English
Whathappenedtomenextonthesealing-schoonerGhost,asIstrovetofitintomynewenvironment,aremattersofhumiliationandpain.
Thecook,whowascalled“thedoctor”bythecrew,“Tommy”bythehunters,and“Cooky”byWolfLarsen,wasachangedperson.
Thedifferenceworkedinmystatusbroughtaboutacorrespondingdifferenceintreatmentfromhim.
Servileandfawningashehadbeenbefore,hewasnowasdomineeringandbellicose.
Intruth,Iwasnolongerthefinegentlemanwithaskinsoftasa“lydy’s,”butonlyanordinaryandveryworthlesscabin-boy.
HeabsurdlyinsisteduponmyaddressinghimasMr.Mugridge,andhisbehaviourandcarriagewereinsufferableasheshowedmemyduties.
Besidesmyworkinthecabin,withitsfoursmallstate-rooms,Iwassupposedtobehisassistantinthegalley,andmycolossalignoranceconcerningsuchthingsaspeelingpotatoesorwashinggreasypotswasasourceofunendingandsarcasticwondertohim.
HerefusedtotakeintoconsiderationwhatIwas,or,rather,whatmylifeandthethingsIwasaccustomedtohadbeen.
Thiswaspartoftheattitudehechosetoadopttowardme;andIconfess,erethedaywasdone,thatIhatedhimwithmorelivelyfeelingsthanIhadeverhatedanyoneinmylifebefore.
ThisfirstdaywasmademoredifficultformefromthefactthattheGhost,underclosereefs(termssuchastheseIdidnotlearntilllater),wasplungingthroughwhatMr.Mugridgecalledan“’owlin’sou’-easter.”
Athalf-pastfive,underhisdirections,Isetthetableinthecabin,withrough-weathertraysinplace,andthencarriedtheteaandcookedfooddownfromthegalley.
InthisconnectionIcannotforbearrelatingmyfirstexperiencewithaboardingsea.
“Looksharporyou’llgetdoused,”wasMr.Mugridge’spartinginjunction,asIleftthegalleywithabigtea-potinonehand,andinthehollowoftheotherarmseveralloavesoffresh-bakedbread.
Oneofthehunters,atall,loose-jointedchapnamedHenderson,wasgoingaftatthetimefromthesteerage(thenamethehuntersfacetiouslygavetheirmidshipssleepingquarters)tothecabin.
WolfLarsenwasonthepoop,smokinghiseverlastingcigar.
“’Ereshecomes.Slingyer’ook!”thecookcried.
Istopped,forIdidnotknowwhatwascoming,andsawthegalleydoorslideshutwithabang.
ThenIsawHendersonleapinglikeamadmanforthemainrigging,upwhichheshot,ontheinside,tillhewasmanyfeethigherthanmyhead.
AlsoIsawagreatwave,curlingandfoaming,poisedfarabovetherail.Iwasdirectlyunderit.
Myminddidnotworkquickly,everythingwassonewandstrange.
IgraspedthatIwasindanger,butthatwasall.Istoodstill,intrepidation.ThenWolfLarsenshoutedfromthepoop:
“Grabholdsomething,you—youHump!”
Butitwastoolate.Isprangtowardtherigging,towhichImighthaveclung,andwasmetbythedescendingwallofwater.
Whathappenedafterthatwasveryconfusing.
Iwasbeneaththewater,suffocatinganddrowning.
Myfeetwereoutfromunderme,andIwasturningoverandoverandbeingsweptalongIknewnotwhere.
SeveraltimesIcollidedagainsthardobjects,oncestrikingmyrightkneeaterribleblow.
ThenthefloodseemedsuddenlytosubsideandIwasbreathingthegoodairagain.
Ihadbeensweptagainstthegalleyandaroundthesteeragecompanion-wayfromtheweathersideintotheleescuppers.
Thepainfrommyhurtkneewasagonizing.
Icouldnotputmyweightonit,or,atleast,IthoughtIcouldnotputmyweightonit;andIfeltsurethelegwasbroken.
Butthecookwasafterme,shoutingthroughtheleegalleydoor:
“’Ere,you!Don’ttykeallnightaboutit!Where’sthepot?Lostoverboard?Serveyoubloodywellrightifyerneckwasbroke!”
Imanagedtostruggletomyfeet.Thegreattea-potwasstillinmyhand.Ilimpedtothegalleyandhandedittohim.Buthewasconsumedwithindignation,realorfeigned.
“Gawdblimemeifyouayn’taslob.Wot’reyougoodforanyw’y,I’dliketoknow?Eh?Wot’reyougoodforany’wy?
Cawn’tevencarryabitofteaaftwithoutlosin’it.NowI’ll’avetoboilsomemore.
“An’wot’reyousnifflin’about?”heburstoutatme,withrenewedrage.“’Cosyou’ve’urtyerporelittleleg,porelittlemamma’sdarlin’.”
