登陆注册
15284300000071

第71章 IN WHICH THE MINISTER BOARDS THE SAN JOSE(1)

Hey,Mr.Ellery!

It was Captain Zeb Mayo who was calling.The captain sat in his antique chaise,drawn by the antique white horse,and was hailing the parsonage through a speaking trumpet formed by holding both his big hands before his mouth.The reins he had tucked between the edge of the dashboard and the whip socket.If he had thrown them on the ground he would still have been perfectly safe,with that horse.

Mr.Ellery,ahoy!roared Captain Zeb through his hands.

The window of Zoeth Peters's house,next door to the Regular church,was thrown up and Mrs.Peters's head,bound with a blue-and-white handkerchief in lieu of a sweeping cap,was thrust forth into the crisp March air.

What is it,Cap'n Mayo?screamed Mrs.Peters.Hey?Hey?repeated Captain Zeb,peering round the chaise curtain.

Who's that?

It's me.Is somebody dead?

Who's me?Oh!No,Hettie,nobody's dead,though I'm likely to bust a blood vessel if I keep on yellin'much longer.Is the parson to home?Hey?

Oh,heavens alive!I say is--Ha,there you be,Mr.Ellery.

Mornin',Keziah.

The minister and Mrs.Coffin,the former with a napkin in his hand,had emerged from the side door of the parsonage and now came hurrying down to the gate.

Land of Goshen!exclaimed the captain,you don't mean to tell me you ain't done breakfast yet,and it after seven o'clock.Why,we're thinkin'about dinner up to our house.Keziah answered.Yes,she said,I shouldn't wonder.Your wife tells me,Zeb,that the only time you ain't thinkin'about dinner is when you think of breakfast or supper.We ain't so hungry here that we get up to eat in the middle of the night.What's the matter?Hettie Peters is hollerin'at you;did you know it?Did I know it?Tut!tut!tut!I'd known it if I was a mile away,'less I was paralyzed in my ears.Let her holler;'twill do her good and keep her in practice for Come-Outer meetin'.Why,Mr.

Ellery,I tell you:Em'lous Sparrow,the fish peddler,stepped up to our house a few minutes ago.He's just come down from the shanties over on the shore by the light--where the wreck was,you know--and he says there's a 'morphrodite brig anchored three or four mile off and she's flyin'colors ha'f mast and union down.

They're gettin'a boat's crew together to go off to her and see what's the row.I'm goin'to drive over and I thought maybe you'd like to go along.I told the old lady--my wife,I mean--that Ithought of pickin'you up and she said 'twas a good idee.Said my likin'to cruise with a parson in my old age was either a sign that I was hopeful or fearful,she didn't know which;and either way it ought to be encouraged.He,he,he!What do you say,Mr.Ellery?

Want to go?

The minister hesitated.I'd like to,he said.I'd like to very much.But I ought to work on my sermon this morning.Keziah cut in here.Cat's foot!she sniffed.Let your sermon go for this once,do.If it ain't long enough as it is,you can begin again when you've got to the end and preach it over again.

Didama Rogers said,last circle day,that she could set still and hear you preach right over n'over.I'd give her a chance,'specially if it did keep her still.Keepin'Didama still is good Christian work,ain't it,Zeb?Captain Mayo slapped his knee.He,he,he!he chuckled.

Cal'late you're right,Keziah.

Indeed,I am.I believe it would be Christianity and I KNOW'twould be work.There!there!run in and get your coat and hat,Mr.Ellery.I'll step across and ease Hettie's mind and--and lungs.She went across the road to impart the news of the vessel in distress to the curious Mrs.Peters.A moment later the minister,having donned his hat and coat,ran down the walk and climbed into the chaise beside Captain Zeb.The white horse,stimulated into a creaky jog trot by repeated slappings of the reins and roars to Get under way!and Cast off!moved along the sandy lane.

During the drive the captain and his passenger discussed various topics of local interest,among them Captain Nat Hammond and the manner in which he might have lost his ship and his life.It was now taken for granted,in Trumet and elsewhere,that Nat was dead and would never be heard from again.The owners had given up,so Captain Zeb said,and went on to enumerate the various accidents which might have happened--typhoons,waterspouts,fires,and even attacks by Malay pirates--though,added the captain,Gen'rally speakin',I'd ruther not bet on any pirate gettin'away with Nat Hammond's ship,if the skipper was alive and healthy.Then there's mutiny and fevers and collisions,and land knows what all.And,speakin'of trouble,what do you cal'late ails that craft we're goin'to look at now?They found a group on the beach discussing that very question.Afew fishermen,one or two lobstermen and wreckers,and the lightkeeper were gathered on the knoll by the lighthouse.They had a spyglass,and a good-sized dory was ready for launching.

Where is she,Noah?asked Captain Zeb of the lightkeeper.That her off back of the spar buoy?Let me have a squint through that glass;my eyes ain't what they used to be,when I could see a whale spout two miles t'other side of the sky line and tell how many barrels of ile he'd try out,fust look.Takes practice to keep your eyesight so's you can see round a curve like that,he added,winking at Ellery.

