Theirgoodgunsguardedtheirgreatgraysidesthatwerethirtyfootinthesheer，Whentherecameacertaintrading-brigwithnewsofaprivateer。
HerriggingwasroughwiththeclotteddriftthatdrivesinaNorthernbreeze，HersideswerecloggedwiththelazyweedthatspawnsintheEasternseas。
Lightsherodeintherudetide-rip，toleftandrightsherolled，Andtheskippersatonthescuttle-buttandstaredatanemptyhold。
“Iha’paidPortduesforyourLaw。”quothhe，“andwhereistheLawyeboastIfIsailunscathedfromaheathenporttoberobbedonaChristiancoast？
YehavesmokedthehivesoftheLaccadivesasweburntheliceinabunk，WetacknotnowtoaGallangproworaplungingPei-hojunk；
IhadnofearbuttheseaswereclearasfarasasailmightfareTillImetwithalime-washedYankeebrigthatrodeoffFinisterre。
Therewerecanvasblindstohisbow-gunportstoscreentheweighthebore，AndthesignalsranforamerchantmanfromSandyHooktotheNore。
HewouldnotflytheRovers’flag——thebloodyortheblack，ButnowhefloatedtheGridironandnowheflauntedtheJack。
HespokeoftheLawashecrimpedmycrew——hesworeitwasonlyaloan；
ButwhenIwouldaskformyownagain，hesworeitwasnoneofmyown。
HehastakenmylittleparrakeetsthatnestbeneaththeLine，Hehasstrippedmyrailsoftheshaddock-frailsandthegreenunripenedpine；
HehastakenmybaleofdammerandspiceIwonbeyondtheseas，Hehastakenmygrinningheathengods——andwhatshouldhewanto’these？
Myforemastwouldnotmendhisboom，mydeckhousepatchhisboats；
Hehaswhittledthetwo，thisYankYahoo，topeddleforshoe-pegoats。
Icouldnotfightforthefailinglightandaroughbeam-seabeside，ButIhulledhimonceforaclumsycrimpandtwicebecausehelied。
HadIhadgunsasIhadgoodstoworkmyChristianharm，Ihadrunhimupfromhisquarter-decktotradewithhisownyard-arm；
Ihadnailedhisearstomycapstan-head，andrippedthemoffwithasaw，Andsousedtheminthebilgewater，andservedthemtohimraw；
Ihadflunghimblindinarudderlessboattorotintherockingdark，Ihadtowedhimaftofhisowncraft，abaitforhisbrothershark；
Ihadlappedhimroundwithcocoahusk，anddrenchedhimwiththeoil，Andlashedhimfasttohisownmasttoblazeabovemyspoil；
Ihadstrippedhishideformyhammock-side，andtasselledhisbeardi’themesh，Andspittedhiscrewonthelivebamboothatgrowsthroughthegangrenedflesh；
Ihadhovehimdownbythemangrovesbrown，wherethemud-reefsucksanddraws，Mooredbytheheeltohisownkeeltowaitfortheland-crab’sclaws！
Heislazarwithinandlimewithout，yecannosehimfarenow，Forhecarriesthetaintofamuskyship——thereekoftheslaver’sdhow！”
Theskipperlookedatthetieringgunsandthebulwarkstallandcold，AndtheCaptainsThreefullcourteouslypeereddownattheguttedhold，AndtheCaptainsThreecalledcourteouslyfromdecktoscuttle-butt：——
“GoodSir，weha’dealtwiththatmerchantmanoreveryourteethwerecut。
Yourwordsbewordsofalawlessrace，andtheLawitstandeththus：
HecomesofaracethathaveneveraLaw，andheneverhasboardedus。
Weha’soldhimcanvasandropeandspar——weknowthathispriceisfair，AndweknowthatheweepsforthelackofaLawasheridesoffFinisterre。
Andsinceheisdamnedforagallows-thiefbyyouandbetterthanyou，WeholditmeetthattheEnglishfleetshouldknowthatweholdhimtrue。”
Theskippercalledtothetalltaffrail：——“Andwhatisthattome？
DideveryouhearofaYankeebrigthatrifledaSeventy-three？
DoIloomsolargefromyourquarter-deckthatIliftlikeashipo’
theLine？
Hehaslearnedtorunfromashot...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：