westward ho- 第126部分

Amyas　goes　to　the　Admiral；　and　gives　his　message。

〃Mercy　on　me！　　Where　be　my　wits？　　Iss；　I'm　a…coming；〃　says　the　old　hero　in　his　broadest　Devon；　waddles　off　to　the　old　man；　and　begins　lugging　at　a　pocket。　　〃Here；　Martin；　I've　got　mun；　I've　got　mun；　man　alive；　but　his　Lordship　keept　me　so。　　Lookee　here；　then！　　Why；　I　do　get　so　lusty　of　late；　Martin；　I　can't　get　to　my　pockets！〃

And　out　struggle　a　piece　of　tarred　string；　a　bundle　of　papers；　a　thimble；　a　piece　of　pudding…tobacco；　and　last　of　all；　a　little　paper　of　Muscovado　sugarthen　as　great　a　delicacy　as　any　French　bonbons　would　be　nowwhich　he　thrusts　into　the　old　man's　eager　and　trembling　hand。

Old　Martin　begins　dipping　his　finger　into　it；　and　rubbing　it　on　his　toothless　gums；　smiling　and　nodding　thanks　to　his　young　master；　while　the　little　maid　at　his　knee；　unrebuked；　takes　her　share　also。

〃There；　Admiral　Leigh；　both　ends　meetgramfers　and　babies！　　You　and　I　shall　be　like　to　that　one　day；　young　Samson！〃

〃We　shall　have　slain　a　good　many　Philistines　first；　I　hope。〃

〃Amen！　so　be　it；　but　look　to　mun！　so　fine　a　sailor　as　ever　drank　liquor；　and　now　greedy　after　a　hit　of　sweet　trade！　'tis　piteous　like；　but　I　bring　mun　a　hit　whenever　I　come；　and　he　looks　for　it。　He's　one　of　my　own　flesh　like；　is　old　Martin。　　He　sailed　with　my　father　Captain　Will；　when　they　was　both　two　little　cracks　aboard　of　a　trawler；　and　my　father　went　up；　and　here　I　amhe　didn't；　and　there　he　is。　　We'm　up　now；　we　Hawkinses。　　We　may　be　down　again　some　day。〃

〃Never；　I　trust；〃　said　Amyas。

〃'Tain't　no　use　trusting；　young　man：　you　go　and　do。　　I　do　hear　too　much　of　that　there　from　my　lad。　　Let　they　ministers　preach　till　they'm　black　in　the　face；　works　is　the　trade！〃　with　a　nudge　in　Amyas's　ribs。　　〃Faith　can't　save；　nor　charity　nether。　　There；　you　tell　with　him；　while　I　go　play　bowls　with　Drake。　　He'll　tell　you　a　sight　of　stories。　　You　ask　him　about　good　King　Hal；　now；　just〃

And　off　waddled　the　Port　Admiral。

〃You　have　seen　good　King　Henry；　then；　father？〃　said　Amyas；　interested。

The　old　man's　eyes　lighted　at　once；　and　he　stopped　mumbling　his　sugar。

〃Seed　mun？　　Iss；　I　reckon。　　I　was　with　Captain　Will　when　he　went　to　meet　the　Frenchman　there　to　Calaisat　the　Field；　the　Field〃

〃The　Field　of　the　Cloth　of　Gold；　gramfer；〃　suggested　the　dame。

〃That's　it。　　Seed　mun？　　Iss；　fegs。　　Oh；　he　was　a　king！　　The　face　o'　mun　like　a　rising　sun；　and　the　back　o'　mun　so　broad　as　that　there〃　（and　he　held　out　his　palsied　arms）；　〃and　the　voice　of　mun！　　Oh；　to　hear　mun　swear　if　he　was　merry；　oh；　'tas　royal！Seed　mun？　　Iss；　fegs！　　And　I've　seed　mun　do　what　few　has；　I've　seed　mun　christle　like　any　child。〃

〃Whatcry？〃　said　Amyas。　　〃I　shouldn't　have　thought　there　was　much　cry　in　him。〃

〃You　think　what　you　like〃

〃Gramfer；　gramfer；　don't　you　be　rude；　now

〃Let　him　go　on；〃　said　Amyas。

〃I　seed　mun　christle；　and；　oh　dear；　how　he　did　put　hands　on　mun's　face；　and　'Oh；　my　gentlemen；'　says　he；　'my　gentlemen！　　Oh；　my　gallant　men！'　　Them　was　his　very　words。〃

