masterman ready-第6章

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ame　down　on　the　deck；　and　struck　him　senseless。　As　long　as　Captain　Osborn　commanded　them；　the　sailors　had　so　high　an　opinion　of　his　abilities　as　a　seaman；　and　were　so　encouraged　by　his　cheerful　disposition；　that　they　performed　their　work　well　and　cheerfully；　but　now　that　he　was；　if　not　killed；　at　all　events　senseless　and　incapable　of　action；　they　no　longer　felt　themselves　under　control。　Mackintosh　was　too　much　disliked　by　the　seamen　to　allow　his　words　to　have　any　weight　with　them。　They　were　regardless　of　his　injunctions　or　requests；　and　they　now　consulted　among　themselves。

〃The　gale　is　broke；　my　men；　and　we　shall　have　fine　weather　now；〃　observed　Ready；　going　up　to　the　sailors　on　the　forecastle。　〃The　wind　is　going　down　fast。〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　one　of　the　men；　〃and　the　ship　is　going　down　fast；　that's　quite　as　certain。〃

〃A　good　spell　at　the　pumps　would　do　us　some　good　now；〃　replied　Ready。　〃What　d'ye　say；　my　lads？〃

〃A　glass　of　grog　or　two　would　do　us　more；〃　replied　the　seaman。　〃What　d'ye　say；　my　boys？　I　don't　think　that　the　captain　would　refuse　us；　poor　fellow；　if　he　could　speak。〃

〃What　do　you　mean　to　do；　my　lads？〃　inquired　Mackintosh：　〃not　get　drunk；　I　hope？〃

〃Why　not？〃　observed　another　of　the　men；　〃the　ship　must　go　down　soon。〃

〃Perhaps　she　may　…　I　will　not　deny　it；〃　said　Mackintosh；　〃but　that　is　no　reason　why　we　should　not　be　saved：　now；　if　you　get　drunk；　there　is　no　chance　of　any　one　being　saved；　and　my　life　is　precious　to　me。　I'm　ready　to　join　with　you　in　anything　you　please；　and　you　may　decide　what　is　to　be　done；　but　get　drunk　you　shall　not；　if　I　can　help　it；　that's　certain。〃

〃And　how　can　you　help　it？〃　replied　one　of　the　seamen；　surlily。

〃Because　two　resolute　men　can　do　a　great　deal　…　I　may　say　three；　for　in　this　instance　Ready　will　be　of　my　side；　and　I　can　call　to　my　assistance　the　cabin　passenger　…　recollect　the　firearms　are　all　in　the　cabin。　But　why　should　we　quarrel？　…　Say　at　once　what　you　intend　to　do；　and　if　you　have　not　made　up　your　minds；　will　you　listen　to　what　I　propose？〃

As　Mackintosh's　courage　and　determination　were　well　known；　the　seamen　again　consulted　together；　and　then　asked　him　what　he　proposed。

〃We　have　one　good　boat　left；　the　new　yawl　at　the　booms：　the　others；　as　you　know；　are　washed　away；　with　the　exception　of　the　little　boat　astern；　which　is　useless；　as　she　is　knocked　almost　to　pieces。　Now　we　cannot　be　very　far　from　some　of　the　islands；　indeed　I　think　we　are　among　them　now。　Let　us　fit　out　the　boat　with　everything　we　require；　go　about　our　work　steadily　and　quietly；　drink　as　much　grog　as　will　not　hurt　us；　and　take　a　good　provision　of　it　with　us。　The　boat　is　complete　with　her　masts；　sails；　and　oars；　and　it's　very　hard　if　we　do　not　save　ourselves　somewhere。　Ready；　do　I　give　good　advice　or　not？〃

〃You　give　very　good　advice；　Mackintosh　…　only　what　is　to　become　of　the　cabin　passengers；　the　women；　and　children？　and　are　you　going　to　leave　poor　Captain　Osborn？　or　what　do　you　mean　to　do？〃

〃We　won't　leave　the　captain；〃　said　one　of　the　seamen。

〃No　…　no！〃　exclaimed　the　others。

〃And　the　passengers？〃

〃Very　sorry　for　them；〃　replied　the　former　spokesman；　〃but　we　shall　have　enough　to　do　to　save　our　own　lives。〃

〃Well；　my　lads；　I　agree　with　you；〃　said　Mackintosh。　〃Charity　begins　at　home。　What　do　you　say　I　…　shall　it　be　so？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　the　seamen；　unanimously；　and　Ready　knew　that　it　was　in　vain　to　expostulate。　They　now　set　about　preparing　the　boat；　and　providing　for　their　wants。　Biscuits；　salt　pork；　two　or　three　small　casks　of　water；　and　a　barrel　of　rum　were　collected　at　the　gangway；　Mackintosh　brought　up　his　quadrant　and　a　compass；　some　muskets；　powder　and　shot；　the　carpenter；　with　the　assistance　of　another　man；　cut　away　the　ship's　bulwarks　down　to　the　gunnel；　so　as　to　enable　them　to　launch　the　boat　overboard；　for　they　could　not；　of　course；　hoist　her　out　now　that　the　masts　were　gone。　In　an　hour　everything　was　prepared。　A　long　rope　was　made　fast　to　the　boat；　which　was　brought　to　the　gunnel　ready　for　launching　overboard；　and　the　ship's　broadside　was　brought　to　the　wind。　As　this　was　done；　Mr。　Seagrave　came　on　deck　and　looked　around　him。

