Every skeleton was unearthed3 and the sand around it closely sifted4. Thus the coins were recovered.
Also further excavations5 were made in the cavern6, but without success.
However, believing the coins to be gold, the villain7 was fairly well satisfied. He piled them into the chest and had it hoisted8 aboard the schooner9.
“Ha,” he muttered, “I was just in time to foil those dogs. They were sure of beating me, but Hardy10 Poole has staked too much upon this game to lose. Curse them, 43I will some day have a chance to settle the score with them.”
With this venomous decision he removed his diving-suit and had begun to examine his treasure when an incident occurred.
One of the men who had been in the shrouds11 cried:
“Sail ho!”
“What?” cried Poole, with a sudden start. “Bearing our way?”
“Yes.”
“What does she look like?”
“She looks like a fast craft, sir. Most likely a coast guard vessel12,” was the reply.
“Change course. Bear nor’-nor’-west!” ordered the villain. “We don’t want to fall in with any Cuban cruiser just now.”
The schooner lay about on the new course. She was a fairly fast sailer and cut the water rapidly.
But in a few moments the man aloft again shouted:
“Ahoy, the chase!”
“Eh?” roared Poole. “Is she giving us a chase?”
“That she is, sir, and she is gaining on us. She has steam up and can sail two knots to our one.”
“A steam vessel!” gasped13 Poole. “Then she is certainly a Cuban cruiser. She takes us for a filibuster14. If she overtakes us nothing will convince her that we are not and our jig15 is up! Ho, there, all aloft and crowd on sail! We must make a run for it! If she overhauls17 us——”
“Well?” asked one of the men.
Poole’s grim face hardened.
“We will fight for it!” he said, “for they will never take the treasure from us while we live.”
The crew cheered at this bold declaration and then scampered18 aloft. Meanwhile Poole watched the distant steamer with varied19 sensations.
“Just our luck,” he muttered. “By the gods, I believe I am cursed by fate! Let them overhaul16 us, curse them! We will give them all the fight they want.”
Then he went back to the cabin and began to gloat over the treasure. He picked up one of the coins and scraped away the rust20 and mold. Then he snapped his eyes.
How was this?
It was white metal instead of yellow—silver instead of gold!
If all that bulk of coin was silver, its value was but small; if of gold, it would be immense. Quite a difference. He dropped the coin with a grunt21.
He picked up another and scratched its surface. It was also silver.
44Another and another. Then a sickening sensation came over him, and he smiled in a ghastly way.
“Silver!” he hissed22. “Can all of them be such? Is there no gold?”
He kept at his work. It soon became apparent to him that this was a terrible fact. He sank in a chair, with distorted features and bursting veins23.
For a moment he was apoplectic24. Then great curses rolled from his lips. He struck the table with his clenched25 hand.
“They have beaten me!” he hissed; “they have taken the gold and left me the silver! Curse them! they have beaten me, but the end is not yet!”
He was too unreasonable26 to consider the situation logically. He could accept but one conclusion, and this was that the submarine voyagers had taken the gold and outwitted him.
“Why did I allow them to escape me?” he gritted29. “I should have killed them all! They were in my power! Fool! Fool!”
He raved30 like a maniac31 in his impotent wrath32, frothed at the mouth, and might have really yielded to apoplexy or some other fit had not an interruption come.
The distant boom of a gun was heard. Poole turned a ghastly pallor.
He knew what that meant.
“They are overhauling33 us!” he gritted. “We are to lose even this pittance34 of silver! But I will have the gold if I have to follow Frank Reade, Jr., to the end of the earth!”
He hastened upon deck.
The cruiser had come up within gunshot and had sent a summons to heave-to. There was no alternative but to obey or fight or go to the bottom.
For a moment Poole considered seriously the question of a fight. He would gladly have accepted it had the conditions been anywhere near equal.
But the cruiser had heavier guns and more men. There was no other course but to heave-to.
So the schooner came up to the wind, her mainsail slacked, and the two vessels35 drifted within speaking distance.
“Ahoy, the schooner!” came the hail in Spanish. The Cuban flag was seen to be flying at the yard of the cruiser.
“Ahoy!” replied Poole.
“What craft is that?”
