第 14 节
作者:蝴蝶的出走      更新:2022-08-21 16:41      字数:9321
  up and waved his cap; and a minute later the ship was brought up
  into the wind and her sails thrown aback。  The captain appeared at
  the side and shouted to the boat now but fifty yards away:
  〃What do you want there?〃
  〃I have a passenger for England;〃 Vincent replied。 〃Will you take
  him?〃
  〃Come alongside;〃 the captain said。  〃Why didn't he come on hoard
  before I started?〃
  The boat was rowed alongside; and Vincent climbed on board。
  The captain greeted him as a stranger and led the way to his cabin。
  〃You have managed that well;〃 he said when they were alone; 〃and
  I am heartily glad that you have succeeded。 I made you out two
  hours ago。  We will stop here another two or three minutes so that
  the men may think you are bargaining for a passage for the negro;
  and then the sooner he is on board and you are on your way back
  the better; for the wind is rising; and I fancy it is going to blow a
  good deal harder before night。〃
  〃And won't you let me pay for the man's passage; cap tam? It is
  only fair anyhow that I should pay for what he will eat。〃
  〃Oh; nonsense!〃 the captain replied。  〃He will make himself useful
  and pay for his keep。  I am only too glad to get; the poor fellow
  off。  Now; we will have a glass of wine together and then say
  good…by。〃
  Two minutes later they returned to the deck  Vincent went to the
  side。
  Jump on board; Tony。  I have arranged for your passage。〃
  The negro climbed up the side。
  〃Good…by; captain; and thank you heartily。  Good…by; Tony。〃
  The negro could not speak; but he seized the hand Vincent held
  out to him and pressed it; to his lips。  Vincent dropped lightly into
  his boat; and pushed off from the side of the vessel。  As he did so
  he heard orders shouted; the yards swung round; and the vessel
  almost; at once began to move through the water。
  〃Now; Dan; up with the mast; and sail again; but let me put two
  reefs in first; the wind is getting up。〃
  In five minutes the sail was hoisted; and with Vincent at the helm
  and Dan sitting up to windward; was dashing through tile water。
  Although Vincent understood the management of a sailing…boat on
  the calm waters of the rivers; this was his first experience of
  sea…sailing; and although the waves were still but small; he felt at
  first somewhat nervous as the boat dashed through them; sending
  up at times a sheet of spray from her bows。  But he soon got over
  this sensation; and enjoyed the lively motion and the fresh wind。
  Tile higher points of the laud were still visible; but even had they
  not been so it would have mattered little; as be had taken the
  precaution to bring with him a small pocket…compass。  The wind
  was from tile southwest;; and he was therefore able; with the sheet
  hauled in; to make for a point where he judged the mouth of the
  York River lay。
  〃Golly; massa! how do boat do jump up and down。〃
  〃She is lively; Dan; and it would be just as well if we had some
  ballast on board; however; she has a good beam and walks along
  splendidly。  If the wind keeps as it is; we shall be back at the
  mouth of the York in three or four hours。  You 'nay as well open
  that basket again and hand me that; cold chicken and a piece of
  bread; cut the meat off the bones and put it on the bread; for I have
  only one hand disengaged; and hand me that bottle of cold tea。
  That's right。  Now you had better take something your…self。  You
  must be hungry。  We forgot all about the basket in our interest in
  the ship。〃
  Dan shook his head。
  〃A little while ago; massa; me seem berry hungry; now me doesn't
  feel hungry at all。〃
  〃That's bad; Dan。 I am afraid you are going to be seasick。〃
  Me no feel seasick; massa; only me don't feel hungry。〃 But in a
  few minutes Dan was forced to confess that; lie did feel ill; and a
  few moments afterward was groaning in the agonies of
  seasickness。
  〃Never mind; Dan;〃 Vincent said cheerfully。  〃You will be better
  after this。〃
  〃Me not seasick; massa; de sea have nuffin to do with it;。  It's de
  boat dat will jump up and down instead of going quiet。〃
  〃It's all the same thing; Dan; and I hope she won't jump about more
  before we get into the river。〃
  But; in another half hour Vincent had to bring the boat's head up to
  the wind; lower the lug; and tie down the last; reef。
  〃There; she goes easier now; Dan;〃 he said; as the boat resumed
  her course; but Dan; who was leaning helplessly over the side of
