PART V My Sea Adventure02（第1页）

therewerethetwowatchmen，sureenough:redcaponhisback，asstiffasahandspike，withhisarmsstretchedoutlikethoseofacrucifixandhisteethshowingthroughhisopenlips;israelhandsproppedagainstthebulwarks，hischinonhischest，hishandslyingopenbeforehinthedeck，hisfaceaswhite，underitstan，asatallowcandle.

forawhiletheshipkeptbuckingandsidlinglikeavicioushorse，thesailsfilling，nowonoack，nowonanother，andtheboomswingingtoandfrotillthemastgroanedaloudunderthestrain.nowandagaintootherewouldeacloudoflightspraysoverthebulwarkandaheavyblowoftheshipsbowsagainsttheswell;edshipthanbymyhome-made，lopsidedcoracle，nowgoothebottofthesea.

ateveryjumpoftheschooner，red-capslippedtoandfro，but—whatwasghastlytobehold—neitherhisattitudenorhisfixedteeth-rinwasanywaydisturbedbythisroughusage.ateveryjumptoo，handsappearedstillretosinkintohimselfandsettledownuponthedeck，hisfeetslidingeverthefartherout，andthewholebodycantowardsthestern，sothathisfacebecame，littlebylittle，hidfromme;andatlasticouldseenothingbeyondhisearandthefrayedringletofonewhisker.

atthesametime，iobserved，aroundbothofthem，splashesofdarkbloodupontheplanksandbegantofeelsurethattheyhadkilledeachotherintheirdrunkenwrath.

whileiwasthuslookingandwondering，inacalmment，whentheshipwasstill，israelhandsturnedpartlyroundandwithalowanwrithedhimselfbacktothepositioninwhichihadseenhimfirst.thean，whichtoldofpainanddeadlyweakness，andthewayinwhichhisjaw混gopenwentrighttomyheart.butwhenirememberedthetalkihadoverheardfromtheapplebarrel，allpityleftme.

iwalkedaftuntilireachedthemain-mast.

"eaboard，mr.hands，"isaidironically.

herolledhiseyesroundheavily，buthewastoofargooexpresssurprise.allhecoulddowastoutteroneword，"brandy."

urredtometherewasnotimetolose，anddodgingtheboomasitoncere露rchedacrossthedeck，islippedaftanddownthepanionstairsintothecabin.

itwassuchasceneofconfusionasyoucanhardlyfancy.allthelockfastplaceshadbeenbrokenopeninquestofthechart.thefloorwasthickwithmudwhereruffianshadsatdowntodrinkorconsultafterwadinginthemarshesroundtheircamp.thebulkheads，allpaintedinclearwhiteandbeadedroundwithgilt，boreapatternofdirtyhands.dozensofemptybottlesclinkedtogetherincornerstotherollingoftheship.oneofthedoctorsmedicalbookslayopenonthetable，halfoftheleavesguttedout，isuppose，forpipelights.inthemidstofallthisthelampstillcastaskyglow，obscureandbrownasumber.

iwentintothecellar;allthebarrelsweregone，andofthebottlesastsurprisingnumberhadbeendrunkoutandthrownaway.certainly，sincethemutinybegan，notamanofthemcouldeverhavebeensober.

foragingabout，ifoundabottlewithsomebrandyleft，forhands;andformyselfiroutedoutsomebiscuit，somepickledfruits，agreatbunchofraisins，andapieceofcheese.withtheseicameondeck，putdownmyownstockbehindtherudderheadandwelloutofthecoxswainsreach，wentforwardtothewaterbreaker，andhadagooddeepdrinkofwater，andthen，andnottillthen，gavehandsthebrandy.

hemusthavedrunkagillbeforehetookthebottlefromhisuth.

"aye，"saidhe，"byt混der，butiwantedsomeothat!"

ihadsatdownalreadyinmyowncornerandbeguntoeat.

"muchhurt?"iaskedhi

hegrunted，orrather，imightsay，hebarked.

"ifthatdoctorwasaboard，"hesaid，"idberightenoughinacoupleofturns，butidonthavenomannerof露ck，yousee，andthatswhatsthematterwithme.asforthatswab，hesgoodanddead，heis，"headded，indicathemanwiththeredcap."hewarntnoseamananyhow.andwhereughtyouhaveefrom?"

"well，"saidi，"iveeaboardtotakepossessionofthisship，mr.hands;andyoullpleaseregardmeasyourcaptainuntilfurthernotice."

helookedatmesourlyenoughbutsaidnothing.someofthecolourhadebackintohischeeks，thoughhestilllookedverysickandstillcontinuedtoslipoutandsettledownastheshipbangedabout.

"bytheby，"icontinued，"icanthavethesecolours，mr.hands;andbyyourleave，illstrikeebetternohanthese."

andagaindodgingtheboom，irantothecolourlines，handeddowntheircursedblackflag，andchuckeditoverboard.

"godsavetheking!"saidi，wavingmycap."andtheresanendtocaptainsilver!"

hewatchedmekeenlyandslyly，hischinallthewhileonhisbreast.

"ireckon，"hesaidatlast，"ireckon，capnhawkins，youllkindofwanttogetashorenow.sposewetalks."

"why，yes，"saysi，"withallmyheart，mr.hands.sayon."andiwentbacktomymealwithagoodappetite.

"thisman，"hebegan，noddingfeeblyatthecorpse"—obrienwerehisname，arankirelander—thismanandmegotthecanvasonher，meaningfortosailherback.well，hesdeadnow，heis—asdeadasbilge;andwhostosailthisship，idontsee.withoutigivesyouahint，youaintthatman，asfarsicantell.now，lookhere，yougivesmefoodanddrinkandaoldscarforankechertotiemywoundup，youdo，andilltellyouhowtosailher，andthatsaboutsquareallround，itakeit."

"illtellyouohing，"saysi:"imnotgoingbacktocaptainkiddsanchorage.imeantogetintonorthinletandbeachherquietlythere."

"tobesureyoudid，"hecried."why，iaintsichaninfernal露bberafterall.icansee，canti?ivetriedmyfling，ihave，andivelost，anditsyouhasthewindofme.northinlet?why，ihaventnochice，noti!idhelpyousailheruptoexecutiondock，byt混der!soiwould."