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'Twixt Land & Sea-Part23_JOSEPH CONRAD (1857-1924)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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gesture. Pooh! Nothing, nothing could happen to the brig, he

cried, as if the flame of his heart could light up the dark nights



of uncharted seas, and the image of Freya serve for an unerring

beacon amongsthidden shoals; as if the winds had to wait on his



future, the stars fight for it in their courses; as if the magic of

his passion had the power to float a ship on a drop of dew or sail



her through the eye of a needle - simply because it was her

magnificent lot to be the servant of a love so full of grace as to



make all the ways of the earth safe, resplendent, and easy.

"I suppose," I said, after he had finished laughing at my innocent



enough remark, "I suppose you will be off to-day."

That was what he meant to do. He had not gone at daylight only



because he expected me to come in.

"And only fancy what has happened yesterday," he went on. "My mate



left me suddenly. Had to. And as there's nobody to be found at a

short notice I am going to take Schultz with me. The notorious



Schultz! Why don't you jump out of your skin? I tell you I went

and unearthed Schultz late last evening, after no end of trouble.



'I am your man, captain,' he says, in that wonderful voice of his,

'but I am sorry to confess I have practically no clothes to my



back. I have had to sell all my wardrobe to get a little food from

day to day.' What a voice that man has got. Talk about moving



stones! But people seem to get used to it. I had never seen him

before, and, upon my word, I felt suddenly tears rising to my eyes.



Luckily it was dusk. He was sitting very quiet under a tree in a

native compound as thin as a lath, and when I peered down at him



all he had on was an old cotton singlet and a pair of ragged

pyjamas. I bought him six white suits and two pairs of canvas



shoes. Can't clear the ship without a mate. Must have somebody.

I am going on shore presently to sign him on, and I shall take him



with me as I go back on board to get under way. Now, I am a

lunatic - am I not? Mad, of course. Come on! Lay it on thick.



Let yourself go. I like to see you get excited."

He so evidently expected me to scold that I took especial pleasure



in exaggerating the calmness of my attitude.

"The worst that can be brought up against Schultz," I began,



folding my arms and speaking dispassionately, "is an awkward habit

of stealing the stores of every ship he has ever been in. He will



do it. That's really all that's wrong. I don't credit absolutely

that story Captain Robinson tells of Schultz conspiring in



Chantabun with some ruffians in a Chinese junk to steal the anchor

off the starboard bow of the Bohemian Girl schooner. Robinson's



story is too ingeniousaltogether. That other tale of the

engineers of the Nan-Shan finding Schultz at midnight in the



engine-room busy hammering at the brass bearings to carry them off

for sale on shore seems to me more authentic. Apart from this



little weakness, let me tell you that Schultz is a smarter sailor

than many who never took a drop of drink in their lives, and



perhaps no worse morally than some men you and I know who have

never stolen the value of a penny. He may not be a desirable



person to have on board one's ship, but since you have no choice he

may be made to do, I believe. The important thing is to understand



his psychology. Don't give him any money till you have done with

him. Not a cent, if he begs ever so. For as sure as Fate the



moment you give him any money he will begin to steal. Just

remember that."



I enjoyed Jasper's incredulous surprise.

"The devil he will!" he cried. "What on earth for? Aren't you



trying to pull my leg, old boy?"

"No. I'm not. You must understand Schultz's psychology. He's



neither a loafer nor a cadger. He's not likely to wander about

looking for somebody to stand him drinks. But suppose he goes on



shore with five dollars, or fifty for that matter, in his pocket?

After the third or fourth glass he becomes fuddled and charitable.






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