  the boat; could see no difference。
  Vincent; however; felt that; under her close sail the boat was doing
  better; and rising more easily on the waves; which were now
  higher and farther apart than before。  In another hour the whole of
  the shore…line was visible; but the wind had risen so much that;
  even under her reduced sail; the boat had as much as she could
  carry; and often heeled over until her gunwale was nearly under
  water。 Another hour and the shore was but some four miles away;
  but Vincent felt; he could no longer hold on。
  In the hands of an experienced sailor; who would have humored
  the boat and eased her up a little to meet the seas; the entrance to
  the York River could no doubt; have been reached with safety; but
  Vincent was ignorant of the art of sailing a boat in the sea; and she
  was shipping water heavily。  Dan had for some time been bailing;
  having only undertaken the work in obedience to Vincent's angry
  orders; being too ill to care much what became of them。
  〃Now; Dan; I am going to bring her head up to the wind; so get
  ready to throw off that halyard and gather in the sail as it; comes
  down。  That's right; man; now down with the mast;。〃
  Vincent had read that; the best; plan when caught in an open boat
  in a gale; was to tie the oars and mast; if she had one; together; and
  to throw them overboard with the head rope tied to them; as by
  that means the boat would ride head to sea。  The oars; sculls; mast;
  and sail were firmly tied together and launched overboard; the
  rope being first taken off the anchor and tied round the middle of
  the clump of spars。
  Vincent carefully played out the rope till some fifteen yards were
  over; then he fastened it to the ring of the head rope; and had the
  satisfaction of finding that the boat rode easily to the floating
  anchor; rising lightly over the waves; and not shipping a drop of
  water。  He then took the baler and got rid of the water that had
  found its way on board; Dan; after getting down the sail; having
  collapsed utterly。
  〃Now; Dan; sit up; there; man; the motion is much easier now; and
  we are taking no water on board。 I will give you a glass of rum;
  that will put new strength into you。  It's lucky we put it in the
  basket in ease of emergency。〃
  The negro; whose teeth were chattering from cold; fright; and
  exhaustion; eagerly drank off the spirit。  Vincent; who was wet to
  the skin with the spray; took a little himself; and then settled
  himself as comfortably as he could on the floor…hoards in the stern
  of the boat; and quietly thought out the position。  The wind was
  still rising; and a thick haze obscured the land。  He had no doubt
  that by night it would be blowing a gale; but the boat rode so easily
  and lightly that he believed she would get through it。
  They might; it was true; he blown many miles off the shore; and
  not be able to get back for some time; for the gale might last two
  or three days。  The basket of provisions was; however; a large one。
  Dan had received orders to bring plenty and had obeyed them
  literally; and Vincent saw that the supply of food; if carefully
  husbanded; would last; without difficulty for a week。  The supply
  of liquor was less satisfactory。  There was the bottle of rum; two
  bottles of claret; and a two…gallon jar; nearly half empty; of water。
  The cold tea was finished。
  〃That would be a poor supply for a week for two of us;〃 Vincent;
  muttered; as he removed the contents of the basket and stored
  them carefully in the locker; 〃however; if it's going to be a gale
  there is sure to be some rain with it; so 1 think we shall manage
  very well。〃
  By night it was blowing really heavily; but although the waves
  were high the boat shipped but little water。  Dan had fallen off to
  sleep; and Vincent had been glad to wrap himself in the thick coat
  he had brought with him as a protection against the heavy dews
  when sleeping on the river。  At; times sharp rain squalls burst upon
  them; and Vincent had no difficulty in filling up the water…bottle
  again with the baler。
  The water was rather brackish; but nor sufficiently so to be of
  consequence。  All night the heat was tossed heavily on the waves。
  Vincent dozed off at times; rousing himself occasionally and
  baling out the water; which came in the shape of spray and rain。
  The prospect; in the morning was not cheering。  Gray clouds
  covered the sky and seemed to come down almost on to the water;
  the angry sea