michael, brother of jerry-第22部分

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o　choose　being　wrecked　on　a　desert　island　with　him　or　you；　I'd　take　him　a　thousand　times　first。　　If〃

But　a　cry　from　the　sailors　interrupted　him。

〃Merciful　God！〃　Captain　Doane　breathed　aloud。

The　great　cow　whale　had　turned　about；　and；　on　the　surface；　was　charging　straight　back　at　them。　　Such　was　her　speed　that　a　bore　was　raised　by　her　nose　like　that　which　a　Dreadnought　or　an　Atlantic　liner　raises　on　the　sea。

〃Hold　fast；　all！〃　Captain　Doane　roared。

Every　man　braced　himself　for　the　shock。　　Henrik　Gjertsen；　the　sailor　at　the　wheel；　spread　his　legs；　crouched　down；　and　stiffened　his　shoulders　and　arms　to　hand…grips　on　opposite　spokes　of　the　wheel。　　Several　of　the　crew　fled　from　the　waist　to　the　poop；　and　others　of　them　sprang　into　the　main…rigging。　　Daughtry；　one　hand　on　the　rail；　with　his　free　arm　clasped　the　Ancient　Mariner　around　the　waist。

All　held。　　The　whale　struck　the　Mary　Turner　just　aft　of　the　fore…　shroud。　　A　score　of　things；　which　no　eye　could　take　in　simultaneously；　happened。　　A　sailor；　in　the　main　rigging；　carried　away　a　ratline　in　both　hands；　fell　head…downward；　and　was　clutched　by　an　ankle　and　saved　head…downward　by　a　comrade；　as　the　schooner　cracked　and　shuddered；　uplifted　on　the　port　side；　and　was　flung　down　on　her　starboard　side　till　the　ocean　poured　level　over　her　rail。　　Michael；　on　the　smooth　roof　of　the　cabin；　slithered　down　the　steep　slope　to　starboard　and　disappeared；　clawing　and　snarling；　into　the　runway。　　The　port　shrouds　of　the　foremast　carried　away　at　the　chain…plates；　and　the　fore…topmast　leaned　over　drunkenly　to　starboard。

〃My　word；〃　quoth　the　Ancient　Mariner。　　〃We　certainly　felt　that。〃

〃Mr。　Jackson；〃　Captain　Doane　commanded　the　mate；　〃will　you　sound　the　well。〃

The　mate　obeyed；　although　he　kept　an　anxious　eye　on　the　whale；　which　had　gone　off　at　a　tangent　and　was　smoking　away　to　the　eastward。

〃You　see；　that's　what　you　get；〃　Grimshaw　snarled　at　Nishikanta。

Nishikanta　nodded；　as　he　wiped　the　sweat　away；　and　muttered；　〃And　I'm　satisfied。　　I　got　all　I　want。　　I　didn't　think　a　whale　had　it　in　it。　　I'll　never　do　it　again。〃

〃Maybe　you'll　never　have　the　chance；〃　the　captain　retorted。　〃We're　not　done　with　this　one　yet。　　The　one　that　charged　the　Essex　made　charge　after　charge；　and　I　guess　whale　nature　hasn't　changed　any　in　the　last　few　years。〃

〃Dry　as　a　bone；　sir；〃　Mr。　Jackson　reported　the　result　of　his　sounding。

〃There　she　turns；〃　Daughtry　called　out。

Half　a　mile　away；　the　whale　circled　about　sharply　and　charged　back。

〃Stand　from　under　for'ard　there！〃　Captain　Doane　shouted　to　one　of　the　sailors　who　had　just　emerged　from　the　forecastle　scuttle；　sea…　bag　in　hand；　and　over　whom　the　fore…topmast　was　swaying　giddily。

〃He's　packed　for　the　get…away；〃　Daughtry　murmured　to　the　Ancient　Mariner。　　〃Like　a　rat　leaving　a　ship。〃

〃We're　all　rats；〃　was　the　reply。　　〃I　learned　just　that　when　I　was　a　rat　among　the　mangy　rats　of　the　poor…farm。〃

