benito cereno- 第12部分

　it；　fastidiously　remarking　to　his　companion　that　he　relished　not　superfluous　attendance。　　　　　Without　companions；　host　and　guest　sat　down；　like　a　childless　married　couple；　at　opposite　ends　of　the　table；　Don　Benito　waving　Captain　Delano　to　his　place；　and；　weak　as　he　was；　insisting　upon　that　gentleman　being　seated　before　himself。　　　　　The　Negro　placed　a　rug　under　Don　Benito's　feet；　and　a　cushion　behind　his　back；　and　then　stood　behind；　not　his　master's　chair；　but　Captain　Delano's。　At　first；　this　a　little　surprised　the　latter。　But　it　was　soon　evident　that；　in　taking　his　position；　the　black　was　still　true　to　his　master；　since　by　facing　him　he　could　the　more　readily　anticipate　his　slightest　want。　　　　　〃This　is　an　uncommonly　intelligent　fellow　of　yours；　Don　Benito；〃　whispered　Captain　Delano　across　the　table。　　　　　〃You　say　true；　Senor。〃　　　　　During　the　repast；　the　guest　again　reverted　to　parts　of　Don　Benito's　story；　begging　further　particulars　here　and　there。　He　inquired　how　it　was　that　the　scurvy　and　fever　should　have　committed　such　wholesale　havoc　upon　the　whites；　while　destroying　less　than　half　of　the　blacks。　As　if　this　question　reproduced　the　whole　scene　of　plague　before　the　Spaniard's　eyes；　miserably　reminding　him　of　his　solitude　in　a　cabin　where　before　he　had　had　so　many　friends　and　officers　round　him；　his　hand　shook；　his　face　became　hueless；　broken　words　escaped；　but　directly　the　sane　memory　of　the　past　seemed　replaced　by　insane　terrors　of　the　present。　With　starting　eyes　he　stared　before　him　at　vacancy。　For　nothing　was　to　be　seen　but　the　hand　of　his　servant　pushing　the　Canary　over　towards　him。　At　length　a　few　sips　served　partially　to　restore　him。　He　made　random　reference　to　the　different　constitutions　of　races；　enabling　one　to　offer　more　resistance　to　certain　maladies　than　another。　The　thought　was　new　to　his　companion。　　　　　Presently　Captain　Delano；　intending　to　say　something　to　his　host　concerning　the　pecuniary　part　of　the　business　he　had　undertaken　for　him；　especially…　since　he　was　strictly　accountable　to　his　owners…　with　reference　to　the　new　suit　of　sails；　and　other　things　of　that　sort；　and　naturally　preferring　to　conduct　such　affairs　in　private；　was　desirous　that　the　servant　should　withdraw；　imagining　that　Don　Benito　for　a　few　minutes　could　dispense　with　his　attendance。　He；　however；　waited　awhile；　thinking　that；　as　the　conversation　proceeded；　Don　Benito；　without　being　prompted；　would　perceive　the　propriety　of　the　step。　　　　　But　it　was　otherwise。　At　last　catching　his　host's　eye；　Captain　Delano；　with　a　slight　backward　gesture　of　his　thumb；　whispered；　〃Don　Benito；　pardon　me；　but　there　is　an　interference　with　the　full　expression　of　what　I　have　to　say　to　you。〃　　　　　Upon　this　the　Spaniard　changed　countenance；　which　was　imputed　to　his　resenting　the　hint；　as　in　some　way　a　reflection　upon　his　servant。　After　a　moment's　pause；　he　assured　his　guest　that　the　black's　remaining　with　them　could　be　of　no　disservice；　because　since　losing　his　officers　he　had　made　Babo　（whose　original　office；　it　now　appeared；　had　been　captain　of　the　slaves）　not　only　his　constant　attendant　and　companion；　but　in　all　things　his　confidant。　　　　　After　this；　nothing　more　could　be　said；　though；　indeed；　Captain　Delano　could　hardly　avoid　some　little　tinge　of　irritation　upon　being　left　ungratified　in　so　inconsiderable　a　wish；　by　one；　too；　for　whom　he　intended　such　solid　services。　But　it　is　only　his　querulousness；　thought　he；　and　so　filling　his　glass　he　proceeded　to　business。　　　　　The　price　of　the　sails　and　other　matters　was　fixed　upon。　But　while　this　was　being　done；　the　American　observed　that；　though　his　original　offer　of　assistance　had　been　hailed　with　hectic　animation；　yet　now　when　it　was　reduced　to　a　business　transaction；　indifference　and　apathy　were　betrayed。　Don　Benito；　in　fact；　appeared　to　submit　to　hearing　the　details　more　out　of　regard　to　common　propriety；　than　from　any　impression　that　weighty　benefit　to　himself　and　his　voyage　was　involved。　　　　　