“The Meta; pleasure yacht, under the United States flag,” replied Poole.
For a time there seemed to be a consultation36 held aboard the cruiser. Then another hail came:
45“Captain of the Meta, we are going to send our lieutenant37 aboard you!”
“What is that?” shouted Poole. “We are under the protection of the United States flag. I warn you not to trouble us!”
A jeering38 laugh came back.
“Lower your gangway,” was the reply.
Then a boat slid down from the Santa Maria’s davits and six men entered it. One in the uniform of a lieutenant entered and stood in the bow.
Another boat followed this, with a dozen armed marines. Matters began to look serious.
The wrath and alarm felt by Poole was of the most intense description. He was utterly39 powerless, though.
How he would have liked to turn his gun upon the oncoming boats and sink them! But he did not dare to do this.
He stood savagely40 by the gangway, therefore, as they came on. The first boat touched the Meta’s side, and the natty41 Spanish lieutenant sprung upon deck.
“Buenas, Senor Capitan,” he said, touching42 his gold-laced cap, with much politeness. “I am Carriero, lieutenant of His Majesty’s navy. I salute43 you in the name of the king of Spain.”
Poole could talk Spanish fairly well, so he said:
“Well, what can I do for you, sir?”
His manner was so brusque that the dapper little Spaniard straightened up. With an affectation of dignity, he said:
“We must search your vessel, senor!”
Then he motioned to the marines. In a moment they were over the rail and ranged upon the deck.
The Meta was in the power of the Spanish. Poole turned black in the face.
“What!” he roared, “you dare to board a vessel flying the United States flag? This is an outrage44 and you will pay dearly for it, I promise you.”
Carriero smiled suavely45 in reply.
“What do you think we are?” cried Poole in desperation. “We are not filibusters46.”
Again the lieutenant smiled and bowed. Then he spoke47 sharp orders to his men.
A midshipman, with two marines, invaded the forecastle. Two more went into the forward cabin. Then the lieutenant himself, with two guards, entered the main cabin.
Poole followed, expostulating, but it was of no use.
The vessel was thoroughly48 searched. Of course, the silver coins were discovered, and also the fact made clear that the vessel carried arms.
46By Carriero’s orders every gun was seized and brought out on deck. Then the chest of treasure was also taken.
A boat was sent back to the Santa Maria, and the captain, Don Azata, was brought off. He was a fiery49, bewhiskered little fellow.
Without waste of time a court of inquiry50 was inaugurated on the Meta’s deck. The decision, based upon the evidence, was quickly rendered.
The Meta had been captured in Cuban waters carrying an armament. Certainly this was suspicious and warranted her in being condemned51 as a filibustering52 craft.
In vain Poole protested.
The Spanish officers only smiled and discredited53 his statements. He kept getting madder and madder.
Finally he yelled:
“Get off the deck of my schooner, the whole parcel of you! If you don’t I’ll kill you!”
Grabbing an iron bar he knocked the nearest marine27 senseless. Don Azata shouted fiery orders and Poole was quickly overpowered.
The little Spanish captain’s face blazed. A rope was brought. It was decided54 to hang the captain of the Meta at his own yard-arm.
But at this critical moment the captain’s eyes fell upon the chest of coins. At once he became interested. He fell to examining them.
Then he catechised Poole. The latter answered ungraciously at first.
To his surprise the Spanish captain ordered his bonds cut, and, thrusting his eager face forward into his, said:
“It is buried treasure; you have dug it out of the ground; tell me, senor capitan, where you found it, and I will spare your life.”
“What good will that do you?” asked Poole. “There is no more to be found there.”
“Do you think so, senor? There must be gold where this was found. This is but silver.”
A sudden swift thought flashed across Poole’s brain. He had abandoned all hopes of the treasure, but he thirsted for revenge.
And here seemed a chance offered him. He accepted it.
A few moments later he was closeted in the cabin with Don Azata. He told him the whole story of the Isle of Mona.
The Spanish captain listened.
“Perdita!” he exclaimed, “that is wonderful! But the treasure was found upon Spanish soil, and I claim it in the name of the King of Spain. This Captain Reade, you say, has the gold?”