By　this　time；　all　men　on　board　had　communicated　to　Michael　their　contagion　of　excitement　and　fear。　　Back　on　top　of　the　cabin　so　that　he　might　see；　he　snarled　at　the　cow　whale　when　the　men　seized　fresh　grips　against　the　impending　shock　and　when　he　saw　her　close　at　hand　and　oncoming。

The　Mary　Turner　was　struck　aft　of　the　mizzen　shrouds。　　As　she　was　hurled　down　to　starboard；　whither　Michael　was　ignominiously　flung；　the　crack　of　shattered　timbers　was　plainly　heard。　　Henrik　Gjertsen；　at　the　wheel；　clutching　the　wheel　with　all　his　strength；　was　spun　through　the　air　as　the　wheel　was　spun　by　the　fling　of　the　rudder。　　He　fetched　up　against　Captain　Doane；　whose　grip　had　been　torn　loose　from　the　rail。　　Both　men　crumpled　down　on　deck　with　the　wind　knocked　out　of　them。　　Nishikanta　leaned　cursing　against　the　side　of　the　cabin；　the　nails　of　both　hands　torn　off　at　the　quick　by　the　breaking　of　his　grip　on　the　rail。

While　Daughtry　was　passing　a　turn　of　rope　around　the　Ancient　Mariner　and　the　mizzen　rigging　and　giving　the　turn　to　him　to　hold；　Captain　Doane　crawled　gasping　to　the　rail　and　dragged　himself　erect。

〃That　fetched　her；〃　he　whispered　huskily　to　the　mate；　hand　pressed　to　his　side　to　control　his　pain。　　〃Sound　the　well　again；　and　keep　on　sounding。〃

More　of　the　sailors　took　advantage　of　the　interval　to　rush　for'ard　under　the　toppling　fore…topmast；　dive　into　the　forecastle；　and　hastily　pack　their　sea…bags。　　As　Ah　Moy　emerged　from　the　steerage　with　his　own　rotund　sea…bag；　Daughtry　dispatched　Kwaque　to　pack　the　belongings　of　both　of　them。

〃Dry　as　a　bone；　sir；〃　came　the　mate's　report。

〃Keep　on　sounding；　Mr。　Jackson；〃　the　captain　ordered；　his　voice　already　stronger　as　he　recovered　from　the　shock　of　his　collision　with　the　helmsman。　　〃Keep　right　on　sounding。　　Here　she　comes　again；　and　the　schooner　ain't　built　that'd　stand　such　hammering。〃

By　this　time　Daughtry　had　Michael　tucked　under　one　arm；　his　free　arm　ready　to　anticipate　the　next　crash　by　swinging　on　to　the　rigging。

In　making　its　circle　to　come　back；　the　cow　lost　her　bearings　sufficiently　to　miss　the　stern　of　the　Mary　Turner　by　twenty　feet。　Nevertheless；　the　bore　of　her　displacement　lifted　the　schooner's　stern　gently　and　made　her　dip　her　bow　to　the　sea　in　a　stately　curtsey。

〃If　she'd　a…hit　。　。　。　〃　Captain　Doane　murmured　and　ceased。

〃It'd　a…ben　good　night；〃　Daughtry　concluded　for　him。　　〃She's　a…　knocked　our　stern　clean　off　of　us；　sir。〃

Again　wheeling；　this　time　at　no　more　than　two　hundred　yards；　the　whale　charged　back；　not　completing　her　semi…circle　sufficiently；　so　that　she　bore　down　upon　the　schooner's　bow　from　starboard。　　Her　back　hit　the　stem　and　seemed　just　barely　to　scrape　the　martingale；　yet　the　Mary　Turner　sat　down　till　the　sea　washed　level　with　her　stern…rail。　　Nor　was　this　all。　　Martingale；　bob…stays　and　all　parted；　as　well　as　all　starboard　stays　to　the　bowsprit；　so　that　the　bowsprit　swung　out　to　port　at　right　angles　and　uplifted　to　the　drag　of　the　remaining　topmast　stays。　　The　topmast　anticked　high　in　the　air　for　a　space；　then　crashed　down　to　deck；　permitting　the　bowsprit　to　dip　into　the　sea；　go　clear　with　the　butt　of　it　of　the　forecastle　head；　and　drag　alongside。

