第 25 节
作者:孤独半圆      更新:2021-02-24 22:24      字数:9322
  belonged to one of the evangelical denominations; the Rev。 Mr。 Calthrop
  affected   clothing   very   like   the   regulation   costume   of   the   Episcopalian
  clergy; but this clothing was now worn and torn and dusty。                   Buttons were
  gone here and there; the knees of the unpressed trousers were baggy and
  beginning to   be   ragged;  and   the   sole   of   one   shoe   flapped   as   he   walked。
  He had a three days' growth of beard and no baggage。
  When   Cap'n   Abernethy   had   delivered   himself   and   walked   away;   the
  Rev。 Mr。 Calthrop confirmed the story of his own disgrace; speaking in a
  low but clear voice; and with a gentle and wistful smile。
  〃I am one of the most miserable of sinners; Mr。 Cleggett;〃 he said。                   〃I
  have proved myself to be that most despicable thing; an unworthy minister。
  I was tempted and I fell。〃
  The    Rev。    Mr。   Calthrop    seemed     to  find   the   sort  of  satisfaction    in
  confessing   his   sins   to   the   world   that   the   medieval   flagellants   found   in
  scoring themselves with whips; they struck their bodies; he drew forth his
  soul and beat it publicly。
  Cleggett     learned    that   he  had    set  himself    as  a   punishment      and   a
  mortification the task of obtaining his daily bread by the work of his hands。
  It   was   his   intention   to   make    a  pilgrimage     to  Jerusalem;     refusing    all
  assistance   except   that   which   he   earned   by   manual   labor。      After   such   a
  term of years as should satisfy all men (and particularly his own spiritual
  sense) of the genuineness of his penitence; he would apply to his church
  for reinstatement; and ask for an appointment to some difficult mission in
  a wild   and   savage   country。      The   Rev。 Mr。  Calthrop intimated   that if   he
  chose to accept rehabilitation on less arduous terms; he might obtain it; but
  the poignancy of his own sense of failure drove him to extremes。
  〃Are   you   sure;〃   said    Cleggett   sternly;   〃that   you   are   not   making   a
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  luxury of   this very  penitence itself?         Are   you   sure that it   would   not   be
  more acceptable to Heaven if you forgave yourself more easily?〃
  〃Alas; yes; I am sure!〃 said Mr。 Calthrop; with a sigh and his calm and
  wistful smile。      〃I   know  myself   too  well!      I know  my  own   soul。        I   am
  cursed with a fatal magnetism which women find it impossible to resist。
  And I am continually tempted to permit it to exert itself。               This is the cross
  that I bear through life。〃
  〃You should marry some good woman;〃 said Cleggett。
  〃I   do   not   feel   that   I   am   worthy;〃   said   Mr。   Calthrop   meekly。 〃And
  think   of   the   pain   my   wife   would   experience   in   seeing   me   continually
  tempted by some woman who believed herself to be my psychic affinity!〃
  〃You   are   a   thought   too   subtle;   Mr。   Calthrop;〃   said   Cleggett   bluntly。
  〃But I suppose you cannot help that。               To each   of us his destiny。        I   am
  prepared;     until   I  see  some    evidence     to  the   contrary;   to  believe    your
  repentance   to   be   genuine。     In   the   meantime;   we   need   a   ship's   chaplain。
  If your conscience permits; you may have the postcombining it; however;
  with the vocation of a common sailor before the mast。                   I am inclined to
  agree    with    you   that  manual     labor   will  do   you   good。    Some      time   or
  another; in her progress around the world; the Jasper B。 will undoubtedly
  touch at a coast within walking distance of Jerusalem。                 There we will put
  you   ashore。     Before   we   sail   you   can   put   in   your   time   holystoning   the
  deck。
  〃The     deck   of   the  Jasper    B。;  said   Cleggett;    looking    at  it;  〃to  all
  appearances; has not been holystoned for some years。                    You will find in
  the forecastle several holystones that have never been used; and may begin
  at once。〃
  Cleggett; if his tastes had not inclined him towards a more active and
  adventurous   life;   would   have   made   a   good   bishop;   for   he   knew   how   to
