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！
wind we want； but it is not。 It's what we call a land wind； and a land
wind is always very dangerous。〃
Ethelbertha wanted to know WHY a land wind was very dangerous。
Her argumentativeness annoyed me somewhat； maybe I was feeling a
bit cross； the monotonous rolling heave of a small yacht at anchor
depresses an ardent spirit。
〃I can't explain it to you；〃 I replied； which was true； 〃but to set sail in
this wind would be the height of foolhardiness； and I care for you too
much； dear； to expose you to unnecessary risks。〃
I thought this rather a neat conclusion； but Ethelbertha merely replied
that she wished； under the circumstances； we hadn't come on board till
Tuesday； and went below。
In the morning the wind veered round to the north； I was up early； and
observed this to Captain Goyles。
〃Aye； aye； sir；〃 he remarked； 〃it's unfortunate； but it can't be helped。〃
9
… Page 10…
THREE MEN ON THE BUMMEL
〃You don't think it possible for us to start to…day？〃 I hazarded。
He did not get angry with me； he only laughed。
〃Well； sir；〃 said he； 〃if you was a…wanting to go to Ipswich； I should
say as it couldn't be better for us； but our destination being； as you see； the
Dutch coastwhy there you are！〃
I broke the news to Ethelbertha； and we agreed to spend the day on
shore。 Harwich is not a merry town； towards evening you might call it
dull。 We had some tea and watercress at Dovercourt； and then returned
to the quay to look for Captain Goyles and the boat。 We waited an hour
for him。 When he came he was more cheerful than we were； if he had
not told me himself that he never drank anything but one glass of hot grog
before turning in for the night； I should have said he was drunk。
The next morning the wind was in the south； which made Captain
Goyles rather anxious； it appearing that it was equally unsafe to move or
to stop where we were； our only hope was it would change before
anything happened。 By this time； Ethelbertha had taken a dislike to the
yacht； she said that； personally； she would rather be spending a week in a
bathing machine； seeing that a bathing machine was at least steady。
We passed another day in Harwich； and that night and the next； the
wind still continuing in the south； we slept at the 〃King's Head。〃 On
Friday the wind was blowing direct from the east。 I met Captain Goyles
on the quay； and suggested that； under these circumstances； we might start。
He appeared irritated at my persistence。
〃If you knew a bit more； sir；〃 he said； 〃you'd see for yourself that it's
impossible。 The wind's a…blowing direct off the sea。〃
I said： 〃Captain Goyles； tell me what is this thing I have hired？ Is it a
yacht or a house…boat？〃
He seemed surprised at my question。
He said： 〃It's a yawl。〃
〃What I mean is；〃 I said； 〃can it be moved at all； or is it a fixture here？
If it is a fixture；〃 I continued； 〃tell me so frankly； then we will get some
ivy in boxes and train over the port…holes； stick some flowers and an
awning on deck； and make the thing look pretty。 If； on the other hand； it
can be moved〃
10
… Page 11…
THREE MEN ON THE BUMMEL
〃Moved！〃 interrupted Captain Goyles。 〃You get the right wind
behind the Rogue〃
I said： 〃What is the right wind？〃
Captain Goyles looked puzzled。
〃In the course of this week；〃 I went on； 〃we have had wind from the
north； from the south； from the east； from the westwith variations。 If
you can think of any other point of the compass from which it can blow；
tell me； and I will wait for it。 If not； and if that anchor has not grown into
the bottom of the ocean； we will have it up to…day and see what happens。〃
He grasped the fact that I was determined。
〃Very well； sir；〃 he said； 〃you're master and I'm man。 I've only got
one child as is still dependent on me； thank God； and no doubt your
executors will feel it their duty to do the right thing by the old woman。〃
His solemnity impressed me。
〃Mr。 Goyles；〃 I said； 〃be honest with me。 Is there any hope； in any
weather； of getting away from this damned hole？〃
Captain Goyles's kindly geniality returned to him。
〃You see； sir；〃 he said； 〃this is a very peculiar coast。 We'd be all right
if we were once out； but getting away from it in a cockle…shell like that
well； to be frank； sir； it wants doing。〃
I left Captain Goyles with the assurance that he would watch the
weather as a mother would her sleeping babe； it was his own simile； and it
struck me as rather touching。 I saw him again at twelve o'clock； he was
watching it from the window of the 〃Chain and Anchor。〃
At five o'clock that evening a stroke of luck occurred； in the middle of
the High Street I met a couple of yachting friends； who had had to put in
by reason of a strained rudder。 I told them my story； and they appeared
less surprised than amused。 Captain Goyles and the two men were still
watching the weather。 I ran into the 〃King's Head；〃 and prepared
Ethelbertha。 The four of us crept quietly down to the quay； where we
found our boat。 Only the boy was on board； my two friends took charge
of the yacht； and by six o'clock we were scudding merrily up the coast。
We put in that night at Aldborough； and the next day worked up to
Yarmouth； where； as my friends had to leave； I decided to abandon the
11
… Page 12…
THREE MEN ON THE BUMMEL
yacht。 We sold the stores by auction on Yarmouth sands early in the
morning。 I made a loss； but had the satisfaction of 〃doing〃 Captain
Goyles。 I left the Rogue in charge of a local mariner； who； for a couple
of sovereigns； undertook to see to its return to Harwich； and we came back
to London by train。 There may be yachts other than the Rogue； and
skippers other than Mr。 Goyles； but that experience has prejudiced me
against both。
George also thought a yacht would be a good deal of responsibility； so
we dismissed the idea。
〃What about the rive