He　perceived　the　boat　ready　for　launching；　the　provisions　and　water　at　the　gangway；　the　ship　brought　to　the　wind；　and　rolling　slowly　to　the　heave　of　the　sea；　at　last　he　saw　Ready　sitting　down　by　Captain　Osborn；　who　was　apparently　dead。　〃What　is　all　this；　Ready？〃　inquired　Seagrave。　〃Are　they　going　to　leave　the　ship？　have　they　killed　Captain　Osborn？〃

〃No；　sir；　…　not　quite　so　bad　as　that。　Poor　Captain　Osborn　was　struck　down　by　the　fall　of　the　yard；　and　has　been　insensible　ever　since；　but；　as　to　the　other　matter；　I　fear　that　is　decided：　you　see　they　are　launching　the　boat。〃

〃But　my　poor　wife；　she　will　never　be　able　to　go　…　she　cannot　move　…　she　is　so　ill！〃

〃I'm　afraid；　Mr。　Seagrave；　that　they　have　no　idea　of　taking　either　you；　or　your　wife；　or　your　children；　with　them。〃

〃What！　leave　us　here　to　perish　I　Merciful　Heaven！　how　cruel　…　how　barbarous！〃

〃It　is　not　kind；　Mr。　Seagrave；　but　still　you　see　it　is　the　law　of　nature。　When　it　is　a　question　of　life；　it　is　every　one　for　himself；　for　life　is　sweet：　they　are　not　more　unkind　than　they　would　be　to　each　other；　if　there　were　too　many　for　the　boat　to　hold。　I've　seen　all　this　before　in　my　time；〃　replied　Ready；　gravely。

〃My　wife！　my　children！〃　cried　Mr。　Seagrave；　covering　his　face　with　his　hands。　〃But　I　will　speak　to　them；〃　continued　he　after　a　pause；　〃surely　they　will　listen　to　the　dictates　of　humanity；　at　all　events　Mr。　Mackintosh　will　have　some　power　over　them。　Don't　you　think　so；　Ready？〃

〃Well；　Mr。　Seagrave；　if　I　must　speak；　I　confess　to　you　that　there　is　not　a　harder　heart　among　them　than　that　of　Mr。　Mackintosh；　and　it's　useless　speaking　to　him　or　any　one　of　them；　and　you　must　not　be　too　severe　upon　them　neither：　the　boat　is　small；　and　could　not　hold　more　people　with　the　provisions　which　they　take　with　them　…　that　is　the　fact。　If　they　were　to　take　you　and　your　family　into　the　boat；　it　might　be　the　cause　of　all　perishing　together；　if　I　thought　otherwise　I　would　try　what　I　could　do　to　persuade　them；　but　it　is　useless。〃

〃What　must　be　done；　then；　Ready？〃

〃We　must　put　our　trust　in　a　merciful　God；　Mr。　Seagrave；　who　will　dispose　of　us　as　he　thinks　fit。〃

〃We　must？　What！　do　not　you　go　with　them？〃

〃No；　Mr。　Seagrave。　I　have　been　thinking　about　it　this　last　hour；　and　I　have　made　up　my　mind　to　remain　with　you。　They　intend　to　take　poor　Captain　Osborn　with　them；　and　give　him　a　chance；　and　have　offered　to　take　me；　but　I　shall　stay　here。〃

〃To　perish？〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave；　with　surprise。

〃As　God　pleases；　Mr。　Seagrave　I　am　an　old　man；　and　it　is　of　little　consequence。　I　care　little　whether　I　am　taken　away　a　year　or　two　sooner；　but　I　do　not　like　to　see　blossoms　cut　off　in　early　spring：　I　may　be　of　use　if　I　remain；　for　I've　an　old　head　upon　my　shoulders；　and　I　could　not　leave　you　all　to　perish　when　you　might　be　saved　if　you　only　knew　how　to　act。　But　here　the　seamen　come　…　the　boat　is　all　ready；　and　they　will　now　take　poor　Captain　Osborn　with　them。〃

The　sailors　came　aft；　and　lifted　up　the　still　insensible　captain。　As　they　were　going　away　one　of　them　said；　〃Come；　Ready；　there's　no　time　to　lose。〃

〃Never　mind　me；　Williams；　I　shall　stick　to　the　ship；〃　replied　Ready。　〃I　wish　you　success　with　all　my　heart；　and；　Mr。　Mackintosh；　I　have　but　one　promise　to　exact　from　you；　and　I　hope　you　will　not　refuse　me：　which　is；　that　if　you　are　saved；　you　will　not　forget　those　you　leave　here　on　board；　and　take　measures　for　their　being　searched　for　among　the　islands。〃

〃Nonsense；　Ready！　come　into　the　boat；〃　replied　the　first　mate。

〃I　shall　stay　here；　Mr。　Mackintosh；　and　I　only　beg　that　you　will　promise　me　what　I　ask。　Acquaint　Mr。　Seagrave's　friends　with　what　has　happened；　and　where　it　is　most　likely　we　may　be　found；　if　it　please　God　to　save　us。　Do　you　promise　me　that？〃

〃Yes；　I　do；　if　you　are　determined　to　stay；　but；〃　continued　he；　going　up　to　Ready；　and　whispering　to　him；　〃it　is　madness：…　come　away；　man！〃

〃Good…bye；　Mr。　Mackintosh；〃　replied　Ready；　extending　his　hand。　〃You　will　keep　your　promise？〃

After　much　further　expostulation　on　the　part　of　Mackintosh　and　the　seamen；　to　which　Ready　gave　a　de