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！
felicity of his own quotation； or at the mental picture he drew of Pepper
and myself on our travels
I couldn't tell； and I didn't care。 I was heart…broken。 How could I face
my chum after all the dazzling inducements I had held out to him？
My grandfather； seeing that I took the matter seriously； pointed out the
difficulties of such a journey and the great expense involved。 He entered
into the details of my father's money troubles； and succeeded in making it
plain to me that my wishes； under the circumstances； were somewhat
unreasonable。 It was in no cheerful mood that I joined Pepper at the end of
the wharf。
I found that young gentleman leaning against the bulkhead gazing
intently towards the islands in the harbor。 He had formed a telescope of his
hands； and was so occupied with his observations as to be oblivious of my
approach。
〃Hullo！〃 cried Pepper； dropping his hands。 〃Look there！ Isn't that a
bark coming up the Narrows？〃
〃Where？〃
〃Just at the left of Fishcrate Island。 Don't you see the foremast peeping
100
… Page 101…
The Story of a Bad Boy
above the old derrick？〃
Sure enough it was a vessel of considerable size； slowly beating up to
town。 In a few moments more the other two masts were visible above the
green hillocks。
〃Fore…topmasts blown away；〃 said Pepper。 〃Putting in for repairs； I
guess。〃
As the bark lazily crept from behind the last of the islands； she let go
her anchors and swung round with the tide。 Then the gleeful chant of the
sailors at the capstan came to us pleasantly across the water。 The vessel lay
within three quarters of a mile of us； and we could plainly see the men at
the davits lowering the starboard long…boat。 It no sooner touched the
stream than a dozen of the crew scrambled like mice over the side of the
merchantman。
In a neglected seaport like Rivermouth the arrival of a large ship is an
event of moment。 The prospect of having twenty or thirty jolly tars let
loose on the peaceful town excites divers emotions among the inhabitants。
The small shopkeepers along the wharves anticipate a thriving trade； the
proprietors of the two rival boarding…houses…the 〃Wee Drop〃 and the
〃Mariner's Home〃…hasten down to the landing to secure lodgers； and the
female population of Anchor Lane turn out to a woman； for a ship fresh
from sea is always full of possible husbands and long…lost prodigal sons。
But aside from this there is scant welcome given to a ship's crew in
Rivermouth。 The toil…worn mariner is a sad fellow ashore； judging him by
a severe moral standard。
Once； I remember； a United States frigate came into port for repairs
after a storm。 She lay in the river a fortnight or more； and every day sent
us a gang of sixty or seventy of our country's gallant defenders； who
spread themselves over the town； doing all sorts of mad things。 They were
good…natured enough； but full of old Sancho。 The 〃Wee Drop〃 proved a
drop too much for many of them。 They went singing through the streets at
midnight； wringing off door…knockers； shinning up water…spouts； and
frightening the Oldest Inhabitant nearly to death by popping their heads
into his second…story window； and shouting 〃Fire！〃 One morning a blue…
jacket was discovered in a perilous plight； half…way up the steeple of the
101
… Page 102…
The Story of a Bad Boy
South Church； clinging to the lightning…rod。 How he got there nobody
could tell； not even blue…jacket himself。 All he knew was； that the leg of
his trousers had caught on a nail； and there he stuck； unable to move either
way。 It cost the town twenty dollars to get him down again。 He directed
the workmen how to splice the ladders brought to his assistance； and
called his rescuers 〃butter…fingered land…lubbers〃 with delicious coolness。
But those were man…of…war's men： The sedate…looking craft now lying
off Fishcrate Island wasn't likely to carry any such cargo。 Nevertheless； we
watched the coming in of the long…boat with considerable interest。
As it drew near； the figure of the man pulling the bow…oar seemed
oddly familiar to me。 Where could I have seen him before？ When and
where？ His back was towards me； but there was something about that
closely cropped head that I recognized instantly。
〃Way enough！〃 cried the steersman； and all the oars stood upright in
the air。 The man in the bow seized the boat…hook； and； turning round
quickly； showed me the honest face of Sailor Ben of the Typhoon。
〃It's Sailor Ben！〃 I cried； nearly pushing Pepper Whitcomb overboard
in my excitement。
Sailor Ben； with the wonderful pink lady on his arm； and the ships and
stars and anchors tattooed all over him； was a well…known hero among my
playmates。 And there he was； like something in a dream come true！
I didn't wait for my old acquaintance to get firmly on the wharf； before
I grasped his hand in both of mine。
〃Sailor Ben； don't you remember me？〃
He evidently did not。 He shifted his quid from one cheek to the other；
and looked at me meditatively。
〃Lord love ye； lad； I don't know you。 I was never here afore in my
life。〃
〃What！〃 I cried； enjoying his perplexity。 〃Have you forgotten the
voyage from New Orleans in the Typhoon； two years ago； you lovely old
picture…book？〃
Ah！ then he knew me； and in token of the recollection gave my hand
such a squeeze that I am sure an unpleasant change came over my
countenance。
102
… Page 103…
The Story of a Bad Boy
〃Bless my eyes； but you have growed so。 I shouldn't have knowed you
if I had met you in Singapore！〃
Without stopping to inquire； as I was tempted to do； why he was more
likely to recognize me in Singapore than anywhere else； I invited him to
come at once up to the Nutter House； where I insured him a warm
welcome from the Captain。
〃Hold steady； Master Tom；〃 said Sailor Ben； slipping the painter
through the ringbolt and tying the loveliest knot you ever saw； 〃hold
steady till I see if the mate can let me off。 If you please； sir；〃 he continued；
addressing the steersman； a very red…faced； bow…legged person； 〃this here
is a little shipmate o' mine as wants to talk over back times along of me； if
so it's convenient。〃
〃All right； Ben；〃 returned the mate； 〃sha'n't want you for an hour。〃
Leaving one man in charge of the boat； the mate and the rest of the
crew went off together。 In the meanwhile Pepper Whitcomb had got out
his cunner…line； and was quietly fishing at the end of the wharf； as if to
give me the idea that he wasn't so very much impressed by my intimacy
with so renowned a character as Sailor Ben。 Perhaps Pepper was a little
jealous。 At any rate； he refused to go with us to the house。
Captain Nutter was at home reading the Rivennouth Barnacle。 He was
a reader to do an editor's heart good； he never skipped over an
advertisement； even if he had read it fifty times before。 Then the paper
went the rounds of the neighborhood； among the poor people； like the
single portable eye which the three blind crones passed to each other in the
legend of King Acrisius。 The Captain； I repeat； was wandering in the
labyrinths of the Rivermouth Barnacle when I led Sailor Ben into the
sitting…room。
My grandfather； whose inborn courtesy knew no distinctions； received
my nautical friend as if he had been an admiral instead of a common
forecastle…hand。 Sailor Ben pulled an imaginary tuft of hair on his
forehead； and bowed clumsily。 Sailors have a way of using their forelock
as a sort of handle to bow with。
The old tar had probably never been in so handsome an apartment in
all his days； and nothing could induce him to take the inviting mahogany
103
… Page 104…
The Story of a Bad Boy
ch