the vision spendid(美景)-第34部分
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It came on them in a rush。 The sun went out of a black sky like a
blown candle and the sea began to whip itself to a froth。 The wind
quickened； boomed to a roar； and sent the schooner heeling to a squall
across the leaden waters。 The open sea closed in on them。 Before they
could get in sail and make secure the sheets ripped with a scream； braces
parted and the topmasts snapped off。 The _Nancy_ went pitching forward
into the yawning deeps with drunken plunges from which it seemed she
would never emerge。 Great combing seas toppled down and pounded the
decks； while the sailors clung to stays or whatever would give them a
hold。
The squall lasted scarce an hour； but it left the schooner dismantled。
Her sheets were in ribbons； her topmasts and bowsprit gone。 There was
nothing for it but a crippled beat toward the Islands。
Four days later she made an offing in the harbor at Honolulu just as a
liner was nosing her way out。
Bully Green ranged up beside Farnum and cast a speculative eye on
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him。
〃Sport； I had ought to iron you and keep you in the fo'c'sle until we
leave here。 It's the only square thing to do。〃
Jeff's gaze was on the advancing steamer。 She was scarce two hundred
yards away now and he could plainly read the name painted on her side。
She was the _Bellingham_ of Verden。
〃I don't see the necessity； sir；〃 he answered。
〃I reckon you do； son。 Samuel Green stands by his word to a finish。
Now I've promised to keep you safe； and you can bet your last dollar I'm
a…going to do it。〃
His prisoner turned from the rail against which he was leaning to the
captain。 Pinpoints of light were gleaming in the big eyes。
〃How much safer do you want me than this？〃
Green expectorated at a chip in the water and shifted his quid。 〃You've
got brains； son。 No telling what you might try to do。 But see here。 You're
no drunken beachcomber。 I know a gentleman when I see one。 Gimme
your word you'll not try to skip out or send a message back to the States
and I'll go easy on you。 I'm so dashed kindhearted； I am； that〃
Jeff leaped to the rail； stood poised an instant； and dived into the blue
Pacific。
〃Well； I'll be 〃 Bully Green interrupted himself to roar an order to
lower a boat。
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CHAPTER 16
A young man left his father's house to see the world。 Everywhere he
found busy human beings。 Cities were rising toward the skies； seas and
plains were being lined with traffic； school； mill and office hummed with
life。 He wondered why men were so busy and what they were trying to do。
He went to a railroad director and asked： 〃Why are you building
railroads？〃 〃For profits；〃 was the answer。 But a laborer beckoned him
aside and whispered： 〃Nowe are making the _World_ one neighborhood。
East is now next door to West； and all peoples dwell in one continuing
city。〃
The young man went to the boss of a labor union。 〃Why；〃 he asked；
〃do you spend your days breeding discontent and leading strikes？〃
〃Why？〃 repeated the leader fiercely； 〃that the workers receive more pay
for shorter hours。〃 〃No；〃 whispered a laborer； 〃we are teaching the
_World_ the sacred value of human beings。 We are learning how to be
brotherlyhow to stand up for each other。 James Oppenheim。
UNDER STRANGE CIRCUMSTANCES THE REBEL MAKES
HIS BOW TO POLITE SOCIETY。 TAKING AN APPLE AS A TEXT； HE
PREACHES ON THE RISE OF ADAM
PART 1
〃Man overboard！〃
Somebody on the liner sang it out。 Instantly there was a rush of
passengers to the side。 From the schooner a boat was being lowered and
manned。
〃I see him。 He's swimming this way。 I believe he's trying to escape；〃
one slender young woman cried。
〃Nonsense； Alice！ He fell overboard and he's probably so frightened
he doesn't know which way he is swimming。〃 This suggestion was from
the beautiful blonde with bronze hair who stood beside her under a tan
parasol held by a fresh…faced globetrotter。
〃Don't you believe it； Val。 Look how he's cutting through the water。