Iwasnotsniffling,thoughmyfacemightwellhavebeendrawnandtwitchingfromthepain.
ButIcalledupallmyresolution,setmyteeth,andhobbledbackandforthfromgalleytocabinandcabintogalleywithoutfurthermishap.
TwothingsIhadacquiredbymyaccident:aninjuredknee-capthatwentundressedandfromwhichIsufferedforwearymonths,andthenameof“Hump,”whichWolfLarsenhadcalledmefromthepoop.
Thereafter,foreandaft,Iwasknownbynoothername,untilthetermbecameapartofmythought-processesandIidentifieditwithmyself,thoughtofmyselfasHump,asthoughHumpwereIandhadalwaysbeenI.
Itwasnoeasytask,waitingonthecabintable,wheresatWolfLarsen,Johansen,andthesixhunters.
Thecabinwassmall,tobeginwith,andtomovearound,asIwascompelledto,wasnotmadeeasierbytheschooner’sviolentpitchingandwallowing.
ButwhatstruckmemostforciblywasthetotallackofsympathyonthepartofthemenwhomIserved.
Icouldfeelmykneethroughmyclothes,swelling,andswelling,andIwassickandfaintfromthepainofit.
Icouldcatchglimpsesofmyface,whiteandghastly,distortedwithpain,inthecabinmirror.
Allthemenmusthaveseenmycondition,butnotonespokeortooknoticeofme,tillIwasalmostgratefultoWolfLarsen,lateron(Iwaswashingthedishes),whenhesaid:
“Don’tletalittlethinglikethatbotheryou.You’llgetusedtosuchthingsintime.Itmaycrippleyousome,butallthesameyou’llbelearningtowalk.
“That’swhatyoucallaparadox,isn’tit?”headded.
HeseemedpleasedwhenInoddedmyheadwiththecustomary“Yes,sir.”
“Isupposeyouknowabitaboutliterarythings?Eh?Good.I’llhavesometalkswithyousometime.”
Andthen,takingnofurtheraccountofme,heturnedhisbackandwentupondeck.
Thatnight,whenIhadfinishedanendlessamountofwork,Iwassenttosleepinthesteerage,whereImadeupasparebunk.
Iwasgladtogetoutofthedetestablepresenceofthecookandtobeoffmyfeet.
Tomysurprise,myclotheshaddriedonmeandthereseemednoindicationsofcatchingcold,eitherfromthelastsoakingorfromtheprolongedsoakingfromthefounderingoftheMartinez.
Underordinarycircumstances,afterallthatIhadundergone,Ishouldhavebeenfitforbedandatrainednurse.
Butmykneewasbotheringmeterribly.AswellasIcouldmakeout,thekneecapseemedturneduponedgeinthemidstoftheswelling.
AsIsatinmybunkexaminingit(thesixhunterswereallinthesteerage,smokingandtalkinginloudvoices),Hendersontookapassingglanceatit.
“Looksnasty,”hecommented.“Tiearagaroundit,andit’llbeallright.”
Thatwasall;andonthelandIwouldhavebeenlyingonthebroadofmyback,withasurgeonattendingonme,andwithstrictinjunctionstodonothingbutrest.ButImustdothesemenjustice.
Callousastheyweretomysuffering,theywereequallycalloustotheirownwhenanythingbefellthem.
Andthiswasdue,Ibelieve,first,tohabit;andsecond,tothefactthattheywerelesssensitivelyorganized.
Ireallybelievethatafinely-organized,high-strungmanwouldsuffertwiceandthriceasmuchastheyfromalikeinjury.
TiredasIwas,—exhausted,infact,—Iwaspreventedfromsleepingbythepaininmyknee.
ItwasallIcoulddotokeepfromgroaningaloud.
AthomeIshouldundoubtedlyhavegivenventtomyanguish;butthisnewandelementalenvironmentseemedtocallforasavagerepression.
Likethesavage,theattitudeofthesemenwasstoicalingreatthings,childishinlittlethings.
Iremember,laterinthevoyage,seeingKerfoot,anotherofthehunters,loseafingerbyhavingitsmashedtoajelly;andhedidnotevenmurmurorchangetheexpressiononhisface.
YetIhaveseenthesameman,timeandagain,flyintothemostoutrageouspassionoveratrifle.
Hewasdoingitnow,vociferating,bellowing,wavinghisarms,andcursinglikeafiend,andallbecauseofadisagreementwithanotherhunterastowhetherasealpupknewinstinctivelyhowtoswim.
Heheldthatitdid,thatitcouldswimthemomentitwasborn.
Theotherhunter,Latimer,alean,Yankee-lookingfellowwithshrewd,narrow-slittedeyes,heldotherwise,heldthatthesealpupwasbornonthelandfornootherreasonthanthatitcouldnotswim,thatitsmotherwascompelledtoteachittoswimasbirdswerecompelledtoteachtheirnestlingshowtofly.