  combine   justice   and   mercy。       And   yet   few   bishops   have   possessed   his
  rapidity   of   decision;   when   compelled;   upon   the   spur   of   the   moment;   to
  become the physician of an ailing soul。              He had determined in a flash to
  make the man ship's chaplain; that Calthrop might come into close contact
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  with other spiritual organisms and not think too exclusively of his own。
  The    Rev。   Mr。   Calthrop    thanked     him   with   becoming      gratitude   and
  departed to get the new holystones。
  By three o'clock that afternoon; with such celerity had the work gone
  forward; Mr。 Watkins; the contractor; announced to Cleggett that his task
  was finished; except for the removal of the rubbish in the hold。                 Cleggett;
  going     carefully   over   the  vessel;   and   examining      the  new    parts  with   a
  brochure   on   the   construction   and   navigation   of   schooners   in   his   hand;
  verified the statement。
  〃She is ready to sail;〃 said Cleggett; standing by the new wheel with a
  swelling   heart;   and   sweeping   the   vessel   from   bowsprit   to   rudder   with   a
  gradual glance。
  It was a look almost paternal in its pride; Cleggett loved the Jasper B。
  She was an idea that no one else but Cleggett could have had。
  〃Sail?〃 said Mr。 Watkins。
  〃Why not?〃 said Cleggett; puzzled at his tone。
  〃Oh;   nothing;〃   said   Mr。   Watkins。      〃It's   none   of   my   business。   My
  business was to do the work I was hired to do according to specifications。
  Further than that; nothing。〃
  〃But why did you think I was having the work done?〃
  〃Can't say I thought;〃 said Mr。 Watkins。           〃I took the job; and I done it。
  Had an idea mebby you were in the movin' picture game。〃
  Mr。 Watkins; as he talked; had been regarding Cap'n Abernethy; who in
  turn was looking at the mainmast。             There seemed to be something in the
  very  way   Cap'n Abernethy   looked   at   the   mainmast   which   jarred   on   Mr。
  Watkins。      Mr。   Watkins   dropped   his   voice;   indicating   the   Cap'n   with   a
  curved; disparaging thumb; as he asked Cleggett:
  〃Is HE going to sail her?〃
  〃Why not?〃
  〃Ohnothing;       nothing    at  all;〃  said  Mr。   Watkins。    〃It's  none   o'  MY
  business。〃
  Cleggett   began   to    be   a  little   annoyed。   〃Have   you;〃     he   said  with
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  dignity; and fixing a rather stern glance upon Mr。 Watkins; 〃have you any
  reason to doubt Cap'n Abernethy's ability as a sailing master?〃
  〃No;   indeed;〃   said   Mr。   Watkins   cheerfully;   〃not   as   a   sailing   master。
  He may be the best in the world; for all I know。                _I_ never seen him sail
  anything。      I never heard him play the violin; neither; for that matter; and
  he may be a regular jim…dandy on the violin for all I know。〃
  〃You are facetious;〃 said Cleggett stiffly。
  〃Meaning I ain't paid to be fresh; eh?〃 said Mr。 Watkins。                  〃And right
  you are; too。      And there's all that junk down in the hold to pass out and
  cart away。〃
  Cleggett personally supervised this removal; standing on the deck by
  the hatchway and scanning everything that was handed up。                     The character
  of   this   junk   has   already   been   described。   Every   barrel   or   cask   that   was
  placed upon the deck was stove in with an ax before Cleggett's eyes; he
  satisfied himself that every bottle was empty; he turned over the broken
  boxes and beer cases with his foot to see that they contained nothing。
  But   the   work   was   three…quarters   done   before   he   found   what   he   was
  looking for。      From under a heap of debris; which had completely hidden
  it;   towards   the   forward   part   of   the   vessel;   the   workmen   unearthed   an
  unpainted oblong box; almost seven feet in length。                  It was of substantial
  material   and   looked   newer   than   any   of   the   other   stuff。  Cleggett   had   it
  placed   on   one   side   of   the   hatchway   and   sat   down   on   it。 It   was   tightly
  nailed up; all of its surfaces were sound。             Cleggett did no