±´¿Çµç×ÓÊé > Ó¢ÎÄÔ­Öøµç×ÓÊé > dream days(×öÃεÄÈÕ×Ó) >

µÚ19ÕÂ

dream days(×öÃεÄÈÕ×Ó)-µÚ19ÕÂ

С˵£º dream days(×öÃεÄÈÕ×Ó) ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




too¡¡hungry¡¡for¡¡adventure¡¡to¡¡linger¡¡over¡¡what¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡special¡¡

delight¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡period¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡leisurethe¡¡¡¡¡¡dangling¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡harbour£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

choosing¡¡¡¡¡¡your¡¡¡¡¡¡craft£»¡¡¡¡¡¡selecting¡¡¡¡¡¡your¡¡¡¡¡¡shipmates£»¡¡¡¡¡¡stowing¡¡¡¡¡¡your¡¡¡¡¡¡cargo£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡

fitting¡¡up¡¡your¡¡private¡¡cabin¡¡with¡¡everything¡¡you¡¡might¡¡want¡¡to¡¡put¡¡your¡¡

hand¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡any¡¡¡¡¡¡emergency¡¡¡¡¡¡whatever¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡wait¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡£¡¡¡¡Out¡¡

beyond¡¡¡¡¡¡soundings¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡big¡¡¡¡¡¡seas¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡racing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡westward¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡calling¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡me£»¡¡

albatrosses¡¡¡¡¡¡hovered¡¡¡¡¡¡motionless£»¡¡¡¡¡¡expectant¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡comrade£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡thousand¡¡

islands¡¡¡¡¡¡held¡¡¡¡¡¡each¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡fresh¡¡¡¡¡¡adventure£»¡¡¡¡¡¡stored¡¡¡¡¡¡up£»¡¡¡¡¡¡hidden¡¡¡¡¡¡away£»¡¡

awaiting¡¡production£»¡¡expressly¡¡saved¡¡for¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡were¡¡humming£»¡¡close¡­¡¡

hauled£»¡¡¡¡¡¡down¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Channel£»¡¡¡¡¡¡spray¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡eyes¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡shrouds¡¡¡¡¡¡thrilling¡¡

musically£»¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡much¡¡¡¡¡¡less¡¡time¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡average¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡taken¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡

transfer¡¡his¡¡Gladstone¡¡bag¡¡and¡¡his¡¡rugs¡¡from¡¡the¡¡train¡¡to¡¡a¡¡sheltered¡¡place¡¡

on¡¡the¡¡promenade¡­¡¡deck¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tame¡¡daily¡¡steamer¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡So¡¡long¡¡as¡¡we¡¡were¡¡in¡¡pilotage¡¡I¡¡stuck¡¡manfully¡¡to¡¡the¡¡wheel¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡

undertaking¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡mine£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡its¡¡¡¡¡¡responsibilities£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡

some¡¡tricky¡¡steering¡¡to¡¡be¡¡done¡¡as¡¡we¡¡sped¡¡by¡¡headland¡¡and¡¡bay£»¡¡ere¡¡we¡¡

breasted¡¡the¡¡great¡¡seas¡¡outside¡¡and¡¡the¡¡land¡¡fell¡¡away¡¡behind¡¡us¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡as¡¡

soon¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Atlantic¡¡had¡¡opened¡¡out¡¡I¡¡began¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡rather¡¡

nice¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡take¡¡¡¡¡¡tea¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡myself¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡own¡¡¡¡¡¡cabin£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡therefore¡¡¡¡¡¡became¡¡

necessary¡¡to¡¡invent¡¡a¡¡comrade¡¡or¡¡two£»¡¡to¡¡take¡¡their¡¡turn¡¡at¡¡the¡¡wheel¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡was¡¡easy¡¡enough¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡friend¡¡or¡¡two¡¡of¡¡my¡¡own¡¡age£»¡¡from¡¡among¡¡

the¡¡boys¡¡I¡¡knew£»¡¡a¡¡friend¡¡or¡¡two¡¡from¡¡characters¡¡in¡¡the¡¡books¡¡I¡¡knew£»¡¡and¡¡

