the cruise of the dolphin-第1章

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The　Cruise　of　the　Dolphin

by　Thomas　Bailey　Aldrich




（　An　episode　from　The　Story　of　a　Bad　Boy；　the　narrator　being　Tom
Bailey；　the　hero　of　the　tale。）


Every　Rivermouth　boy　looks　upon　the　sea　as　being　in　some　way　mixed
up　with　his　destiny。　While　he　is　yet　a　baby　lying　in　his　cradle；　he
hears　the　dull；　far…off　boom　of　the　breakers；　when　he　is　older；　he
wanders　by　the　sandy　shore；　watching　the　waves　that　come　plunging
up　the　beach　like　white…maned　sea…horses；　as　Thoreau　calls　them；
his　eye　follows　the　lessening　sail　as　it　fades　into　the　blue
horizon；　and　he　burns　for　the　time　when　he　shall　stand　on　the
quarter…deck　of　his　own　ship；　and　go　sailing　proudly　across　that
mysterious　waste　of　waters。

Then　the　town　itself　is　full　of　hints　and　flavors　of　the　sea。　The
gables　and　roofs　of　the　houses　facing　eastward　are　covered　with　red
rust；　like　the　flukes　of　old　anchors；　a　salty　smell　pervades　the
air；　and　dense　gray　fogs；　the　very　breath　of　Ocean；　periodically
creep　up　into　the　quiet　streets　and　envelop　everything。　The
terrific　storms　that　lash　the　coast；　the　kelp　and　spars；　and
sometimes　the　bodies　of　drowned　men；　tossed　on　shore　by　the
scornful　waves；　the　shipyards；　the　wharves；　and　the　tawny　fleet　of
fishing…smacks　yearly　fitted　out　at　Rivermouththese　things；　and　a
hundred　other；　feed　the　imagination　and　fill　the　brain　of　every
healthy　boy　with　dreams　of　adventure。　He　learns　to　swim　almost　as
soon　as　he　can　walk；　he　draws　in　with　his　mother's　milk　the　art　of
handling　an　oar：　he　is　born　a　sailor；　whatever　he　may　turn　out　to
be　afterwards。

To　own　the　whole　or　a　portion　of　a　rowboat　is　his　earliest
ambition。　No　wonder　that　I；　born　to　this　life；　and　coming　back　to
it　with　freshest　sympathies；　should　have　caught　the　prevailing
infection。　No　wonder　I　longed　to　buy　a　part　of　the　trim　little
sailboat　Dolphin；　which　chanced　just　then　to　be　in　the　market。　This
was　in　the　latter　part　of　May。

Three　shares；　at　five　or　six　dollars　each；　I　forget　which；　had
already　been　taken　by　Phil　Adams；　Fred　Langdon；　and　Binny　Wallace。
The　fourth　and　remaining　share　hung　fire。　Unless　a　purchaser　could
be　found　for　this；　the　bargain　was　to　fall　through。

I　am　afraid　I　required　but　slight　urging　to　join　in　the　investment。
I　had　four　dollars　and　fifty　cents　on　hand；　and　the　treasurer　of
the　Centipedes　（1　A　secret　society；　composed　of　twelve　boys　of　the
Temple　Grammar　School；　Rivermouth。）　advanced　me　the　balance；
receiving　my　silver　pencil…case　as　ample　security。　It　was　a　proud
moment　when　I　stood　on　the　wharf　with　my　partners；　inspecting　the
Dolphin；　moored　at　the　foot　of　a　very　slippery　flight　of　steps。　She
was　painted　white　with　a　green　stripe　outside；　and　on　the　stern　a
yellow　dolphin；　with　its　scarlet　mouth　wide　open；　stared　with　a
surprised　expression　at　its　own　reflection　in　the　water。　The　boat
was　a　great　bargain。

I　whirled　my　cap　in　the　air；　and　ran　to　the　stairs　leading　down
from　the　wharf；　when　a　hand　was　laid　gently　on　my　shoulder。　I
turned；　and　faced　Captain　Nutter　（2　Tom　Bailey's　grandfather。）　I
never　saw　such　an　old　sharp…eye　as　he　was　in　those　days。

I　knew　he　would　not　be　angry　with　me　for　buying　a　rowboat；　but　I
also　knew　that　the　little　bowsprit　suggesting　a　jib　and　the
tapering　mast　ready　for　its　few　square　feet　of　canvas　were　trifles
not　likely　to　meet　his　approval。　As　far　as　rowing　on　the　river；
among　the　wharves；　was　concerned；　the　Captain　had　long　since
withdrawn　his　decided　objections；　having　convinced　himself；　by
going　out　with　me　several　times；　that　I　could　manage　a　pair　of
sculls　as　well　as　anybody。

I　was　right　in　my　surmises。　He　commanded　me；　in　the　most　emphatic
terms；　never　to　go　out　in　the　Dolphin　without　leaving　the　mast　in
the　boat…house。　This　curtailed　my　anticipated　sport；　but　the
pleasure　of　having　a　pull　whenever　I　wanted　it　remained。　I　never
disobeyed　the　Captain's　orders　touching　the　sail；　though　I
sometimes　extended　my　row　beyond　the　points　he　has　indicated。　

