 beard and bright blue eyes that always had a lurking26 smile in their depths. The pair120 appeared to have but one mind. Their chief joy seemed to be in the silent watching of their children’s gambols27, as, like two young lambs, they galloped28 round the decks or wriggled29 about the cramped30 fittings of the small saloon. The charm of that happy home-circle was over all hands. You might say that the ship worked herself, there was so little sign of the usual machinery31 of sea-life.
So the days slipped away as we crept down towards the Cape32, bound round to Barbadoes, of all places in the world. Then in the ordinary course of events the weather got gradually worse, until one night it culminated33 in a following gale34 of hurricane fierceness, thundering down out of an ebony sky that almost rested on the mastheads. By-and-by the swart dungeon35 about us became shot with glowing filaments36 that quivered on the sight like pain-racked nerves, and the bass37 of the storm fell two octaves. Sail had been reduced to the fore38 lower topsail and the fore-topmast staysail, which had the sheet hauled flat aft in case of her broaching-to. Even under those tiny rags she flew before the hungering blast like a hare when the hounds are only her own length behind. The black masses of water gradually rose higher alongside as they bellowed39 past until their terrible heads peered inboard as if seeking the weakest spot. They began to break over all, easily at first, but presently with a sickening crash that made itself felt in one’s very bowels40. At last two menacing giants rose at once on either side, curving their huge heads until they overhung the waist. Thus, for an appreciable41 fraction of time, they stood, then fell—121on the main-hatch. It cracked—sagged downward—and every man on deck knew that the foot-thick greenheart fore-and-after was broken, and that another sea like that would sink us like a saucer. Hitherto the skipper had been standing42 near the cuddy scuttle43, in which his wife crouched44, her eyes dim with watching her husband. Now he stooped and whispered three words in her ear. With one more glance up into his face she crept down into their berth, and over to where the two little ones were sleeping soundly. Gently, but with an untrembling hand, she covered their ruddy faces with a folded mosquito net and turned out the light. Then she swiftly returned to her self-chosen post in the scuttle, just reaching up a hand to touch her husband’s arm, and let him know that she was near. The quiver that responded was answer enough. He was looking astern, and all his soul was in his eyes. For there was a streak45 of kindly46 light, a line of hope on the murky47 heaven. It broadened to a rift8, the blue shone through, and stooping he lifted his wife’s head above the hatch, turning her face so that she too might see and rejoice. She lifted her face, with streaming eyes, to his for a kiss, then fled below, turned up the light again, and uncovered the children’s faces. Five minutes later she heard his step coming down, and devoured48 him with her eyes as he walked to the barometer49, peered into it and muttered “thank God.”
A fortnight later I was prowling up and down the cabin outside their closed state-room door, my fingers twitching50 with nervousness, and a lump continually rising in my throat that threatened to choke me; for within that tiny space, the captain, all unaided except by his great love and quiet common sense, was elbowing a grim shadow that seemed to envy him his treasure. Now and then a faint moan curdled51 round my heart, making it ache as if with cold. Beyond that there was no sign from within, and the suspense52 fretted53 me till I felt like a bundle of bare nerves. Overhead I could hear the barefooted step of the mate, as he wandered with uncertain gait about the lee side of the poop under the full glow of the passionless moon. At last, when I felt as worn as if I had been swimming for hours, there came a thin, gurgling little wail—a new voice that sent a thrill through the curves of my brain with a sharp pang54. And then I felt the hot tears running down my face—why, I did not know. A minute later the door swung open, and the skipper said, in a thick, strange tone, “It’s all right, Peter; I’ve a son. And she’s grand, my boy, she’s grand.” I mumbled55 out something; I meant well, I’m sure, but no one could have understood me. He knew, and shook hands with me heartily56. And presently I was nursing the bonny mite57 as if I had never done aught else—me that never had held a baby before. It was good, too; it lay in my arms on a pillow, and looked up at me with bright, unwinking eyes.
Then came three weeks of unalloyed delight. Overhead the skies were serene—that deep, fathomless58 blue, that belongs of right to the wide, shoreless seas of the tropics, where the constant winds blow unfalteringly to a mellow59 harmony of love. On board, every thought was drawn60 magnet-wise to the tiny babe who had come among us like a messenger from another sphere, and the glances cast at the tender mother as she sat under the little awning61, like a queen holding her court, were almost reverential. Never a man of us will forget that peaceful time. Few words were spoken, but none of them were angry, for every one felt an influence at work on him that, while it almost bewildered him, made him feel gentle and kind. But into the midst of this peaceful time came that envious63 shadow again. How it happened no man could tell; what malign64 seed had suddenly germinated65, after so long lying dormant66, was past all speculation67 of ours. The skipper himself fell sick. For a few days he fought man-fashion against a strange lassitude that sapped all his great strength and overcame even his bright cheery temper until he became fretful as a sickly babe. At last there came a day when he could not rise from his cot. With a beseeching68 look in his eyes he lay, his fine voice sunk to a whisper and his sunny smile gone. His wife hovered69 about him continually, unsparing of herself, and almost forgetting the first claim of the babe. The children, with the happy thoughtlessness of their age, could not be kept quiet, so, for the most part, they played forward with the crew, where they were as happy as the day was long. Every man did his best to entertain them; and when sailors make pets of children, those children are favoured by fortune. Meanwhile, in the cabin, we fought inch by inch with death for our friend. But our hands were tied by ignorance, for the rough directions of the book in the medicine chest gave us no help in dealing70 with this strange disease. Gradually the fine frame of the skipper dwindled71 and shrank, larger and more wistful grew his eyes, but after the first appalling72 discovery of his weakness he never uttered a complaining word. He lay motionless, unnoticing, except that into the deep wells of his eyes there came an expression of great content and peace whenever his wife bent73 over him. She scarcely ever spoke62, for he had apparently74 lost all power of comprehension as well as speech, except that which entered his mind by sight. Thus he sank, as lulls75 the sea-breeze on a tropical shore when twilight76 comes. And one morning at four, as I lay coiled in a fantastic heap upon one of the settees near his door, sleeping lightly as a watch-dog, a long, low moan tugged77 at my heart-strings, and I sat up shivering like one in an ague-fit, although we were on the Line. Swiftly I stepped into his room, where I saw his wife with one arm across his breast and her face beside his on the pillow. She had fainted, and so was mercifully spared for a little while the agony of that parting—for he was dead.
