English
Thewind,servingustoadesire,nowhauledintothewest.
Wecouldrunsomuchtheeasierfromthenorth-eastcorneroftheislandtothemouthoftheNorthInlet.
Only,aswehadnopowertoanchoranddarednotbeachhertillthetidehadflowedagooddealfarther,timehungonourhands.
Thecoxswaintoldmehowtolaytheshipto;afteragoodmanytrialsIsucceeded,andwebothsatinsilenceoveranothermeal.
“Cap’n,”saidheatlengthwiththatsameuncomfortablesmile,“here’smyoldshipmate,O’Brien;s’poseyouwastoheavehimoverboard.
Iain’tpartic’larasarule,andIdon’ttakenoblameforsettlinghishash,butIdon’treckonhimornamentalnow,doyou?”
“I’mnotstrongenough,andIdon’tlikethejob;andtherehelies,forme,”saidI.
“Thishere’sanunluckyship,thisHispaniola,Jim,”hewenton,blinking.
“There’sapowerofmenbeenkilledinthisHispaniola—asighto’poorseamendeadandgonesinceyouandmetookshiptoBristol.Ineverseensichdirtyluck,notI.
TherewasthishereO’Briennow—he’sdead,ain’the?
Wellnow,I’mnoscholar,andyou’realadascanreadandfigure,andtoputitstraight,doyoutakeitasadeadmanisdeadforgood,ordohecomealiveagain?”
“Youcankillthebody,Mr.Hands,butnotthespirit;youmustknowthatalready,”Ireplied.“O’Brienthereisinanotherworld,andmaybewatchingus.”
“Ah!”sayshe.
“Well,that’sunfort’nate—appearsasifkillingpartieswasawasteoftime.
Howsomever,sperritsdon’treckonformuch,bywhatI’veseen.I’llchanceitwiththesperrits,Jim.
Andnow,you’vespokeupfree,andI’lltakeitkindifyou’dstepdownintothattherecabinandgetmea—well,a—shivermytimbers!
Ican’thitthenameon‘t;well,yougetmeabottleofwine,Jim—thisherebrandy’stoostrongformyhead.”
Now,thecoxswain’shesitationseemedtobeunnatural,andasforthenotionofhispreferringwinetobrandy,Ientirelydisbelievedit.Thewholestorywasapretext.
Hewantedmetoleavethedeck—somuchwasplain;butwithwhatpurposeIcouldinnowayimagine.
Hiseyesnevermetmine;theykeptwanderingtoandfro,upanddown,nowwithalooktothesky,nowwithaflittingglanceuponthedeadO’Brien.
Allthetimehekeptsmilingandputtinghistongueoutinthemostguilty,embarrassedmanner,sothatachildcouldhavetoldthathewasbentonsomedeception.
Iwaspromptwithmyanswer,however,forIsawwheremyadvantagelayandthatwithafellowsodenselystupidIcouldeasilyconcealmysuspicionstotheend.
“Somewine?”Isaid.“Farbetter.Willyouhavewhiteorred?”
“Well,Ireckonit’sabouttheblessedsametome,shipmate,”hereplied;“soit’sstrong,andplentyofit,what’stheodds?”
“Allright,”Ianswered.“I’llbringyouport,Mr.Hands.ButI’llhavetodigforit.”
WiththatIscuttleddownthecompanionwithallthenoiseIcould,slippedoffmyshoes,ranquietlyalongthesparredgallery,mountedtheforecastleladder,andpoppedmyheadoutoftheforecompanion.
Iknewhewouldnotexpecttoseemethere,yetItookeveryprecautionpossible,andcertainlytheworstofmysuspicionsprovedtootrue.
Hehadrisenfromhispositiontohishandsandknees,andthoughhislegobviouslyhurthimprettysharplywhenhemoved—forIcouldhearhimstifleagroan—yetitwasatagood,rattlingratethathetrailedhimselfacrossthedeck.
Inhalfaminutehehadreachedtheportscuppersandpicked,outofacoilofrope,alongknife,orratherashortdirk,discolouredtothehiltwithblood.
Helookeduponitforamoment,thrustingforthhisunderjaw,triedthepointuponhishand,andthen,hastilyconcealingitinthebosomofhisjacket,trundledbackagainintohisoldplaceagainstthebulwark.