She's a brigantine,Zeb,observed the keeper,handing up the spyglass.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 衍幻

    衍幻

    世间之事,大衍于幻。少年误入神秘所在获得无上法宝,本无心修行,却卷入一场长生之祸,真佛预言,谁是世间第一稀有再来人?空的意义是什么?什么才是真正的定?如何成仙成佛?什么是断灭无明?一切就让这少年带你走入衍幻的世界。
  • 弑神者的游戏

    弑神者的游戏

    元年7842年虚界的诞生黑暗把天空吞噬,裂开了,是空中的裂缝,透着无尽的死亡和恐惧。大地轰鸣,漆黑的天空仿佛成了吞食世界的巨兽。剧烈的震动,城市早就成了废墟,残吁苟气的人们在绝望中奔跑着,一个个走过伫立着的废墟,随风流动的,如火花一般暗色的光芒,在黑暗中眼瞳与半空的裂缝-那光明与黑暗的交织的疯狂而暴躁的能量相互呼应者。这时……光明与黑暗双飞而逝,没入了地平线……空洞的世界,又剩下暗紫色的光火,闪烁着……
  • 魅宠萌舞:调皮小姐

    魅宠萌舞:调皮小姐

    一个21世纪的普通女儿竟然穿越到古代时期,但这不是重点,填饱肚子才重要。“我都说了!我不是麟米兰!不是不是!”“我要回家!~~~~(>_<)~~~~呜呜!”上上下下都拿她没办法,任她撒娇!但是她不掌握舞者地位,难保她不会被欺负!纳尼!当舞者这可是她滴梦想耶!富有天赋的她又会有怎样的经历呢!某某人:一见钟情!调皮小姐:谁跟你一见钟情呀!真是自恋!……
  • 彼岸花的传说之美人劫

    彼岸花的传说之美人劫

    多舛的命途迷雾重重,她勘不破,他亦逃不掉。紫玉箫、天仙子、身世、宿债将她们今生湮灭。“如果你的爱只是对我蓄意的伤害、有心的折磨,我会将你从生命里剔除。”她万念俱灰。“穷极我的一生,仍无法得到我所求。我所求是什么,不过是天上人间亦或地狱,能让你再看我一眼。”他心如刀割。情深缘浅的蹉跎也罢,有缘无分的作弄也罢,耗尽此生心血,依旧是求不得、爱别离。她是谁?而他又是谁?彼岸花为引,带她重回前两世??????心为琴、血为弦,她狠下心,要将他亲手杀死。倒下的却是我。生命的尽头,谁来为她逆天改命?
  • 烙醒

    烙醒

    曾经的感情故事因为没了彼此而不再有人回忆,只好灌入笔墨之中,字里行间,那些年我们一起走过的风风雨雨再一次来袭!
  • 绝世复制

    绝世复制

    本是八旬老顽童,却因为玩游戏来到了一个不一样的洪荒。本以为会平凡的度过一生却意外的发现自己游戏中复制别人道法的能力也随之来到了这里。本欲做个小仙逍遥自在,却无奈惹下诸多强大死敌!是命运的抉择,还是天道的眷顾?不一样的洪荒世界,一切尽在《无限复制》
  • 电戟惊雷

    电戟惊雷

    杀手知道自己要死亡后,自首被雷劫洗礼异界重生。重生后带着变异雷电天赋,手拿方天画戟,胯下黑龙战马,身后怪物十八骑,看雷诺怎样演绎,美女情,兄弟义,驰骋异界大陆,笑傲江湖。
  • 木者言江城

    木者言江城

    四岁那年,木李子遇见九岁的江城,他伸出小小的手拉她站起来,露出如江南水乡般温柔的微笑。“你好,我是江城。”“我是木木。”木李子永远也忘不了那一天,她的养父淡然的将手中的烟头掐灭,指着浑身落魄赤脚的木李子对江城说:“江城,你说妹妹该不该走?“江城狠狠地瞪着她,红了眼眶。“她该走,像她这种人最适合被遗弃!”十年后,她爱上的另一个男生韩熙和喜欢对她说:“每一个被遗弃的孩子,都需要一个治愈者。如果上帝将木木遗弃的话,那我来拯救木木啊。”江城,你为什么要这样对我?是想看我这么多年活的有多不堪?还是还想再一次遗弃我?“韩熙和,我回来了。你们韩家这样对我,我会亲自将你所爱的一切慢慢毁灭。”“韩熙和,你可不可以等我,我就快到你身边了。或者说,等你回来我们重新在一起好不好?”“木李子,再说吧。”这个世界我最爱和最舍不得的人就是你,又怎么会遗弃你。
  • 我的老婆是死神

    我的老婆是死神

    (作者原笔名:上官小侯)在神秘的大陆上,人族、各种各样的兽人、还有拥有强大力量的魔族之间展开了各种各样的较量……而最不可思议的是掌管生命的死神竟然会不可自拔的爱上了一个转生的吸血鬼……●本书续集——《四分之三邪恶魔法师》已经发出来了,在颜炎名下的作品里大家应该可以找到,请继续支持,谢谢!
  • 阴阳先生之鬼客

    阴阳先生之鬼客

    两个神秘人把孩子送到孤儿院,安排民间一个阴阳先生,收他为徒,他的命运会如何?神秘人到底是谁?让我们一块来揭秘