英文
The Caravan_The History of the Spectre Ship
My father had a little shop in Balsora; he was neither rich, nor poor, but one of those who do not like to risk any thing, through fear of losing the little that they have. He brought me up plainly, but virtuously, and soon I advanced so far, that I was able to make valuable suggestions to him in his business. When I reached my eighteenth year, in the midst of his first speculation of any importance, he died; probably through anxiety at having intrusted a thousand gold pieces to the sea. I was obliged, soon after, to deem him happy in his fortunate death, for in a few weeks the intelligence reached us, that the vessel, to which my father had committed his goods, had been wrecked. This misfortune, however, could not depress my youthful spirits. I converted all that my father had left into money, and set out to try my fortune in foreign lands, accompanied only by an old servant of the family, who, on account of ancient attachment, would not part from me and my destiny.
In the harbor of Balsora we embarked, with a favorable wind. The ship, in which I had taken passage, was bound to India. We had now for fifteen days sailed in the usual track, when the Captain predicted to us a storm. He wore a thoughtful look, for it seemed he knew that, in this place, there was not sufficient depth of water to encounter a storm with safety. He ordered them to take in all sail, and we moved along quite slowly. The night set in clear and cold, and the Captain began to think that he had been mistaken in his forebodings. All at once there floated close by ours, a ship which none of us had observed before. A wild shout and cry ascended from the deck, at which, occurring at this anxious season, before a storm, I wondered not a little. But the Captain by my side was deadly pale.
“My ship is lost,” cried he; “there sails Death!”
Before I could demand an explanation of these singular words, the sailors rushed in, weeping and wailing. “Have you seen it?” they exclaimed: “all is now over with us!”
But the Captain had words of consolation read to them out of the Koran,and seated himself at the helm.But in vain!The tempest began visibly to rise with a roaring noise, and, before an hour passed by, the ship struck and remained aground. The boats were lowered, and scarcely had the last sailors saved themselves, when the vessel went down before our eyes, and I was launched, a beggar, upon the sea. But our misfortune had still no end. Frightfully roared the tempest, the boat could no longer be governed. I fastened myself firmly to my old servant, and we mutually promised not to be separated from each other. At last the day broke, but, with the first glance of the morning-red, the wind struck and upset the boat in which we were seated. After that I saw my shipmates no more. The shock deprived me of consciousness, and when I returned to my senses, I found myself in the arms of my old faithful attendant, who had saved himself on the boat which had been upturned, and had come in search of me. The storm had abated; of our vessel there was nothing any more to be seen, but we plainly descried, at no great distance from us, another ship, towards which the waves were driving us. As we approached, I recognised the vessel as the same which had passed by us in the night, and which had thrown the Captain into such consternation. I felt a strange horror of this ship; the intimation of the Captain, which had been so fearfully corroborated, the desolate appearance of the ship, on which, although as we drew near we uttered loud cries, no one was visible, alarmed me. Nevertheless this was our only expedient; accordingly, we praised the Prophet, who had so miraculously preserved us.
From the fore-part of the ship hung down a long cable; for the purpose of laying hold of this, we paddled with our hands and feet. At last we were successful. Loudly I raised my voice, but all remained quiet as ever, on board the vessel. Then we climbed up by the rope, I, as the youngest, taking the lead. But horror! What a spectacle was there presented to my eye, as I stepped upon the deck! The floor was red with blood; upon it lay twenty or thirty corpses in Turkish costume; by the middle-mast stood a man richly attired, with sabre in hand—but his face was wan and distorted; through his forehead passed a large spike which fastened him to the mast—he was dead! Terror chained my feet; I dared hardly to breathe. At last my companion stood by my side; he, too, was overpowered at sight of the deck which exhibited no living thing, but only so many frightful corpses. After having, in the anguish of our souls, supplicated the Prophet, we ventured to move forward. At every step we looked around to see if something new, something still more horrible, would not present itself. But all remained as it was—far and wide, no living thing but ourselves, and the ocean-world. Not once did we dare to speak aloud, through fear that the dead Captain there nailed to the mast would bend his rigid eyes upon us, or lest one of the corpses should turn his head. At last we arrived at a staircase, which led into the hold. There involuntarily we came to a halt, and looked at each other, for neither of us exactly ventured to express his thoughts.
“Master,” said my faithful servant, “something awful has happened here. Nevertheless, even if the ship down there below is full of murderers, still would I rather submit myself to their mercy or cruelty, than spend a longer time among these dead bodies.” I agreed with him, and so we took heart, and descended, full of apprehension. But the stillness of death prevailed here also, and there was no sound save that of our steps upon the stairs. We stood before the door of the cabin; I applied my ear, and listened—there was nothing to be heard. I opened it. The room presented a confused appearance; clothes, weapons, and other articles, lay disordered together. The crew, or at least the Captain, must shortly before have been carousing, for the remains of a banquet lay scattered around. We went on from room to room, from chamber to chamber finding, in all, royal stores of silk, pearls, and other costly articles. I was beside myself with joy at the sight, for as there was no one on the ship, I thought I could appropriate all to myself; but Ibrahim thereupon called to my notice that we were still far from land, at which we could not arrive, alone and without human help.