ThiswasallthatIrequiredtoknow.Israelcouldmoveabout,hewasnowarmed,andifhehadbeenatsomuchtroubletogetridofme,itwasplainthatIwasmeanttobethevictim.
Whathewoulddoafterwards—whetherhewouldtrytocrawlrightacrosstheislandfromNorthInlettothecampamongtheswampsorwhetherhewouldfireLongTom,trustingthathisowncomradesmightcomefirsttohelphim—was,ofcourse,morethanIcouldsay.
YetIfeltsurethatIcouldtrusthiminonepoint,sinceinthatourinterestsjumpedtogether,andthatwasinthedispositionoftheschooner.
Webothdesiredtohaveherstrandedsafeenough,inashelteredplace,andsothat,whenthetimecame,shecouldbegotoffagainwithaslittlelabouranddangerasmightbe;anduntilthatwasdoneIconsideredthatmylifewouldcertainlybespared.
WhileIwasthusturningthebusinessoverinmymind,Ihadnotbeenidlewithmybody.
Ihadstolenbacktothecabin,slippedoncemoreintomyshoes,andlaidmyhandatrandomonabottleofwine,andnow,withthisforanexcuse,Imademyreappearanceonthedeck.
HandslayasIhadlefthim,allfallentogetherinabundleandwithhiseyelidsloweredasthoughheweretooweaktobearthelight.
Helookedup,however,atmycoming,knockedtheneckoffthebottlelikeamanwhohaddonethesamethingoften,andtookagoodswig,withhisfavouritetoastof“Here’sluck!”
Thenhelayquietforalittle,andthen,pullingoutastickoftobacco,beggedmetocuthimaquid.
“Cutmeajunko’that,”sayshe,“forIhaven’tnoknifeandhardlystrengthenough,sobeasIhad.
Ah,Jim,Jim,IreckonI’vemissedstays!
Cutmeaquid,as’lllikelybethelast,lad,forI’mformylonghome,andnomistake.”
“Well,”saidI,“I’llcutyousometobacco,butifIwasyouandthoughtmyselfsobadly,IwouldgotomyprayerslikeaChristianman.”
“Why?”saidhe.“Now,youtellmewhy.”
“Why?”Icried.
“Youwereaskingmejustnowaboutthedead.
You’vebrokenyourtrust;you’velivedinsinandliesandblood;there’samanyoukilledlyingatyourfeetthismoment,andyouaskmewhy!
ForGod’smercy,Mr.Hands,that’swhy.”
Ispokewithalittleheat,thinkingofthebloodydirkhehadhiddeninhispocketanddesigned,inhisillthoughts,toendmewith.
He,forhispart,tookagreatdraughtofthewineandspokewiththemostunusualsolemnity.
“Forthirtyyears,”hesaid,“I’vesailedtheseasandseengoodandbad,betterandworse,fairweatherandfoul,provisionsrunningout,knivesgoing,andwhatnot.
Well,nowItellyou,Ineverseengoodcomeo’goodnessyet.
Himasstrikesfirstismyfancy;deadmendon’tbite;them’smyviews—amen,sobeit.
Andnow,youlookhere,”headded,suddenlychanginghistone,“we’vehadaboutenoughofthisfoolery.Thetide’smadegoodenoughbynow.
Youjusttakemyorders,Cap’nHawkins,andwe’llsailslapinandbedonewithit.”
Alltold,wehadscarcetwomilestorun;butthenavigationwasdelicate,theentrancetothisnorthernanchoragewasnotonlynarrowandshoal,butlayeastandwest,sothattheschoonermustbenicelyhandledtobegotin.
IthinkIwasagood,promptsubaltern,andIamverysurethatHandswasanexcellentpilot,forwewentaboutandaboutanddodgedin,shavingthebanks,withacertaintyandaneatnessthatwereapleasuretobehold.
Scarcelyhadwepassedtheheadsbeforethelandclosedaroundus.
TheshoresofNorthInletwereasthicklywoodedasthoseofthesouthernanchorage,butthespacewaslongerandnarrowerandmorelike,whatintruthitwas,theestuaryofariver.
