three men on the bummel-第2章
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myself。 Three things had combined to lead me into this
foolishness： I had had a stroke of unexpected luck； Ethelbertha
had expressed a yearning for sea air； and the very next morning； in
taking up casually at the club a copy of the Sportsman； I had come
across the following advertisement：…
TO YACHTSMEN。Unique Opportunity。〃Rogue；〃 28…ton Yawl。Owner；
called away suddenly on business； is willing to let this superbly…
fitted 〃greyhound of the sea〃 for any period short or long。 Two
cabins and saloon； pianette； by Woffenkoff； new copper。 Terms； 10
guineas a week。Apply Pertwee and Co。； 3A Bucklersbury。
It had seemed to me like the answer to a prayer。 〃The new copper〃
did not interest me； what little washing we might want could wait；
I thought。 But the 〃pianette by Woffenkoff〃 sounded alluring。 I
pictured Ethelbertha playing in the eveningsomething with a
chorus； in which； perhaps； the crew； with a little training； might
joinwhile our moving home bounded； 〃greyhound…like；〃 over the
silvery billows。
I took a cab and drove direct to 3A Bucklersbury。 Mr。 Pertwee was
an unpretentious…looking gentleman； who had an unostentatious
office on the third floor。 He showed me a picture in water…colours
of the Rogue flying before the wind。 The deck was at an angle of
95 to the ocean。 In the picture no human beings were represented
on the deck； I suppose they had slipped off。 Indeed； I do not see
how anyone could have kept on； unless nailed。 I pointed out this
disadvantage to the agent； who； however； explained to me that the
picture represented the Rogue doubling something or other on the
well…known occasion of her winning the Medway Challenge Shield。
Mr。 Pertwee assumed that I knew all about the event； so that I did
not like to ask any questions。 Two specks near the frame of the
picture； which at first I had taken for moths； represented； it
appeared； the second and third winners in this celebrated race。 A
photograph of the yacht at anchor off Gravesend was less
impressive； but suggested more stability。 All answers to my
inquiries being satisfactory； I took the thing for a fortnight。
Mr。 Pertwee said it was fortunate I wanted it only for a fortnight…
…later on I came to agree with him；the time fitting in exactly
with another hiring。 Had I required it for three weeks he would
have been compelled to refuse me。
The letting being thus arranged； Mr。 Pertwee asked me if I had a
skipper in my eye。 That I had not was also fortunatethings
seemed to be turning out luckily for me all round；because Mr。
Pertwee felt sure I could not do better than keep on Mr。 Goyles； at
present in chargean excellent skipper； so Mr。 Pertwee assured me；
a man who knew the sea as a man knows his own wife； and who had
never lost a life。
It was still early in the day； and the yacht was lying off Harwich。
I caught the ten forty…five from Liverpool Street； and by one
o'clock was talking to Mr。 Goyles on deck。 He was a stout man； and
had a fatherly way with him。 I told him my idea； which was to take
the outlying Dutch islands and then creep up to Norway。 He said；
〃Aye； aye； sir；〃 and appeared quite enthusiastic about the trip；
said he should enjoy it himself。 We came to the question of
victualling； and he grew more enthusiastic。 The amount of food
suggested by Mr。 Goyles； I confess； surprised me。 Had we been
living in the days of Drake and the Spanish Main； I should have
feared he was arranging for something illegal。 However； he laughed
in his fatherly way； and assured me we were not overdoing it。
Anything left the crew would divide and take home with themit
seemed this was the custom。 It appeared to me that I was providing
for this crew for the winter； but I did not like to appear stingy；
and said no more。 The amount of drink required also surprised me。
I arranged for what I thought we should need for ourselves； and
then Mr。 Goyles spoke up for the crew。 I must say that for him； he
did think of his men。
〃We don't want anything in the nature of an orgie； Mr。 Goyles；〃 I
