the vision spendid(美景)-第42章
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the scene of action。
His only hope was that the _Nancy Hanks_ might put in at the
Hawaiian Islands； from which place he might get a chance to write； or；
better still； to cable the reason of his absence。 Captain Green himself
wiped out this expectation。 He jocosely intimated to Farnum one afternoon
that he had no intention of calling the Islands。
〃When we get through this six months' cruise you'll be a first… rate
sailorman； son； and you'll get a sailorman's wages；〃 he added genially。
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The shanghaied man met his eye squarely。 〃I think I could arrange to
draw on Verden for a thousand dollars if you would drop me at the
Islands。〃
〃Not for twenty thousand。 You're going to stay with us till we get to
the Solomon Islands； and don't you forget it。〃
Bully Green had taken rather a fancy to this amiable young man who
had taken so sensible a view of the little misadventure that had befallen
him； but of course business was business。 He had been paid to keep him
out of the way and he intended to fulfil the contract。
〃Here I'm educatin' you； makin' an able…bodied seaman out of you； son。
You had ought to be grateful；〃 he grinned。
〃Oh； I am；〃 Jeff agreed with a twinkle。
But Captain Green had reckoned without the weather。 The _Nancy
Hanks_ drifted into three days of calm and sultry heat。 At the end of the
third day she began to rock gently beneath a murky sky。
〃Dirty weather；〃 predicted the mate； the same who had assisted at the
shanghaing。 〃When you see a satin sea turn indigo and that peculiar shade
in the sky you want to look out for squalls；〃 he explained to Jeff。
It came on them in a rush。 The sun went out of a black sky like a
blown candle and the sea began to whip itself to a froth。 The wind
quickened； boomed to a roar； and sent the schooner heeling to a squall
across the leaden waters。 The open sea closed in on them。 Before they
could get in sail and make secure the sheets ripped with a scream； braces
parted and the topmasts snapped off。 The _Nancy_ went pitching forward
into the yawning deeps with drunken plunges from which it seemed she
would never emerge。 Great combing seas toppled down and pounded the
decks； while the sailors clung to stays or whatever would give them a
hold。
The squall lasted scarce an hour； but it left the schooner dismantled。
Her sheets were in ribbons； her topmasts and bowsprit gone。 There was
nothing for it but a crippled beat toward the Islands。
Four days later she made an offing in the harbor at Honolulu just as a
liner was nosing her way out。
Bully Green ranged up beside Farnum and cast a speculative eye on
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THE VISION SPLENDID
him。
〃Sport； I had ought to iron you and keep you in the fo'c'sle until we
leave here。 It's the only square thing to do。〃
Jeff's gaze was on the advancing steamer。 She was scarce two hundred
yards away now and he could plainly read the name painted on her side。
She was the _Bellingham_ of Verden。
〃I don't see the necessity； sir；〃 he answered。
〃I reckon you do； son。 Samuel Green stands by his word to a finish。
Now I've promised to keep you safe； and you can bet your last dollar I'm
a…going to do it。〃
His prisoner turned from the rail against which he was leaning to the
captain。 Pinpoints of light were gleaming in the big eyes。
〃How much safer do you want me than this？〃
Green expectorated at a chip in the water and shifted his quid。 〃You've
got brains； son。 No telling what you might try to do。 But see here。 You're
no drunken beachcomber。 I know a gentleman when I see one。 Gimme
your word you'll not try to skip out or send a message back to the States
and I'll go easy on you。 I'm so dashed kindhearted； I am； that〃
Jeff leaped to the rail； stood poised an instant； and dived into the blue
Pacific。
〃Well； I'll be 〃 Bully Green interrupted himself to roar an order to
lower a boat。
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CHAPTER 16
A young man left his father's house to see the world。 Everywhere he
found busy human beings。 Cities were rising toward the skies； seas and
plains were being lined with traffic； school； mill and office hummed with
life。 He wondered why men were so busy and what they were trying to do。
He went to a railroad director and asked： 〃Why are you building
railroads？〃 〃For profits；〃 was the answer。 But a laborer beckoned him
aside and whispered： 〃Nowe are making the _World_ one neighborhood。
East is now next door to West； and all peoples dwell in one continuing
city。〃
The young man went to the boss of a labor union。 〃Why；〃 he asked；
〃do you spend your days breeding discontent and leading strikes？〃
〃Why？〃 repeated the leader fiercely； 〃that the workers receive more pay
for shorter hours。〃 〃No；〃 whispered a laborer； 〃we are teaching the
_World_ the sacred value of human beings。 We are learning how to be
brotherlyhow to stand up for each other。 James Oppenheim。
UNDER STRANGE CIRCUMSTANCES THE REBEL MAKES
HIS BOW TO POLITE SOCIETY。 TAKING AN APPLE AS A TEXT； HE
PREACHES ON THE RISE OF ADAM
PART 1
〃Man overboard！〃
Somebody on the liner sang it out。 Instantly there was a rush of
passengers to the side。 From the schooner a boat was being lowered and
manned。
〃I see him。 He's swimming this way。 I believe he's trying to escape；〃
one slender young woman cried。
〃Nonsense； Alice！ He fell overboard and he's probably so frightened
he doesn't know which way he is swimming。〃 This suggestion was from
the beautiful blonde with bronze hair who stood beside her under a tan
parasol held by a fresh…faced globetrotter。
〃Don't you believe it； Val。 Look how he's cutting through the water。
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He's trying to reach us。 Oh； I hope they won't get him。 Somebody get a
rope to throw out。〃
〃By Jove； you're right； Miss Alice；〃 cried the Englishman。 〃It's a race；
and it's going to be a near thing。〃 He disappeared and was presently back
with a rope。
〃Come on！ Come on！〃 screamed the passengers to the swimmer。 〃He's
ripping strong with that overhead stroke。 Ye gods； it's close！〃 exclaimed
the Britisher。
It was。 The swimmer reached the side of the ship not four yards in
front of the pursuing boat。 He caught at the trailing rope and began to
clamber up hand over hand； while the Englishman； a man standing near；
and Alice Frome dragged him up。
The mate of the Nancy Hanks； standing up in the boat； caught at his
foot and pulled。 The man's hold loosened on the rope。 He slid down a foot；
steadied himself。 Suddenly the left leg shot out and caught the grinning
mate in the mouth。 He went over ba
