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BENITO CERENO-Part10_HERMAN MELVILLE (1819-1891)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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Spanish seaman, whose countenance evinced his due share in the general

hopefulness and confidence at the coming of the breeze.



He proved the same man who had behaved with so shamefaced an air

on the windlass.



"Ah,- it is you, my man," exclaimed Captain Delano- "well, no more

sheep's-eyes now;- look straight forward and keep the ship so. Good



hand, I trust? And want to get into the harbour, don't you?"

"Si Senor," assented the man with an inwardchuckle, grasping



the tiller-head firmly. Upon this, unperceived by the American, the

two blacks eyed the sailor askance.



Finding all right at the helm, the pilot went forward to the

forecastle, to see how matters stood there.



The ship now had way enough to breast the current. With the

approach of evening, the breeze would be sure to freshen.



Having done all that was needed for the present, Captain Delano,

giving his last orders to the sailors, turned aft to report affairs to



Don Benito in the cabin; perhaps additionally incited to rejoin him by

the hope of snatching a moment's private chat while his servant was



engaged upon deck.

From opposite sides, there were, beneath the poop, two



approaches to the cabin; one further forward than the other, and

consequently communicating with a longer passage. Marking the



servant still above, Captain Delano, taking the nighest entrance-

the one last named, and at whose porch Atufal still stood- hurried



on his way, till, arrived at the cabin threshold, he paused an

instant, a little to recover from his eagerness. Then, with the



words of his intended business upon his lips, he entered. As he

advanced toward the Spaniard, on the transom, he heard another



footstep, keeping time with his. From the opposite door, a salver in

hand, the servant was likewise advancing.



"Confound the faithful fellow," thought Captain Delano; "what a

vexatious coincidence."



Possibly, the vexation might have been something different, were

it not for the buoyant confidence inspired by the breeze. But even



as it was, he felt a slight twinge, from a sudden involuntary

association in his mind of Babo with Atufal.



"Don Benito," said he, "I give you joy; the breeze will hold,

and will increase. By the way, your tall man and time-piece, Atufal,



stands without. By your order, of course?"

Don Benito recoiled, as if at some bland satirical touch,



delivered with such adroit garnish of apparent good-breeding as to

present no handle for retort.



He is like one flayed alive, thought Captain Delano; where may one

touch him without causing a shrink?



The servant moved before his master, adjusting a cushion; recalled

to civility, the Spaniard stiffly replied: "You are right. The slave



appears where you saw him, according to my command; which is, that

if at the given hour I am below, he must take his stand and abide my



coming."

"Ah now, pardon me, but that is treating the poor fellow like an



ex-king denied. Ah, Don Benito," smiling, "for all the license you

permit in some things, I fear lest, at bottom, you are a bitter hard



master."

Again Don Benito shrank; and this time, as the good sailor



thought, from a genuine twinge of his conscience.

Conversation now became constrained. In vain Captain Delano called



attention to the now perceptiblemotion of the keel gently cleaving

the sea; with lack-lustre eye, Don Benito returned words few and



reserved.

By-and-by, the wind having steadily risen, and still blowing right



into the harbour, bore the San Dominick swiftly on. Rounding a point

of land, the sealer at distance came into open view.



Meantime Captain Delano had again repaired to the deck,

remaining there some time. Having at last altered the ship's course,



so as to give the reef a wide berth, he returned for a few moments

below.



I will cheer up my poor friend, this time, thought he.

"Better and better, Don Benito," he cried as he blithely



re-entered; "there will soon be an end to your cares, at least for




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