Up till that time every device that seamanship could suggest had been put into practice to hurry the ship on, so that she was a perfect pyramid of canvas rigged wherever it would catch a wasting air. But all was of little use, for the wind had fallen lighter78 and lighter each day until, at the time of the skipper’s passing, it was a stark79 calm. Then, as if some invisible restraint had been suddenly removed, up sprang the wind, strong and steady, necessitating80 the instant removal of all those fragile adjuncts to her speed that had been rigged everywhere possible aloft. So that no one had at first any leisure to brood over our great loss but myself, and I could only watch with almost breathless anxiety for the return of that sorely-tried, heroic woman to a life from which her chief joy had been taken away. She remained so long in that death-like trance that again and again I was compelled to reassure81 myself, by touching82 her arms and face, that she was still alive, and yet I dreaded83 her re-awakening. At last, with a long-drawn sigh, she lifted her head, looked steadfastly84 for a while at the calm face of her dead husband, then stooped and kissed him once. Then she turned to me as I stood at the door, with the silent tears streaming down my face, and said, in a perfectly85 steady voice (I can hear it now), “Are my children well?” “Yes, ma’am,” I answered, “they are all asleep.” “Thank you,” she murmured; “I will go and lie down with them a little while. I feel so tired. No” (seeing I was about to offer), “I want nothing just now but rest.” So she turned into their little cabin and shut the door. I went on deck and waited until the mate (now skipper) was free, and then told him how she was. He immediately made preparations for the burial, for we were still a week’s sail from port. In an hour all was ready, and silently we awaited the re-appearance of the chief mourner. She came out at breakfast-time, looking like a woman of marble. Quietly thanking the new skipper for what he had done, she resumed her motherly duties, saying no word and showing no sign of the ordeal86 she was enduring.
All through the last solemn scene, except for a convulsive shudder87 as the sullen88 plunge89 alongside closed the service, she preserved the same tearless calm, and afterwards, while she remained on board—which was only until we arrived at Barbadoes—she preserved the same automaton-like demeanour. The mail steamer arrived the day after we anchored, and we took her on board for the passage to England; her bitter tragedy moving most of the passengers to tears as the history of it spread like wildfire among them. And as the Medway steamed out of the harbour, we all stood on the poop of our own vessel15, with bared heads, in respectful farewell to, and deepest sympathy for, our late captain’s wife.
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1
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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3
yarns
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| n.纱( yarn的名词复数 )；纱线；奇闻漫谈；旅行轶事 | |
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marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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humdrum
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| adj.单调的，乏味的 | |
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6
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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enthralled
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| 迷住，吸引住( enthrall的过去式和过去分词 )； 使感到非常愉快 | |
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rift
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| n.裂口，隙缝，切口；v.裂开，割开，渗入 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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10
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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13
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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14
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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dubiously
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| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
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18
cosy
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| adj.温暖而舒适的，安逸的 | |
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19
galley
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| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
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20
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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21
predecessor
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| n.前辈，前任 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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26
lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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gambols
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| v.蹦跳，跳跃，嬉戏( gambol的第三人称单数 ) | |
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28
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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29
wriggled
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
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cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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culminated
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| v.达到极点( culminate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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35
dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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36
filaments
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| n.（电灯泡的）灯丝( filament的名词复数 )；丝极；细丝；丝状物 | |
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37
bass
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| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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bowels
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| n.肠，内脏，内部；肠( bowel的名词复数 )；内部，最深处 | |
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appreciable
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| adj.明显的，可见的，可估量的，可觉察的 | |
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42
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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43
scuttle
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| v.急赶，疾走，逃避；n.天窗；舷窗 | |
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44
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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46
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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47
murky
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| adj.黑暗的，朦胧的；adv.阴暗地，混浊地；n.阴暗；昏暗 | |
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48
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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49
barometer
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| n.气压表，睛雨表，反应指标 | |
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50
twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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51
curdled
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| v.（使）凝结( curdle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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53
fretted
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| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 | |
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54
pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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55
mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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57
mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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58
fathomless
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| a.深不可测的 | |
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mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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61
awning
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| n.遮阳篷；雨篷 | |
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62
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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63
envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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64
malign
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| adj.有害的；恶性的；恶意的；v.诽谤，诬蔑 | |
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germinated
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| v.（使）发芽( germinate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dormant
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| adj.暂停活动的；休眠的；潜伏的 | |
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67
speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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68
beseeching
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| adj.恳求似的v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的现在分词 ) | |
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69
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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71
dwindled
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| v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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73
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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74
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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75
lulls
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| n.间歇期（lull的复数形式）vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的第三人称单数形式） | |
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76
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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77
tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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78
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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79
stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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80
necessitating
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| 使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的现在分词 ) | |
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81
reassure
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| v.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
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82
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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83
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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84
steadfastly
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| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
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85
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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86
ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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87
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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88
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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89
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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