Rightbeforeus,atthesouthernend,wesawthewreckofashipinthelaststagesofdilapidation.
Ithadbeenagreatvesselofthreemastsbuthadlainsolongexposedtotheinjuriesoftheweatherthatitwashungaboutwithgreatwebsofdrippingseaweed,andonthedeckofitshorebusheshadtakenrootandnowflourishedthickwithflowers.
Itwasasadsight,butitshowedusthattheanchoragewascalm.
“Now,”saidHands,“lookthere;there’sapetbitfortobeachashipin.Fineflatsand,neveracat’spaw,treesallaroundofit,andflowersa-blowinglikeagardingonthatoldship.”
“Andoncebeached,”Iinquired,“howshallwegetheroffagain?”
“Why,so,”hereplied:“youtakealineashorethereontheothersideatlowwater,takeaturnaboutoneofthembigpines;bringitback,takeaturnaroundthecapstan,andlietoforthetide.
Comehighwater,allhandstakeapullupontheline,andoffshecomesassweetasnatur’.Andnow,boy,youstandby.
We’renearthebitnow,andshe’stoomuchwayonher.
Starboardalittle—so—steady—starboard—larboardalittle—steady—steady!”
Soheissuedhiscommands,whichIbreathlesslyobeyed,till,allofasudden,hecried,“Now,myhearty,luff!”
AndIputthehelmhardup,andtheHispaniolaswungroundrapidlyandranstemonforthelow,woodedshore.
TheexcitementoftheselastmanoeuvreshadsomewhatinterferedwiththewatchIhadkepthitherto,sharplyenough,uponthecoxswain.
EventhenIwasstillsomuchinterested,waitingfortheshiptotouch,thatIhadquiteforgottheperilthathungovermyheadandstoodcraningoverthestarboardbulwarksandwatchingtheripplesspreadingwidebeforethebows.
Imighthavefallenwithoutastruggleformylifehadnotasuddendisquietudeseizeduponmeandmademeturnmyhead.
PerhapsIhadheardacreakorseenhisshadowmovingwiththetailofmyeye;perhapsitwasaninstinctlikeacat’s;but,sureenough,whenIlookedround,therewasHands,alreadyhalf-waytowardsme,withthedirkinhisrighthand.
Wemustbothhavecriedoutaloudwhenoureyesmet,butwhileminewastheshrillcryofterror,hiswasaroaroffurylikeachargingbully’s.
Atthesameinstant,hethrewhimselfforwardandIleaptsidewaystowardsthebows.
AsIdidso,Iletgoofthetiller,whichsprangsharptoleeward,andIthinkthissavedmylife,foritstruckHandsacrossthechestandstoppedhim,forthemoment,dead.
Beforehecouldrecover,Iwassafeoutofthecornerwherehehadmetrapped,withallthedecktododgeabout.
Justforwardofthemain-mastIstopped,drewapistolfrommypocket,tookacoolaim,thoughhehadalreadyturnedandwasoncemorecomingdirectlyafterme,anddrewthetrigger.
Thehammerfell,buttherefollowedneitherflashnorsound;theprimingwasuselesswithsea-water.Icursedmyselfformyneglect.
WhyhadnotI,longbefore,reprimedandreloadedmyonlyweapons?
ThenIshouldnothavebeenasnow,amerefleeingsheepbeforethisbutcher.
Woundedashewas,itwaswonderfulhowfasthecouldmove,hisgrizzledhairtumblingoverhisface,andhisfaceitselfasredasaredensignwithhishasteandfury.
Ihadnotimetotrymyotherpistol,norindeedmuchinclination,forIwassureitwouldbeuseless.
OnethingIsawplainly:Imustnotsimplyretreatbeforehim,orhewouldspeedilyholdmeboxedintothebows,asamomentsincehehadsonearlyboxedmeinthestern.
Oncesocaught,andnineorteninchesoftheblood-staineddirkwouldbemylastexperienceonthissideofeternity.
Iplacedmypalmsagainstthemain-mast,whichwasofagoodishbigness,andwaited,everynerveuponthestretch.
SeeingthatImeanttododge,healsopaused;andamomentortwopassedinfeintsonhispartandcorrespondingmovementsuponmine.
