按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
； thrashing back and forth with each thrash of the sail； the main… topmast squarely across the ruined companionway to the steerage。
While the mother…whale expressing her bereavement in terms of violence and destruction； was withdrawing the necessary distance for another charge； all hands of the Mary Turner gathered about the starboard boat swung outboard ready for lowering。 A respectable hill of case goods； water…kegs； and personal dunnage was piled on the deck alongside。 A glance at this； and at the many men of fore and aft； demonstrated that it was to be a perilously overloaded boat。
〃We want the sailors with us； at any ratethey can row；〃 said Simon Nishikanta。
〃But do we want you？〃 Grimshaw queried gloomily。 〃You take up too much room； for your size； and you're a beast anyway。〃
〃I guess I'll be wanted；〃 the pawnbroker observed； as he jerked open his shirt； tearing out the four buttons in his impetuousness and showing a Colt's 。44 automatic； strapped in its holster against the bare skin of his side under his left arm； the butt of the weapon most readily accessible to any hasty dip of his right hand。 〃I guess I'll be wanted。 But just the same we can dispense with the undesirables。〃
〃If you will have your will；〃 the wheat…farmer conceded sardonically； although his big hand clenched involuntarily as if throttling a throat。 〃Besides； if we should run short of food you will prove desirablefor the quantity of you； I mean； and not otherwise。 Now just who would you consider undesirable？the black nigger？ He ain't got a gun。〃
But his pleasantries were cut short by the whale's next attack another smash at the stern that carried away the rudder and destroyed the steering gear。
〃How much water？〃 Captain Doane queried of the mate。
〃Three feet； sirI just sounded；〃 came the answer。 〃I think； sir； it would be advisable to part…load the boat； then； right after the next time the whale hits us； lower away on the run； chuck the rest of the dunnage in； and ourselves； and get clear。〃
Captain Doane nodded。
〃It will be lively work；〃 he said。 〃Stand ready； all of you。 Steward； you jump aboard first and I'll pass the chronometer to you。〃
Nishikanta bellicosely shouldered his vast bulk up to the captain； opened his shirt； and exposed his revolver。
〃There's too many for the boat；〃 he said； 〃and the steward's one of 'em that don't go along。 Get that。 Hold it in your head。 The steward's one of 'em that don't go along。〃
Captain Doane coolly surveyed the big automatic； while at the fore of his consciousness burned a vision of his flat buildings in San Francisco。
He shrugged his shoulders。 〃The boat would be overloaded； with all this truck； anyway。 Go ahead； if you want to make it your party； but just bear in mind that I'm the navigator； and that； if you ever want to lay eyes on your string of pawnshops； you'd better see that gentle care is taken of me。Steward！〃
Daughtry stepped close。
〃There won't be room for you 。 。 。 and for one or two others； I'm sorry to say。〃
〃Glory be！〃 said Daughtry。 〃I was just fearin' you'd be wantin' me along； sir。Kwaque； you take 'm my fella dunnage belong me； put 'm in other fella boat along other side。〃
While Kwaque obeyed； the mate sounded the well for the last time； reporting three feet and a half； and the lighter freightage of the starboard boat was tossed in by the sailors。
A rangy； gangly； Scandinavian youth of a sailor； droop…shouldered； six feet six and slender as a lath； with pallid eyes of palest blue and skin and hair attuned to the same colour scheme； joined Kwaque in his work。
〃Here； you Big John；〃 the mate interfered。 〃This is your boat。 You work here。〃
The lanky one smiled in embarrassment as he haltingly explained： 〃I tank I lak go along cooky。〃
〃Sure； let him go； the more the easier；〃 Nishikanta took charge of the situation。 〃Anybody else？〃
〃Sure；〃 Dag Daughtry sneered to his face。 〃I reckon what's left of the beer goes with my boat 。 。 。 unless you want to argue the matter。〃
〃For two cents〃 Nishikanta spluttered in affected rage。
〃Not for two billion cents would you risk a scrap with me； you money…sweater； you；〃 was Daughtry's retort。 〃You've got their goats； but I've got your number。 Not for two billion billion cents would you excite me into callin' it right now。Big John！ Just carry that case of beer across； an' that half case； and store in my boat。Nishikanta； just start something； if you've got the nerve。〃
Simon Nishikanta did not dare； nor did he know what to do； but he was saved from his perplexity by the shout：
〃Here she comes！〃
All rushed to holding…ground； and held； while the whale broke more timbers and the Mary Turner rolled sluggishly down and back again。
〃Lower away！ On the run！ Lively！〃
Captain Doane's orders were swiftly obeyed。 The starboard boat； fended off by sailors； rose and fell in the water alongside while the remainder of the dunnage and provisions showered into her。
〃Might as well lend a hand； sir； seein' you're bent on leaving in such a hurry；〃 said Daughtry； taking the chronometer from Captain Doane's hand and standing ready to pass it down to him as soon as he was in the boat。
〃Come on； Greenleaf；〃 Grimshaw called up to the Ancient Mariner。
〃No； thanking you very kindly； sir；〃 came the reply。 〃I think there'll be more room in the other boat。〃
〃We want the cook！〃 Nishikanta cried out from the stern sheets。 〃Come on； you yellow monkey！ Jump in！〃
Little old shrivelled Ah Moy debated。 He visibly thought； although none knew the intrinsicness of his thinking as he stared at the gun of the fat pawnbroker and at the leprosy of Kwaque and Daughtry； and weighed the one against the other and tossed the light and heavy loads of the two boats into the balance。
〃Me go other boat；〃 said Ah Moy； starting to drag his bag away across the deck。
〃Cast off；〃 Captain Doane commanded。
Scraps； the big Newfoundland puppy； who had played and pranced about through all the excitement； seeing so many of the Mary Turner's humans in the boat alongside； sprang over the rail； low and close to the water； and landed sprawling on the mass of sea… bags and goods cases。
The boot rocked； and Nishikanta； his automatic in his hand； cried out：
〃Back with him！ Throw him on board！〃
The sailors obeyed； and the astounded Scraps； after a brief flight through the air； found himself arriving on his back on the Mary Turner's deck。 At any rate； he took it for no more than a rough joke； and rolled about ecstatically； squirming vermicularly； in anticipation of what new delights of play were to be visited upon him。 He reached out； with an enticing growl of good fellowship； for Michael； who was now free on deck； and received in return a forbidding and crusty snarl。
〃Guess we'll have to add him to our collection； eh； sir？〃 Daughtry observed； sparing a moment to pat reassurance on the big puppy's head and being rewarded with a caressing lick on his hand from the puppy's blissful tongue。
No first…class ship's steward can exist without possessing a more than average measure of executive ability。 Dag Daughtry was a first…class ship's steward。 Placing the Ancient Mariner in a nook of safety； and setting Big John to unlashing the remaining boat and hooking on the falls； he sent Kwaque into the hold to fill kegs of water from the scant remnant of supply； and Ah Moy to clear out the food in the galley。
The starboard boat； cluttered with men； provisions； and property and being rapidly rowed away from the danger centre； which was the Mary Turner； was scarcely a hundred yards away； when the whale； missing the schooner clean； turned at full speed and close range； churning the water； and all but collided with the boat。 So near did she come that the rowers on the side next to her pulled in their oars。 The surge she raised； heeled the loaded boat gunwale under； so that a degree of water was shipped ere it righted。 Nishikanta； automatic still in hand； standing up in the sternsheets by the comfortable seat he had selected for himself； was staggered by the lurch of the boat。 In his instinctive； spasmodic effort to maintain balance； he relaxed his clutch on the pistol； which fell into the sea。
〃HA…AH！