47“Yes,” cried Poole, “and curse him, he robbed me of it! Follow him and wrest55 it from him. I will ask of you no greater favor.”
“But where shall we look for him?” asked the little captain; “in what direction shall we sail?”
“He will be found in the neighborhood of Cape28 Catoche.”
“You believe that?”
“Yes,” replied Poole, “but you will never catch them if you are not shrewd.”
“Ah, senor?”
“You see, his boat is a submarine craft, and he can sink out of sight and reach in a moment.”
“Perdita! Senor shall tell me what to do?”
“Use a subterfuge56; trick him!” cried Poole, fiendishly. “When you sight him lure57 him toward you! Fly a signal of distress58; when he gets within range give him a shot that will cripple him, or he will get away.”
Don Azata’s eyes glittered.
“That would be an assault upon the American flag,” he began.
“Hang the American flag! Who will ever know the story? Sink the accursed submarine boat with every man on board! The secret will be well kept. All we want is the gold.”
The two rascals59 looked at each other for fully60 a minute. Then Don Azata said, softly:
“Senor, you are wise; I shall do as you say. It is true that we must have the gold. May le diable aid us!”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
isle
|
|
| n.小岛，岛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
unearthed
|
|
| 出土的（考古） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
sifted
|
|
| v.筛( sift的过去式和过去分词 )；筛滤；细查；详审 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
excavations
|
|
| n.挖掘( excavation的名词复数 )；开凿；开凿的洞穴（或山路等）；（发掘出来的）古迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
cavern
|
|
| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
villain
|
|
| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
hoisted
|
|
| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
schooner
|
|
| n.纵帆船 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
hardy
|
|
| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
shrouds
|
|
| n.裹尸布( shroud的名词复数 )；寿衣；遮蔽物；覆盖物v.隐瞒( shroud的第三人称单数 )；保密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
filibuster
|
|
| n.妨碍议事，阻挠；v.阻挠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
jig
|
|
| n.快步舞（曲）；v.上下晃动；用夹具辅助加工；蹦蹦跳跳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
overhaul
|
|
| v./n.大修，仔细检查 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
overhauls
|
|
| v.彻底检查( overhaul的第三人称单数 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
scampered
|
|
| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
varied
|
|
| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
rust
|
|
| n.锈；v.生锈；(脑子)衰退 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
grunt
|
|
| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
hissed
|
|
| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
veins
|
|
| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
apoplectic
|
|
| adj.中风的；愤怒的；n.中风患者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
clenched
|
|
| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
unreasonable
|
|
| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
marine
|
|
| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
cape
|
|
| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
gritted
|
|
| v.以沙砾覆盖（某物），撒沙砾于( grit的过去式和过去分词 )；咬紧牙关 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
raved
|
|
| v.胡言乱语( rave的过去式和过去分词 )；愤怒地说；咆哮；痴心地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
maniac
|
|
| n.精神癫狂的人；疯子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
wrath
|
|
| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
overhauling
|
|
| n.大修；拆修；卸修；翻修v.彻底检查( overhaul的现在分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
pittance
|
|
| n.微薄的薪水，少量 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
vessels
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
consultation
|
|
| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
lieutenant
|
|
| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
jeering
|
|
| adj.嘲弄的，揶揄的v.嘲笑( jeer的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
savagely
|
|
| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
natty
|
|
| adj.整洁的，漂亮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
touching
|
|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
salute
|
|
| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
outrage
|
|
| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
suavely
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
filibusters
|
|
| n.掠夺兵( filibuster的名词复数 )；暴兵；（用冗长的发言）阻挠议事的议员；会议妨碍行为v.阻碍或延宕国会或其他立法机构通过提案( filibuster的第三人称单数 )；掠夺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
fiery
|
|
| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
inquiry
|
|
| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
condemned
|
|
| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
filibustering
|
|
| v.阻碍或延宕国会或其他立法机构通过提案( filibuster的现在分词 )；掠夺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
53
discredited
|
|
| 不足信的，不名誉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
wrest
|
|
| n.扭，拧，猛夺；v.夺取，猛扭，歪曲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
subterfuge
|
|
| n.诡计；藉口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
lure
|
|
| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
distress
|
|
| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
rascals
|
|
| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |