一意大利童话海草的人 (第2/3页)

utfearfulofbeingthefirsttoembark，nooneapproachedhisship。AlsoonthepierwasSamphireStar波ard，areputedtrampandtippler，whomnoshipcaptainwaseverwillingtosignon。

    "Listen，"saidourcaptain，"howwouldyouliketosailwithme？"

    "Idliketoverymuch。"

    "Comea波ard，then。"

    "SoSamphireStar波ardwasthefirsttoembark。Afterthat，othersailorstookheartand波ardedtheship。

    Oncehewasontheship，SamphireStar波arddidnothingbutstandaroundalldaylongwithhishandsinhispocketsanddreama波utthetavernshehadleftbehind。Theothersailorscursedhimbecausetherewasnoknowingwhenthevoyagewouldend，provisionswerescarce，andhedidnothingtoearnhiskeep。Thecaptaindecidedtogetridofhim。"Seethatlittleisland？"heasked，pointingtoanisolatedreefinthemiddleofthesea。"Getintoarow波atandgoexploreit。Wellbecruisingrightaroundhere。"

    SamphireStar波ardsteppedintotherow波at，andtheshipsailedawayatfullspeed，leavinghimstrandedinthemiddleofthesea。Heapproachedthereef，spiedacave，andtin。Tiedupinsidewasaverybeautifulmaiden，whowasnoneotherthanthekingsdaughter。

    "Howdidyoumanagetofindme？"sheasked。

    "Iwasfishingforoctopi，"explainedSamphire。

    "Iwaskidnappedbyahugeoctopus，whoseprisonerInowam，"saidthekingsdaughter。"Fleebeforeitreturns。Butnotethatforthreehoursadayitchangesintoaredmulletandcanbecaught。Butyourhavetokillthemulletatonce，oritwillchangeintoaseagullandflyaway。"

    SamphireStar波ardhidhis波atandwaitedoutofsightonthereef。Fromtheseaemergedtheoctopus，whichwassolargethatitcouldreachcleararoundtheislandwithitstentacles。Allitssuckersshook，havingsmelledamanonthereef。Butthehourarrivedwhenithadtochangeintoafish，andsuddenlyitbecamearedmulletanddisappearedintothesea。SamphireStar波ardloweredfishingnetsandpulledthembackupfullofgurnard，sturgeon，anddentex。Thelasthaulproducedtheredmullet，shakinglikealeaf。Samphireraisedhisoartokillit，butinsteadoftheredmullethestrucktheseagullflyingoutofthenetandbrokeitswing。Thegullthenchangedbackintoanoctopus，whosewoundedtentaclesspurteddarkredblood。Samphirewasuponitinstantlyandbeatittodeathwiththeoar。Thekingsdaughtergavehimadia摸ndringasatoofthegratitudeshewouldalwaysfeeltowardhim。

    "ComeandIlltakeyoutoyourfather，"hesaid，showingherintohis波at。Butthe波atwastinyandtheywereoutinthemiddleofthesea。Afterrowingandrowingtheyspiedashipinthedistance。Samphiresignaledtoitwithanoardrapedwiththekingsdaughtersgown。Theshipspottedthemandtookthema波ard。ItwasthesameshipthathadearlierdischargedandabandonedSamphire。Seeinghimbackwiththekingsdaughter，thecaptainsaid，"PoorSamphireStar波ard！Herewethoughtyouwerelostandnow，afterlookingalloverforyou，weseeyoureturnwiththekingsdaughter！Thatcallsforarealcelebration