suggested。
〃Orgie！〃 replied Mr。 Goyles； 〃why they'll take that little drop in
their tea。〃
He explained to me that his motto was； Get good men and treat them
well。
〃They work better for you；〃 said Mr。 Goyles； 〃and they come again。〃
Personally； I didn't feel I wanted them to come again。 I was
beginning to take a dislike to them before I had seen them； I
regarded them as a greedy and guzzling crew。 But Mr。 Goyles was so
cheerfully emphatic； and I was so inexperienced； that again I let
him have his way。 He also promised that even in this department he
would see to it personally that nothing was wasted。
I also left him to engage the crew。 He said he could do the thing；
and would； for me； with the help two men and a boy。 If he was
alluding to the clearing up of the victuals and drink； I think he
was making an under…estimate； but possibly he may have been
speaking of the sailing of the yacht。
I called at my tailors on the way home and ordered a yachting suit；
with a white hat； which they promised to bustle up and have ready
in time； and then I went home and told Ethelbertha all I had done。
Her delight was clouded by only one reflectionwould the
dressmaker be able to finish a yachting costume for her in time？
That is so like a woman。
Our honeymoon； which had taken place not very long before； had been
somewhat curtailed； so we decided we would invite nobody； but have
the yacht to ourselves。 And thankful I am to Heaven that we did so
decide。 On Monday we put on all our clothes and started。 I forget
what Ethelbertha wore； but； whatever it may have been； it looked
very fetching。 My own costume was a dark blue trimmed with a
narrow white braid； which； I think； was rather effective。
Mr。 Goyles met us on deck； and told us that lunch was ready。 I
must admit Goyles had secured the services of a very fair cook。
The capabilities of the other members of the crew I had no
opportunity of judging。 Speaking of them in a state of rest；
however； I can say of them they appeared to be a cheerful crew。
My idea had been that so soon as the men had finished their dinner
we would weigh anchor； while I； smoking a cigar； with Ethelbertha
by my side； would lean over the gunwale and watch the white cliffs
of the Fatherland sink imperceptibly into the horizon。 Ethelbertha
and I carried out our part of the programme； and waited； with the
deck to ourselves。
〃They seem to be taking their time；〃 said Ethelbertha。
〃If； in the course of fourteen days；〃 I said； 〃they eat half of
what is on this yacht； they will want a fairly long time for every
meal。 We had better not hurry them； or they won't get through a
quarter of it。〃
〃They must have gone to sleep；〃 said Ethelbertha； later on。 〃It
will be tea…time soon。〃
They were certainly very quiet。 I went for'ard； and hailed Captain
Goyles down the ladder。 I hailed him three times； then he came up
slowly。 He appeared to be a heavier and older man than when I had
seen him last。 He had a cold cigar in his mouth。
〃When you are ready； Captain Goyles；〃 I said； 〃we'll start。〃
Captain Goyles removed the cigar from his mouth。
〃Not to…day we won't； sir；〃 he replied； 〃WITH your permission。〃
〃Why； what's the matter with to…day？〃 I said。 I know sailors are a
superstitious folk； I thought maybe a Monday might be considered
unlucky。
〃The day's all right；〃 answered Captain Goyles； 〃it's the wind I'm
a…thinking of。 It don't look much like changing。〃
〃But do we want it to change？〃 I asked。 〃It seems to me to be just
where it should be； dead behind us。〃
〃Aye； aye；〃 said Captain Goyles； 〃dead's the right word to use； for
dead we'd all be； bar Providence； if we was to put out in this。
You see； sir；〃 he explained； in answer to my look of surprise；
〃this is what we call a 'land wind；' that is； it's a…blowing； as
one might say； direct off the land。〃
When I came to think of it the man was right； the wind was blowing
off the land。
〃It may change in the night；〃 said Captain Goyles； more hopefully
〃anyhow； it's not violent； and she rides well。〃
Captain Goyles resumed his cigar； and I returned aft； and explained
to