We refreshed ourselves with the meats and drink, which we found in rich profusion, and at last ascended upon deck. But here again we shivered at the awful sight of the bodies. We determined to free ourselves therefrom, by throwing them overboard; but how were we startled to find, that no one could move them from their places! So firmly were they fastened to the floor, that to remove them one would have had to take up the planks of the deck, for which tools were wanting to us. The Captain, moreover, could not be loosened from the mast, nor could we even wrest the sabre from his rigid hand. We passed the day in sorrowful reflection on our condition; and, when night began to draw near, I gave permission to the old Ibrahim to lie down to sleep, while I would watch upon the deck, to look out for means of deliverance. When, however, the moon shone forth, and by the stars I calculated that it was about the eleventh hour, sleep so irresistibly overpowered me that I fell back, involuntarily, behind a cask which stood upon the deck. It was rather lethargy than sleep, for I plainly heard the sea beat against the side of the vessel, and the sails creak and whistle in the wind. All at once I thought I heard voices, and the steps of men upon the deck. I wished to arise and see what it was, but a strange power fettered my limbs, and I could not once open my eyes. But still more distinct became the voices; it appeared to me as if a merry crew were moving around upon the deck. In the midst of this I thought I distinguished the powerful voice of a commander, followed by the noise of ropes and sails. Gradually my senses left me; I fell into a deep slumber, in which I still seemed to hear the din of weapons, and awoke only when the sun was high in the heavens, and sent down his burning rays upon my face. Full of wonder, I gazed about me; storm, ship, the bodies, and all that I had heard in the night, recurred to me as a dream; but when I looked around, I found all as it had been the day before. Immoveable lay the bodies, immoveably was the Captain fastened to the mast; I laughed at my dream, and proceeded in search of my old companion.
The latter was seated in sorrowful meditation in the cabin.
“O master,” he exclaimed as I entered, “rather would I lie in the deepest bottom of the sea, than pass another night in this enchanted ship.”I asked him the reason of his grief, and thus he answered me:—
“When I had slept an hour, I awoke, and heard the noise of walking to and fro over my head. I thought at first that it was you, but there were at least twenty running around; I also heard conversation and cries. At length came heavy steps upon the stairs. After this I was no longer conscious; but at times my recollection returned for a moment, and then I saw the same man who is nailed to the mast, sit down at that table, singing and drinking;and he who lies not far from him on the floor, in a scarlet cloak, sat near him, and helped him to drink.” Thus spoke my old servant to me.
You may believe me, my friends, that all was not right to my mind;for there was no delusion—I too had plainly heard the dead. To sail in such company was to me horrible; my Ibrahim, however, was again absorbed in deep reflection. “I have it now!” he exclaimed at length; there occurred to him, namely, a little verse, which his grandfather, a man of experience and travel, had taught him, and which could give assistance against every ghost and spectre. He also maintained that we could, the next night, prevent the unnatural sleep which had come upon us, by repeating right fervently sentences out of the Koran.The proposition of the old man pleased me well. In anxious expectation we saw the night set in. Near the cabin was a little room, to which we determined to retire. We bored several holes in the door, large enough to give us a view of the whole cabin; then we shut it as firmly as we could from within, and Ibrahim wrote the name of the Prophet in all four corners of the room. Thus we awaited the terrors of the night. It might again have been about the eleventh hour, when a strong inclination for sleep began to overpower me. My companion, thereupon, advised me to repeat some sentences from the Koran, which assisted me to retain my consciousness.All at once it seemed to become lively overhead; the ropes creaked, there were steps upon the deck, and several voices were plainly distinguishable. We remained, a few moments, in intense anxiety; then we heard something descending the cabin stairs. When the old man became aware of this, he began to repeat the words which his grandfather had taught him to use against spirits and witchcraft:
Come you, from the air descending,
Rise you from the deep sea-cave,
Spring you forth where flames are blending,
Glide you in the dismal grave:
Allah reigns, let all adore him!
Own him, spirits—bow before him!
I must confess I did not put much faith in this verse, and my hair stood on end when the door flew open. The same large, stately man entered, whom I had seen nailed to the mast. The spike still passed through the middle of his brain, but he had sheathed his sword. Behind him entered another, attired with less magnificence, whom also I had seen lying on the deck. The Captain, for he was unquestionably of this rank, had a pale countenance, a large black beard, and wildly-rolling eyes, with which he surveyed the whole apartment. I could see him distinctly, for he moved over opposite to us; but he appeared not to observe the door which concealed us. The two seated themselves at the table, which stood in the centre of the cabin, and spoke loud and fast, shouting together in an unknown tongue. They continually became more noisy and earnest, until at length, with doubled fist, the Captain brought the table a blow which shook the whole apartment. With wild laughter the other sprang up, and beckoned to the Captain to follow him. The latter rose, drew his sabre, and then both left the apartment. We breathed more freely when they were away; but our anxiety had still for a long time no end. Louder and louder became the noise upon deck; we heard hasty running to and fro, shouting, laughing, and howling. At length there came an actually hellish sound, so that we thought the deck and all the sails would fall down upon us, the clash of arms, and shrieks—of a sudden all was deep silence. When, after many hours, we ventured to go forth, we found every thing as before; not one lay differently—all were as stiff as wooden figures.
Thus passed we several days on the vessel; it moved continually towards the East, in which direction, according to my calculation, lay the land; but if by day it made many miles, by night it appeared to go back again, for we always found ourselves in the same spot when the sun went down. We could explain this in no other way, than that the dead men every night sailed back again with a full breeze. In order to prevent this, we took in all the sail before it became night, and employed the same means as at the door in the cabin; we wrote on parchment the name of the Prophet, and also, in addition, the little stanza of the grandfather, and bound them upon the furled sail. Anxiously we awaited the result in our chamber. The ghosts appeared this time not to rage so wickedly; and, mark, the next morning the sails were still rolled up as we had left them. During the day we extended only as much as was necessary to bear the ship gently along, and so in five days we made considerable headway.
At last, on the morning of the sixth day, we espied land at a short distance, and thanked Allah and his Prophet for our wonderful deliverance. This day and the following night we sailed along the coast, and on the seventh morning thought we discovered a city at no great distance: with a good deal of trouble we cast an anchor into the sea, which soon reached the bottom; then launching a boat which stood upon the deck, we rowed with all our might towards the city. After half an hour we ran into a river that emptied into the sea, and stepped ashore. At the gate we inquired what the place was called, and learned that it was an Indian city, not far from the region to which at first I had intended to sail. We repaired to a Caravansery, and refreshed ourselves after our adventurous sail. I there inquired for a wise and intelligent man, at the same time giving the landlord to understand that I would like to have one tolerably conversant with magic. He conducted me to an unsightly house in a remote street, knocked thereat, and one let me in with the injunction that I should ask only for Muley.
In the house, came to me a little old man with grizzled beard and a long nose, to demand my business. I told him I was in search of the wise Muley; he answered me that he was the man. I then asked his advice as to what I should do to the dead bodies, and how I must handle them in order to remove them from the ship. He answered me that the people of the ship were probably enchanted on account of a crime somewhere upon the sea:he thought the spell would be dissolved by bringing them to land, but this could be done only by taking up the planks on which they lay. In the sight of God and justice, he said that the ship, together with all the goods, belonged to me, since I had, as it were, found it; and, if I would keep it very secret, and make him a small present out of my abundance, he would assist me with his slaves to remove the bodies. I promised to reward him richly, and we set out on our expedition with five slaves, who were supplied with saws and hatchets. On the way, the magician Muley could not sufficiently praise our happy expedient of binding the sails around with the sentences from the Koran.He said this was the only means,by which we could have saved ourselves.
It was still pretty early in the day when we reached the ship. We immediately set to work, and in an hour placed four in the boat. Some of the slaves were then obliged to row to land to bury them there. They told us, when they returned, that the bodies had spared them the trouble of burying, since, the moment they laid them on the earth, they had fallen to dust. We diligently set to work to saw off the bodies, and before evening all were brought to land. There were, at last, no more on board than the one that was nailed to the mast. Vainly sought we to draw the nail out of the wood, no strength was able to start it even a hair's-breadth. I knew not what next to do, for we could not hew down the mast in order to bring him to land; but in this dilemma Muley came to my assistance. He quickly ordered a slave to row to land and bring a pot of earth. When he had arrived with it, the magician pronounced over it some mysterious words, and cast it on the dead man's head. Immediately the latter opened his eyes, drew a deep breath, and the wound of the nail in his forehead began to bleed. We now drew it lightly forth, and the wounded man fell into the arms of one of the slaves.
“Who brought me hither?” he exclaimed, after he seemed to have recovered himself a little. Muley made signs to me, and I stepped up to him. “Thank you, unknown stranger; you hast freed me from long torment. For fifty years has my body been sailing through these waves, and my spirit was condemned to return to it every night. But now my head has come in contact with the earth, and, my crime expiated, I can go to my fathers!”
I entreated him, thereupon, to tell how he had been brought to this horrible state, and he began—
“Fifty years ago, I was an influential, distinguished man, and resided in Algiers: a passion for gain urged me on to fit out a ship, and turn pirate. I had already followed this business some time, when once, at Zante, I took on board a Dervise, who wished to travel for nothing. I and my companions were impious men, and paid no respect to the holiness of the man; I, in particular, made sport of him. When, however, on one occasion he upbraided me with holy zeal for my wicked course of life, that same evening, after I had been drinking to excess with my pilot in the cabin, anger overpowered me. Reflecting on what the Dervise had said to me, which I would not have borne from a Sultan, I rushed upon deck, and plunged my dagger into his breast. Dying, he cursed me and my crew, and doomed us not to die and not to live, until we should lay our heads upon the earth.
“The Dervise expired, and we cast him overboard, laughing at his menaces; that same night, however, were his words fulfilled. One portion of my crew rose against me; with terrible courage the struggle continued, until my supporters fell, and I myself was nailed to the mast. The mutineers, however, also sank under their wounds, and soon my ship was but one vast grave. My eyes also closed, my breath stopped—I thought I was dying. But it was only a torpor which held me chained: the following night, at the same hour in which we had cast the Dervise into the sea, I awoke, together with all my comrades; life returned, but we could do and say nothing but what had been done and said on that fatal night. Thus we sailed for fifty years, neither living nor dying, for how could we reach the land? With mad joy we ever dashed along, with full sails, before the storm, for we hoped at last to be wrecked upon some cliff, and to compose our weary heads to rest upon the bottom of the sea; but in this we never succeeded. Now I shall die! Once again, unknown preserver, accept my thanks, and if treasures can reward you, then take my ship in token of my gratitude.”
With these words the Captain let his head drop, and expired. Like his companions, he immediately fell to dust. We collected this in a little vessel, and buried it on the shore: and I took workmen from the city to put the ship in good condition. After I had exchanged, with great advantage, the wares I had on board for others, I hired a crew, richly rewarded my friend Muley, and set sail for my fatherland. I took a circuitous route, in the course of which I landed at several islands and countries, to bring my goods to market. The Prophet blessed my undertaking. After several years I ran into Balsora, twice as rich as the dying Captain had made me. My fellow-citizens were amazed at my wealth and good fortune, and would believe nothing else but that I had found the diamond-valley of the far-famed traveller Sinbad. I left them to their belief; henceforth must the young folks of Balsora, when they have scarcely arrived at their eighteenth year, go forth into the world, like me, to seek their fortunes. I, however, live in peace and tranquillity, and every five years make a journey to Mecca, to thank the Lord for his protection, in that holy place, and to entreat for the Captain and his crew, that He will admit them into Paradise.
When night approached, the movement of the caravan was resumed, and its progress was continued until the following noon without impediment. After they had halted and refreshed themselves, Selim Baruch said to Muley, the youngest of the merchants—
“Although you are the youngest of us all, you are always cheerful, and could certainly give us a merry tale. Serve it up, so that we may refresh ourselves after the heat of the day.”
“I should be glad to relate something that would amuse you,”answered Muley. “Still, modesty in all things is becoming to youth;therefore, my older traveling companions should take precedence. Zaleukos is always so serious and silent, ought he not to tell us what it is that clouds his life? Perhaps we should be able to lighten his sorrow, if such he experiences; for we would willingly treat him as a brother, even though he is not of our religion.”
The person thus addressed was a Greek merchant—a man in middle age, fine looking and of vigorous frame, but very grave. Although he was an unbeliever (that is not a Musselman), he was much beloved by his fellow-travelers, as his whole conduct had won their esteem and confidence. He had but one hand, and some of his companions supposed that this loss was the cause of his grief.
Zaleukos replied to the confidential inquiries of Muley:
“I am much honored by the interest you take in me, but have no grief—at least none that you, with even the best intentions, could dispel. Still, as Muley seems to lay so much stress on my sadness, I will tell you something that will perhaps account for my appearing sadder than other people. As you see, I have lost my left hand. It was not missing at my birth, but I was deprived of it in the darkest hours of my life. Whether my punishment was just—whether, under the circumstances, my features could be other than sad—you may judge for yourselves when you have heard the story of the Amputated Hand.”
中文
大漠商旅_幽灵船
我的父亲在巴索拉开着一家小商店，既不贫穷，也不富有，他属于那种谨小慎微的人，生怕一不小心就会失去本来有的一点点财产。他切实认真地对我进行着教育，没过多久我就可以做他的帮手了。正当我满十八岁的那年，他做了毕生第一次较大的投机，但也因此一命归西，多半是因为气恼自己不该把数千金币托付给大海吧。过后我却很快就不得不说死了倒是他的福气，须知没过几个礼拜便传来噩耗，为我父亲装运货物的那条船也在海上沉了。然而我年轻气盛，并没就此低头认输。我把父亲遗留下来的一切通通变卖成现钱，为的是动身去异国他乡碰一碰自己的运气，随身只带了父亲留下的一个老仆人作为陪伴。
趁着顺风，我们在巴索拉的码头上了船。我们搭乘的这条船准备驶往印度。船沿着通常的航道已经行驶了十五天，船长突然来预报即将出现风暴。他满面愁容，看样子对这一带的水域不太熟悉，没法沉着冷静地应付面临的风暴。他让收起所有的帆，我们的船前进得很慢很慢。夜色降临了，四周明亮而又寒冷，船长已经以为自己说有风暴是发生了错觉。可是忽然间，一艘刚才压根儿没见影儿的船飘忽而来，紧擦着我们的船驶了过去。同时从它的甲板上传来一阵阵粗野的呐喊和吆喝，叫本来就担心风暴降临的我吃惊不小。我身旁的船长更是面如死灰。
“咱的船完了，”他失声呼叫，“是死神驾驶着那艘帆船！”
还没等我问他这奇怪的呼叫是何意思，他的水手已一个个惊惊慌慌地冲进舱来。“您瞧见它了吗？”水手们喊，“这下咱们算完啦！”
船长吩咐念《可兰经》中驱邪的箴言，并且亲自动手掌舵。然而没有用！风暴看着看着就咆哮起来，不到一小时，船就搁浅在礁石上了。救生艇纷纷放到水里，最后一批水手刚刚爬到艇上船就在我们的眼前沉没了；而我也就成了一个漂流在海上的乞丐。可是不幸尚未到此为止。风暴越来越凶猛可怕，救生艇已没法控制。我紧紧抱住我的老仆人，我俩发誓绝不分开。天终于破晓。谁知随着第一抹朝霞的出现，我们乘坐的小艇就被暴风攫住，翻了个底儿朝天。我再也没见到我们的水手。船翻时我晕过去了，等醒来已在我老仆人的怀抱里；他先逃到了翻转的船底上，然后将我也拽了上去。风暴终于平息。我们的船已经什么也没剩下，但在不远处却漂着另外一艘船，我们正被海浪推着慢慢向它靠拢。到了近旁，我认出它就是昨天夜里擦着我们的船舷驶过去的那条船，就是那条令我们的船长惊恐万状的船。在这条船面前，我不禁毛骨悚然起来。船长说的那些可怕的后来被证实的话，这条船阴森森的情景——我们靠近后大声喊叫，甲板上却不见一个人影——都叫我不寒而栗。然而，它却是我们的唯一生路；于是我们赞美先知，赞美他如此奇迹般地让我们活了下来。
从帆船的前部垂下一条长缆绳。我们用手和脚一齐划过去抓它，最后终于达到目的。我最后高叫一声，船面上仍旧一片寂静。我们于是抓住缆绳往上爬，年轻的我爬在前面。真是可怕呀！我爬上甲板，眼前呈现一幅何等模样的惨象啊！整个甲板都让血水染红了，二三十个穿着土耳其服装的尸体躺在上面，中间的桅杆前站着一个衣饰华丽的男人，手里握着弯弯的长刀，面孔苍白、扭曲，一颗铁钉穿过额头，把他牢牢钉在桅杆上面，也已经死了。恐怖拴住了我的双脚，我连气都透不过来。终于我的旅伴也爬上来了，同样被甲板上的惨象吓愣了，须知他眼前毫无生命的迹象，只有许许多多可怕的死人。我们胆战心惊地乞求着先知，然后才壮着胆往前走。每走一步我们都瞻前顾后，看有没有什么新的可怕情况；一切仍旧是这个样子，四周除了我们俩就是茫茫的大海，别无活动的东西。我们连大声讲话都不敢，生怕那钉死在桅杆上的船长会向我们转过他那凝滞的眼睛，或者有哪个死尸会扭过脑袋来。终于，我们走到了一道通向舱房的舷梯前。我们下意识地停住脚步，你望着我我望着你，谁也不敢说出自己想干啥。
“噢，少爷，”我忠实的仆人说，“这船上发生了可怕的事情。可是，就算这舱房底下藏着许多杀人凶手，我仍要不顾一切地跟着你下去，而不愿继续待在这上边的死人堆中间。”我和他想法一样，于是就奓着胆子，怀着期待往下走。下边也是一片死寂，只有我们的脚踩得舷梯直响。我们站在舱房的门口。我把耳朵贴在门上倾听，一点声音也听不见。我推开门。舱房中一片狼藉。衣服、武器和其他各种器具四处乱放着，毫无一点秩序。船员们或者至少是船长必定是刚刚吃喝过，因为到处是食物和杯盘。我们从一个舱走进另一个舱，从一个房间走进另一个房间，到处都见到大批的绸缎、珠宝、食糖……面对此情景我真是喜出望外，因为船上别无他人，便相信可以把一切占为己有。可是伊卜拉欣却提醒我，我们看样子离陆地还远着哪，没有他人的帮助，光我们俩根本没法驶拢岸边。