〃But　when？〃

〃Why；　Captain　Will　had　just　come　to　the　Hardthat's　to　Portsmouth　to　speak　with　mun；　and　the　barge　Royal　lay　again　the　Hardso；　and　our　boot　alongsideso；　and　the　king　he　standth　as　it　might　be　there；　above　my　head；　on　the　quay　edge；　and　she　come　in　near　abreast　of　us；　looking　most　royal　to　behold；　poor　dear！　and　went　to　cast　about。　　And　Captain　Will；　saith　he；　'Them　lower　ports　is　cruel　near　the　water；'　for　she　had　not　more　than　a　sixteen　inches　to　spare　in　the　nether　overloop；　as　I　heard　after。　　And　saith　he；　'That　won't　do　for　going　to　windward　in　a　say；　Martin。'　　And　as　the　words　came　out　of　mun's　mouth；　your　worship；　there　was　a　bit　of　a　flaw　from　the　westward；　sharp　like；　and　overboard　goeth　my　cap；　and　hitth　against　the　wall；　and　as　I　stooped　to　pick　it　up；　I　heard　a　cry；　and　it　was　all　over！〃

〃He　is　telling　of　the　Mary　Rose；　sir。〃

〃I　guessed　so。〃

〃All　over：　and　the　cry　of　mun；　and　the　screech　of　mun！　　Oh；　sir；　up　to　the　very　heavens！　　And　the　king　he　screeched　right　out　like　any　maid；　'Oh　my　gentlemen；　oh　my　gallant　men！'　and　as　she　lay　on　her　beam…ends；　sir；　and　just　a…settling；　the　very　last　souls　I　seen　was　that　man's　father；　and　that　man's。　　I　knowed　mun　by　their　armor。〃

And　he　pointed　to　Sir　George　Carew　and　Sir　Richard　Grenville。

〃Iss！　Iss！　　Drowned　like　rattens。　　Drowned　like　rattens！〃

〃Now；　you　mustn't　trouble　his　worship　any　more。〃

〃Trouble？　　Let　him　tell　till　midnight；　I　shall　be　well　pleased；〃　said　Amyas；　sitting　down　on　the　bench　by　him。　　〃Drawer！　aleand　a　parcel　of　tobacco。〃

And　Amyas　settled　himself　to　listen；　while　the　old　man　purred　to　himself

〃Iss。　　They　likes　to　hear　old　Martin。　　All　the　captains　look　upon　old　Martin。〃

〃Hillo；　Amyas！〃　said　Cary；　〃who's　your　friend？　　Here's　a　man　been　telling　me　wonders　about　the　River　Plate。　　We　should　go　thither　for　luck　there　next　time。〃

〃River　Plate？〃　said　old　Martin。　　〃It's　I　knows　about　the　River　Plate；　none　so　well。　　Who'd　ever　been　there；　nor　heard　of　it　nether；　before　Captain　Will　and　me　went；　and　I　lived　among　the　savages　a　whole　year；　and　audacious　civil　I　found　'em　if　they　'd　had　but　shirts　to　their　backs；　and　so　was　the　prince　o'　mun；　that　Captain　Will　brought　home　to　King　Henry；　leastwise　he　died　on　the　voyage；　but　the　wild　folk　took　it　cruel　well；　for　you　see；　we　was　always　as　civil　with　them　as　Christians；　and　if　we　hadn't　been；　I　should　not　have　been　here　now。〃

〃What　year　was　that？〃

〃In　the　fifteen　thirty：　but　I　was　there　afore；　and　learnt　the　speech　o'　mun；　and　that's　why　Captain　Will　left　me　to　a　hostage；　when　he　tuked　their　prince。〃

〃Before　that？〃　said　Cary；　〃why；　the　country　was　hardly　known　before　that。〃

The　old　man's　eyes　flashed　up　in　triumph。

〃Knowed？　　Iss；　and　you　may　well　say　that！　　Look　ye　here！　　Look　to　mun！〃　and　he　waved　his　hand　round〃There's　captains！　and　I'm　the　father　of　'em　all　now；　now　poor　Captain　Will's　in　gloory；　I；　Martin　Cockrem！　。　。　。　　Iss；　I've　seen　a　change。　　I　mind　when　Tavistock　Abbey　was　so　full　o'　friars；　and　goolden　idols；　and　sich　noxious　trade；　as　ever　was　a　wheat…rick　of　rats。　　I　mind　the　fight　off　Brest　in　the　French　warsOh；　that　was　a　fight；　surely！when　the　Regent　and　the　French　Carack　were　burnt　side　by　side；　being　fast　grappled；　you　see；　because　of　Sir　Thomas　Knivet；　and　Captain　Will　gave　him　warning　as　he　ran　a…past　us；　saying；　says　he〃

〃But；〃　said　Amyas；　seeing　that　the　old　man　was　wandering　away；　〃what　do　you　mind　about　America？〃

〃America？　　I　should　think　so！　　But　I　was　a…going　to　tell　you　of　the　Regentand　seven　hundred　Englishmen　burnt　and　drowned　in　her；　and　nine　hundred　French　in　the　Brest　ship；　besides　what　we　picked　up。　Oh　dear！　　But　about　America。〃

