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