Mackshane’s malice1 — I am taken up and imprisoned2 for a spy — Morgan meets with the same fate — Thompson is tampered3 with to turn evidence against us — disdains4 the proposal, and is maltreated for his integrity — Morgan is released to assist the Surgeon during an engagement with some French ships-of-war — I remain fettered5 on the poop, exposed to the enemy’s shot, and grow delirious6 with fear — am comforted after the battle by Morgan, who speaks freely of the captain, is overheard by the sentinel, who informs against him, and again imprisoned — Thompson grows desperate, and, notwithstanding the remonstrances8 of Morgan and me, goes overboard in the night
In the meantime the storm subsided10 into a brisk gale11, that carried us into the warm latitudes12, where the weather became intolerable, and the crew very sickly. The doctor left nothing unattempted towards the completion of his vengeance13 against the Welshman and me. He went among the sick under pretence14 of inquiring into their grievances15, with a view of picking up complaints to our prejudice; but, finding himself frustrated16 in that expectation by the goodwill17 we bad procured18 from the patients by our diligence and humanity, he took the resolution of listening to our conversation, by hiding himself behind the canvas that surrounded our berth20; here too he was detected by the boy of our mess, who acquainted us with this piece of behaviour, and one night, while we were picking a large bone of salt beef, Morgan discerned something stir on the outside of our hangings, which immediately interpreting to be the doctor, he tipped me the wink21, and pointed22 to the place, where I could perceive somebody standing7; upon which, I snatched up the bone, and levelled it with all my force at him, saying, “Whoever you are, take that for your curiosity.” It had the desired effect, for we heard the listener tumble down, and afterwards crawl to his own cabin. I applauded myself much for this feat23, which turned out one of the most unlucky exploits of my life, Mackshane, from that time, marking me out for destruction.
About a week after this exploit, as I was going my rounds among the sick, I was taken prisoner, and carried to the poop by the master-at-arms, where I was loaded with irons, and stapled24 to the deck, on pretence that I was a spy on board, and had conspired25 against the captain’s life. How ridiculous soever this imputation26 was, I did not fail to suffer by it all the rigour that could be shown to the worst of criminals, being exposed in this miserable27 condition to the scorching28 heat of the sun by day, and the unwholesome damps by night, during the space of twelve days, in which I was neither brought to trial, nor examined touching29 the probability of the charge. I had no sooner recovered the use of my reflection, which had been quite overthrown30 by this accident, than I sent for Thompson, who, after condoling31 me on the occasion, hinted, that I owed this misfortune to the hatred32 of the doctor, who had given an information against me to the captain, in consequence of which I was arrested, and all my papers seized. While I was cursing my capricious fate, I saw Morgan ascend33 the poop, guarded by two corporals, who made him sit down by me, that he might be pinioned34 in the same machine. Notwithstanding my situation, I could scarce refrain from laughing at the countenance35 of my fellow prisoner, who, without speaking one word, allowed his feet to be inclosed in the rings provided for that purpose; but, when they pretended to fasten him on his back he grew outrageous36, and drawing a large couteau from his side-pocket, threatened to rip up the belly37 of the first man that should approach him, in order to treat him in such an unworthy manner. They were prepared to use him very roughly, when the lieutenant38 on the quarter-deck called up to them to let him remain as he was. He then crept towards me, and, taking me by the hand, bade me “put my trust in Cot.” And looking at Thompson, who sat by us trembling, with a pale visage; told him there were two more rings for his feet, and he should be glad to find him in such good company. But it was not the intention of our adversary39 to include the second mate in our fate: him he expected to be his drudge40 in attending the sick and, if possible, his evidence against us: with this view he sounded him afar off, but, finding his integrity incorruptible, harrassed him so much out of spite, that in a short time this mild creature grew weary of his life.
While I and my fellow prisoner comforted each other in our tribulation41, the admiral discovered four sail to leeward42 and made signal for our ship and four more to chase: hereupon everything was cleared for an engagement, and Mackshane, foreseeing he should have occasion for more assistants than one obtained Morgan’s liberty, while I was let in this deplorable posture43 to the chance of battle. It was almost dark when we came up with the sternmost chase, which we hailed, and inquired who they were. They gave us to understand they were French men-of-war, upon which Captain Oakum commanded them to send their boat on board of him! but they refused, telling him, if he had any business with them, to come on board of their ship: he then threatened to pour in a broadside upon them, which they promised to retain. Both sides were as good as their word, and the engagement began with great fury. The reader may guess how I passed my time, lying in this helpless situation, amidst the terrors of a sea-fight; expecting every moment to be cut asunder44, or dashed in pieces by the enemy’s shot! I endeavoured to compose myself as much as possible, by reflecting that I was not a whit45 more exposed than those who were stationed about me; but, when I beheld46 them employed without intermission in annoying the foe47, and encouraged by the society and behaviour of one another, I could easily perceive a wide difference between their condition and mine: however, I concealed48 my agitation49 as well as I could till the head of the officer of marines who stood near me, being shot off, bounced from the deck athwart my face, leaving me well nigh blinded with brains. I could contain myself no longer, but began to bellow50 with all the strength of my lungs; when a drummer, coming towards me asked if I was wounded, and, before I could answer, received a great shot in his belly, which tore out his entrails, and he fell flat on my breast. This accident entirely51 bereft52 me of all discretion53; I redoubled my cries, which were drowned in the noise of the battle; and, finding myself disregarded, lost all patience, and. became frantic54. I vented55 my rage in oaths and execrations, till my spirits, being quite exhausted56, I remained quiet, as insensible of the load that oppressed me.
