the people of the abyss(深渊居民)-第12章
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before last； an' I can't stand it much longer。 I'm gettin' old； an' some
mornin' they'll pick me up dead。〃
He whirled with fierce passion on me： 〃Don't you ever let yourself
grow old； lad。 Die when you're young； or you'll come to this。 I'm tellin'
you sure。 Seven an' eighty years am I； an' served my country like a man。
Three good…conduct stripes and the Victoria Cross； an' this is what I get for
it。 I wish I was dead； I wish I was dead。 Can't come any too quick for
me； I tell you。〃
The moisture rushed into his eyes； but； before the other man could
comfort him； he began to hum a lilting sea song as though there was no
such thing as heartbreak in the world。
Given encouragement； this is the story he told while waiting in line at
the workhouse after two nights of exposure in the streets。
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As a boy he had enlisted in the British navy； and for two score years
and more served faithfully and well。 Names； dates； commanders； ports；
ships； engagements； and battles； rolled from his lips in a steady stream； but
it is beyond me to remember them all； for it is not quite in keeping to take
notes at the poorhouse door。 He had been through the 〃First War in
China；〃 as he termed it； had enlisted with the East India Company and
served ten years in India； was back in India again； in the English navy； at
the time of the Mutiny； had served in the Burmese War and in the Crimea；
and all this in addition to having fought and toiled for the English flag
pretty well over the rest of the globe。
Then the thing happened。 A little thing； it could only be traced back
to first causes： perhaps the lieutenant's breakfast had not agreed with
him； or he had been up late the night before； or his debts were pressing； or
the commander had spoken brusquely to him。 The point is； that on this
particular day the lieutenant was irritable。 The sailor； with others； was
〃setting up〃 the fore rigging。
Now； mark you； the sailor had been over forty years in the navy； had
three good…conduct stripes； and possessed the Victoria Cross for
distinguished service in battle； so he could not have been such an
altogether bad sort of a sailorman。 The lieutenant was irritable； the
lieutenant called him a namewell； not a nice sort of name。 It referred to
his mother。 When I was a boy it was our boys' code to fight like little
demons should such an insult be given our mothers； and many men have
died in my part of the world for calling other men this name。
However； the lieutenant called the sailor this name。 At that moment
it chanced the sailor had an iron lever or bar in his hands。 He promptly
struck the lieutenant over the head with it； knocking him out of the rigging
and overboard。
And then； in the man's own words： 〃I saw what I had done。 I knew
the Regulations； and I said to myself； 'It's all up with you； Jack； my boy； so
here goes。' An' I jumped over after him； my mind made up to drown us
both。 An' I'd ha' done it； too； only the pinnace from the flagship was just
comin' alongside。 Up we came to the top； me a hold of him an' punchin'
him。 This was what settled for me。 If I hadn't ben strikin' him； I could
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have claimed that； seein' what I had done； I jumped over to save him。〃
Then came the court…martial； or whatever name a sea trial goes by。 He
recited his sentence； word for word； as though memorised and gone over
in bitterness many times。 And here it is； for the sake of discipline and
respect to officers not always gentlemen； the punishment of a man who
was guilty of manhood。 To be reduced to the rank of ordinary seaman； to
be debarred all prize…money due him； to forfeit all rights to pension； to
resign the Victoria Cross； to be discharged from the navy with a good
character （this being his first offence）； to receive fifty lashes； and to serve
two years in prison。
〃I wish I had drowned that day； I wish to God I had；〃 he concluded； as
the line moved up and we passed around the corner。
At last the door came in sight； through which the paupers were being
admitted in bunches。 And here I learned a surprising thing： THIS
BEING WEDNESDAY； NONE OF US WOULD BE RELEASED TILL
FRIDAY MORNING。 Furthermore； and oh； you tobacco users； take heed：
WE WOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO TAKE IN ANY TOBACCO。
This we would have to surrender as we entered。 Sometimes； I was told；
it was returned on leaving and sometimes it was destroyed。
The old man…of…war's man gave me a lesson。 Opening his pouch； he
emptied the tobacco （a pitiful quantity） into a piece of paper。 This； snugly
and flatly wrapped； went down his sock inside his shoe。 Down went my
piece of tobacco inside my sock； for forty hours without tobacco is a
hardship all tobacco users will understand。
Again and again the line moved up； and we were slowly but surely
approaching the wicket。 At the moment we happened to be standing on
an iron grating； and a man appearing underneath； the old sailor called
down to him； …
〃How many more do they want？〃
〃Twenty…four；〃 came the answer。
We looked ahead anxiously and counted。 Thirty…four were ahead of
us。 Disappointment and consternation dawned upon the faces about me。
It is not a nice thing； hungry and penniless； to face a sleepless night in the
streets。 But we hoped against hope； till； when ten stood outside the
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wicket； the porter turned us away。
〃Full up；〃 was what he said； as he banged the door。
Like a flash； for all his eighty…seven years； the old sailor was speeding
away on the desperate chance of finding shelter elsewhere。 I stood and
debated with two other men； wise in the knowledge of casual wards； as to
where we should go。 They decided on the Poplar Workhouse； three miles
away； and we started off。
As we rounded the corner； one of them said； 〃I could a' got in 'ere to…
day。 I come by at one o'clock； an' the line was beginnin' to form then
pets； that's what they are。 They let 'm in； the same ones； night upon
night。〃
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CHAPTER VIIITHE CARTER
AND THE CARPENTER
The Carter； with his clean…cut face； chin beard； and shaved upper lip； I
should have taken in the United States for anything from a master
workman to a well…to…do farmer。 The Carpenterwell； I should have
taken him for a carpenter。 He looked it； lean and wiry； with shrewd；
observant eyes； and hands that had grown twisted to the handles of tools
through forty…seven years' work at the trade。 The chief difficulty with
these men was that they were old；
