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！
touching that of another。
＇4＇ The Feast of the Archangel Michael； a church festival
celebrated on September 29th。
＇5＇ 〃Broadside of thundering oaths；〃 i。e。； a volley of abuse。
Indeed； the worthy burghers began to surmise that he knew more of
those stories than mere hearsay。 Day after day their conjectures
concerning him grew more and more wild and fearful。 The
strangeness of his arrival； the strangeness of his manners； the
mystery that surrounded him；all made him something
incomprehensible in their eyes。 He was a kind of monster of the
deep to them； he was a merman； he was a behemoth； he was a
leviathan；in short； they knew not what he was。
The domineering spirit of this boisterous sea urchin at length grew
quite intolerable。 He was no respecter of persons； he contradicted
the richest burghers without hesitation； he took possession of the
sacred elbow chair； which time out of mind had been the seat of
sovereignty of the illustrious Ramm Rapelye。 Nay； he even went so
far； in one of his rough； jocular moods； as to slap that mighty
burgher on the back； drink his toddy； and wink in his face；a
thing scarcely to be believed。 From this time Ramm Rapelye
appeared no more at the inn。 His example was followed by several
of the most eminent customers； who were too rich to tolerate being
bullied out of their opinions or being obliged to laugh at another
man's jokes。 The landlord was almost in despair； but he knew not
how to get rid of this sea monster and his sea chest； who seemed
both to have grown like fixtures； or excrescences on his
establishment。
Such was the account whispered cautiously in Wolfert's ear by the
narrator； Peechy Prauw； as he held him by the button in a corner of
the hall； casting a wary glance now and then toward the door of the
barroom； lest he should be overheard by the terrible hero of his
tale。
Wolfert took his seat in a remote part of the room in silence；
impressed with profound awe of this unknown； so versed in
freebooting history。 It was to him a wonderful instance of the
revolutions of mighty empires； to find the venerable Ramm Rapelye
thus ousted from the throne； and a rugged tarpaulin＇1＇ dictating
from his elbow chair； hectoring the patriarchs； and filling this
tranquil little realm with brawl and bravado。
＇1＇ A kind of canvas used about a ship； hence； a sailor。
The stranger was； on this evening； in a more than usually
communicative mood； and was narrating a number of astounding
stories of plunderings and burnings on the high seas。 He dwelt
upon them with peculiar relish； heightening the frightful
particulars in proportion to their effect on his peaceful auditors。
He gave a swaggering detail of the capture of a Spanish
merchantman。 She was lying becalmed during a long summer's day；
just off from the island which was one of the lurking places of the
pirates。 They had reconnoitered her with their spyglasses from the
shore； and ascertained her character and force。 At night a picked
crew of daring fellows set off for her in a whaleboat。 They
approached with muffled oars； as she lay rocking idly with the
undulations of the sea； and her sails flapping against the masts。
They were close under the stern before the guard on deck was aware
of their approach。 The alarm was given； the pirates threw hand
grenades＇1＇ on deck； and sprang up the main chains；＇2＇ sword in
hand。
＇1＇ 〃Hand grenades；〃 i。e。； small shells of iron or glass filled
with gunpowder and thrown by hand。
＇2＇ 〃Main chains；〃 i。e。； strong bars of iron bolted at the lower
end to the side of a vessel； and secured at the upper end to the
iron straps of the blocks by which the shrouds supporting the masts
are extended。
The crew flew to arms； but in great confusion； some were shot down；
others took refuge in the tops； others were driven overboard and
drowned； while others fought hand to hand from the main deck to the
quarter…deck； disputing gallantly every inch of ground。 There were
three Spanish gentlemen on board； with their ladies； who made the
most desperate resistance。 They defended the companion way；＇1＇ cut
down several of their assailants； and fought like very devils； for
they were maddened by the shrieks of the ladies from the cabin。
One of the dons was old； and soon dispatched。 The other two kept
their ground vigorously； even though the captain of the pirates was
among their assailants。 Just then there was a shout of victory
from the main deck。 〃The ship is ours！〃 cried the pirates。
＇1＇ The companion way is a staircase leading to the cabin of a
ship。
One of the dons immediately dropped his sword and surrendered； the
other； who was a hot…headed youngster； and just married； gave the
captain a slash in the face that laid all open。 The captain just
made out to articulate the words； 〃No quarter。〃
〃And what did they do with their prisoners？〃 said Peechy Prauw
eagerly。
〃Threw them all overboard；〃 was the answer。 A dead pause followed
the reply。 Peechy Prauw sank quietly back； like a man who had
unwarily stolen upon the lair of a sleeping lion。 The honest
burghers cast fearful glances at the deep scar slashed across the
visage of the stranger； and moved their chairs a little farther
off。 The seaman； however； smoked on without moving a muscle； as
though he either did not perceive； or did not regard； the
unfavorable effect he had produced upon his hearers。
The half…pay officer was the first to break the silence； for he was
continually tempted to make ineffectual head against this tyrant of
the seas； and to regain his lost consequence in the eyes of his
ancient companions。 He now tried to match the gunpowder tales of
the stranger by others equally tremendous。 Kidd； as usual； was his
hero； concerning whom he seemed to have picked up many of the
floating traditions of the province。 The seaman had always evinced
a settled pique against the one…eyed warrior。 On this occasion he
listened with peculiar impatience。 He sat with one arm akimbo； the
other elbow on the table； the hand holding on to the small pipe he
was pettishly puffing； his legs crossed； drumming with one foot on
the ground； and casting every now and then the side glance of a
basilisk at the prosing captain。 At length the latter spoke of
Kidd's having ascended the Hudson with some of his crew； to land
his plunder in secrecy。
Kidd up the Hudson！〃 burst forth the seaman； with a tremendous
oath； 〃Kidd never was up the Hudson！〃
〃I tell you he was；〃 said the other。 〃Aye； and they say he buried
a quantity of treasure on the little flat that runs out into the
river； called the Devil's Dans Kammer。〃＇1＇
＇1＇ A huge； flat rock； projecting into the Hudson River above the
Highlands。
〃The Devil's Dans Kammer in your teeth！〃＇1＇ cried the seaman。 〃I
tell you Kidd never was up the Hudson。 What a plague do you know
of Kidd and his haunts？〃