登陆注册
14366000000011

第11章

But then, might not general distress, and thirst in particular, be affected? And might not that same undiminished Spanish crew, alleged to have perished off to a remnant, be at that very moment lurking in the hold? On heart-broken pretence of entreating a cup of cold water, fiends in human form had got into lonely dwellings, nor retired until a dark deed had been done. And among the Malay pirates, it was no unusual thing to lure ships after them into their treacherous harbours, or entice boarders from a declared enemy at sea, by the spectacle of thinly manned or vacant decks, beneath which prowled a hundred spears with yellow arms ready to upthrust them through the mats. Not that Captain Delano had entirely credited such things. He had heard of them- and now, as stories, they recurred. The present destination of the ship was the anchorage. There she would be near his own vessel. Upon gaining that vicinity, might not the San Dominick, like a slumbering volcano, suddenly let loose energies now hid?

He recalled the Spaniard's manner while telling his story. There was a gloomy hesitancy and subterfuge about it. It was just the manner of one making up his tale for evil purposes, as he goes. But if that story was not true, what was the truth? That the ship had unlawfully come into the Spaniard's possession? But in many of its details, especially in reference to the more calamitous parts, such as the fatalities among the seamen, the consequent prolonged beating about, the past sufferings from obstinate calms, and still continued suffering from thirst; in all these points, as well as others, Don Benito's story had been corroborated not only by the wailing ejaculations of the indiscriminate multitude, white and black, but likewise- what seemed impossible to be counterfeit- by the very expression and play of every human feature, which Captain Delano saw. If Don Benito's story was throughout an invention, then every soul on board, down to the youngest Negress, was his carefully drilled recruit in the plot: an incredible inference. And yet, if there was ground for mistrusting the Spanish captain's veracity, that inference was a legitimate one.

In short, scarce an uneasiness entered the honest sailor's mind but, by a subsequent spontaneous act of good sense, it was ejected. At last he began to laugh at these forebodings; and laugh at the strange ship for, in its aspect someway siding with them, as it were; and laugh, too, at the odd-looking blacks, particularly those old scissors-grinders, the Ashantees; and those bed-ridden old knitting-women, the oakum-pickers; and, in a human way, he almost began to laugh at the dark Spaniard himself, the central hobgoblin of all.

For the rest, whatever in a serious way seemed enigmatical, was now good-naturedly explained away by the thought that, for the most part, the poor invalid scarcely knew what he was about; either sulking in black vapours, or putting random questions without sense or object.

Evidently, for the present, the man was not fit to be entrusted with the ship. On some benevolent plea withdrawing the command from him, Captain Delano would yet have to send her to Concepcion in charge of his second mate, a worthy person and good navigator- a plan which would prove no wiser for the San Dominick than for Don Benito; for-relieved from all anxiety, keeping wholly to his cabin- the sick man, under the good nursing of his servant, would probably, by the end of the passage, be in a measure restored to health and with that he should also be restored to authority.

Such were the American's thoughts. They were tranquillizing. There was a difference between the idea of Don Benito's darkly preordaining Captain Delano's fate, and Captain Delano's lightly arranging Don Benito's. Nevertheless, it was not without something of relief that the good seaman presently perceived his whale-boat in the distance. Its absence had been prolonged by unexpected detention at the sealer's side, as well as its returning trip lengthened by the continual recession of the goal.

The advancing speck was observed by the blacks. Their shouts attracted the attention of Don Benito, who, with a return of courtesy, approaching Captain Delano, expressed satisfaction at the coming of some supplies, slight and temporary as they must necessarily prove.

Captain Delano responded; but while doing so, his attention was drawn to something passing on the deck below: among the crowd climbing the landward bulwarks, anxiously watching the coming boat, two blacks, to all appearances accidentally incommoded by one of the sailors, flew out against him with horrible curses, which the sailor someway resenting, the two blacks dashed him to the deck and jumped upon him, despite the earnest cries of the oakum-pickers.

"Don Benito," said Captain Delano quickly, "do you see what is going on there? Look!"But, seized by his cough, the Spaniard staggered, with both hands to his face, on the point of falling. Captain Delano would have supported him, but the servant was more alert, who, with one hand sustaining his master, with the other applied the cordial. Don Benito, restored, the black withdrew his support, slipping aside a little, but dutifully remaining within call of a whisper. Such discretion was here evinced as quite wiped away, in the visitor's eyes, any blemish of impropriety which might have attached to the attendant, from the indecorous conferences before mentioned; showing, too, that if the servant were to blame, it might be more the master's fault than his own, since when left to himself he could conduct thus well.