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He's trying to reach us。 Oh； I hope they won't get him。 Somebody get a
rope to throw out。〃
〃By Jove； you're right； Miss Alice；〃 cried the Englishman。 〃It's a race；
and it's going to be a near thing。〃 He disappeared and was presently back
with a rope。
〃Come on！ Come on！〃 screamed the passengers to the swimmer。 〃He's
ripping strong with that overhead stroke。 Ye gods； it's close！〃 exclaimed
the Britisher。
It was。 The swimmer reached the side of the ship not four yards in
front of the pursuing boat。 He caught at the trailing rope and began to
clamber up hand over hand； while the Englishman； a man standing near；
and Alice Frome dragged him up。
The mate of the Nancy Hanks； standing up in the boat； caught at his
foot and pulled。 The man's hold loosened on the rope。 He slid down a foot；
steadied himself。 Suddenly the left leg shot out and caught the grinning
mate in the mouth。 He went over backward into the bottom of the boat。
Before he could extricate himself from the tangle his fall had precipitated；
the dripping figure of the swimmer stood safely on the deck of the
_Bellingham。_
In his wet foul slops the man was a sight to draw stares。 The cabin
passengers moved back to give him a wide circle； as men do with a wet
retriever。
〃What does this mean； my man？〃 demanded the captain of the
_Bellingham；_ pushing forward。 He was a big red…faced figure with a
heavy roll of fat over his collar。
〃I have been shanghaied； sir。 From Verden。 I'm the editor of the
_World_ of that city。〃
〃That's a lie；〃 proclaimed the mate of the _Nancy Hanks_ ； who by this
time had reached the deck。 〃He's a nutty deckswabber we picked up at
'Frisco。〃
〃Why； it's Mr。 Farnum；〃 cried a fresh young voice from the circle。
The rescued man turned。 His eyes joined those of a slim golden girl
and he was struck dumb。
〃You know this man； Miss Frome？〃 the captain asked。
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〃I know him by sight。〃 She stepped to the front。 〃There can't be any
doubt about it。 He's Mr。 Farnum of Verden； the editor of the _World。_〃
〃You're quite sure？〃
〃Quite sure； Captain Barclay。 My cousin knows him； too。〃
The captain turned to Mrs。 Van Tyle。 She nodded languidly。
Barclay swung back to the mate of the _Nancy Hanks_ 。 〃I know your
kind； my man； and I can tell you that I think the penitentiary would be the
proper place for you and your captain； with my compliments to him。〃
〃Better come and pay 'em yourself； sir；〃 sneered the mate。
〃Get off my deck； you dirty crimp；〃 roared the captain。 〃Slide now； or
I'll have you thrown off。〃
Mr。 Jones made a hurried departure。 Once in the boat； he shook his fist
at Barclay and cursed him fluently。
The captain turned away promptly。 〃Mr。 Farwell； if you'll step this way
the steward will outfit you with some clothes。 If they don't fit they'll do
better than those togs you're wearing。〃
The English youth came forward with a suggestion。 〃Really； I think I
can do better than that for Mr。 Far〃 He hesitated for the name。
〃Farnum；〃 supplied the owner of it。
〃Ah！ You're about my size； Mr。 Farnum。 If you don't mind； you know；
you're quite welcome to anything I have。〃
〃Thank you very much。〃
〃Very well。 Mr。 FarwellFarnum； I meanshake hands with
Lieutenant Beauchamp；〃 and with the sense of duty done the worthy
captain dismissed the new arrival from his mind。
Jeff bowed to Miss Frome and followed his broad…shouldered guide to
a cabin。 He was conscious of an odd elation that had not entirely to do
with a brave adventure happily ended。 The impelling cause of it was rather
the hope of a braver adventure happily begun。
PART 2
〃By Jove； I envy you； Mr。 Farnum。 Didn't know people bucked into
adventures like that these tame days。 Think of actually being shanghaied。
It's like a novel。 My word； the ladies will make a lion of you！〃
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The Englishman was dragging a steamer trunk from under his bed。 It
needed no second glance at his frank boyish face to divine him a friend
worth having。 Fresh…colored and blue…eyed； he looked very much the
country gentleman Jeff had read about but never seen。 It was perhaps by
the gif
