masterman ready-第5部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

he　same。〃

〃With　my　permission；〃　continued　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃my　boys　shall　never　go　to　sea　if　there　is　any　other　profession　to　be　found　for　them。〃

〃Well；　Mr。　Seagrave；　they　do　say　that　it's　no　use　baulking　a　lad　if　he　wishes　to　go　to　sea；　and　that　if　he　is　determined；　he　must　go：　now　I　think　otherwise　…　I　think　a　parent　has　a　right　to　say　no；　if　he　pleases；　upon　that　point；　for　you　see；　sir；　a　lad；　at　the　early　age　at　which　he　goes　to　sea；　does　not　know　his　own　mind。　Every　high…spirited　boy　wishes　to　go　to　sea　…　it's　quite　natural；　but　if　the　most　of　them　were　to　speak　the　truth；　it　is　not　that　they　so　much　want　to　go　to　sea；　as　that　they　want　to　go　from　school　or　from　home；　where　they　are　under　the　control　of　their　masters　or　their　parents。〃

〃Very　true；　Ready；　they　wish　to　be；　as　they　consider　they　will　be；　independent。〃

〃And　a　pretty　mistake　they　make　of　it；　sir。　Why；　there　is　not　a　greater　slave　in　the　world　than　a　boy　who　goes　to　sea；　for　the　first　few　years　after　his　shipping：　for　once　they　are　corrected　on　shore；　they　are　punished　ten　times　at　sea；　and　they　never　again　meet　with　the　love　and　affection　they　have　left　behind　them。　It　is　a　hard　life；　and　there　have　been　but　few　who　have　not　bitterly　repented　it；　and　who　would　not　have　returned；　like　the　prodigal　son；　and　cast　themselves　at　their　fathers'　feet；　only　that　they　have　been　ashamed。〃

〃That's　the　truth；　Ready；　and　it　is　on　that　account　that　I　consider　that　a　parent　is　justified　in　refusing　his　consent　to　his　son　going　to　sea；　if　he　can　properly　provide　for　him　in　any　other　profession。　There　never　will　be　any　want　of　sailors；　for　there　always　will　be　plenty　of　poor　lads　whose　friends　can　do　no　better　for　them；　and　in　that　case　the　seafaring　life　is　a　good　one　to　choose；　as　it　requires　no　other　capital　for　their　advancement　than　activity　and　courage。〃



Chapter　VI

Mr。　Seagrave　and　William　went　down　below　into　the　cabin；　where　they　found　that　there　was　plenty　of　employment；　the　steward　had　brought　a　basin　of　very　hot　pea…soup　for　the　children。　Tommy；　who　was　sitting　up　in　the　bed…place　with　his　sister；　had　snatched　it　out　of　Juno's　left　hand；　for　she　held　the　baby　with　the　other；　and　in　so　doing；　had　thrown　it　over　Caroline；　who　was　screaming；　while　Juno；　in　her　hurry　to　assist　Caroline；　had　slipped　down　on　the　deck　with　the　baby；　who　was　also　crying　with　fright；　although　not　hurt。　Unfortunately；　Juno　had　fallen　down　upon　Vixen　the　terrier；　who　in　return　had　bitten　her　in　the　leg；　which　had　made　Juno　also　cry　out；　while　Mrs。　Seagrave　was　hanging　her　head　out　of　her　standing　bed…place；　frightened　out　of　her　wits　at　the　accident；　but　unable　to　be　of　any　assistance。　Fortunately；　Mr。　Seagrave　came　down　just　in　time　to　pick　up　Juno　and　the　baby；　and　then　tried　to　comfort　little　Caroline；　who　after　all　was　not　much　scalded；　as　the　soup　had　had　time　to　cool。

〃Massa　Tommy　is　a　very　naughty　boy；〃　cried　Juno；　rubbing　her　leg。　Master　Tommy　thought　it　better　to　say　nothing　…　he　was　duly　admonished　…　the　steward　cleaned　up　the　mess；　and　order　was　at　length　restored。