His glance thus called away from the spectacle of disorder to the more pleasing one before him, Captain Delano could not avoid again congratulating Don Benito upon possessing such a servant, who, though perhaps a little too forward now and then, must upon the whole be invaluable to one in the invalid's situation.

同类推荐
  • 维摩疏释前小序抄

    维摩疏释前小序抄

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Some Short Christmas Stories

    Some Short Christmas Stories

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 安溪县志

    安溪县志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 盘天经

    盘天经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 安南奏议

    安南奏议

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 给色鬼的信(出版更名为:诡校笔记)

    给色鬼的信(出版更名为:诡校笔记)

    一次聚会、一场艳遇、一个女鬼、一只黑色的皮夹,让石南深陷诡谲的闹鬼校园。照片上的人一个一个的离奇死亡,能够揭开侗阿族的秘密把他们从死神手里解救的,也许只有《三封信》。
  • 绝宠丹妃:架空穿越生存手册

    绝宠丹妃:架空穿越生存手册

    作为阅文无数的资深宅女,穿越什么的毫无压力啦,所谓配角越渣越能时势造英雄~but,说好的王爷老公白莲花渣姐呢,我可是诚心诚意前来打酱油的啊,这剧本我没法接!
  • 我和祖先有个约会

    我和祖先有个约会

    当东方黎醒来刚好就逮住了跑路的未来基友。于是在之后的日子里。黍清:“没血了......不过,小黎,姨妈血要吗?”东方黎:“......”人生一片空白的东方黎踏上了寻找身世之谜的路程,邂逅了唯一能压制住她的人。言长隐:“无所谓,你开心就好”东方黎:“......”当一切谜团随着时间的步伐逐渐解开之时......东方黎:“握草,我居然把自己的祖先泡到手了!”言长隐:“你开心就好。”
  • 军少:男神太难当

    军少:男神太难当

    当高智商的她女扮男装进军娱乐圈,一张盛世美颜吸粉无数。注册了个公司却当起了甩手BOSS!接了一部戏后却没见了人影,粉丝们表示,有这样的偶像他们心好累。什么?偶像当了CV?那必须去捧场啊!只是……偶像你怎么在不知不觉中做了这么多事啊?
  • 【完】丑女不愁嫁:穿越之N嫁新娘

    【完】丑女不愁嫁:穿越之N嫁新娘

    【原创作者社团『未央』出品】一个自视过高的美女,害死了嫉妒她的女子。一命还两命的代价,是变成绝世丑女穿越到春秋战国。魔镜说,只有寻到心甘情愿与她生死相依之人,方能找到回家之路。多世穿越,与兄纠葛的诗经美女文姜、三为王后的妖艳夏姬。。。下一世,她会变成谁?她还能回到现代吗?
  • 眨眼的星星

    眨眼的星星

    转朱阁,低绮户,照无眠。不应有恨,何事长向别时圆。或许,人生,本来就是个戏剧性的东西,一切是那么有缘分。拼成一件又一件完美的锦绣……只是愚弄,上天毫无保留的赐予,这份缘分,让原本卑微的生命焕发出曾经的光彩,只是,不知道他、你、我,还是不是当初的他、你、我。我们注定回不去当初的曾经?一段夙缘,一份执着。走在繁重的青春里,谁对不起谁,都已过去。醉香岁月,曾有那么一段爱情,不负流年,不负卿。
  • 妇人崩漏门

    妇人崩漏门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 六度集经

    六度集经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 幽灵行动之高级战争

    幽灵行动之高级战争

    我们是雇佣兵,哪里有战争,哪里就有我们,我们不为任何国家战斗,只要有人出钱,我们就服从他的命令,我们眼中没有正义,也没有邪恶,我们,就是雇佣军!幽灵,代表着冷酷和无情,代表着鬼影和杀戮,我们的人虽然少,但十分精悍,而我,有幸成为其中的一份子,人称我们为——幽灵战士
  • tfboys之向爱出发

    tfboys之向爱出发

    三位富豪千金与tfboys的相识到相恋……