the mirror of the sea-第23章
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white dry sails the hard blueness of the deep sea。 There we were；
a growing company of ships； each with her burden of grain； of
timber； of wool； of hides； and even of oranges； for we had one or
two belated fruit schooners in company。 There we were； in that
memorable spring of a certain year in the late seventies； dodging
to and fro； baffled on every tack； and with our stores running down
to sweepings of bread…lockers and scrapings of sugar…casks。 It was
just like the East Wind's nature to inflict starvation upon the
bodies of unoffending sailors； while he corrupted their simple
souls by an exasperation leading to outbursts of profanity as lurid
as his blood…red sunrises。 They were followed by gray days under
the cover of high； motionless clouds that looked as if carved in a
slab of ash…coloured marble。 And each mean starved sunset left us
calling with imprecations upon the West Wind even in its most
veiled misty mood to wake up and give us our liberty； if only to
rush on and dash the heads of our ships against the very walls of
our unapproachable home。
XXIX。
In the atmosphere of the Easterly weather； as pellucid as a piece
of crystal and refracting like a prism； we could see the appalling
numbers of our helpless company； even to those who in more normal
conditions would have remained invisible； sails down under the
horizon。 It is the malicious pleasure of the East Wind to augment
the power of your eyesight； in order； perhaps； that you should see
better the perfect humiliation； the hopeless character of your
captivity。 Easterly weather is generally clear； and that is all
that can be said for it … almost supernaturally clear when it
likes； but whatever its mood； there is something uncanny in its
nature。 Its duplicity is such that it will deceive a scientific
instrument。 No barometer will give warning of an easterly gale；
were it ever so wet。 It would be an unjust and ungrateful thing to
say that a barometer is a stupid contrivance。 It is simply that
the wiles of the East Wind are too much for its fundamental
honesty。 After years and years of experience the most trusty
instrument of the sort that ever went to sea screwed on to a ship's
cabin bulkhead will； almost invariably； be induced to rise by the
diabolic ingenuity of the Easterly weather； just at the moment when
the Easterly weather； discarding its methods of hard； dry；
impassive cruelty； contemplates drowning what is left of your
spirit in torrents of a peculiarly cold and horrid rain。 The
sleet…and…hail squalls following the lightning at the end of a
westerly gale are cold and benumbing and stinging and cruel enough。
But the dry； Easterly weather； when it turns to wet； seems to rain
poisoned showers upon your head。 It is a sort of steady；
persistent； overwhelming； endlessly driving downpour； which makes
your heart sick； and opens it to dismal forebodings。 And the
stormy mood of the Easterly weather looms black upon the sky with a
peculiar and amazing blackness。 The West Wind hangs heavy gray
curtains of mist and spray before your gaze； but the Eastern
interloper of the narrow seas； when he has mustered his courage and
cruelty to the point of a gale； puts your eyes out； puts them out
completely； makes you feel blind for life upon a lee…shore。 It is
the wind； also； that brings snow。
Out of his black and merciless heart he flings a white blinding
sheet upon the ships of the sea。 He has more manners of villainy；
and no more conscience than an Italian prince of the seventeenth
century。 His weapon is a dagger carried under a black cloak when
he goes out on his unlawful enterprises。 The mere hint of his
approach fills with dread every craft that swims the sea； from
fishing…smacks to four…masted ships that recognise the sway of the
West Wind。 Even in his most accommodating mood he inspires a dread
of treachery。 I have heard upwards of ten score of windlasses
spring like one into clanking life in the dead of night； filling
the Downs with a panic…struck sound of anchors being torn hurriedly
out of the ground at the first breath of his approach。
Fortunately； his heart often fails him： he does not always blow
home upon our exposed coast； he has not the fearless temper of his
Westerly brother。
The natures of those two winds that share the dominions of the
great oceans are fundamentally different。 It is strange that the
winds which men are prone to style capricious remain true to their
character in all the various regions of the earth。 To us here； for
instance； the East Wind comes across a great continent； sweeping
over the greatest body of solid land upon this earth。 For the
Australian east coast the East Wind is the wind of the ocean；
coming across the greatest body of water upon the globe； and yet
here and there its characteristics remain the same with a strange
consistency in everything that is vile and base。 The members of
the West Wind's dynasty are modified in a way by the regions they
rule； as a Hohenzollern； without ceasing to be himself； becomes a
Roumanian by virtue of his throne； or a Saxe…Coburg learns to put
the dress of Bulgarian phrases upon his particular thoughts；
whatever they are。
The autocratic sway of the West Wind； whether forty north or forty
south of the Equator； is characterized by an open； generous； frank；
barbarous recklessness。 For he is a great autocrat； and to be a
great autocrat you must be a great barbarian。 I have been too much
moulded to his sway to nurse now any idea of rebellion in my heart。
Moreover； what is a rebellion within the four walls of a room
against the tempestuous rule of the West Wind？ I remain faithful
to the memory of the mighty King with a double…edged sword in one
hand； and in the other holding out rewards of great daily runs and
famously quick passages to those of his courtiers who knew how to
wait watchfully for every sign of his secret mood。 As we deep…
water men always reckoned； he made one year in three fairly lively
for anybody having business upon the Atlantic or down there along
the 〃forties〃 of the Southern Ocean。 You had to take the bitter
with the sweet； and it cannot be denied he played carelessly with
our lives and fortunes。 But； then； he was always a great king； fit
to rule over the great waters where； strictly speaking； a man would
have no business whatever but for his audacity。
The audacious should not complain。 A mere trader ought not to
grumble at the tolls levied by a mighty king。 His mightiness was
sometimes very overwhelming； but even when you had to defy him
openly； as on the banks of the Agulhas homeward bound from the East
Indies； or on the outward passage round the Horn； he struck at you
fairly his stinging blows （full in the face； too）； and it was your
business not to get too much staggered。 And； after all； if you
showed anything of a countenance； the good…natured barbarian would
let you fight your way past the very steps of his throne。 It was
only now and then that the sword descended and a head fell； but if
you fell you were sure of impressive obsequies and of a roomy；
generous grave。
Such is the king to whom Viking chieftains bowed their heads； and
whom the modern and palatial steamship defies with impunity seven
times a week。 And yet it is but defiance； not victory。 The
magnificent barbarian sits enthroned in a mantle of gold…lined
clouds looking from on high on great ships gliding like mechanical
toys upon his sea and on men who； armed with fire and iron； no
longer need to watch anxiously for the slightest sign of his royal
mood。 He is disregarded； but he has kept all his strength； all his
splendour； and a grea