a¡¡¡¡¡¡friend¡¡or¡¡¡¡¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡No¡­man's¡­land£»¡¡¡¡where¡¡¡¡¡¡every¡¡¡¡fellow's¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡born¡¡¡¡¡¡sailor£»¡¡

and¡¡the¡¡crew¡¡was¡¡complete¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡addressed¡¡them¡¡on¡¡the¡¡poop£»¡¡divided¡¡them¡¡

into¡¡watches£»¡¡gave¡¡instructions¡¡I¡¡should¡¡be¡¡summoned¡¡on¡¡the¡¡first¡¡sign¡¡of¡¡

pirates£»¡¡whales£»¡¡or¡¡Frenchmen£»¡¡and¡¡retired¡¡below¡¡to¡¡a¡¡well¡­earned¡¡spell¡¡of¡¡

relaxation¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡That¡¡was¡¡the¡¡right¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡cabin¡¡that¡¡I¡¡stepped¡¡into£»¡¡shutting¡¡the¡¡door¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡55¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡56¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡DREAM¡¡DAYS¡¡



behind¡¡me¡¡with¡¡a¡¡click¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Of¡¡course£»¡¡fire¡­arms¡¡were¡¡the¡¡first¡¡thing¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡

for£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡were£»¡¡¡¡¡¡sure¡¡¡¡¡¡enough£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡racks£»¡¡¡¡¡¡dozens¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡'em¡¡

double¡­barrelled¡¡¡¡¡¡guns£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡repeating¡­rifles£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡long¡¡¡¡¡¡pistols£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡shiny¡¡

plated¡¡revolvers¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡rang¡¡up¡¡the¡¡steward¡¡and¡¡ordered¡¡tea£»¡¡with¡¡scones£»¡¡and¡¡

jam¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡its¡¡¡¡¡¡native¡¡¡¡¡¡potsnone¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡your¡¡¡¡¡¡finicking¡¡¡¡¡¡shallow¡¡glass¡¡¡¡¡¡dishes£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and£»¡¡

when¡¡properly¡¡streaked¡¡with¡¡jam£»¡¡and¡¡blown¡¡out¡¡with¡¡tea£»¡¡I¡¡went¡¡through¡¡

the¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡armoury£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡clicked¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡rifles¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡revolvers£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡tested¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡edges¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡

cutlasses¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡thumb£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡filled¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡cartridge¡­belts¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡chock¡­full¡£¡¡

Everything¡¡was¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡best¡¡quality£»¡¡just¡¡as¡¡if¡¡I¡¡had¡¡spent¡¡a¡¡whole¡¡

fortnight¡¡knocking¡¡about¡¡Plymouth¡¡and¡¡ordering¡¡things¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Clearly£»¡¡if¡¡this¡¡

cruise¡¡came¡¡to¡¡grief£»¡¡it¡¡would¡¡not¡¡be¡¡for¡¡want¡¡of¡¡equipment¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Just¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡beginning¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡lockers¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡drawers£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡watch¡¡

reported¡¡icebergs¡¡on¡¡both¡¡bowsand£»¡¡what¡¡was¡¡more¡¡to¡¡the¡¡point£»¡¡coveys¡¡

of¡¡Polar¡¡bears¡¡on¡¡the¡¡icebergs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡grasped¡¡a¡¡rifle¡¡or¡¡two£»¡¡and¡¡hastened¡¡on¡¡

deck¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡spectacle¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡indeed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡magnificentit¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡generally¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡is£»¡¡¡¡with¡¡

icebergs¡¡on¡¡both¡¡bows£»¡¡and¡¡these¡¡were¡¡exceptionally¡¡enormous¡¡icebergs¡£¡¡

