暗黑小说

PART V My Sea Adventure02（第1页）

therewerethetwowatchmen，sureenough:redcaponhisback，asstiffasahandspike，withhisarmsstretchedoutlikethoseofacrucifixandhisteethshowingthroughhisopenlips;israelhandsproppedagainstthebulwarks，hischinonhischest，hishandslyingopenbeforehinthedeck，hisfaceaswhite，underitstan，asatallowcandle。

forawhiletheshipkeptbuckingandsidlinglikeavicioushorse，thesailsfilling，nowonoack，nowonanother，andtheboomswingingtoandfrotillthemastgroanedaloudunderthestrain。nowandagaintootherewouldeacloudoflightspraysoverthebulwarkandaheavyblowoftheshipsbowsagainsttheswell;edshipthanbymyhome-made，lopsidedcoracle，nowgoothebottofthesea。

ateveryjumpoftheschooner，red-capslippedtoandfro，but—whatwasghastlytobehold—neitherhisattitudenorhisfixedteeth-rinwasanywaydisturbedbythisroughusage。ateveryjumptoo，handsappearedstillretosinkintohimselfandsettledownuponthedeck，hisfeetslidingeverthefartherout，andthewholebodycantowardsthestern，sothathisfacebecame，littlebylittle，hidfromme;andatlasticouldseenothingbeyondhisearandthefrayedringletofonewhisker。

atthesametime，iobserved，aroundbothofthem，splashesofdarkbloodupontheplanksandbegantofeelsurethattheyhadkilledeachotherintheirdrunkenwrath。

whileiwasthuslookingandwondering，inacalmment，whentheshipwasstill，israelhandsturnedpartlyroundandwithalowanwrithedhimselfbacktothepositioninwhichihadseenhimfirst。thean，whichtoldofpainanddeadlyweakness，andthewayinwhichhisjaw混gopenwentrighttomyheart。butwhenirememberedthetalkihadoverheardfromtheapplebarrel，allpityleftme。

iwalkedaftuntilireachedthemain-mast。

"eaboard，mr。hands，"isaidironically。

herolledhiseyesroundheavily，buthewastoofargooexpresssurprise。allhecoulddowastoutteroneword，"brandy。"

urredtometherewasnotimetolose，anddodgingtheboomasitoncere露rchedacrossthedeck，islippedaftanddownthepanionstairsintothecabin。

itwassuchasceneofconfusionasyoucanhardlyfancy。allthelockfastplaceshadbeenbrokenopeninquestofthechart。thefloorwasthickwithmudwhereruffianshadsatdowntodrinkorconsultafterwadinginthemarshesroundtheircamp。thebulkheads，allpaintedinclearwhiteandbeadedroundwithgilt，boreapatternofdirtyhands。dozensofemptybottlesclinkedtogetherincornerstotherollingoftheship。oneofthedoctorsmedicalbookslayopenonthetable，halfoftheleavesguttedout，isuppose，forpipelights。inthemidstofallthisthelampstillcastaskyglow，obscureandbrownasumber。

iwentintothecellar;allthebarrelsweregone，andofthebottlesastsurprisingnumberhadbeendrunkoutandthrownaway。certainly，sincethemutinybegan，notamanofthemcouldeverhavebeensober。

foragingabout，ifoundabottlewithsomebrandyleft，forhands;andformyselfiroutedoutsomebiscuit，somepickledfruits，agreatbunchofraisins，andapieceofcheese。withtheseicameondeck，putdownmyownstockbehindtherudderheadandwelloutofthecoxswainsreach，wentforwardtothewaterbreaker，andhadagooddeepdrinkofwater，andthen，andnottillthen，gavehandsthebrandy。

hemusthavedrunkagillbeforehetookthebottlefromhisuth。

"aye，"saidhe，"byt混der，butiwantedsomeothat!"

ihadsatdownalreadyinmyowncornerandbeguntoeat。

"muchhurt?"iaskedhi

hegrunted，orrather，imightsay，hebarked。

"ifthatdoctorwasaboard，"hesaid，"idberightenoughinacoupleofturns，butidonthavenomannerof露ck，yousee，andthatswhatsthematterwithme。asforthatswab，hesgoodanddead，heis，"headded，indicathemanwiththeredcap。"hewarntnoseamananyhow。andwhereughtyouhaveefrom?"

"well，"saidi，"iveeaboardtotakepossessionofthisship，mr。hands;andyoullpleaseregardmeasyourcaptainuntilfurthernotice。"

helookedatmesourlyenoughbutsaidnothing。someofthecolourhadebackintohischeeks，thoughhestilllookedverysickandstillcontinuedtoslipoutandsettledownastheshipbangedabout。

"bytheby，"icontinued，"icanthavethesecolours，mr。hands;andbyyourleave，illstrikeebetternohanthese。"

andagaindodgingtheboom，irantothecolourlines，handeddowntheircursedblackflag，andchuckeditoverboard。

"godsavetheking!"saidi，wavingmycap。"andtheresanendtocaptainsilver!"

hewatchedmekeenlyandslyly，hischinallthewhileonhisbreast。

"ireckon，"hesaidatlast，"ireckon，capnhawkins，youllkindofwanttogetashorenow。sposewetalks。"

"why，yes，"saysi，"withallmyheart，mr。hands。sayon。"andiwentbacktomymealwithagoodappetite。

"thisman，"hebegan，noddingfeeblyatthecorpse"—obrienwerehisname，arankirelander—thismanandmegotthecanvasonher，meaningfortosailherback。well，hesdeadnow，heis—asdeadasbilge;andwhostosailthisship，idontsee。withoutigivesyouahint，youaintthatman，asfarsicantell。now，lookhere，yougivesmefoodanddrinkandaoldscarforankechertotiemywoundup，youdo，andilltellyouhowtosailher，andthatsaboutsquareallround，itakeit。"

"illtellyouohing，"saysi:"imnotgoingbacktocaptainkiddsanchorage。imeantogetintonorthinletandbeachherquietlythere。"

"tobesureyoudid，"hecried。"why，iaintsichaninfernal露bberafterall。icansee，canti?ivetriedmyfling，ihave，andivelost，anditsyouhasthewindofme。northinlet?why，ihaventnochice，noti!idhelpyousailheruptoexecutiondock，byt混der!soiwould。"