第85章
加入书架 A- A+
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  Themutineers,however,succeededatlastinclosingtheforecastleeffectuallybeforemorethansixoftheiropponentscouldgetup。

  Thesesix,findingthemselvessogreatlyoutnumberedandwithoutarms,submittedafterabriefstruggle。Themategavethemfairwords-nodoubtwithaviewofinducingthosebelowtoyield,fortheyhadnodifficultyinhearingallthatwassaidondeck。Theresultprovedhissagacity,nolessthanhisdiabolicalvillainy。Allintheforecastlepresentlysignifiedtheirintentionofsubmitting,and,ascendingonebyone,werepinionedandthenthrownontheirbacks,togetherwiththefirstsix-therebeinginall,ofthecrewwhowerenotconcernedinthemutiny,twenty-seven。

  Asceneofthemosthorriblebutcheryensued。Theboundseamenweredraggedtothegangway。Herethecookstoodwithanaxe,strikingeachvictimontheheadashewasforcedoverthesideofthevesselbytheothermutineers。Inthismannertwenty-twoperished,andAugustushadgivenhimselfupforlost,expectingeverymomenthisownturntocomenext。Butitseemedthatthevillainswerenoweitherweary,orinsomemeasuredisgustedwiththeirbloodylabour;forthefourremainingprisoners,togetherwithmyfriend,whohadbeenthrownonthedeckwiththerest,wererespitedwhilethematesentbelowforrum,andthewholemurderouspartyheldadrunkencarouse,whichlasteduntilsunset。Theynowfelltodisputinginregardtothefateofthesurvivors,wholaynotmorethanfourpacesoff,andcoulddistinguisheverywordsaid。Uponsomeofthemutineerstheliquorappearedtohaveasofteningeffect,forseveralvoiceswereheardinfavorofreleasingthecaptivesaltogether,onconditionofjoiningthemutinyandsharingtheprofits。Theblackcook,howeverwhoinallrespectswasaperfectdemon,andwhoseemedtoexertasmuchinfluence,ifnotmore,thanthematehimself,wouldlistentonopropositionofthekind,androserepeatedlyforthepurposeofresuminghisworkatthegangway。

  Fortunatelyhewassofarovercomebyintoxicationastobeeasilyrestrainedbythelessbloodthirstyoftheparty,amongwhomwasaline-manager,whowentbythenameofDirkPeters。ThismanwasthesonofanIndiansquawofthetribeofUpsarokas,wholiveamongthefastnessesoftheBlackHills,nearthesourceoftheMissouri。Hisfatherwasafur-trader,Ibelieve,oratleastconnectedinsomemannerwiththeIndiantrading-postsonLewisriver。Peterhimselfwasoneofthemostferocious-lookingmenIeverbeheld。Hewasshortinstature,notmorethanfourfeeteightincheshigh,buthislimbswereofHerculeanmould。Hishands,especially,weresoenormouslythickandbroadashardlytoretainahumanshape。Hisarms,aswellaslegs,werebowedinthemostsingularmanner,andappearedtopossessnoflexibilitywhatever。Hisheadwasequallydeformed,beingofimmensesize,withanindentationonthecrownlikethatontheheadofmostnegroes,andentirelybald。Toconcealthislatterdeficiency,whichdidnotproceedfromoldage,heusuallyworeawigformedofanyhair-likematerialwhichpresenteditself-occasionallytheskinofaSpanishdogorAmericangrizzlybear。Atthetimespokenof,hehadonaportionofoneofthesebearskins;anditaddednolittletothenaturalferocityofhiscountenance,whichbetookoftheUpsarokacharacter。Themouthextendednearlyfromeartoear,thelipswerethin,andseemed,likesomeotherportionsofhisframe,tobedevoidofnaturalpliancy,sothattherulingexpressionnevervariedundertheinfluenceofanyemotionwhatever。

  Thisrulingexpressionmaybeconceivedwhenitisconsideredthattheteethwereexceedinglylongandprotruding,andneverevenpartiallycovered,inanyinstance,bythelips。Topassthismanwithacasualglance,onemightimaginehimtobeconvulsedwithlaughter,butasecondlookwouldinduceashudderingacknowledgment,thatifsuchanexpressionwereindicativeofmerriment,themerrimentmustbethatofademon。OfthissingularbeingmanyanecdoteswereprevalentamongtheseafaringmenofNantucket。Theseanecdoteswenttoprovehisprodigiousstrengthwhenunderexcitement,andsomeofthemhadgivenrisetoadoubtofhissanity。

