a simpleton-第46章
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five tons。 The very smallest of the whale tribe weighs ten； and
they go as high as forty tons。 There are smaller fish than the
whale； that are four times as heavy as the elephant。 Why doubt；
then； that the sea can breed a snake to eclipse the boa…
constrictor？ Even if the creature had never been seen； I should；
by mere reasoning from analogy； expect the sea to produce a serpent
excelling the boa…constrictor； as the lobster excels a crayfish of
our rivers： see how large things grow at sea！ the salmon born in
our rivers weighs in six months a quarter of a pound； or less； it
goes out to sea； and comes back in one year weighing seven pounds。
So far from doubting the large sea…serpents； I believe they exist
by the million。 The only thing that puzzles me is； why they should
ever show a nose above water； they must be very numerous； I think。〃
Captain Hamilton laughed； and said； 〃Well； this IS new。 Doctor； in
compliment to your opinion； we will go on deck； and inspect the
reptile you think so common。〃 He stopped at the door； and said；
〃Doctor； the saltcellar is by you。 Would you mind bringing it on
deck？ We shall want a little to secure the animal。〃
So they all went on deck right merrily。
The captain went up a few ratlines in the mizzen rigging； and
looked to windward； laughing all the time： but； all of a sudden；
there was a great change in his manner。 〃Good heavens； it is
aliveLUFF！〃
The helmsman obeyed； the news spread like wildfire。 Mess kids；
grog kids； pipes； were all let fall； and some three hundred sailors
clustered on the rigging like bees； to view the long…talked…of
monster。
It was soon discovered to be moving lazily along； the propelling
part being under water； and about twenty…five feet visible。 It had
a small head for so large a body； and； as they got nearer； rough
scales were seen； ending in smaller ones further down the body。 It
had a mane； but not like a lion's； as some have pretended。 If you
have ever seen a pony with a hog…mane； that was more the character
of this creature's mane； if mane it was。
They got within a hundred yards of it； and all saw it plainly；
scarce believing their senses。
When they could get no nearer for the wind； the captain yielded to
that instinct which urges man always to kill a curiosity； 〃to
encourage the rest；〃 as saith the witty Voltaire。 〃Get ready a
gunbest shot in the ship lay and fire it。〃
This was soon done。 Bang went the gun。 The shot struck the water
close to the brute； and may have struck him under water； for aught
I know。 Any way； it sorely disturbed him； for he reared into the
air a column of serpent's flesh that looked as thick as the
maintopmast of a seventy…four； opened a mouth that looked capacious
enough to swallow the largest buoy anchor in the ship； and； with a
strange grating noise between a bark and a hiss； dived； and was
seen no more。
When he was gone； they all looked at one another like men awaking
from a dream。
Staines alone took it quite coolly。 It did not surprise him in the
least。 He had always thought it incredible that the boa…
constrictor should be larger than any sea…snake。 That idea struck
him as monstrous and absurd。 He noted the sea…serpent in his
journal； but with this doubt； 〃Semblemore like a very large eel。〃
Next day they crossed the line。 Just before noon a young gentleman
burst into Staines's cabin； apologizing for want of ceremony； but
if Dr。 Staines would like to see the line； it was now in sight from
the mizzentop。
〃Glad of it； sir；〃 said Staines； 〃collect it for me in the ship's
buckets； if you please。 I want to send A LINE to friends at home。〃
Young gentleman buried his hands in his pockets； walked out in
solemn silence； and resumed his position on the lee…side of the
quarter…deck。
Nevertheless； this opening； coupled with what he had heard and
read； made Staines a little uneasy； and he went to his friend
Fitzroy； and said； 〃Now； look here： I am at the service of you
experienced and humorous mariners。 I plead guilty at once to the
crime of never having passed the line； so； make ready your swabs；
and lather me； your ship's scraper； and shave me； and let us get it
over。 But Lord Tadcaster is nervous； sensitive； prouder than he
seems； and I'm not going to have him driven into a fit for all the
Neptunes and Amphitrites in creation。〃
Fitzroy heard him out； then burst out laughing。 〃Why； there is
none of that game in the Royal Navy；〃 said he。 〃Hasn't been this
twenty years。〃
〃I'm so sorry；〃 said Dr。 Staines。 〃If there's a form of wit I
revere； it is practical joking。〃
〃Doctor； you are a satirical beggar。〃
Staines told Tadcaster； and he went forward and chaffed his friend
the quartermaster； who was one of the forecastle wits。
〃I say； quartermaster； why doesn't Neptune come on board？〃
Dead silence。
〃I wonder what has become of poor old Nep？〃
〃Gone ashore！〃 growled the seaman。 〃Last seen in Rateliff Highway。
Got a shop therelends a shilling in the pound on seamen's advance
tickets。〃
〃Oh！ and Amphitrite？〃
〃Married the sexton at Wapping。〃
〃And the Nereids？〃
〃Neruds！〃 （scratching his head。） 〃I harn't kept my eye on them
small craft。 But I BELIEVE they are selling oysters in the port of
Leith。〃
A light breeze carried them across the equator； but soon after they
got becalmed； and it was dreary work； and the ship rolled gently；
but continuously； and upset Lord Tadcaster's stomach again； and
quenched his manly spirit。
At last they were fortunate enough to catch the southeast trade；
but it was so languid at first that the ship barely moved through
the water； though they set every stitch； and studding sails alow
and aloft； till really she was acres of canvas。
While she was so creeping along； a man in the mizzentop noticed an
enormous shark gliding steadily in her wake。 This may seem a small
incident； yet it ran through the ship like wildfire； and caused
more or less uneasiness in three hundred stout hearts； so near is
every seaman to death； and so strong the persuasion in their
superstitious minds； that a shark does not follow a ship
pertinaciously without a prophetic instinct of calamity。
Unfortunately； the quartermaster conveyed this idea to Lord
Tadcaster； and confirmed it by numerous examples to prove that
there was always death at hand when a shark followed the ship。
Thereupon Tadcaster took it into his head that he was under a
relapse； and the shark was waiting for his dead body： he got quite
low…spirited。
Staines told Fitzroy。 Fitzroy said； 〃Shark be hanged！ I'll have
him on deck in half an hour。〃 He got leave from the captain： a
hook was baited with a large piece of pork； and towed astern by a
stout line； experienced old hands attending to it by turns。
The shark came up leisurely； surveyed the bait； and； I apprehend；
ascertained the position of the hook。 At all events； he turned
quietly on his back； sucked the bait off； and retired to enjoy it。
Every officer in the ship tried him in turn； but without success；
for； if they got ready for him； and； the moment he took the bait；
jerked the rope hard； in that case he opened his enormous mouth so
wide that the bait and hook came out clear。 But； sooner or later；
he always got the bait； and left his captors the hook。
This went on for days； and his huge dorsal fin always in the ship's
wake。
Then Tadcaster； who had watched these experiments with hope； lost
his spirit and appetite。
Staines reasoned with him； but in vain。 Somebody was to die； and；
although there were three hundred and more in the ship； he must be
the one。 At last he actually made his will； and threw himself into
Staines's arms； and gave him messages to his mother and Lady
Cicely； and ended by frightening himself into a fit。
This roused Staines's pity； and also put him on his mettle。 What；
science be beaten by a shark！
He pondered the matter with all his might； and at last an idea came
to him。
He asked the captain's permission to try his hand。 This was
accorded immediately； and the ship's stores placed at his disposal
very politely； but with a sly； comical grin。
Dr。 Staines got from the carpenter some sheet
