Mr. Robert Boltwood and his brother had been approached upon more than one occasion by persons desirous of purchasing either one of their two crack coasters. They were not surprised, therefore, when they received an offer made through a shipping2 firm, whose principal partners were Dutchmen, for one of the vessels3 named the Roebuck, but they were surprised when their terms were accepted, for they had placed what they considered almost a prohibitive price upon the Roebuck, which if anything was the faster of the two.
It was natural, perhaps, for them to wish to know for what purpose the Roebuck had been bought. All they could ascertain5, however, was that a gentleman named Allan, claiming to come from London, and one Mr. Van der Beck, a Hollander, had bought her in partnership6, and that she was to sail out of Dunkirk in the Channel trade.
48 Now it happened that in Dunkirk there were several indefatigable7 spies of the British Government, and in some way it had leaked out that a privateering expedition was on foot. There were so many idle American seamen8 in the port that it would have been a wonder if some such rumor9 had not been floated, and the story that started really need have had no connection with Conyngham’s cherished project. Suffice it, however, that this came to the ears of Messrs. Boltwood’s representative, who accordingly informed his firm, and this news reached them but a short time after they had completed the sale of the Roebuck. The terms of the sale had not included the delivery of the vessel4 across the Channel, but Mr. Allan and the fictitious10 Mr. Van der Beck had mistakenly supposed that there would be no difficulty in securing a crew, or at least enough men to sail her to her port of destination. To their surprise, however, they found that this was not the case. Sailors were hard to find, and it soon became evident, also, that the old owners, repenting11 of their bargain, were working against them. This and the fact that their suspicions had also been aroused, made the secret commissioners12 wary13 of appearing to be in a great hurry. So while the Roebuck remained at anchor they informed their friends in Dunkirk of the situation, and Conyngham resolved upon a bold plan. It was nothing more nor less than to sail with some eight or ten men in a large open yawl and bring out the Roebuck at night from her anchorage. It was agreed that Mr. Van der Beck (whom everybody will recognize as the elder Ross), who had lived in Holland and spoke14 the language like a born Dutchman, and Allen, should move themselves and their belongings15 on board the Roebuck, whose crew consisted of two49 French sailors, almost so decrepit16 from age as to be no longer on the active list. On a given night this short-handed crew were to slip their anchor and make out toward the harbor mouth where Conyngham and his crew of eight men would be taken on board, when they would sail at once for Dunkirk.
Those were the days when smuggling17 between the Continent and England was considered almost a legitimate18 venture, and despite the watchfulness19 of the English coast-guard vessels, from many small ports and coves20 smuggler22 pilots ran their contraband23 cargoes24 in and out. It was not difficult for Conyngham to secure the services of a French smuggler pilot, and in fact some of the men of the crew, Americans though they were, had been employed, at times, in the same risky25 business.
A big open yawl was procured26 without difficulty, and on a misty27 night she slipped out of Dunkirk harbor heading with a favoring easterly wind for the English coast. For a short time this held true and steady, but fortune after a few hours turned against them. Before daybreak the wind had increased to half a gale28, and in the choppy sea the yawl had a bad time of it. It was only by good seamanship and constant bailing29 that she was kept afloat. The afternoon of the next day they found themselves about three leagues from the English coast, and the wind abating30 they laid their course for the white cliffs of Dover.
All apparently31 was going well, and they had passed several vessels without exciting suspicion, for the smallness of their craft was a great point in their favor, and she might have been taken for a coaster or fisherman hailing from any of the small villages that sent out their little fleets during the trawling season.
50 Late in the afternoon, while they were creeping southward along the coast, a king’s cutter suddenly appeared around a little headland not two miles away. The French pilot who was at the helm was undoubtedly32 responsible for what followed, for the sudden appearance of the cutter must have caused him to lose his head. Without a word of warning he threw the yawl up into the wind and headed her off shore, plainly in an endeavor to give the cutter a wider berth33. The suspicious action had been seen by the Englishman, who at once altered his own course and turned off in pursuit.