〃Shut　up　that　dog！〃　Nishikanta　ordered　Daughtry　savagery。　　〃If　you　don't　。　。　。　〃

Michael；　in　Steward's　arms；　was　snarling　and　growling　intimidatingly；　not　merely　at　the　cow　whale　but　at　all　the　hostile　and　menacing　universe　that　had　thrown　panic　into　the　two…legged　gods　of　his　floating　world。

〃Just　for　that；〃　Daughtry　snarled　back；　〃I'll　let　'm　sing。　　You　made　this　mess；　and　if　you　lift　a　hand　to　my　dog　you'll　miss　seeing　the　end　of　the　mess　you　started；　you　dirty　pawnbroker；　you。〃

〃Perfectly　right；　perfectly　right；〃　the　Ancient　Mariner　nodded　approbation。　　〃Do　you　think；　steward；　you　could　get　a　width　of　canvas；　or　a　blanket；　or　something　soft　and　broad　with　which　to　replace　this　rope？　　It　cuts　me　too　sharply　in　the　spot　where　my　three　ribs　are　missing。〃

Daughtry　thrust　Michael　into　the　old　man's　arm。

〃Hold　him；　sir；〃　the　steward　said。　　〃If　that　pawnbroker　makes　a　move　against　Killeny　Boy；　spit　in　his　face；　bite　him；　anything。　I'll　be　back　in　a　jiffy；　sir；　before　he　can　hurt　you　and　before　the　whale　can　hit　us　again。　　And　let　Killeny　Boy　make　all　the　noise　he　wants。　　One　hair　of　him's　worth　more　than　a　world…full　of　skunks　of　money…lenders。〃

Daughtry　dashed　into　the　cabin；　came　back　with　a　pillow　and　three　sheets；　and；　using　the　first　as　a　pad　and　knotting　the　last　together　in　swift　weaver's　knots；　he　left　the　Ancient　Mariner　safe　and　soft　and　took　Michael　back　into　his　own　arms。

〃She's　making　water；　sir；〃　the　mate　called。　　〃Six　inchesno；　seven　inches；　sir。〃

There　was　a　rush　of　sailors　across　the　wreckage　of　the　fore…　topmast　to　the　forecastle　to　pack　their　bags。

〃Swing　out　that　starboard　boat；　Mr。　Jackson；〃　the　captain　commanded；　staring　after　the　foaming　course　of　the　cow　as　she　surged　away　for　a　fresh　onslaught。　　〃But　don't　lower　it。　　Hold　it　overside　in　the　falls；　or　that　damned　fish'll　smash　it。　　Just　swing　it　out；　ready　and　waiting；　let　the　men　get　their　bags；　then　stow　food　and　water　aboard　of　her。〃

Lashings　were　cast　off　the　boat　and　the　falls　attached；　when　the　men　fled　to　holding…vantage　just　ere　the　whale　arrived。　　She　struck　the　Mary　Turner　squarely　amidships　on　the　port　beam；　so　that；　from　the　poop；　one　saw；　as　well　as　heard；　her　long　side　bend　and　spring　back　like　a　limber　fabric。　　The　starboard　rail　buried　under　the　sea　as　the　schooner　heeled　to　the　blow；　and；　as　she　righted　with　a　violent　lurch；　the　water　swashed　across　the　deck　to　the　knees　of　the　sailors　about　the　boat　and　spouted　out　of　the　port　scuppers。

〃Heave　away！〃　Captain　Doane　ordered　from　the　poop。　　〃Up　with　her！　Swing　her　out！　　Hold　your　turns！　　Make　fast！〃

The　boat　was　outboard；　its　gunwale　resting　against　the　Mary　Turner's　rail。

〃Ten　inches；　sir；　and　making　fast；〃　was　the　mate's　information；　as　he　gauged　the　sounding…rod。

〃I'm　going　after　my　tools；〃　Captain　Doane　announced；　as　he　started　for　the　cabin。　　Half　into　the　scuttle；　he　paused　to　add　with　a　sneer　for　Nishikanta's　benefit；　〃And　for　my　one　chronometer。〃

〃A　foot　and　a　half；　and　making；〃　the　mate　shouted　aft　to　him。

〃We'd　better　do　some　packing　ourselves；〃　Grimshaw；　following　on　the　captain；　said　to　Nishikanta。

〃Steward；〃　Nishi