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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
on shore behind us were suffering just as usual。
The next day brought us into the midst of the Atlantic solitudesout of
smoke…colored sounding into fathomless deep blue； no ships visible
anywhere over the wide ocean； no company but Mother Carey's chickens
wheeling； darting； skimming the waves in the sun。 There were some
seafaring men among the passengers； and conversation drifted into matter
concerning ships and sailors。 One said that 〃true as the needle to the
pole〃 was a bad figure； since the needle seldom pointed to the pole。
He said a ship's compass was not faithful to any particular point； but
was the most fickle and treacherous of the servants of man。 It was
forever changing。 It changed every day in the year； consequently the
amount of the daily variation had to be ciphered out and allowance made
for it； else the mariner would go utterly astray。 Another said there was
a vast fortune waiting for the genius who should invent a compass that
would not be affected by the local influences of an iron ship。 He said
there was only one creature more fickle than a wooden ship's compass；
and that was the compass of an iron ship。 Then came reference to the
well known fact that an experienced mariner can look at the compass of a
new iron vessel； thousands of mile from her birthplace； and tell which
way her head was pointing when she was in process of building。
Now an ancient whale…ship master fell to talking about the sort of crews
they used to have in his early days。 Said he：
〃Sometimes we'd have a batch of college students Queer lot。 Ignorant？
Why； they didn't know the catheads from the main brace。 But if you took
them for fools you'd get bit； sure。 They'd learn more in a month than
another man would in a year。 We had one； once； in the Mary Ann； that
came aboard with gold spectacles on。 And besides； he was rigged out from
main truck to keelson in the nobbiest clothes that ever saw a fo'castle。
He had a chestful； too： cloaks； and broadcloth coats； and velvet vests；
everything swell； you know； and didn't the saltwater fix them out for
him？ I guess not！ Well； going to sea； the mate told him to go aloft and
help shake out the foreto'gallants'l。 Up he shins to the foretop； with
his spectacles on； and in a minute down he comes again； looking insulted。
Says the mate； 'What did you come down for？' Says the chap； 'P'r'aps you
didn't notice that there ain't any ladders above there。' You see we
hadn't any shrouds above the foretop。 The men bursted out in a laugh
such as I guess you never heard the like of。 Next night； which was dark
and rainy； the mate ordered this chap to go aloft about something； and
I'm dummed if he didn't start up with an umbrella and a lantern！ But no
matter； he made a mighty good sailor before the voyage was done； and we
had to hunt up something else to laugh at。 Years afterwards； when I had
forgot all about him； I comes into Boston； mate of a ship； and was
loafing around town with the second mate； and it so happened that we
stepped into the Revere House； thinking maybe we would chance the
salt…horse in that big diningroom for a flyer； as the boys say。 Some
fellows were talking just at our elbow； and one says； 'Yonder's the new
governor of Massachusettsat that table over there with the ladies。'
We took a good look my mate and I； for we hadn't either of us ever see a
governor before。 I looked and looked at that face and then all of a
sudden it popped on me！ But didn't give any sign。 Says I； 'Mate； I've a
notion to go over and shake hands with him。' Says he 'I think I see you
doing it； Tom。' Says I； 'Mate I'm a…going to do it。' Says he； 'Oh； yes；
I guess so。 Maybe you don't want to bet you will； Tom？' Say I； 'I don't
mind going a V on it； mate。' Says he 'Put it up。' ' Up she goes；' says
I； planking the cash。 This surprised him。 But he covered it； and say。
pretty sarcastic； 'Hadn't you better take your grub with the governor and
the ladies； Tom？' Says I 'Upon second thoughts； I will。' Says he； 'Well
Tom； you aye a dum fool。' Says I； 'Maybe I am maybe I ain't； but the
main question is； do you wan to risk two and a half that I won't do it？'
'Make it a V；' says he。 'Done；' says I。 I started； him a giggling and
slapping his hand on his thigh； he felt so good。 I went over there and
leaned my knuckle： on the table a minute and looked the governor in the
face； and says I； 'Mr。 Gardner； don't you know me？ He stared； and I
stared； and he stared。 Then all of a sudden he sings out； 'Tom Bowling；
by the holy poker！ Ladies； it's old Tom Bowling； that you've heard me
talk aboutshipmate of mine in the Mary Ann。' He rose up and shook
hands with me ever so heartyI sort of glanced around and took a
realizing sense of my mate's saucer eyesand then says the governor；
'Plant yourself； Tom； plant yourself； you can't cat your anchor again
till you've had a feed with me and the ladies！' I planted myself
alongside the governor； and canted my eye around toward my mate。 Well；
sir； his dead…lights were bugged out like tompions； and his mouth stood
that wide open that you could have laid a ham in it without him noticing
it。〃
There was great applause at the conclusion of the old captain's story；
then； after a moment's silence； a grave； pale young man said：
〃Had you ever met the governor before？〃
The old captain looked steadily at this inquirer awhile； and then got up
and walked aft without making any reply。 One passenger after another
stole a furtive glance at the inquirer； but failed to make him out； and
so gave him up。 It took some little work to get the talk…machinery to
running smoothly again after this derangement； but at length a
conversation sprang up about that important and jealously guarded
instrument； a ship's timekeeper； its exceeding delicate accuracy； and the
wreck and destruction that have sometimes resulted from its varying a few
seemingly trifling moments from the true time； then； in due course； my
comrade； the Reverend； got off on a yarn； with a fair wind and everything
drawing。 It was a true story； tooabout Captain Rounceville's shipwreck
true in every detail。 It was to this effect：
Captain Rounceville's vessel was lost in mid…Atlantic； and likewise his
wife and his two little children。 Captain Rounceville and seven seamen
escaped with life； but with little else。 A small； rudely constructed
raft was to be their home for eight days。 They had neither provisions
nor water。 They had scarcely any clothing； no one had a coat but the
captain。 This coat was changing hands all the time； for the weather was
very cold。 Whenever a man became exhausted with the cold； they put the
coat on him and laid him down between two shipmates until the garment and
their bodies had warmed life into him again。 Among the sailors was a
Portuguese who knew no English。 He seemed to have no thought of his own
calamity； but was concerned only about the captain's bitter loss of wife
and children。 By day he would look his dumb compassion in the captain's
face； and by night； in the darkness and the driving spray and rain； he
would seek out the captain and try to comfort him with caressing pats on
the