The engagement lasted till broad day, when Captain Oakum, finding he was like to gain neither honour nor advantage by the affair, pretended to be undeceived by seeing their colours; and, hailing the ship whom he had fought all night, protested he believed them Spaniards; and the guns being silenced on each side, ordered the barge57 to be hoisted58 out, and went on board the French commodore. Our loss amounted to ten killed, and eighteen wounded, most part of whom afterwards died. My fellow-mates bad no sooner despatched their business in the cock-pit, than, full of friendly concern, they came to visit me. Morgan, ascending59 first, and seeing my face almost covered with brains and blood, concluded I was no longer a man for this world; and, calling to Thompson with great emotion, bade him come up, and take his last farewell of his comrade and countryman, who was posted to a better place, where there were no Mackshanes nor Oakums to asperse60 and torment61 him. “No,” said he, taking me by the hand, “you are going to a country where there is more respect sown to unfortunate shentlemen, and where you will have the satisfaction of peholding your adversaries62 tossing upon pillows of purning primstone.” Thompson, alarmed at this apostrophe, made haste to the place where I lay, and sitting down by me, with tears in his eyes inquired into the nature of my calamity63. By this time I had recollected64 myself so far as to be able to converse65 rationally with my friends, whom, to their great satisfaction, I immediately undeceived with regard to their apprehension66 of my being mortally wounded.
After I had got myself disengaged from the carnage in which I wallowed, and partaken of a refreshment67 which my friends brought along with them, we entered into discourse68 upon the hardships we sustained, and spoke69 very freely of the author of our misery70; but our discourse being overheard by the sentinel who guarded me, he was no sooner relieved than he reported to the captain every syllable71 of our conversation, according to the orders he had received. The effect of this information soon appeared in the arrival of the master-at-arms, who replaced Morgan in his former station, and gave the second mate a caution to keep a strict guard over his tongue, if he did not choose to accompany us in our confinement72. Thompson, foreseeing that the whole slavery of attending the sick and wounded, as well as the cruelty of Mackshane, must now fall upon his shoulders, grew desperate at the prospect73, and, though I never heard him swear before, imprecated dreadful curses on the heads of his oppressors, declaring that he would rather quit life altogether than be much longer under the power of such barbarians74. I was not a little startled at his vivacity75, and endeavoured to alleviate76 his complaints, by representing the subject of my own, with as much aggravation77 as it would bear, by which comparison he might see the balance of misfortune lay on my side, and take an example from me of fortitude78 and submission79, till such time as we could procure19 redress80, which I hoped was not far off, considering that we should probably be in a harbour in less than three days, where we should have an opportunity of preferring our complaints to the admiral. The Welshman joined in my remonstrance9, and was at great pains to demonstrate that it was every man’s duty as well as interest to resign himself to the divine will, and look upon himself as n sentinel upon duty, who is by no means at liberty to leave his post before he is relieved. Thompson listened attentively81 to what he said, and at last, shedding a flood of tears, shook his hand, and left us without making any reply. About eleven at night he came to see us again with a settled gloom on his countenance, and gave us to understand that he had undergone excessive toil82 since he saw us, and in recompense had been grossly abused by the doctor, who taxed him with being confederate with us, in a design of taking away his life and that of the captain. After some time spent in mutual83 exhortation84, he got up, and squeezing me by the hand with uncommon85 fervour, cried, “God bless you both!” and left us to wonder at his singular manner of parting with us, which did not fail to make a deep impression on us both.
Next morning, when the hour of visitation came round, the unhappy young man was missing, and, after strict search, supposed to have gone overboard in the night; and this was certainly the case.
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1
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tampered
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| v.窜改( tamper的过去式 )；篡改；（用不正当手段）影响；瞎摆弄 | |
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disdains
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| 鄙视，轻蔑( disdain的名词复数 ) | |
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fettered
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| v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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delirious
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| adj.不省人事的，神智昏迷的 | |
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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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remonstrances
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| n.抱怨，抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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remonstrance
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| n抗议，抱怨 | |
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subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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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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latitudes
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| 纬度 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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grievances
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| n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚 | |
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frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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goodwill
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| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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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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wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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stapled
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| v.用钉书钉钉住( staple的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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conspired
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| 密谋( conspire的过去式和过去分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致 | |
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imputation
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| n.归罪，责难 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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scorching
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| adj. 灼热的 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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overthrown
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| adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词 | |
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condoling
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| v.表示同情，吊唁( condole的现在分词 ) | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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pinioned
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| v.抓住[捆住]（双臂）( pinion的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
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belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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drudge
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| n.劳碌的人；v.做苦工，操劳 | |
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tribulation
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| n.苦难，灾难 | |
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leeward
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| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
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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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asunder
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| adj.分离的，化为碎片 | |
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whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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bellow
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| v.吼叫，怒吼；大声发出，大声喝道 | |
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51
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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52
bereft
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| adj.被剥夺的 | |
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53
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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55
vented
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| 表达，发泄（感情，尤指愤怒）( vent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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57
barge
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| n.平底载货船，驳船 | |
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hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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asperse
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| v.流言；n.流言 | |
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torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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adversaries
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| n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 ) | |
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calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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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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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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barbarians
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| n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人 | |
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vivacity
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| n.快活，活泼，精神充沛 | |
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alleviate
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| v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等) | |
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aggravation
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| n.烦恼，恼火 | |
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fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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redress
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| n.赔偿，救济，矫正；v.纠正，匡正，革除 | |
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81
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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82
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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exhortation
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| n.劝告，规劝 | |
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uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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