The　river　was　dangerous　for　sailboats。　Squalls；　without　the
slightest　warning；　were　of　frequent　occurrence；　scarcely　a　year
passed　that　three　or　four　persons　were　not　drowned　under　the　very
windows　of　the　town；　and　these；　oddly　enough；　were　generally
seacaptains；　who　either　did　not　understand　the　river；　or　lacked　the
skill　to　handle　a　small　craft。

A　knowledge　of　such　disasters；　one　of　which　I　witnessed；　consoled
me　somewhat　when　I　saw　Phil　Adams　skimming　over　the　water　in　a
spanking　breeze　with　every　stitch　of　canvas　set。　There　were　few
better　yachtsmen　than　Phil　Adams。　He　usually　went　sailing　alone；
for　both　Langdon　and　Binny　Wallace　were　under　the　same　restrictions
I　was。

Not　long　after　the　purchase　of　the　boat；　we　planned　an　excursion　to
Sandpeep　Island；　the　last　of　the　islands　in　the　harbor。　We　purposed
to　start　early　in　the　morning；　and　return　with　the　tide　in　the
moonlight。　Our　only　difficulty　was　to　obtain　a　whole　day's
exemption　from　school；　the　customary　half…holiday　not　being　long
enough　for　our　picnic。　Somehow；　we　could　not　work　it；　but　fortune
arranged　it　for　us。　I　may　say　here；　that；　whatever　else　I　did；　I
never　played　truant　（〃hookey〃　we　called　it）　in　my　life。

One　afternoon　the　four　owners　of　the　Dolphin　exchanged　significant
glances　when　Mr。　Grimshaw　announced　from　the　desk　that　there　would
be　no　school　the　following　day；　he　having　just　received
intelligence　of　the　death　of　his　uncle　in　Boston。　I　was　sincerely
attached　to　Mr。　Grimshaw；　but　I　am　afraid　that　the　death　of　his
uncle　did　not　affect　me　as　it　ought　to　have　done。

We　were　up　before　sunrise　the　next　morning；　in　order　to　take
advantage　of　the　flood…tide；　which　waits　for　no　man。　Our
preparations　for　the　cruise　were　made　the　previous　evening。　In　the
way　of　eatables　and　drinkables；　we　had　stored　in　the　stern　of　the
Dolphin　a　generous　bag　of　hard…tack　（for　the　chowder）；　a　piece　of
pork　to　fry　the　cunners　in；　three　gigantic　apple　pies　（bought　at
Pettingil's）；　half　a　dozen　lemons；　and　a　keg　of　spring　waterthe
last…named　articles　were　slung　over　the　side；　to　keep　it　cool；　as
soon　as　we　got　under　way。　The　crockery　and　the　bricks　for　our　camp…
stove　we　placed　in　the　bows　with　the　groceries；　which　included
sugar；　pepper；　salt；　and　a　bottle　of　pickles。　Phil　Adams
contributed　to　the　outfit　a　small　tent　of　unbleached　cotton　cloth；
under　which　we　intended　to　take　our　nooning。

We　unshipped　the　mast；　threw　in　an　extra　oar；　and　were　ready　to
embark。　I　do　not　believe　that　Christopher　Columbus；　when　he　started
on　his　rather　successful　voyage　of　discovery；　felt　half　the
responsibility　and　importance　that　weighed　upon　me　as　I　sat　on　the
middle　seat　of　the　Dolphin；　with　my　oar　resting　in　the　rowlock。　I
wonder　if　Christopher　Columbus　quietly　slipped　out　of　the　house
without　letting　his　estimable　family　know　what　he　was　up　to？
Charley　Marden；　whose　father　had　promised　to　cane　him　if　he　ever
stepped　foot　on　sail　or　row　boat；　came　down　to　the　wharf　in　a　sour…
grape　humor；　to　see　us　off。　Nothing　would　tempt　him　to　go　out　on
the　river　in　such　a　crazy　clam…shell　of　a　boat。　He　pretended　that
he　did　not　expect　to　behold　us　alive　again；　and　tried　to　throw　a
wet　blanket　over　the　expedition。

〃Guess　you'll　have　a　squally　time　of　it；〃　said　Charley；　casting　off
the　painter。　〃I'll　drop　in　at　old　Newbury's〃　（Newbury　was　the
parish　undertaker）　〃and　leave　word；　as　I　go　along！〃

〃Bosh！〃　muttered　Phil　Adams；　sticking　the　boathook　into　the
string…piece　of　the　wharf；　and　sending　the　Dolphin　half　a　dozen
yards　toward　the　current。

How　calm　and　lovely　the　river　was！　Not　a　ripple　stirred　on　the
glassy　surface；　broken　only　by　the　sharp　cutwater　of　our　tiny
craft。　The　sun；　as　round　and　red　as　an　August　moon；　was　by　this
time　peering　above　the　water…line。

The　town　had　drifted　behind　us；　and　we　were　entering　among　the
group　of　islands。　Sometimes　we　could　almost　touch　with　our　boat…
hook　the　shelving　banks　on　either　side。　As　we　neared　the　mouth　of
the　harbor；　a　little　breeze　now　and　then　wrinkled　the　blue　water；
shook　the　spangles　from　the　foliage；　and　gently　lifted　the　spiral
mist…wreaths　that　still　clung　alongshore。　The　measured　dip　of　our
oars　and　the　drowsy　twitterings　of　the　birds