〃Yes；　about　America。　　How　are　you　the　father　of　all　the　captains？〃

〃How？　you　ask　my　young　master！　　Why；　before　the　fifteen　thirty；　I　was　up　the　Plate　with　Cabot　（and　a　cruel　fractious　ontrustful　fellow　he　was；　like　all　they　Portingals）；　and　bid　there　a　year　and　more；　and　up　the　Paraguaio　with　him；　diskivering　no　end；　whereby；　gentles；　I　was　the　first　Englishman；　I　hold；　that　ever　sot　a　foot　on　the　New　World；　I　was！〃

〃Then　here's　your　health；　and　long　life；　sir！〃　said　Amyas　and　Cary。

〃Long　life？　　Iss；　fegs；　I　reckon；　long　enough　a'ready！　　Why；　I　mind　the　beginning　of　it　all；　I　do。　　I　mind　when　there　wasn't　a　master　mariner　to　Plymouth；　that　thought　there　was　aught　west　of　the　Land's　End　except　herrings。　　Why；　they　held　them；　pure　wratches；　that　if　you　sailed　right　west　away　far　enough；　you'd　surely　come　to　the　edge；　and　fall　over　cleve。　　Iss'Twas　dark　parts　round　here；　till　Captain　Will　arose；　and　the　first　of　it　I　mind　was　inside　the　bar　of　San　Lucar；　and　he　and　I　were　boys　about　a　ten　year　old；　aboord　of　a　Dartmouth　ship；　and　went　for　wine；　and　there　come　in　over　the　bar　he　that　was　the　beginning　of　it　all。〃

〃Columbus？〃

〃Iss；　fegs；　he　did；　not　a　pistol…shot　from　us；　and　I　saw　mun　stand　on　the　poop；　so　plain　as　I　see　you；　no　great　shakes　of　a　man　to　look　to　nether；　there's　a　sight　better　here；　to　plase　me；　and　we　was　disappointed；　we　lads；　for　we　surely　expected　to　see　mun　with　a　goolden　crown　on；　and　a　sceptre　to　a's　hand；　we　did；　and　the　ship　o'　mun　all　over　like　Solomon's　temple　for　gloory。　　And　I　mind　that　same　year；　too；　seeing　Vasco　da　Gama；　as　was　going　out　over　the　bar；　when　he　found　the　Bona　Speranza；　and　sailed　round　it　to　the　Indies。　　Ah；　that　was　the　making　of　they　rascally　Portingals；　it　was！　。　。　。　And　our　crew　told　what　they　seen　and　heerd：　but　nobody　minded　sich　things。　　'Twas　dark　parts；　and　Popish；　then；　and　nobody　knowed　nothing；　nor　got　no　schooling；　nor　cared　for　nothing；　but　scrattling　up　and　down　alongshore　like　to　prawns　in　a　pule。　　Iss；　sitting　in　darkness；　we　was；　and　the　shadow　of　death；　till　the　day…　spring　from　on　high　arose；　and　shined　upon　us　poor　out…o'　…the…way　folkThe　Lord　be　praised！　　And　now；　look　to　mun！〃　and　he　waved　his　hand　all　round〃Look　to　mun！　　Look　to　the　works　of　the　Lord！　　Look　to　the　captains！　　Oh　blessed　sight！　　And　one's　been　to　the　Brazils；　and　one　to　the　Indies；　and　the　Spanish　Main；　and　the　North…West；　and　the　Rooshias；　and　the　Chinas；　and　up　the　Straits；　and　round　the　Cape；　and　round　the　world　of　God；　too；　bless　His　holy　name；　and　I　seed　the　beginning　of　it；　and　I'll　see　the　end　of　it　too；　I　will！　I　was　born　into　the　old　times：　but　I'll　see　the　wondrous　works　of　the　new；　yet；　I　will！　　I'll　see　they　bloody　Spaniards　swept　off　the　seas　before　I　die；　if　my　old　eyes　can　reach　so　far　as　outside　the　Sound。　　I　shall；　I　knows　it。　　I　says　my　prayers　for　it　every　night；　don't　I；　Mary？　　You'll　bate　mun；　sure　as　Judgment；　you'll　bate　mun！　The　Lord'll　fight　for　ye。　　Nothing'll　stand　against　ye。　　I've　seed　it　all　alongever　since　I　was　with　young　master　to　the　Honduras。　They　can't　bide　the　push　of　us！　　You'll　bate　mun　off　the　face　of　the　seas；　and　be　masters　of　the　round　world；　and　all　that　therein　is。　　And　then；　I'll　just　turn　my　old　face　to　the　wall；　and　depart　in　peace；　according　to　his　word。

〃Deary　me；　now；　while　I've　been　telling　with　you；　here've　this　little　maid　been　and　ate　up　all　my　sugar！〃

〃I'll　bring　you　some　more；〃　said　Amyas；　whom　the　childish　bathos　of　the　last　sentence　moved　rather　to　sighs　than　laughter。

〃Will　ye；　then？　　There's　a　good　soul；　and　come　and　tell　wi