letters from high latitudes-第3章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
shore； but a Queen's ship was steaming into the bay； with sad news of ruin out to seaward；towing behind her； boats； water…logged； or bottom upwards；while a silent crowd of women on the quay were waiting to learn on what homes among them the bolt had fallen。
About twelve o'clock the Glasgow packet came in； and a few minutes afterwards I had the honour of receiving on my quarter…deck a gentleman who seemed a cross between the German student and swell commercial gent。 On his head he wore a queer kind of smoking…cap； with the peak cocked over his left ear； then came a green shooting…jacket； and flashy silk tartan waistcoat； set off by a gold chain； hung about in innumerable festoons；while light trousers and knotty Wellington boots completed his costume； and made the wearer look as little like a seaman as need be。 It appeared； nevertheless； that the individual in question was Mr。 Ebenezer Wyse； my new sailing…master； so I accepted Captain C。's strong recommendation as a set…off against the silk tartan； explained to the new comer the position he was to occupy on board； and gave orders for sailing in an hour。 The multitudinous chain； moreover； so lavishly displayed； turned out to be an ornament of which Mr。 Wyse might well be proud； and the following history of its acquisition reconciled me more than anything else to my Master's unnautical appearance。
Some time ago there was a great demand in Australia for small river steamers； which certain Scotch companies undertook to supply。 The difficulty； however； was to get such fragile tea…kettles across the ocean； five started one after another in murderous succession； and each came to grief before it got half…way to the equator； the sixth alone remained with which to try a last experiment。 Should she arrive； her price would more than compensate the pecuniary loss already sustained； though it could not bring to life the hands sacrificed in the mad speculation； by this time； however； even the proverbial recklessness of the seamen of the port was daunted； and the hearts of two crews had already failed them at the last moment of starting； when my friend of the chain volunteered to take the command。 At the outset of his voyage everything went well； a fair wind （her machinery was stowed away； and she sailed under canvas） carried the little craft in an incredibly short time a thousand miles to the southward of the Cape； when one day； as she was running before the gale； the man at the wheelstartled at a sea which he thought was going to poop herlet go the helm； the vessel broached to； and tons of water tumbled in on the top of the deck。 As soon as the confusion of the moment had subsided； it became evident that the shock had broken some of the iron plates； and that the ship was in a fair way of foundering。 So frightened were the crew； that； after consultation with each other； they determined to take to the boats； and all hands came aft； to know whether there was anything the skipper would wish to carry off with him。 Comprehending the madness of attempting to reach land in open boats at the distance of a thousand miles from any shore； Wyse pretended to go into the cabin to get his compass； chronometer； etc。； but returning immediately with a revolver in each hand； swore he would shoot the first man who attempted to touch the boats。 This timely exhibition of spirit saved their lives： soon after the weather moderated； by undergirding the ship with chains； St。 Paul fashion； the leaks were partially stopped； the steamer reached her destination； and was sold for 7；000 pounds a few days after her arrival。 In token of their gratitude for the good service he had done them； the Company presented Mr。 Wyse on his return with a gold watch； and the chain he wears so gloriously outside the silk tartan waistcoat。
And now； good…bye。 I hear the click…click of the chain as they heave the anchor； I am rather tired and exhausted with all the worry of the last two months； and shall be heartily glad to get to sea； where fresh air will set me up again； I hope； in a few days。 My next letter will be from Iceland； and； please God； before I see English land again； I hope to have many a story to tell you of the islands that are washed by the chill waters of the Arctic Sea。
LETTER V。
THE NORTH ATLANTICSPANISH WAVESOUR CABIN IN A GALE SEA…SICKNESS FROM A SCIENTIFIC POINT OF VIEWWILSONA PASSENGER COMMITS SUICIDEFIRST SIGHT OF ICELANDFLOKI OF THE RAVENSTHE NORSE MAYFLOWERFAXA FIORDWE LAND IN THULE
Reykjavik； Iceland； June 21； 1856。
We have landed in Thule！ When； in parting； you moaned so at the thought of not being able to hear of our safe arrival； I knew there would be an opportunity of writing to you almost immediately after reaching Iceland； but I said nothing about it at the time； lest something should delay this letter； and you be left to imagine all kinds of doleful reasons for its non…appearance。 We anchored in Reykjavik harbour this afternoon （Saturday）。 H。M。S。 〃Coquette〃 sails for England on Monday； so that within a week you will get this。
For the last ten days we have been leading the life of the 〃Flying Dutchman。〃 Never do I remember to have had such a dusting： foul winds； gales； and calmsor rather breathing spaces； which the gale took occasionally to muster up fresh energies for a blowwith a heavy head sea； that prevented our sailing even when we got aslant。 On the afternoon of the day we quitted Stornaway； I got a notion how it was going to be； the sun went angrily down behind a bank of solid grey cloud； and by the time we were up with the Butt of Lewis； the whole sky was in tatters； and the mercury nowhere； with a heavy swell from the north…west。
As； two years before； I had spent a week in trying to beat through the Roost of Sumburgh under double…reefed trysails； I was at home in the weather； and guessing we were in for it； sent down the topmasts； stowed the boats on board； handed the foresail； rove the ridge…ropes； and reefed all down。 By midnight it blew a gale； which continued without intermission until the day we sighted Iceland； sometimes increasing to a hurricane； but broken now and then by sudden lulls； which used to leave us for a couple of hours at a time tumbling about on the top of the great Atlantic rollersor Spanish waves； as they are calleduntil I thought the ship would roll the masts out of her。 Why they should be called Spanish waves； no one seems to know； but I had always heard the seas were heavier here than in any other part of the world； and certainly they did not belie their character。 The little ship behaved beautifully； and many a vessel twice her size would have been less comfortable。 Indeed； few people can have any notion of the cosiness of a yacht's cabin under such circumstances。 After having remained for several hours on deck； in the presence of the tempest； peering through the darkness at those black liquid walls of water； mounting above you in ceaseless agitation； or tumbling over in cataracts of gleaming foam；the wind roaring through the rigging；timbers creaking as if the ship would break its heart；the spray and rain beating in your face；everything around in tumult；suddenly to descend into the quiet of a snug； well…lighted little cabin； with the firelight dancing on the white rosebud chintz； the well…furnished book…shelves； and all the innumerable nick…nacks that decorate its walls；little Edith's portrait looking so serene；everything about you as bright and fresh as a lady's boudoir in May Fair；the certainty of being a good three hundred miles from any troublesome shore；all combine to inspire a feeling of comfort and security difficult to describe。
These pleasures； indeed； for the first days of our voyage； the Icelander had pretty much to himself。 I was laid up with a severe bout of illness I had long felt coming on； and Fitz was sea…sick。 I must say； however； I never saw any one behave with more pluck and resolution； and when we return； the first thing you do must be to thank him for his kindness to me on that occasion。 Though himself almost prostrate； he looked after me as indefatigably as if he had already found his sea legs； and； sitting down on the cabin floor； with a basin on one side of him； and a pestle and mortar on the other； used to manufacture my p