In　the　meantime；　they　were　not　idle　upon　deck；　the　carpenter　was　busy　fixing　a　step　for　one　of　the　spare　topmasts　instead　of　a　mainmast；　and　the　men　were　fitting　the　rigging；　the　ship　unfortunately　had　sprung　a　leak；　and　four　hands　at　the　pumps　interfered　very　much　with　their　task。　As　Ready　had　prophesied；　before　night　the　gale　blew；　the　sea　rose　again　with　the　gale；　and　the　leaking　of　the　vessel　increased　so　much；　that　all　other　labour　was　suspended　for　that　at　the　pump。　For　two　more　days　did　the　storm　continue；　during　which　time　the　crew　were　worn　out　with　fatigue　…　they　could　pump　no　longer：　the　ship；　as　she　rolled；　proved　that　she　had　a　great　deal　of　water　in　her　hold　…　when；　melancholy　as　were　their　prospects　already；　a　new　disaster　took　place；　which　was　attended　with　most　serious　results。　Captain　Osborn　was　on　the　forecastle　giving　some　orders　to　the　men；　when　the　strap　of　the　block　which　hoisted　up　the　main…topgallant　yard　on　the　stump　of　the　foremast　gave　way；　the　yard　and　sail　came　down　on　the　deck；　and　struck　him　senseless。　As　long　as　Captain　Osborn　commanded　them；　the　sailors　had　so　high　an　opinion　of　his　abilities　as　a　seaman；　and　were　so　encouraged　by　his　cheerful　disposition；　that　they　performed　their　work　well　and　cheerfully；　but　now　that　he　was；　if　not　killed；　at　all　events　senseless　and　incapable　of　action；　they　no　longer　felt　themselves　under　control。　Mackintosh　was　too　much　disliked　by　the　seamen　to　allow　his　words　to　have　any　weight　with　them。　They　were　regardless　of　his　injunctions　or　requests；　and　they　now　consulted　among　themselves。

〃The　gale　is　broke；　my　men；　and　we　shall　have　fine　weather　now；〃　observed　Ready；　going　up　to　the　sailors　on　the　forecastle。　〃The　wind　is　going　down　fast。〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　one　of　the　men；　〃and　the　ship　is　going　down　fast；　that's　quite　as　certain。〃

〃A　good　spell　at　the　pumps　would　do　us　some　good　now；〃　replied　Ready。　〃What　d'ye　say；　my　lads？〃

〃A　glass　of　grog　or　two　would　do　us　more；〃　replied　the　seaman。　〃What　d'ye　say；　my　boys？　I　don't　think　that　the　captain　would　refuse　us；　poor　fellow；　if　he　could　speak。〃

〃What　do　you　mean　to　do；　my　lads？〃　inquired　Mackintosh：　〃not　get　drunk；　I　hope？〃

〃Why　not？〃　observed　another　of　the　men；　〃the　ship　must　go　down　soon。〃

〃Perhaps　she　may　…　I　will　not　deny　it；〃　said　Mackintosh；　〃but　that　is　no　reason　why　we　should　not　be　saved：　now；　if　you　get　drunk；　there　is　no　chance　of　any　one　being　saved；　and　my　life　is　precious　to　me。　I'm　ready　to　join　with　you　in　anything　you　please；　and　you　may　decide　what　is　to　be　done；　but　get　drunk　you　shall　not；　if　I　can　help　it；　that's　certain。〃

〃And　how　can　you　help　it？〃　replied　one　of　the　seamen；　surlily。

〃Because　two　resolute　men　can　do　a　great　deal　…　I　may　say　three；　for　in　this　instance　Ready　will　be　of　my　side；　and　I　can　call　to　my　assistance　the　cabin　passenger　…　recollect　the　firearms　are　all　in　the　cabin。　But　why　should　we　quarrel？　…　Say　at　once　what　you　intend　to　do；　and　if　you　have　not　made　up　your　minds；　will　you　listen　to　what　I　propose？〃

As　Mackintosh's　courage　and　determination　were　well　known；　the　seamen　again　consulted　together；　and　then　asked　him　what　he　proposed。