But¡¡I¡¡hadn't¡¡come¡¡there¡¡to¡¡paint¡¡Academy¡¡pictures£»¡¡so¡¡the¡¡captain's¡¡gig¡¡was¡¡

in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡water¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡manned¡¡¡¡¡¡almost¡¡¡¡¡¡ere¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡boatswain's¡¡¡¡¡¡whistle¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡ceased¡¡

sounding£»¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡pulling¡¡¡¡¡¡hard¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Polar¡¡¡¡¡¡bearsmyself¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

rifles¡¡in¡¡the¡¡stern¡­sheets¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡rarely¡¡enjoyed¡¡better¡¡shooting¡¡than¡¡I¡¡got¡¡during¡¡that¡¡afternoon's¡¡

tramp¡¡over¡¡the¡¡icebergs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Perhaps¡¡I¡¡was¡¡in¡¡specially¡¡good¡¡form£»¡¡perhaps¡¡

the¡¡bears¡¡¡¨rose¡¨¡¡well¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Anyhow£»¡¡the¡¡bag¡¡was¡¡a¡¡portentous¡¡one¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡later¡¡

days£»¡¡on¡¡reading¡¡of¡¡the¡¡growing¡¡scarcity¡¡of¡¡Polar¡¡bears£»¡¡my¡¡conscience¡¡has¡¡

pricked¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡me£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡afternoon¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡experienced¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡compunction¡£¡¡

Nevertheless£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡huge¡¡pile¡¡of¡¡skins¡¡had¡¡been¡¡hoisted¡¡on¡¡board£»¡¡and¡¡

a¡¡stiff¡¡grog¡¡had¡¡been¡¡served¡¡out¡¡to¡¡the¡¡crew¡¡of¡¡the¡¡captain's¡¡gig£»¡¡I¡¡ordered¡¡

the¡¡schooner's¡¡head¡¡to¡¡be¡¡set¡¡due¡¡south¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡icebergs¡¡were¡¡played¡¡out£»¡¡for¡¡

the¡¡moment£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡getting¡¡to¡¡be¡¡time¡¡for¡¡something¡¡more¡¡tropical¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Tropical¡¡was¡¡a¡¡mild¡¡expression¡¡of¡¡what¡¡was¡¡to¡¡come£»¡¡as¡¡was¡¡shortly¡¡

proved¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡about¡¡three¡¡bells¡¡in¡¡the¡¡next¡¡day's¡¡forenoon¡¡watch¡¡when¡¡

the¡¡look¡­out¡¡man¡¡first¡¡sighted¡¡the¡¡pirate¡¡brigantine¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡disliked¡¡the¡¡looks¡¡

of¡¡her¡¡from¡¡the¡¡first£»¡¡and£»¡¡after¡¡piping¡¡all¡¡hands¡¡to¡¡quarters£»¡¡had¡¡the¡¡brass¡¡

carronade¡¡on¡¡the¡¡fore¡­deck¡¡crammed¡¡with¡¡grape¡¡to¡¡the¡¡muzzle¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡56¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡57¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡DREAM¡¡DAYS¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡proved¡¡a¡¡wise¡¡precaution¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡the¡¡flagitious¡¡pirate¡¡craft£»¡¡having¡¡

crept¡¡up¡¡to¡¡us¡¡under¡¡the¡¡colours¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Swiss¡¡Republic£»¡¡a¡¡state¡¡with¡¡which¡¡

we¡¡were¡¡just¡¡then¡¡on¡¡the¡¡best¡¡possible¡¡terms£»¡¡suddenly¡¡shook¡¡out¡¡the¡¡skull¡­¡¡

and¡­cross¡­bones¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡masthead£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡let¡¡¡¡¡¡fly¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡round¡­shot¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡close¡¡

quarters£»¡¡knocking¡¡into¡¡pieces¡¡several¡¡of¡¡my¡¡crew£»¡¡who¡¡could¡¡ill¡¡be¡¡spared¡£¡¡

The¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡their¡¡disconnected¡¡limbs¡¡aroused¡¡my¡¡ire¡¡to¡¡its¡¡utmost¡¡height£»¡¡

and¡¡I¡¡let¡¡them¡¡have¡¡the¡¡contents¡¡of¡¡the¡¡brass¡¡carronade£»¡¡with¡¡ghastly¡¡effect¡£¡¡

