第 8 节
作者:中国必胜      更新:2021-02-20 05:34      字数:9322
  great boxes; I had them shipped on board; not as my goods;
  but as consigned to my real name in Virginia; and had the
  bills of loading signed by a captain in my pocket; and in these
  boxes was my plate and watches; and everything of value
  except my money; which I kept by itself in a private drawer
  in my chest; which could not be found; or opened; if found;
  with splitting the chest to pieces。
  In this condition I lay for three weeks in the ship; not knowing
  whether I should have my husband with me or no; and therefore
  not resolving how or in what manner to receive the honest
  boatswain's proposal; which indeed he thought a little strange
  at first。
  At the end of this time; behold my husband came on board。
  He looked with a dejected; angry countenance; his great heart
  was swelled with rage and disdain; to be dragged along with
  three keepers of Newgate; and put on board like a convict;
  when he had not so much as been brought to a trial。  He made
  loud complaints of it by his friends; for it seems he had some
  interest; but his friends got some check in their application;
  and were told he had had favour enough; and that they had
  received such an account of him; since the last grant of his
  transportation; that he ought to think himself very well treated
  that he was not prosecuted anew。  This answer quieted him at
  once; for he knew too much what might have happened; and
  what he had room to expect; and now he saw the goodness of
  the advice to him; which prevailed with him to accept of the
  offer of a voluntary transportation。  And after this his chagrin
  at these hell…hounds; as he called them; was a little over; he
  looked a little composed; began to be cheerful; and as I was
  telling him how glad I was to have him once more out of their
  hands; he took me in his arms; and acknowledged with great
  tenderness that I had given him the best advice possible。  'My
  dear;' says he; 'thou has twice saved my life; from henceforward
  it shall be all employed for you; and I'll always take your advice。'
  The ship began now to fill; several passengers came on board;
  who were embarked on no criminal account; and these had
  accommodations assigned them in the great cabin; and other
  parts of the ship; whereas we; as convicts; were thrust down
  below; I know not where。  But when my husband came on
  board; I spoke to the boatswain; who had so early given me
  hints of his friendship in carrying my letter。  I told him he had
  befriended me in many things; and I had not made any suitable
  return to him; and with that I put a guinea into his hand。  I told
  him that my husband was now come on board; that though
  we were both under the present misfortune; yet we had been
  persons of a different character from the wretched crew that
  we came with; and desired to know of him; whether the captain
  might not be moved to admit us to some conveniences in the
  ship; for which we would make him what satisfaction he
  pleased; and that we would gratify him for his pains in procuring
  this for us。  He took the guinea; as I could see; with great
  satisfaction; and assured me of his assistance。
  Then he told us he did not doubt but that the captain; who was
  one of the best…humoured gentlemen in the world; would be
  easily brought to accommodate us as well as we could desire;
  and; to make me easy; told me he would go up the next tide
  on purpose to speak to the captain about it。  The next morning;
  happening to sleep a little longer than ordinary; when I got up;
  and began to look abroad; I saw the boatswain among the men
  in his ordinary business。  I was a little melancholy at seeing
  him there; and going forward to speak to him; he saw me; and
  came towards me; but not giving him time to speak first; I said;
  smiling; 'I doubt; sir; you have forgot us; for I see you are very
  busy。'  He returned presently; 'Come along with me; and you
  shall see。'  So he took me into the great cabin; and there sat
  a good sort of a gentlemanly man for a seaman; writing; and
  with a great many papers before him。
  'Here;' says the boatswain to him that was a…writing; 'is the
  gentlewoman that the captain spoke to you of'; and turning to
  me; he said; 'I have been so far from forgetting your business;
  that I have been up at the captain's house; and have represented
  faithfully to the captain what you said; relating to you being
  furnished with better conveniences for yourself and your
  husband; and the captain has sent this gentleman; who is made
  of the ship; down with me; on purpose to show you everything;
  and to accommodate you fully to your content; and bid me
  assure you that you shall not be treated like what you were at
  first expected to be; but with the same respect as other passengers
  are treated。'
  The mate then spoke to me; and; not giving me time to thank
  the boatswain for his kindness; confirmed what the boatswain
  had said; and added that it was the captain's delight to show
  himself kind and charitable; especially to those that were
  under any misfortunes; and with that he showed me several
  cabins built up; some in the great cabin; and some partitioned
  off; out of the steerage; but opening into the great cabin on
  purpose for the accommodation of passengers; and gave me
  leave to choose where I would。  However; I chose a cabin
  which opened into the steerage; in which was very good
  conveniences to set our chest and boxes; and a table to eat on。
  The mate then told me that the boatswain had given so good
  a character of me and my husband; as to our civil behaviour;
  that he had orders to tell me we should eat with him; if we
  thought fit; during the whole voyage; on the common terms
  of passengers; that we might lay in some fresh provisions; if
  we pleased; or if not; he should lay in his usual store; and we
  should have share with him。  This was very reviving news to
  me; after so many hardships and afflictions as I had gone
  through of late。  I thanked him; and told him the captain should
  make his own terms with us; and asked him leave to go and
  tell my husband of it; who was not very well; and was not yet
  out of his cabin。  Accordingly I went; and my husband; whose
  spirits were still so much sunk with the indignity (as he
  understood it) offered him; that he was scare yet himself; was
  so revived with the account that I gave him of the reception
  we were like to have in the ship; that he was quite another man;
  and new vigour and courage appeared in his very countenance。
  So true is it; that the greatest of spirits; when overwhelmed
  by their afflictions; are subject to the greatest dejections; and
  are the most apt to despair and give themselves up。
  After some little pause to recover himself; my husband came
  up with me; and gave the mate thanks for the kindness; which
  he had expressed to us; and sent suitable acknowledgment by
  him to the captain; offering to pay him by advance; whatever
  he demanded for our passage; and for the conveniences he had
  helped us to。  The mate told him that the captain would be on
  board in the afternoon; and that he would leave all that till he
  came。  Accordingly; in the afternoon the captain came; and we
  found him the same courteous; obliging man that the boatswain
  had represented him to be; and he was so well pleased with
  my husband's conversation; that; in short; he would not let us
  keep the cabin we had chosen; but gave us one that; as I said
  before; opened into the great cabin。
  Nor were his conditions exorbitant; or the man craving and
  eager to make a prey of us; but for fifteen guineas we had our
  whole passage and provisions and cabin; ate at the captain's
  table; and were very handsomely entertained。
  The captain lay himself in the other part of the great cabin;
  having let his round house; as they call it; to a rich planter
  who went over with his wife and three children; who ate by
  themselves。  He had some other ordinary passengers; who
  quartered in the steerage; and as for our old fraternity; they
  were kept under the hatches while the ship lay there; and came
  very little on the deck。
  I could not refrain acquainting my governess with what had
  happened; it was but just that she; who was so really concerned
  for me; should have part in my good fortune。  Besides; I wanted
  her assistance to supply me with several necessaries; which
  before I was shy of letting anybody see me have; that it might
  not be public; but now I had a cabin and room to set things in;
  I ordered abundance of good things for our comfort in the
  voyage; as brandy; sugar; lemons; etc。; to make punch; and
  treat our benefactor; the captain; and abundance of things for
  eating and drinking in the voyage; also a larger bed; and bedding
  proportioned to it; so that; in a word; we resolved to want for
  nothing in the voyage。
  All this while I had provided noth