我们发现了大量的食物和饮料，因此美美地吃喝了一顿，然后再回到甲板上。然而一见那死尸遍地的惨象，我们仍旧毛骨悚然。为了改变这种处境，于是我们决定把尸体都抛下海去；然而我们是何等骇异哟！我们发现它们竟然没有哪个是挪得动的。尸体一具具跟被魔法钉死在地上似的，要想搬走它们必须揭掉甲板，而这非有工具不可。还有船长同样没法与桅杆分开，就连那弯弯的长刀也无法从他僵硬的手中拽出来。整个白天我们都只能用来考虑自己可悲的处境；夜晚到了，我允许老伊卜拉欣躺下睡觉，自己愿意醒着待在甲板上，瞭望有没有救星出现。可是当月亮升起在夜空后，根据星座的位置计算大概到了十一点光景，一阵无法抗拒的睡意也向我袭来，我不知不觉地便倒在了一只立在甲板上的大木桶后边。不过，与其说是睡着了，倒不如说只是迷迷糊糊，因为我还清楚地听见一旁的海水在击打船帮，船帆在夜风中发出呼啦呼啦和吱吱嘎嘎的响声。突然，我觉得甲板上传来男人的脚步声和嗓音。我企图坐起来看是怎么回事。然而一种无形的力量拴住了我的手脚，我连眼睛也没法睁开。可那些声音越来越清晰，我觉得仿佛有一伙快活的船员在甲板上奔走忙乎；其间还有一个有力的嗓音在发号施令，船缆和帆篷被扯上扯下的声音同样听得清清楚楚。渐渐地，我终于失去知觉，坠入了沉沉睡梦之中，梦中觉得还听见一阵兵器撞击的响声。等我醒来，太阳已升得老高，阳光正直射着我的脸。我惊奇地回顾四周，风暴、帆船、死尸以及我夜里听见的一切，仿佛都是一场噩梦；可等我一抬眼，又发现一切仍如昨天一个样。尸体仍一动不动地躺着，船长仍死死地钉在桅杆前。我笑自己瞎做梦，爬起来去找我那老爷子。
伊卜拉欣坐在舱房中陷入了沉思。
“哦，少爷，”见我走到他跟前，他叫起来，“我宁肯躺在深深的海底里，也不愿再在这中了邪的船上过夜了！”我问他如此烦恼的原因，他回答说：“我先睡了几个钟头，后来醒了，就听见头顶上有人在跑来跑去。起初还以为是你，但在上边乱跑一气的至少有二十个人，而且又叫又喊。最后有沉重的脚步声走下了舷梯。这一来我全没了知觉，只是断断续续地清醒了一会儿，便看见上边原本钉在桅杆上的那个人坐在桌子前面，一边唱歌一边喝酒；另外一个穿猩红色上衣的汉子坐在一旁服侍着他，就是在甲板上离他不远处躺着的那一个。”
亲爱的朋友，你们可以相信我心里很不是滋味；因为看来他没有发生错觉，我不也听见死鬼们在同样地活动吗？和这样的家伙们在一起行船，令我心中怕得要死。我的伊卜拉欣这时又坠入了沉思。“现在有啦！”他终于叫起来。原来他想起了一段咒语，一段他那见多识广、周游四方的祖父教给他的咒语，据说可以抵挡任何的妖魔鬼怪。并且他讲，那袭击我们的睡魔，今天夜里也有办法降服，只要我们不住地念《可兰经》中的箴言。老人的建议很合我的心意。我们满怀期待，迎接夜的慢慢降临。在主舱房旁边有一间小斗室，我们决定藏进里边。我们在门上钻了几个大洞，足以看清整个舱房里的一切情况。然后我们从里边把门锁得牢得不能再牢，伊卜拉欣还在四个屋角写上先知的名字。就这样，我们等待着恐怖之夜的到来。又到了约莫十一点光景，我开始瞌睡得要命。我的旅伴建议我念念《可兰经》中的祈祷文，这确实也有效。突然，甲板上看样子又热闹了起来：缆绳嘎嘎直响，脚步声此起彼伏，听得清楚有好几个人在喊叫。我们这么坐了几分钟，既紧张又充满期待。突然，有什么从舷梯上下来了。老人一听见动静立刻开始念祖父教给他的降魔驱邪的咒语。只听他道：
你们来自高高的空中，
你们来自深深的海底，
你们在黑暗深渊酣眠，
你们从烈火繁衍生息——
真主阿拉是你们的主宰，
魑魅魍魉全听从他旨意。
