when god laughs and other stories(当上帝发笑时)-第30节
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Spaight sheered as her stern lifted on the sea； receiving the full fling of the
cap on her quarter。 The next instant she was in the trough； her lee…rail
buried till the ocean was level with her hatch…coamings； sea after sea
breaking over her weather rail and sweeping what remained exposed of
the deck with icy deluges。
The men were out of hand； helpless and hopeless； stupid in their
bewilderment and fear； and resolute only in that they would not obey
orders。 Some wailed； others clung silently in the weather shrouds； and
still others muttered prayers or shrieked vile imprecations； and neither
captain nor mate could get them to bear a hand at the pumps or at setting
patches of sails to bring the vessel up to the wind and sea。 Inside the
hour the ship was over on her beam ends； the lubberly cowards climbing
up her side and hanging on in the rigging。 When she went over； the mate
was caught and drowned in the after…cabin； as were two sailors who had
sought refuge in the forecastle。
The mate had been the ablest man on board； and the captain was now
scarcely less helpless than his men。 Beyond cursing them for their
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WHEN GOD LAUGHS； AND OTHER STORIES
worthlessness； he did nothing； and it remained for a man named Mahoney；
a Belfast man； and a boy； O'Brien； of Limerick； to cut away the fore and
main masts。 This they did at great risk on the perpendicular wall of the
wreck； sending the mizzentopmast overside along in the general crash。
The Francis Spaight righted； and it was well that she was lumber laden；
else she would have sunk； for she was already water…logged。 The
mainmast； still fast by the shrouds； beat like a thunderous sledge…hammer
against the ship's side； every stroke bringing groans from the men。
Day dawned on the savage ocean； and in the cold gray light all that
could be seen of the Francis Spaight emerging from the sea were the poop；
the shattered mizzenmast； and a ragged line of bulwarks。 It was
midwinter in the North Atlantic； and the wretched men were half…dead
from cold。 But there was no place where they could find rest。 Every
sea breached clean over the wreck； washing away the salt incrustations
from their bodies and depositing fresh incrustations。 The cabin under the
poop was awash to the knees； but here at least was shelter from the chill
wind； and here the survivors congregated； standing upright； holding on by
the cabin furnishings； and leaning against one another for support。
In vain Mahoney strove to get the men to take turns in watching aloft
from the mizzenmast for any chance vessel。 The icy gale was too much
for them； and they preferred the shelter of the cabin。 O'Brien； the boy；
who was only fifteen； took turns with Mahoney on the freezing perch。 It
was the boy； at three in the afternoon； who called down that he had sighted
a sail。 This did bring them from the cabin； and they crowded the poop rail
and weather mizzen shrouds as they watched the strange ship。 But its
course did not lie near； and when it disappeared below the skyline； they
returned shivering to the cabin； not one offering to relieve the watch at the
mast head。
By the end of the second day； Mahoney and O'Brien gave up their
attempt； and thereafter the vessel drifted in the gale uncared for and
without a lookout。 There were thirteen alive； and for seventy…two hours
they stood knee…deep in the sloshing water on the cabin floor； half…frozen；
without food； and with but three bottles of wine shared among them。 All
food and fresh water were below； and there was no getting at such supplies
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WHEN GOD LAUGHS； AND OTHER STORIES
in the water…logged condition of the wreck。 As the days went by； no food
whatever passed their lips。 Fresh water； in small quantities； they were
able to obtain by holding a cover of a tureen under the saddle of the
mizzenmast。 But the rain fell infrequently； and they were hard put。 When
it rained； they also soaked their handkerchiefs； squeezing them out into
their mouths or into their shoes。 As the wind and sea went down； they
were even able to mop the exposed portions of the deck that were free
from brine and so add to their water supply。 But food they had none； and
no way of getting it； though sea…birds flew repeatedly overhead。
In the calm weather that followed the gale； after having remained on
their feet for ninety…six hours； they were able to find dry planks in the
cabin on which to lie。 But the long hours of standing in the salt water
had caused sores to form on their legs。 These sores were extremely
painful。 The slightest contact or scrape caused severe anguish； and in their
weak condition and crowded situation they were continually hurting one
another in this manner。 Not a man could move about without being
followed by volleys of abuse； curses； and groans。 So great was their
misery that the strong oppressed the weak； shoving them aside from the
dry planks to shift for themselves in the cold and wet。 The boy； O'Brien；
was specially maltreated。 Though there were three other boys； it was
O'Brien who came in for most of the abuse。 There was no explaining it；
except on the ground that his was a stronger and more dominant spirit than
those of the other boys； and that he stood up more for his rights； resenting
the petty injustices that were meted out to all the boys by the men。
Whenever O'Brien came near the men in search of a dry place to sleep； or
merely moved about； he was kicked and cuffed away。 In return； he
cursed them for their selfish brutishness； and blows and kicks and curses
were rained upon him。 Miserable as were all of them； he was thus made
far more miserable； and it was only the flame of life； unusually strong in
him； that enabled him to endure。
As the days went by and they grew weaker； their peevishness and ill…
temper increased； which； in turn； increased the ill…treatment and sufferings
of O'Brien。 By the sixteenth day all hands were far gone with hunger；
and they stood together in small groups； talking in undertones and
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WHEN GOD LAUGHS； AND OTHER STORIES
occasionally glancing at O'Brien。 It was at high noon that the conference
came to a head。 The captain was the spokesman。 All were collected on
the poop。
〃Men；〃 the captain began； 〃we have been a long time without food
two weeks and two days it is； though it seems more like two years and two
months。 We can't hang out much longer。 It is beyond human nature to
go on hanging out with nothing in our stomachs。 There is a serious
question to consider： whether it is better for all to die； or for one to die。
We are standing with our feet in our graves。 If one of us dies； the rest
may live until a ship is sighted。 What say you？〃
Michael Behane； the man who had been at the wheel when the Francis
Spaight broached to； called out that it was well。 The others joined in the
cry。
〃Let it be one of the b'ys！〃 cried Sullivan； a Tarbert man； glancing at
the same time significantly at O'Brien。
〃It is my opinion；〃 the captain went on； 〃that it will be a good deed for
one of us to die for the rest。〃
〃A good deed！ A good deed！〃 the men interjected。
〃And it is my opinion that 'tis best for one of the boys to die。 They
have no families to support； nor would they be considered so great a loss
to their friends as those who have wives and children。〃
〃'Tis right。〃 〃Very right。〃 〃Very fit it should be done；〃 the men
muttered one to another。
But the four boys cried out against the injustice of it。
〃Our lives