  ButonboardtheGrampus,itseems,hewasregarded,atthetimeofthemutiny,withfeelingsmoreofderisionthanofanythingelse。I

  havebeenthusparticularinspeakingofDirkPeters,because,ferociousasheappeared,heprovedthemaininstrumentinpreservingthelifeofAugustus,andbecauseIshallhavefrequentoccasiontomentionhimhereafterinthecourseofmynarrative-anarrative,letmeheresay,which,initslatterportions,willbefoundtoincludeincidentsofanaturesoentirelyoutoftherangeofhumanexperience,andforthisreasonsofarbeyondthelimitsofhumancredulity,thatIproceedinutterhopelessnessofobtainingcredenceforallthatIshalltell,yetconfidentlytrustingintimeandprogressingsciencetoverifysomeofthemostimportantandmostimprobableofmystatements。

  Aftermuchindecisionandtwoorthreeviolentquarrels,itwasdeterminedatlastthatalltheprisonerswiththeexceptionofAugustus,whomPetersinsistedinajocularmanneruponkeepingashisclerkshouldbesetadriftinoneofthesmallestwhaleboats。

  ThematewentdownintothecabintoseeifCaptainBarnardwasstillliving-for,itwillberemembered,hewasleftbelowwhenthemutineerscameup。Presentlythetwomadetheirappearance,thecaptainpaleasdeath,butsomewhatrecoveredfromtheeffectsofhiswound。Hespoketothemeninavoicehardlyarticulate,entreatedthemnottosethimadrift,buttoreturntotheirduty,andpromisingtolandthemwherevertheychose,andtotakenostepsforbringingthemtojustice。Hemightaswellhavespokentothewinds。

  Twooftheruffiansseizedhimbythearmsandhurledhimoverthebrig’ssideintotheboat,whichhadbeenloweredwhilethematewentbelow。Thefourmenwhowerelyingonthedeckwerethenuntiedandorderedtofollow,whichtheydidwithoutattemptinganyresistance-

  Augustusbeingstillleftinhispainfulposition,althoughhestruggledandprayedonlyforthepoorsatisfactionofbeingpermittedtobidhisfatherfarewell。Ahandfulofsea-biscuitandajugofwaterwerenowhandeddown;butneithermast,sail,oar,norcompass。Theboatwastowedasternforafewminutes,duringwhichthemutineersheldanotherconsultation-itwasthenfinallycutadrift。Bythistimenighthadcomeon-therewereneithermoonnorstarsvisible-andashortanduglyseawasrunning,althoughtherewasnogreatdealofwind。Theboatwasinstantlyoutofsight,andlittlehopecouldbeentertainedfortheunfortunatesuffererswhowereinit。Thiseventhappened,however,inlatitude35degrees30’

  north,longitude61degrees20’west,andconsequentlyatnoverygreatdistancefromtheBermudaIslands。Augustusthereforeendeavoredtoconsolehimselfwiththeideathattheboatmighteithersucceedinreachingtheland,orcomesufficientlyneartobefalleninwithbyvesselsoffthecoast。

  Allsailwasnowputuponthebrig,andshecontinuedheroriginalcoursetothesouthwest-themutineersbeingbentuponsomepiraticalexpedition,inwhich,fromallthatcouldbeunderstood,ashipwastobeinterceptedonherwayfromtheCapeVerdIslandstoPortoRico。NoattentionwaspaidtoAugustus,whowasuntiedandsufferedtogoaboutanywhereforwardofthecabincompanion-way。

  DirkPeterstreatedhimwithsomedegreeofkindness,andononeoccasionsavedhimfromthebrutalityofthecook。Hissituationwasstilloneofthemostprecarious,asthemenwerecontinuallyintoxicated,andtherewasnorelyingupontheircontinuedgood-humororcarelessnessinregardtohimself。Hisanxietyonmyaccountberepresented,however,asthemostdistressingresultofhiscondition;and,indeed,Ihadneverreasontodoubtthesincerityofhisfriendship。Morethanoncehehadresolvedtoacquaintthemutineerswiththesecretofmybeingonboard,butwasrestrainedfromsodoing,partlythroughrecollectionoftheatrocitieshehadalreadybeheld,andpartlythroughahopeofbeingablesoontobringmerelief。Forthelatterpurposehewasconstantlyonthewatch;

  but,inspiteofthemostconstantvigilance,threedayselapsedaftertheboatwascutadriftbeforeanychanceoccurred。Atlength,onthenightofthethirdday,therecameonaheavyblowfromtheeastward,andallhandswerecalleduptotakeinsail。Duringtheconfusionwhichensued,hemadehiswaybelowunobserved,andintothestateroom。Whatwashisgriefandhorrorindiscoveringthatthelatterhadbeenrenderedaplaceofdepositforavarietyofsea-storesandship-furniture,andthatseveralfathomsofoldchain-cable,whichhadbeenstowedawaybeneaththecompanion-ladder,hadbeendraggedthencetomakeroomforachest,andwerenowlyingimmediatelyuponthetrap!Toremoveitwithoutdiscoverywasimpossible,andhereturnedondeckasquicklyashecould。Asbecameup,themateseizedhimbythethroat,anddemandingwhathehadbeendoinginthecabin,wasaboutflinginghimoverthelarboardbulwark,whenhislifewasagainpreservedthroughtheinterferenceofDirkPeters。Augustuswasnowputinhandcuffsofwhichtherewereseveralpairsonboard,andhisfeetlashedtightlytogether。

  Hewasthentakenintothesteerage,andthrownintoalowerberthnexttotheforecastlebulkheads,withtheassurancethatheshouldneverputhisfootondeckagain“untilthebrigwasnolongerabrig。”Thiswastheexpressionofthecook,whothrewhimintotheberth-itishardlypossibletosaywhatprecisemeaningintendedbythephrase。Thewholeaffair,however,provedtheultimatemeansofmyrelief,aswillpresentlyappear。

  FORsomeminutesafterthecookhadlefttheforecastle,Augustusabandonedhimselftodespair,neverhopingtoleavetheberthalive。

  Henowcametotheresolutionofacquaintingthefirstofthemenwhoshouldcomedownwithmysituation,thinkingitbettertoletmetakemychancewiththemutineersthanperishofthirstinthehold,-forithadbeentendayssinceIwasfirstimprisoned,andmyjugofwaterwasnotaplentifulsupplyevenforfour。Ashewasthinkingonthissubject,theideacameallatonceintohisheadthatitmightbepossibletocommunicatewithmebythewayofthemainhold。Inanyothercircumstances,thedifficultyandhazardoftheundertakingwouldhavepre。ventedhimfromattemptingit;butnowhehad,atallevents,littleprospectoflife,andconsequentlylittletolose,hebenthiswholemind,therefore,uponthetask。

  Hishandcuffswerethefirstconsideration。Atfirsthesawnomethodofremovingthem,andfearedthatheshouldthusbebaffledintheveryoutset;butuponacloserscrutinyhediscoveredthattheironscouldbeslippedoffandonatpleasure,withverylittleeffortorinconvenience,merelybysqueezinghishandsthroughthem,-

  thisspeciesofmanaclebeingaltogetherineffectualinconfiningyoungpersons,inwhomthesmallerbonesreadilyyieldtopressure。

  Henowuntiedhisfeet,and,leavingthecordinsuchamannerthatitcouldeasilybereadjustedintheeventofanyperson’scomingdown,proceededtoexaminethebulkheadwhereitjoinedtheberth。

  Thepartitionherewasofsoftpineboard,aninchthick,andhesawthatheshouldhavelittletroubleincuttinghiswaythrough。A

  voicewasnowheardattheforecastlecompanion-way,andhehadjusttimetoputhisrighthandintoitshandcuffthelefthadnotbeenremovedandtodrawtheropeinaslipknotaroundhisankle,whenDirkPeterscamebelow,followedbyTiger,whoimmediatelyleapedintotheberthandlaydown。ThedoghadbeenbroughtonboardbyAugustus,whoknewmyattachmenttotheanimal,andthoughtitwouldgivemepleasuretohavehimwithmeduringthevoyage。Hewentuptoourhouseforhimimmediatelyafterfirsttakingmeintothehold,butdidnotthinkofmentioningthecircumstanceuponhisbringingthewatch。Sincethemutiny,AugustushadnotseenhimbeforehisappearancewithDirkPeters,andhadgivenhimupforlost,supposinghimtohavebeenthrownoverboardbysomeofthemalignantvillainsbelongingtothemate’sgang。Itappearedafterwardthathehadcrawledintoaholebeneathawhale-boat,fromwhich,nothavingroomtoturnround,hecouldnotextricatehimself。Petersatlastlethimout,and,withaspeciesofgoodfeelingwhichmyfriendknewwellhowtoappreciate,hadnowbroughthimtohimintheforecastleasacompanion,leavingatthesametimesomesaltjunkandpotatoes,withacanofwater,hethenwentondeck,promisingtocomedownwithsomethingmoretoeatonthenextday。

  Whenhehadgone,Augustusfreedbothhandsfromthemanaclesandunfastenedhisfeet。Hethenturneddowntheheadofthemattressonwhichhehadbeenlying,andwithhispenknifefortheruffianshadnotthoughtitworthwhiletosearchhimcommencedcuttingvigorouslyacrossoneofthepartitionplanks,ascloselyaspossibletotheflooroftheberth。Hechosetocuthere,because,ifsuddenlyinterrupted,hewouldbeabletoconcealwhathadbeendonebylettingtheheadofthemattressfallintoitsproperposition。Fortheremainderoftheday,however,nodisturbanceoccurred,andbynighthehadcompletelydividedtheplank。Itshouldherebeobservedthatnoneofthecrewoccupiedtheforecastleasasleeping-place,livingaltogetherinthecabinsincethemutiny,drinkingthewinesandfeastingonthesea-storesofCaptainBarnard,andgivingnomoreheedthanwasabsolutelynecessarytothenavigationofthebrig。

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