我必须承认，我并不怎么相信这个咒语，因此当门猛地一下打开时，我已经毛发倒竖。走进来的是那个我们看见被钉在桅杆上的高大、气派的男人。就是这会儿，那颗大铁钉仍然正正中中穿透他的脑门儿，只是那把长刀他已经插进刀鞘。他背后跟进来另一个汉子，穿着没有他讲究，也是我见过的在上边躺着的人中的一个。船长——一眼就可看出他这个身份——脸色苍白，大胡子漆黑，一双眼睛滴溜溜地转个不停，巡视着整个舱房中的情况。他从我面前经过的时候，我把他看得一清二楚，可他却似乎压根儿没留意我们藏在他背后的这扇小门中。两人坐到舱房中央的桌子前面，开始用一种我们陌生的语言大声交谈，或者说甚至是嚷叫。他俩越吵越响，越吵越凶，最后船长猛地捶了桌子一拳，整个舱房都震动了起来。另一个家伙狂笑着一跃而起，示意船长跟着他走。船长站起身来，从鞘里拔出长刀，二人随即离开了房间。他俩走后，我们的呼吸才自如了一些；只是我们的恐惧仍然没到头。甲板上吵得一塌糊涂，越来越响，越来越响。听得见有人来回地奔跑、喊叫、狂笑、吆喝。最后竟像到了真正的地狱中，叫人觉得整个甲板连同所有的篷帆、桅杆，劈头盖脸地向我们塌了下来，再加上刀剑叮当，杀声震天——可一眨眼又重归死寂！一直过了许多个小时，我们才壮着胆爬上去，发现一切如故；没有谁的姿势有任何变动。所有尸体仍僵硬得跟木头一样。
一连数天船上都是这个情形。船一直向着东方行驶，我估计再走必定有陆地；可是尽管白天船已前进许多海里，夜里却似乎在倒着开，等太阳出来时总又回到了老地方。对此我们无法有别的解释，只能认为是死鬼们夜夜都在趁着顺风，满帆回航。为了防止他们这样干，我们在天黑之前收起了所有帆篷，并用昨晚镇房门的办法将它们镇住：我们把先知的名字写在羊皮纸上，还有伊卜拉欣祖父传授的咒语，把羊皮纸绑在卷起的篷帆外面。然后我们藏在小斗室里，战战兢兢地等着看这么干的效果。夜里闹鬼的情形似乎比以前更加凶，可是瞧啊，第二天早上那些帆仍跟我们离开甲板时一样卷着。到了白天我们也只张起必需的帆，好让大船缓缓前进，如此这般坚持了五天，我们已走了好长一段路程。
终于，在第六天的早上，我们发现陆地就在离得不太远的前方，于是感谢真主和他的先知帮助我们奇迹般地获救。一整天和接着的夜晚我们都沿着海岸航行，在第七天的清晨，我们觉得眼前已出现了一座城市，于是费尽力气把锚抛下海里，锚很快便触到了底。我们放下一条停在甲板上的小艇，奋力划向眼前的城市。半小时后，我们拐进了一条注入大海的河流，然后靠了岸。在城门口，我向人打听这座城市叫什么名字，了解到它是一座印度的大城，离我本来要去的地区已经不远。我们下榻在一家商队客栈，盥洗吃喝，消除充满惊险的旅程的疲惫。在客栈里，我就近打听哪里能找到一位通达世情的智者；我明白地告诉店主，我需要找的是一位懂得一些魔法的人。他领我进了一条僻静的街道，走到一幢不起眼的房屋前，敲了敲门；他叫我进去后只管打听穆赖。
我进屋后迎面碰见个小老头儿，灰白的胡须，长长的鼻头，他问我有何贵干。我说我找聪明的穆赖，他回答他就是。我问他该拿那些个死尸怎么办，可有什么法子把他们从船上弄下来。他答道，那伙人看样子是造了孽，所以被镇在了船上；他相信，只要把他们搬到陆地上，震慑即可解除；而要搬他们上陆地，没有别的办法，只能将他们躺在上边的船板锯掉。他还讲不管是根据神的旨意还是法律，这条船连同它载的所有货物都该归我所有，因为它差不多是我捡的嘛。只不过呢，我得一切严格保密，并从自己丰厚的得获中分一小部分出来送给他做酬劳；为此，他愿意带领自己的仆人，帮我一起搬运尸体。我保证会好好地酬谢他，然后就和他率领五个带着锯子、斧头的仆人上了路。半道上，魔法师穆赖对用《可兰经》的箴言包裹帆篷的想法赞不绝口，说我们真是太幸运啦。他讲，这实际上是我们唯一能自救的手段。
我们登上船时时间还相当早。大伙儿立刻动手，一小时后已有四具尸体被搬上了小艇。几名仆人奉命把它们运到岸边，以便在岸上将它们埋起来。仆人们回来讲，死尸们免去了他们挖坑埋的麻烦，因为一被放到地上，尸体立刻化成了灰烬。我们继续锯掉死尸，在天黑之前死尸已全部运上了岸。最后甲板上只剩下还钉在桅杆上的那家伙，我们怎么也没法把那颗长钉拔出来，用再大的气力仍不能移动它分毫。我不知该怎么办才好，总不能为搬他上岸而锯断桅杆吧？仍旧是穆赖的想法解除了困境。他吩咐一个仆人马上划船去岸边，取回一罐土来。土送到后，穆赖冲着它念念有词，然后把它泼洒在死尸的脑袋上。这死尸顿时睁开了眼睛，长长地喘了一口气，额头上钉子钉的伤口开始流起血来。这时我们轻轻一拔，钉子便出来了，被钉伤的船长一头栽进一名仆人的怀里。
