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！
But he； poor fellow； had a wife and children；…
Two things for dying people quite bewildering。
The ship was evidently settling now
Fast by the head； and； all distinction gone；
Some went to prayers again； and made a vow
Of candles to their saints… but there were none
To pay them with； and some look'd o'er the bow；
Some hoisted out the boats； and there was one
That begg'd Pedrillo for an absolution；
Who told him to be damn'd… in his confusion。
Some lash'd them in their hammocks； some put on
Their best clothes； as if going to a fair；
Some cursed the day on which they saw the sun；
And gnash'd their teeth； and； howling； tore their hair；
And others went on as they had begun；
Getting the boats out； being well aware
That a tight boat will live in a rough sea；
Unless with breakers close beneath her lee。
The worst of all was； that in their condition；
Having been several days in great distress；
'T was difficult to get out such provision
As now might render their long suffering less：
Men； even when dying； dislike inanition；
Their stock was damaged by the weather's stress：
Two casks of biscuit and a keg of butter
Were all that could be thrown into the cutter。
But in the long…boat they contrived to stow
Some pounds of bread； though injured by the wet；
Water； a twenty…gallon cask or so；
Six flasks of wine； and they contrived to get
A portion of their beef up from below；
And with a piece of pork； moreover； met；
But scarce enough to serve them for a luncheon…
Then there was rum； eight gallons in a puncheon。
The other boats； the yawl and pinnace； had
Been stove in the beginning of the gale；
And the long…boat's condition was but bad；
As there were but two blankets for a sail；
And one oar for a mast； which a young lad
Threw in by good luck over the ship's rail；
And two boats could not hold； far less be stored；
To save one half the people then on board。
'T was twilight； and the sunless day went down
Over the waste of waters； like a veil；
Which； if withdrawn； would but disclose the frown
Of one whose hate is mask'd but to assail；
Thus to their hopeless eyes the night was shown；
And grimly darkled o'er the faces pale；
And the dim desolate deep： twelve days had Fear
Been their familiar； and now Death was here。
Some trial had been making at a raft；
With little hope in such a rolling sea；
A sort of thing at which one would have laugh'd；
If any laughter at such times could be；
Unless with people who too much have quaff'd；
And have a kind of wild and horrid glee；
Half epileptical and half hysterical：…
Their preservation would have been a miracle。
At half…past eight o'clock； booms； hencoops； spars；
And all things； for a chance； had been cast loose；
That still could keep afloat the struggling tars；
For yet they strove； although of no great use：
There was no light in heaven but a few stars；
The boats put off o'ercrowded with their crews；
She gave a heel； and then a lurch to port；
And； going down head foremost… sunk； in short。
Then rose from sea to sky the wild farewell…
Then shriek'd the timid； and stood still the brave；
Then some leap'd overboard with dreadful yell；
As eager to anticipate their grave；
And the sea yawn'd around her like a hell；
And down she suck'd with her the whirling wave；
Like one who grapples with his enemy；
And strives to strangle him before he die。
And first one universal shriek there rush'd；
Louder than the loud ocean； like a crash
Of echoing thunder； and then all was hush'd；
Save the wild wind and the remorseless dash
Of billows； but at intervals there gush'd；
Acpanied with a convulsive splash；
A solitary shriek； the bubbling cry
Of some strong swimmer in his agony。
The boats； as stated； had got off before；
And in them crowded several of the crew；
And yet their present hope was hardly more
Than what it had been； for so strong it blew
There was slight chance of reaching any shore；
And then they were too many； though so few…
Nine in the cutter； thirty in the boat；
Were counted in them when they got afloat。
All the rest perish'd； near two hundred souls
Had left their bodies； and what 's worse； alas！
When over Catholics the ocean rolls；
They must wait several weeks before a mass
Takes off one peck of purgatorial coals；
Because； till people know what 's e to pass；
They won't lay out their money on the dead…
It costs three francs for every mass that 's said。
Juan got into the long…boat； and there
Contrived to help Pedrillo to a place；
It seem'd as if they had exchanged their care；
For Juan wore the magisterial face
Which courage gives； while poor Pedrillo's pair
Of eyes were crying for their owner's case：
Battista； though （a name call'd shortly Tita）；
Was lost by getting at some aqua…vita。
Pedro； his valet； too； he tried to save；
But the same cause； conducive to his loss；
Left him so drunk； he jump'd into the wave
As o'er the cutter's edge he tried to cross；
And so he found a wine…and…watery grave；
They could not rescue him although so close；
Because the sea ran higher every minute；
And for the boat… the crew kept crowding in it。
A small old spaniel；… which had been Don Jose's；
His father's； whom he loved； as ye may think；
For on such things the memory reposes
With tenderness… stood howling on the brink；
Knowing （dogs have such intellectual noses！）；
No doubt； the vessel was about to sink；
And Juan caught him up； and ere he stepp'd
Off； threw him in； then after him he leap'd。
He also stuff'd his money where he could
About his person； and Pedrillo's too；
Who let him do； in fact； whate'er he would；
Not knowing what himself to say； or do；
As every rising wave his dread renew'd；
But Juan； trusting they might still get through；
And deeming there were remedies for any ill；
Thus re…embark'd his tutor and his spaniel。
'T was a rough night； and blew so stiffly yet；
That the sail was becalm'd between the seas；
Though on the wave's high top too much to set；
They dared not take it in for all the breeze：
Each sea curl'd o'er the stern； and kept them wet；
And made them bale without a moment's ease；
So that themselves as well as hopes were damp'd；
And the poor little cutter quickly swamp'd。
Nine souls more went in her： the long…boat still
Kept above water； with an oar for mast；
Two blankets stitch'd together； answering ill
Instead of sail； were to the oar made fast：
Though every wave roll'd menacing to fill；
And present peril all before surpass'd；
They grieved for those who perish'd with the cutter；
And also for the biscuit…casks and butter。
The sun rose red and fiery； a sure sign
Of the continuance of the gale： to run
Before the sea until it should grow fine；
Was all that for the present could be done：
A few tea…spoonfuls of their rum and wine
Were served out to the people； who begun
To faint； and damaged bread wet through the bags；
And most of them had little clothes but rags。
They counted thirty； crowded in a space
Which left scarce room for motion or exertion；
They did their best to modify their case；
One half sate up； though numb'd with the immersion；
While t'other half were laid down in their place
At watch and watch； thus； shivering like the tertian
Ague i