〃We　have　one　good　boat　left；　the　new　yawl　at　the　booms：　the　others；　as　you　know；　are　washed　away；　with　the　exception　of　the　little　boat　astern；　which　is　useless；　as　she　is　knocked　almost　to　pieces。　Now　we　cannot　be　very　far　from　some　of　the　islands；　indeed　I　think　we　are　among　them　now。　Let　us　fit　out　the　boat　with　everything　we　require；　go　about　our　work　steadily　and　quietly；　drink　as　much　grog　as　will　not　hurt　us；　and　take　a　good　provision　of　it　with　us。　The　boat　is　complete　with　her　masts；　sails；　and　oars；　and　it's　very　hard　if　we　do　not　save　ourselves　somewhere。　Ready；　do　I　give　good　advice　or　not？〃

〃You　give　very　good　advice；　Mackintosh　…　only　what　is　to　become　of　the　cabin　passengers；　the　women；　and　children？　and　are　you　going　to　leave　poor　Captain　Osborn？　or　what　do　you　mean　to　do？〃

〃We　won't　leave　the　captain；〃　said　one　of　the　seamen。

〃No　…　no！〃　exclaimed　the　others。

〃And　the　passengers？〃

〃Very　sorry　for　them；〃　replied　the　former　spokesman；　〃but　we　shall　have　enough　to　do　to　save　our　own　lives。〃

〃Well；　my　lads；　I　agree　with　you；〃　said　Mackintosh。　〃Charity　begins　at　home。　What　do　you　say　I　…　shall　it　be　so？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　the　seamen；　unanimously；　and　Ready　knew　that　it　was　in　vain　to　expostulate。　They　now　set　about　preparing　the　boat；　and　providing　for　their　wants。　Biscuits；　salt　pork；　two　or　three　small　casks　of　water；　and　a　barrel　of　rum　were　collected　at　the　gangway；　Mackintosh　brought　up　his　quadrant　and　a　compass；　some　muskets；　powder　and　shot；　the　carpenter；　with　the　assistance　of　another　man；　cut　away　the　ship's　bulwarks　down　to　the　gunnel；　so　as　to　enable　them　to　launch　the　boat　overboard；　for　they　could　not；　of　course；　hoist　her　out　now　that　the　masts　were　gone。　In　an　hour　everything　was　prepared。　A　long　rope　was　made　fast　to　the　boat；　which　was　brought　to　the　gunnel　ready　for　launching　overboard；　and　the　ship's　broadside　was　brought　to　the　wind。　As　this　was　done；　Mr。　Seagrave　came　on　deck　and　looked　around　him。

He　perceived　the　boat　ready　for　launching；　the　provisions　and　water　at　the　gangway；　the　ship　brought　to　the　wind；　and　rolling　slowly　to　the　heave　of　the　sea；　at　last　he　saw　Ready　sitting　down　by　Captain　Osborn；　who　was　apparently　dead。　〃What　is　all　this；　Ready？〃　inquired　Seagrave。　〃Are　they　going　to　leave　the　ship？　have　they　killed　Captain　Osborn？〃

〃No；　sir；　…　not　quite　so　bad　as　that。　Poor　Captain　Osborn　was　struck　down　by　the　fall　of　the　yard；　and　has　been　insensible　ever　since；　but；　as　to　the　other　matter；　I　fear　that　is　decided：　you　see　they　are　launching　the　boat。〃

〃But　my　poor　wife；　she　will　never　be　able　to　go　…　she　cannot　move　…　she　is　so　ill！〃

〃I'm　afraid；　Mr。　Seagrave；　that　they　have　no　idea　of　taking　either　you；　or　your　wife；　or　your　children；　with　them。〃

〃What！　leave　us　here　to　perish　I　Merciful　Heaven！　how　cruel　…　how　barbarous！〃

〃It　is　not　kind；　Mr。　Seagrave；　but　still　you　see　it　is　the　law　of　nature。　When　it　is　a　question　of　life；　it　is　every　one　for　himself；　for　life　is　sweet：　they　are　not　more　unkind　than