“谁把我带到了这里？”他在好像恢复一点后问。穆赖指着我，我走到他面前。“谢谢你，陌生的年轻人，你使我免除了长期的痛苦。五十年了，我的躯体驾着这条船航行在海上，灵魂却受到诅咒，在每天夜里回到体内。可现在我的头触到了泥土，终于能够安宁地去见我的祖先了。”
我请求他说一说他是怎么落到了如此悲惨的境地，他于是说道：
“五十年前，我还是一个强壮而又体面的男子，住在阿尔及尔；对金钱的贪欲驱使我武装了一条船，干起海盗营生来。在海上为非作歹了很长时间以后，一次我带了一名想白搭船的游方修士上赞特岛。我和我的伙计都是些粗人，对这位神职人员一点也不尊重；我甚至嘲讽讥笑他。一天晚上，当他热心虔诚地指出我过的乃是一种罪恶的生活时，我由于和舵手已喝了许多酒，便在舱房里大发雷霆。我气得要命，心想连一位苏丹[1]也不敢指责我，一个穷修士却当面对我说了出来，于是冲到甲板上，一匕首戳穿了他的胸脯。临死前他诅咒了我和我的船员，叫我们既活不成，也死不了，直至我们的头颅能碰着泥土。修士死了，我们把他的尸体抛进了大海，一边还嘲笑他对我们的威胁；可谁知就在当天晚上，他的话便应了验。我的一部分船员起而反叛我，结果发生了一场恶斗，最后我的人被打败了，我被钉在了桅杆上。反叛者们同样因伤势过重而丧了命，我的船很快变成了一座大坟墓。我呢也两眼暴突，气息奄奄，以为自己就要死去。哪知控制着我的只是一种僵硬麻木的状态；到了第二天夜里我们把修士抛进海里的同一时辰，我和我的伙计们又苏醒过来，恢复了生命力，但是我们除了重演前一晚的一幕，便什么也不能做，什么也不能说。五十年来，我们就这样不死不活地航行在海上，永远也到不了陆地。我们总是兴高采烈、乘风破浪，希望终于能在一处礁石上把船撞碎，以便疲倦的头颅能枕着海底安息。然而事与愿违。可是现在，我可以死啦。再次感谢你，我不知名的恩人，如果财物能作为对你的报答，那就请收下这条船，算作我心意的表示吧。”
说完，船长脑袋一沉，死掉了，并马上和他的水手们一样化作了灰烬。我们把他的尸灰收进一只匣子里，埋在了岸上。然后我从城里请来一些匠人，帮我把船修理好。同时我用船上的货物去换了另一些货物，从中获利甚丰，并雇用一批水手，大大地酬谢了我的朋友穆赖，便登船向故乡回航。不过，我们有意绕了一点路，在一些海岛和国家靠了岸，以便把货物运到市场上做交易。完全托先知的福，九个月后，我的船驶进巴索拉的码头时，我的财产比那位垂死的船长赠送的又多了一倍。我的老乡们对我的财富和幸运惊讶莫名，只好相信我找到了有名的旅行家辛巴达曾经发现的钻石谷。我也随他们的便。只是从此以后，巴索拉的年轻人一满十八岁就得远走他乡，为的是跟我一样地去碰碰运气。我呢，生活得平静而又满足，每五年都要去朝拜一次麦加，以便在圣地感谢真主赐予我的幸福，并为我那位船长和他的伙计们祷告，求真主让他们进入天国。
第二天，商队一路平安。在到达宿营地休息以后，做客的赛里姆便对最年轻的那位富商穆莱说：
“您尽管年纪最轻，却一直乐乐呵呵的，肯定能给大家伙儿讲一个好听的笑话。别客气啦，咱们受了一天热，让咱们舒坦舒坦好不好。”
“我自然很乐意给你们讲点什么，”穆莱回答，“让几位开心开心；不过呢，年轻人凡事都应该谦让，所以只好由上了年纪的同伴先讲啦。扎罗科斯一路上绷着面孔，沉默寡言，让他给咱们讲讲什么事情把他的生活变得这么严肃好不？没准儿咱们还能减轻他的苦闷，如果他有苦闷的话。要知道咱们都乐于帮助自己的弟兄，即使他的信仰和我们不同。”
被点名的是一位希腊商人，年届中年，仪表堂堂，身强力壮，可就是老绷着面孔。尽管他是个异教徒（不是穆斯林），旅伴们仍然挺喜欢他，因为他的整个外貌、气质都令人信赖和尊敬。再说他仅有一只手，所以有的同伴就猜测，他也许正是由于这个残疾而变得郁郁寡欢。
对穆莱表现出信赖的询问，扎罗科斯回答说：
“我很荣幸能得到您的邀请。可是我眼下并无任何苦闷，至少是没有那种你们能凭诚意帮助我减轻的苦闷。不过呢，穆莱看样子在责怪我太严肃，那我就给大伙儿讲个故事，让这个故事为我辩白辩白，我为什么会变得比别人严肃。你们看见了，我没了左手。我并非生来就没有它，而是在我一生中那些个最可怕的日子里把它给失去了。自此以后我就变得分外地严肃，是对是错，抑或是我咎由自取，诸位尽可以在听罢这则断手的故事后做出评判。”
注释：
[1] 一些伊斯兰国家对最高统治者的称呼。