Captain Conyngham at the time that the coast-guard was sighted had been resting asleep under a tarpaulin34 between the thwarts35. The exclamations36 of the men on seeing the cutter’s tactics aroused him, and as soon as he had looked to leeward37 he saw that it was only a matter of time when the cutter would overhaul38 his little craft.
They were still so close into shore that they could see the white surf leaping and boiling against the rocks and at the base of the cliff. At one point he could make out a little break in the steep side, with some foliage39 near the top, and down at the bottom a short stretch of sandy beach.
A rocky ledge40 formed a barrier to the entrance of the little cove21, and over it the water jumped and tossed angrily. Here and there, farther inshore, leaped sudden spurts41 of foam42 as the waves thundered on the sharp points of the hidden rocks. Yet one thing he noticed clearly even at the distance he was from shore—the water ran smoothly43 and evenly up to the narrow stretch of white beach, showing that within a few feet of shore it deepened again. His mind was made up in an instant.
51
The yawl was in the midst of the smother44.
The cutter was outpointing the yawl, and though at first to leeward was working up to the windward position. Conyngham gave a few quick orders as he grasped the tiller. The yawl swung about, and with loosened sheets caught the wind abaft45 the beam and tore away shoreward. The cutter came about also, taking a longer time at it, and, flying down just outside the edge of the breakers, made a bold attempt to head the yawl and turn her back before she could cross her bows.
It came to be a question of minutes, and there was an added danger now, for the cutter opened up with a small bow gun, firing as quickly as she could load and aim. But, owing to the small size of the target and the uneven46 rise and fall of the chop, her marksmanship was bad, and though the balls whistled overhead and plashed all round, not one struck the intended mark.
The Frenchman, who was now in a state of terror, began to call upon the saints. To Conyngham’s inquiry47 whether he knew of a safe entrance to the little cove at which they were heading he vouchsafed48 no reply. But as they drew near the line of breakers his wails49 increased.
“We shall all be drowned!” he cried over and over. “Better a prison than the bottom of the sea.”
But Conyngham, with one eye ahead and the other on the approaching cutter, held his course. In another moment he had crossed the Englishman’s bows, and as the latter fired a parting shot the yawl was in the midst of the smother of tumbling waters.
How she got through it without being wrecked50 was more than any one of the crew could ever tell. Time and again they held their breath, expecting to be crushed upon the black points that now and then showed themselves52 on either hand. But with the skill of an Indian guiding his canoe down the rapids, Conyngham steered51 the little boat, and in half an hour she had safely passed the barrier reef and the worst part of the sailing, and soon was in the comparatively smooth water near the little beach.
Now there could be noticed a few roughly built huts of stone before which there were some nets drying on the ground, and some frightened fishermen came down to the water’s edge. One of them hailed in half French and half English, to which Conyngham replied.
The man informed them that they had better not land, as they had been seen by the Government lookout52 on the top of the cliff, and that in all probability the guards would soon be down and they would all be made prisoners.
Evidently, like the cutter, the fellow had taken them for smugglers, but he gave the information that farther down the coast there was a small cove inaccessible53 and invisible from above, where they might be able to get ashore54.
Shortening sail, Conyngham headed the yawl southward. Out to sea the cutter was holding the same course, watching like a cat at a rat-hole. It looked as if escape was impossible, for a long promontory55 ran out to south not four leagues away, and with a shifted wind it would be only by miracle that they could keep from going ashore.
But the darkness, that Conyngham was waiting for, came at last, ushered56 in by a blinding fall of rain, and in it he once more managed to make an offing and by good luck and good seamanship weathered the point, and with the cutter somewhere back in the darkness, he made out53 once more into the open channel. At daybreak he was off Dover and could see the flag flying on the walls of the castle, and a mass of shipping about the entrance. He made boldly in and dropped his little anchor amid a fleet of small craft. The harbor at this time was not one of the best in the world, for the shingle57 bar would keep shifting, and the breakwaters, except the old basin piers58, were not then built. But lying well out Captain Conyngham detected a vessel that, from the description he had received from Mr. Allan, he was sure could be none other than the Roebuck.