ItwassuchagameasIhadoftenplayedathomeabouttherocksofBlackHillCove,butneverbefore,youmaybesure,withsuchawildlybeatingheartasnow.
Still,asIsay,itwasaboy’sgame,andIthoughtIcouldholdmyownatitagainstanelderlyseamanwithawoundedthigh.
IndeedmycouragehadbeguntorisesohighthatIallowedmyselfafewdartingthoughtsonwhatwouldbetheendoftheaffair,andwhileIsawcertainlythatIcouldspinitoutforlong,Isawnohopeofanyultimateescape.
Well,whilethingsstoodthus,suddenlytheHispaniolastruck,staggered,groundforaninstantinthesand,andthen,swiftasablow,cantedovertotheportsidetillthedeckstoodatanangleofforty-fivedegreesandaboutapuncheonofwatersplashedintothescupperholesandlay,inapool,betweenthedeckandbulwark.
Wewerebothofuscapsizedinasecond,andbothofusrolled,almosttogether,intothescuppers,thedeadred-cap,withhisarmsstillspreadout,tumblingstifflyafterus.
Sonearwerewe,indeed,thatmyheadcameagainstthecoxswain’sfootwithacrackthatmademyteethrattle.
Blowandall,Iwasthefirstafootagain,forHandshadgotinvolvedwiththedeadbody.
Thesuddencantingoftheshiphadmadethedecknoplaceforrunningon;Ihadtofindsomenewwayofescape,andthatupontheinstant,formyfoewasalmosttouchingme.
Quickasthought,Isprangintothemizzenshrouds,rattleduphandoverhand,anddidnotdrawabreathtillIwasseatedonthecross-trees.
Ihadbeensavedbybeingprompt;thedirkhadstrucknothalfafootbelowmeasIpursuedmyupwardflight;andtherestoodIsraelHandswithhismouthopenandhisfaceupturnedtomine,aperfectstatueofsurpriseanddisappointment.
NowthatIhadamomenttomyself,Ilostnotimeinchangingtheprimingofmypistol,andthen,havingonereadyforservice,andtomakeassurancedoublysure,Iproceededtodrawtheloadoftheotherandrechargeitafreshfromthebeginning.
MynewemploymentstruckHandsallofaheap;hebegantoseethedicegoingagainsthim,andafteranobvioushesitation,healsohauledhimselfheavilyintotheshrouds,andwiththedirkinhisteeth,beganslowlyandpainfullytomount.
Itcosthimnoendoftimeandgroanstohaulhiswoundedlegbehindhim,andIhadquietlyfinishedmyarrangementsbeforehewasmuchmorethanathirdofthewayup.
Then,withapistolineitherhand,Iaddressedhim.
“Onemorestep,Mr.Hands,”saidI,“andI’llblowyourbrainsout!Deadmendon’tbite,youknow,”Iaddedwithachuckle.
Hestoppedinstantly.Icouldseebytheworkingofhisfacethathewastryingtothink,andtheprocesswassoslowandlaboriousthat,inmynew-foundsecurity,Ilaughedaloud.
Atlast,withaswallowortwo,hespoke,hisfacestillwearingthesameexpressionofextremeperplexity.
Inordertospeakhehadtotakethedaggerfromhismouth,butinallelseheremainedunmoved.
“Jim,”sayshe,“Ireckonwe’refouled,youandme,andwe’llhavetosignarticles.
I’dhavehadyoubutforthattherelurch,butIdon’thavenoluck,notI;andIreckonI’llhavetostrike,whichcomeshard,yousee,foramastermarinertoaship’syounkerlikeyou,Jim.”
Iwasdrinkinginhiswordsandsmilingaway,asconceitedasacockuponawall,when,allinabreath,backwenthisrighthandoverhisshoulder.
Somethingsanglikeanarrowthroughtheair;Ifeltablowandthenasharppang,andthereIwaspinnedbytheshouldertothemast.
Inthehorridpainandsurpriseofthemoment—Iscarcecansayitwasbymyownvolition,andIamsureitwaswithoutaconsciousaim—bothmypistolswentoff,andbothescapedoutofmyhands.
Theydidnotfallalone;withachokedcry,thecoxswainloosedhisgraspupontheshroudsandplungedheadfirstintothewater.
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