Soon；　his　manner　became　still　more　reserved。　The　effort　was　vain　to　seek　to　draw　him　into　social　talk。　Gnawed　by　his　splenetic　mood；　he　sat　twitching　his　beard；　while　to　little　purpose　the　hand　of　his　servant；　mute　as　that　on　the　wall；　slowly　pushed　over　the　Canary。　　　　　Lunch　being　over；　they　sat　down　on　the　cushioned　transom；　the　servant　placing　a　pillow　behind　his　master。　The　long　continuance　of　the　calm　had　now　affected　the　atmosphere。　Don　Benito　sighed　heavily；　as　if　for　breath。　　　　　〃Why　not　adjourn　to　the　cuddy；〃　said　Captain　Delano；　〃there　is　more　air　there。〃　But　the　host　sat　silent　and　motionless。　　　　　Meantime　his　servant　knelt　before　him；　with　a　large　fan　of　feathers。　And　Francesco；　coming　in　on　tiptoes；　handed　the　Negro　a　little　cup　of　aromatic　waters；　with　which　at　intervals　he　chafed　his　master's　brow；　smoothing　the　hair　along　the　temples　as　a　nurse　does　a　child's。　He　spoke　no　word。　He　only　rested　his　eye　on　his　master's；　as　if；　amid　all　Don　Benito's　distress；　a　little　to　refresh　his　spirit　by　the　silent　sight　of　fidelity。　　　　　Presently　the　ship's　bell　sounded　two　o'clock；　and　through　the　cabin…windows　a　slight　rippling　of　the　sea　was　discerned；　and　from　the　desired　direction。　　　　　〃There；〃　exclaimed　Captain　Delano；　〃I　told　you　so；　Don　Benito；　look！〃　　　　　He　had　risen　to　his　feet；　speaking　in　a　very　animated　tone；　with　a　view　the　more　to　rouse　his　companion。　But　though　the　crimson　curtain　of　the　stern…window　near　him　that　moment　fluttered　against　his　pale　cheek；　Don　Benito　seemed　to　have　even　less　welcome　for　the　breeze　than　the　calm。　　　　　Poor　fellow；　thought　Captain　Delano；　bitter　experience　has　taught　him　that　one　ripple　does　not　make　a　wind；　any　more　than　one　swallow　a　summer。　But　he　is　mistaken　for　once。　I　will　get　his　ship　in　for　him；　and　prove　it。　　　　　Briefly　alluding　to　his　weak　condition；　he　urged　his　host　to　remain　quietly　where　he　was；　since　he　（Captain　Delano）　would　with　pleasure　take　upon　himself　the　responsibility　of　making　the　best　use　of　the　wind。　　　　　Upon　gaining　the　deck；　Captain　Delano　started　at　the　unexpected　figure　of　Atufal；　monumentally　fixed　at　the　threshold；　like　one　of　those　sculptured　porters　of　black　marble　guarding　the　porches　of　Egyptian　tombs。　　　　　But　this　time　the　start　was；　perhaps；　purely　physical。　Atufal's　presence；　singularly　attesting　docility　even　in　sullenness；　was　contrasted　with　that　of　the　hatchet…polishers；　who　in　patience　evinced　their　industry；　while　both　spectacles　showed；　that　lax　as　Don　Benito's　general　authority　might　be；　still；　whenever　he　chose　to　exert　it；　no　man　so　savage　or　colossal　but　must；　more　or　less；　bow。　　　　　Snatching　a　trumpet　which　hung　from　the　bulwarks；　with　a　free　step　Captain　Delano　advanced　to　the　forward　edge　of　the　poop；　issuing　his　orders　in　his　best　Spanish。　The　few　sailors　and　many　Negroes；　all　equally　pleased；　obediently　set　about　heading　the　ship　toward　the　harbour。　　　　　While　giving　some　directions　about　setting　a　lower　stu'n'…sail；　suddenly　Captain　Delano　heard　a　voice　faithfully　repeating　his　orders。　Turning；　he　saw　Babo；　now　for　the　time　acting；　under　the　pilot；　his　original　part　of　captain　of　the　slaves。　This　assistance　proved　valuable。　Tattered　sails　and　warped　yards　were　soon　brought　into　some　trim。　And　no　brace　or　halyard　was　pulled　but　to　the　blithe　songs　of　the　inspirited　Negroes。　　　　　Good　fellows；　thought　Captain　Delano；　a　little　training　would　make　fine　sailors　of　them。　Why　see；　the　very　women　pull　and　sing；　too。　These　must　be　some　of　those　Ashantee　Negresses　that　make　such　capital　soldiers；　I've　heard。　But　who's　at　the　helm？　I　must　have　a　good　hand　there。　　　　　He　went　to　see。　　　　　The　San　Dominick　steered　with　a　cumbrous　tiller；　with　large　horizontal　pulleys　attached。　At　each　pulley…end　stood　a　subordinate　black；　and　between　them；　at　the　tiller…head；　the　responsible　post；　a　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　inward　chuckle；　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；　wher