His sailing in so boldly had not attracted the least notice, and as he had bidden most of the crew to keep themselves out of sight under the tarpaulins59, the number of men he had with him had not attracted attention either.
Just at dusk he got up his anchor and came farther up into the harbor. As he passed by the Roebuck his heart was beating with excitement, for she looked to be the very vessel for his purpose. He was within hailing distance when a figure came on deck. He could scarce refrain from shouting from sheer joy, for he recognized the stocky figure of his friend Allan. Another minute and he had called his name.
Working the yawl alongside he soon stepped on deck. It was considered too risky to transfer the men while there was yet light enough for them to be perceived, and, uncomfortable as it may have been for them, they remained in their cramped60 position in the smaller boat until almost midnight. In the early morning hours the Roebuck slipped her cable and slid out like a ghost through the channel fog. The yawl was being towed behind, but as it54 impeded61 the lugger’s sailing the small boat was stove in, laden62 with some of the spare ballast from the Roebuck, and sunk.
Without adventure or molestation63 they reached Dunkirk under the British flag. As they dropped anchor well up the harbor, Mr. Allan turned to the young captain with a smile.
“Well, sir,” he said, “this part of the proceeding64 is over and we are ready to go on with the rest of it. By the way, shall we keep the name?” He pointed65 to the stern of the jolly-boat where the word Roebuck stood out in red letters.
“No,” returned Conyngham, “that will all be changed. She has been renamed what we hope she’ll be.”
“And that is?” queried66 Mr. Allan.
“The Surprise,” was Conyngham’s answer.
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1
moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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2
shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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3
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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5
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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partnership
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| n.合作关系，伙伴关系 | |
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indefatigable
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| adj.不知疲倦的，不屈不挠的 | |
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8
seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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9
rumor
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| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
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10
fictitious
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| adj.虚构的，假设的；空头的 | |
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11
repenting
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的现在分词 ) | |
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12
commissioners
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| n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官 | |
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13
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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14
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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15
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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16
decrepit
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| adj.衰老的，破旧的 | |
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17
smuggling
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| n.走私 | |
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18
legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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19
watchfulness
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| 警惕，留心； 警觉（性） | |
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20
coves
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| n.小海湾( cove的名词复数 )；家伙 | |
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21
cove
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| n.小海湾，小峡谷 | |
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smuggler
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| n.走私者 | |
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23
contraband
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| n.违禁品，走私品 | |
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24
cargoes
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| n.（船或飞机装载的）货物( cargo的名词复数 )；大量，重负 | |
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25
risky
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| adj.有风险的，冒险的 | |
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26
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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27
misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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28
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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29
bailing
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| （凿井时用吊桶）排水 | |
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30
abating
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| 减少( abate的现在分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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31
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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32
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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33
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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34
tarpaulin
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| n.涂油防水布，防水衣，防水帽 | |
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35
thwarts
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| 阻挠( thwart的第三人称单数 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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36
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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37
leeward
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| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
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38
overhaul
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| v./n.大修，仔细检查 | |
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39
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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40
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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41
spurts
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| 短暂而突然的活动或努力( spurt的名词复数 )； 突然奋起 | |
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42
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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43
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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44
smother
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| vt./vi.使窒息；抑制；闷死；n.浓烟；窒息 | |
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45
abaft
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| prep.在…之后；adv.在船尾，向船尾 | |
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46
uneven
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| adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的 | |
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47
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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48
vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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49
wails
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| 痛哭，哭声( wail的名词复数 ) | |
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50
wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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51
steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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52
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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53
inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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54
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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55
promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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56
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
shingle
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| n.木瓦板；小招牌(尤指医生或律师挂的营业招牌)；v.用木瓦板盖（屋顶）；把（女子头发）剪短 | |
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58
piers
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| n.水上平台( pier的名词复数 )；（常设有娱乐场所的）突堤；柱子；墙墩 | |
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59
tarpaulins
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| n.防水帆布，防水帆布罩( tarpaulin的名词复数 ) | |
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60
cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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61
impeded
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| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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63
molestation
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| n.骚扰，干扰，调戏；折磨 | |
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64
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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65
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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66
queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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