stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第12节
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taken。 Now that I was aware of his failing； I was very sorry for the old
sailor； for on such a coast and in such a climate there was only one end to
it； and although I could not actually prevent him from taking the liquor； I
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resolved to watch him； and if such symptoms as I had seen before again
appeared； to tell Mr。 Bransome of them at all hazards。 But I was too late to
prevent what speedily followed my discovery。 It had come about that the
same mail… steamer that had brought out Mr。 Bransome had again
anchored off the Point； and again the weather was coarse and lowering。 A
stiff breeze had blown for some days； which made the rollers worse than
they had been for a long while。 Both Mr。 Bransome and Jackson watched
the weather with eager looks； but each was differently affected by it。
Bransome appeared to be anxious and nervous； while Jackson was excited；
and paced up and down the veranda； and kept； strange to say； for it was
contrary to his late habit； a watch upon Bransome's every movement。
Every now and then； too； he would rub his hands together as if in
eager expectation； and would chuckle to himself as he glanced seaward。
Of his own accord he gave orders to Sooka to get both the surf…boats ready
for launching； and to make the boys put on their newest loin… cloths； and
then； when everything was in readiness； he asked Bransome if he was
going off to the steamer。 〃I fear I must；〃 said Bransome； 〃but II don't
like the look of those cursed rollers。〃
At this Jackson laughed； and said something about 〃being afraid of
very little。〃
〃The beach is perfectly good；〃 he added； 〃Sooka knows； and Sooka is
the oldest patrao on the Point。〃
And Sooka； who was standing by； made a low obeisance to the agent；
and said that 〃the beach lived for well；〃 which was his way of expressing
in English that the sea was not heavy。
At that moment a gun was fired from the steamer as a signal to be
quick； and Bransome said； 〃I will go； but not in that black blackguard's
boat； it need not come；〃 and he went down to the beach。
It was one of Jackson's rules that when a boat went through the surf
there should be some one to watch it； so I walked to the end of the Point to
see the agent put off。 He got away safely； and I； seeing Sooka's boat lying
on the beach； and thinking that it would be as well to have it hauled up
under the boat…shed； was on the point of returning to the factory to give
the necessary order； when； to my surprise； I saw the boat's crew rush down
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the beach to the boat and begin to push it toward the sea。
I waved my arms as a signal to them to stop； but they paid no attention
to me； and I saw them run the boat into the water； jump into her； and pull
off； all singing a song to their stroke in their own language； the sound of
which came faintly up to the top of the Point。 〃Stupid fellows！〃 I muttered
to myself； 〃they might have known that the boat was not wanted；〃 and I
was again about to turn away； when I was suddenly seized from behind；
and carried to the very edge of the cliff； and then as suddenly released。
I sprang to one side； and turning round saw Jackson； with a look of
such savage fury on his face that I retreated a step or two in astonishment
at him。 He perceived my alarm； and burst out into a fit of laughter； which；
instead of reassuring me； had the opposite effect； it was so demoniacal in
character。 〃Ha！ ha！〃 he laughed again； 〃are you frightened？〃 and
advancing toward me； he put his face close to mine； peering into it with
bloodshot eyes； while his breath； reeking of spirits； poured into my
nostrils。
Involuntarily I put up my arm to keep him off。 He clutched it； and；
pointing with his other hand to the sea； whispered hoarsely； 〃What do you
hear of the surf？ Will the breakers be heavier before sundown？ See how
they begin to curve！ Listen how they already thunder； thunder； on the
beach！ I tell you they are impatientthey seek some one；〃 he shouted。 〃Do
you know；〃 he continued； lowering his voice again； and speaking almost
confidentially； 〃sooner or later some one is drowned upon that bar？〃 And
even as he spoke a fresh line of breakers arose from the deep； farther out
than any had been before。 This much I observed； but I was too greatly
unnerved by the strange manner of Jackson to pay further heed to the sea。
It had flashed across my mind that he was on the verge of an attack of
delirium tremens； from the effects of the liquor he had been consuming for
so long； and the problem was to get him back to the house quietly。
Suddenly a thought struck me。 Putting my arm within his； I said； as
coolly as I could； 〃Never mind the sea； Jackson； let us have a /matabicho/〃
（our local expression for a 〃drink〃）。 He took the bait； and came away
quietly enough to the house。 Once there； I enticed him into the dining…
room； and shutting to the door quickly； I locked it on the outside； resolving
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to keep him there until Mr。 Bransome should return； for； being alone； I
was afraid of him。
Then I went back to the end of the Point to look for the return of the
two boats。 When I reached it I saw that the rollers had increased in size in
the short time that I had been absent； and that they were breaking； one
after another； as fast as they could come shoreward； not pygmy waves； but
great walls of water along their huge length before they fell。
A surf such as I had never yet seen had arisen。 I stood and anxiously
watched through a glass the boats at the steamer's side； and at length； to
my relief； I saw one of them leave her； but as it came near I saw； to my
surprise； that Mr。 Bransome was not in the boat； and that it was not the one
that Sooka steered。 Quickly it was overtaken by the breakers； but escaped
their power； and came inshore on the back of a majestic roller that did not
break until it was close to the beach； where the boat was in safety。
Not without vague apprehension at his imprudence； but still not
anticipating any actual harm from it； I thought that Mr。 Bransome had
chosen to come back in Sooka's boat； and I waited and waited to see /it/
return； although the daylight had now so waned that I could no longer
distinguish what was going on alongside the steamer。 At last I caught sight
of the boat； a white speck upon the waters； and； just as it entered upon the
dangerous part of the bar； I discerned to my infinite amazement； that two
figures were seated in the sterna man and a womana white woman； I
could see her dress fluttering in the wind； and Sooka's black figure
standing behind her。
On came the boat； impelled by the swift…flowing seas； for a quarter of
an hour it was tossed on the crests of the waves。 Again and again it rose
and sank with them as they came rolling in； but somehow； after a little
further time； it seemed to me that it did not make such way toward the
shore as it should have done。
I lifted the glass to my eyes； and I saw that the boys were hardly
pulling at all； though the boat was not close to the rocks that were near the
cliff。 Nor did Sooka seem to be conscious of a huge roller that was swiftly
approaching him。 In my excitement I was just on the point of shouting to
warn those in the boat of their danger； although I knew that they could not
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understand what I might say； when I saw Jackson standing on the edge of
the cliff； a little way off； dressed in his shirt and trousers only。 He had
escaped from the house！ He perceived that I saw him； and came running
up on me； and I threw myself on my guard。 However； he did not attempt to
touch me； but stopped and cried：
〃Did I not tell you that somebody would be drowned by those waves？
Watch that boat！ watc