Next¡¡moment¡¡the¡¡hulls¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡ships¡¡were¡¡grinding¡¡together£»¡¡the¡¡cold¡¡

steel¡¡flashed¡¡from¡¡its¡¡scabbard£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡death¡­grapple¡¡had¡¡begun¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡the¡¡deadly¡¡work¡¡of¡¡my¡¡grape¡­gorged¡¡carronade£»¡¡our¡¡foe¡¡still¡¡

outnumbered¡¡us£»¡¡I¡¡reckoned£»¡¡by¡¡three¡¡to¡¡one¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Honour¡¡forbade¡¡my¡¡fixing¡¡

it¡¡at¡¡a¡¡lower¡¡figurethis¡¡was¡¡the¡¡minimum¡¡rate¡¡at¡¡which¡¡one¡¡dared¡¡to¡¡do¡¡

business¡¡with¡¡pirates¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡stark¡¡veterans£»¡¡too£»¡¡every¡¡man¡¡seamed¡¡

with¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ancient¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡sabre¡­cuts£»¡¡¡¡¡¡whereas¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡crew¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡many¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡hardly¡¡

attained¡¡the¡¡maturity¡¡which¡¡is¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡of¡¡ten¡¡long¡¡summersand¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡

thing¡¡was¡¡so¡¡sudden¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡no¡¡time¡¡to¡¡invent¡¡a¡¡reinforcement¡¡of¡¡riper¡¡

years¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡surprising£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡that¡¡my¡¡dauntless¡¡boarding¡­¡¡party£»¡¡

axe¡¡in¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡cutlass¡¡between¡¡teeth£»¡¡fought¡¡their¡¡way¡¡to¡¡the¡¡pirates'¡¡deck¡¡

only¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡repulsed¡¡¡¡¡¡again¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡yet¡¡¡¡¡¡again£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡¡¡¡¡planks¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡soon¡¡

slippery¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡¡¡¡¡own¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ungrudged¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡inexhaustible¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡blood¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡

critical¡¡point¡¡in¡¡the¡¡conflict£»¡¡the¡¡bo'sun£»¡¡grasping¡¡me¡¡by¡¡the¡¡arm£»¡¡drew¡¡my¡¡

attention¡¡to¡¡a¡¡magnificent¡¡British¡¡man¡­of¡­war£»¡¡just¡¡hove¡¡to¡¡in¡¡the¡¡offing£»¡¡

while¡¡the¡¡signalman£»¡¡his¡¡glass¡¡at¡¡his¡¡eye£»¡¡reported¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡inquiring¡¡

whether¡¡we¡¡wanted¡¡any¡¡assistance¡¡or¡¡preferred¡¡to¡¡go¡¡through¡¡with¡¡the¡¡little¡¡

job¡¡ourselves¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡veiled¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡share¡¡our¡¡laurels¡¡with¡¡us£»¡¡courteously¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was¡¡

worded£»¡¡¡¡¡¡put¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡mettle¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Wiping¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡blood¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡eyes£»¡¡¡¡I¡¡

ordered¡¡the¡¡signalman¡¡to¡¡reply¡¡instantly£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡half¡­¡¡dozen¡¡or¡¡so¡¡of¡¡flags¡¡

that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡at¡¡his¡¡disposal£»¡¡that¡¡much¡¡as¡¡we¡¡appreciated¡¡the¡¡valour¡¡of¡¡the¡¡

regular¡¡service£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡delicacy¡¡¡¡of¡¡spirit¡¡that¡¡animated¡¡its¡¡¡¡¡¡commanders£»¡¡

still¡¡this¡¡was¡¡an¡¡orthodox¡¡case¡¡of¡¡the¡¡young¡¡gentleman¡­adventurer¡¡versus¡¡

the¡¡unshaved¡¡¡¡¡¡pirate£»¡¡¡¡and¡¡Her¡¡¡¡Majesty's¡¡¡¡¡¡Marine¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡nothing¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡do¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡

form¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡usual¡¡¡¡¡¡admiring¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡applauding¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡background¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡rallying¡¡

round¡¡me¡¡the¡¡remnant¡¡of¡¡my¡¡faithful¡¡crew£»¡¡I¡¡selected¡¡a¡¡fresh¡¡cutlass¡¡£¨I¡¡had¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