Forthemostpart,theremainingfourhuntersleanedonthetableorlayintheirbunksandleftthediscussiontothetwoantagonists.
Buttheyweresupremelyinterested,foreverylittlewhiletheyardentlytooksides,andsometimesallweretalkingatonce,tilltheirvoicessurgedbackandforthinwavesofsoundlikemimicthunder-rollsintheconfinedspace.
Childishandimmaterialasthetopicwas,thequalityoftheirreasoningwasstillmorechildishandimmaterial.
Intruth,therewasverylittlereasoningornoneatall.
Theirmethodwasoneofassertion,assumption,anddenunciation.
Theyprovedthatasealpupcouldswimornotswimatbirthbystatingthepropositionverybellicoselyandthenfollowingitupwithanattackontheopposingman’sjudgment,commonsense,nationality,orpasthistory.Rebuttalwaspreciselysimilar.
IhaverelatedthisinordertoshowthementalcalibreofthemenwithwhomIwasthrownincontact.
Intellectuallytheywerechildren,inhabitingthephysicalformsofmen.
Andtheysmoked,incessantlysmoked,usingacoarse,cheap,andoffensive-smellingtobacco.
Theairwasthickandmurkywiththesmokeofit;andthis,combinedwiththeviolentmovementoftheshipasshestruggledthroughthestorm,wouldsurelyhavemademesea-sickhadIbeenavictimtothatmalady.
Asitwas,itmademequitesqueamish,thoughthisnauseamighthavebeenduetothepainofmylegandexhaustion.
AsIlaytherethinking,Inaturallydweltuponmyselfandmysituation.
Itwasunparalleled,undreamed-of,thatI,HumphreyVanWeyden,ascholarandadilettante,ifyouplease,inthingsartisticandliterary,shouldbelyinghereonaBeringSeaseal-huntingschooner.Cabin-boy!
Ihadneverdoneanyhardmanuallabour,orscullionlabour,inmylife.
Ihadlivedaplacid,uneventful,sedentaryexistenceallmydays—thelifeofascholarandarecluseonanassuredandcomfortableincome.
Violentlifeandathleticsportshadneverappealedtome.
Ihadalwaysbeenabook-worm;somysistersandfatherhadcalledmeduringmychildhood.
Ihadgonecampingbutonceinmylife,andthenIleftthepartyalmostatitsstartandreturnedtothecomfortsandconveniencesofaroof.
AndhereIwas,withdrearyandendlessvistasbeforemeoftable-setting,potato-peeling,anddish-washing.AndIwasnotstrong.
ThedoctorshadalwayssaidthatIhadaremarkableconstitution,butIhadneverdevelopeditormybodythroughexercise.
Mymusclesweresmallandsoft,likeawoman’s,orsothedoctorshadsaidtimeandagaininthecourseoftheirattemptstopersuademetogoinforphysical-culturefads.
ButIhadpreferredtousemyheadratherthanmybody;andhereIwas,innofitconditionfortheroughlifeinprospect.
Thesearemerelyafewofthethingsthatwentthroughmymind,andarerelatedforthesakeofvindicatingmyselfinadvanceintheweakandhelplessrôleIwasdestinedtoplay.
ButIthought,also,ofmymotherandsisters,andpicturedtheirgrief.
IwasamongthemissingdeadoftheMartinezdisaster,anunrecoveredbody.
Icouldseethehead-linesinthepapers;thefellowsattheUniversityClubandtheBibelotshakingtheirheadsandsaying,“Poorchap!”
AndIcouldseeCharleyFuruseth,asIhadsaidgood-byetohimthatmorning,lounginginadressing-gownonthebe-pillowedwindowcouchanddeliveringhimselfoforacularandpessimisticepigrams.
Andallthewhile,rolling,plunging,climbingthemovingmountainsandfallingandwallowinginthefoamingvalleys,theschoonerGhostwasfightingherwayfartherandfartherintotheheartofthePacific—andIwasonher.Icouldhearthewindabove.Itcametomyearsasamuffledroar.Nowandagainfeetstampedoverhead.
Anendlesscreakingwasgoingonallaboutme,thewoodworkandthefittingsgroaningandsqueakingandcomplaininginathousandkeys.
Thehunterswerestillarguingandroaringlikesomesemi-humanamphibiousbreed.
Theairwasfilledwithoathsandindecentexpressions.
Icouldseetheirfaces,flushedandangry,thebrutalitydistortedandemphasizedbythesicklyyellowofthesea-lampswhichrockedbackandforthwiththeship.
Throughthedimsmoke-hazethebunkslookedlikethesleepingdensofanimalsinamenagerie.
Oilskinsandsea-bootswerehangingfromthewalls,andhereandthereriflesandshotgunsrestedsecurelyintheracks.
Itwasasea-fittingforthebuccaneersandpiratesofby-goneyears.
Myimaginationranriot,andstillIcouldnotsleep.
Anditwasalong,longnight,wearyanddrearyandlong.
Share this article to
FINISH