But there was no bugler7; nor was there a bugle6 even if a bugler had been forthcoming. And a bugler capable of blowing a loud-sounding bugle was a desideratum. He would become the coping-stone of the building of efficiency.
The Major did his level best to obtain some Boy Scout8 buglers from Fisherton, but, false to their precepts9, the youngsters were not prepared to use their breath for two shillings a day on behalf of the R.A.F. when they could earn thrice that amount elsewhere.
It looked as if Sableridge Depot would fail to attain10 that degree of pomp and circumstance when fate, in the guise11 of the Drafting Officer at Blandborough Depot, played into its hands. Amongst a batch12 of new arrivals was a gem13, a priceless jewel—a man who could blow a bugle.
He was a short, tubby individual with watery-blue eyes and a flat, rubicund14 nose. Quiet and unassuming, his arrival was hailed with acclamation. Had he asked for a silver trumpet15 and a pair of wings of a slightly different type to those worn by airmen no doubt the delighted officers would have done their level best to accede16 to his request. As it was they subscribed17 and purchased a trumpet, the sounds of which floated across the parade-ground in a manner calculated to raise the martial18 spirit of all ranks well above boiling-point.
Morning, noon, and night the clarion-like notes made the welkin ring. From Réveillé to Retreat and Last Post, and whenever circumstances demanded, there was the depot bugler with his highly-polished and tasselled trumpet.
For nearly a week this idyllic19 state of affairs continued, until the wellnigh exhausted20 bugler applied21 for leave in order to proceed to Belfast to bury a near relative.
He was granted seven days, and took his departure forthwith. A gloom descended22 over Sableridge. The polished bugle was silent, and reposed23 on a green baize-covered table in the orderly-room like a fairy princess awaiting the arrival of the enchanter to restore her to life.
The week passed, but no bugler returned. At the end of ten days he was posted as a deserter. Enquiries at Belfast showed that he had not been seen there, nor were any of his relations in need of his services as a mourner.
Then came the staggering blow. The meek24 and mild musical treasure was under lock and key, arrested by the civil police for at least half a dozen burglaries. The last heard of him was that he had received a sentence calculated to carry him well beyond the "duration", and the shattered idol25 was not replaced. Sableridge carried on without a bugler.
A day or so after the disappearance26 of the bugler Derek had to take his crew out into the bay for further instruction. It was mostly compass work and fixing positions by cross-bearings, and since speed was against successful work, the boat was slowed down and a trawl shot. This was killing27 two birds with one stone: there was plenty of time for compass-bearings, while there was a chance of supplying the mess with fish.
The first cast was a failure owing to the net getting foul28 of a submerged rock, but on the second attempt it became evident by the weight of the net that something was enmeshed.
"We've a good haul this time, I think," exclaimed Derek.
"Let's hope so, sir," announced the coxswain. "We can't be too sure, though. I remember my brother telling me about when he was off the Dardanelles—up Mudros way to be exact—he an' some pals29 did a lot of trawling. They thought they had a jolly good catch, but when they hauled in the net they found two dead mules30 and two old boots."
Slowly the weed-encumbered meshes31 were hauled inboard until the bulging32 pocket came in sight, packed with white and grey writhing33 fish—skate, flounder, and two large dog-fish.
"Those flat fish are all right," continued the coxswain. "I don't know about those skate. Rummy-lookin' creatures, ain't they, sir?"
The deep bass34 hum of an aerial propeller35 attracted the crew's attention from the catch. Five hundred feet overhead was a coastal36 airship which had drifted down silently with her engines shut off, and, having just restarted her motors, was manoeuvring into the wind's eye.
Perhaps it was as well that R.A.F. 1164 B carried on her fore-deck a square of canvas painted with the distinctive37 red, white, and blue circles. This device was a guarantee of her identity as a friend. Without it a small, grey-painted craft might easily be mistaken for a U-boat, with disastrous38 results.
Then the engines were stopped again. Over the side of the nacelle a leather-helmeted and begoggled head appeared. The pilot, raising a megaphone to his lips, hailed:
"R.A.F. launch ahoy! Any fish to spare us?"
"Right-o!" shouted Derek in reply, but his voice was apparently39 inaudible to the airship's crew, for the hail was repeated.
"Hold up some fish and let them see," ordered Derek.
One of the men displayed the largest skate, a lozenge-shaped fish measuring more than a yard from fin40 to fin.
"That's done them!" exclaimed Derek.
But he was mistaken. Like a cormorant41 swooping42 down from a beacon43, the huge and seemingly ungainly airship tilted44 her nose and dropped almost vertically45 until her nacelle was within fifty or sixty feet of the water. Then, with her propeller revolving46 at a reduced rate, she forged ahead on a similar course to that of the motor-boat.
"By Jove! She's paying out her aerial. That's a smart move," announced Derek. "Easy ahead! Follow her up, coxswain."
Rapidly the thin but strong wire was unwound until the end dangled47 within reach of the crew of the boat. In a trice one of the men grasped the wire and bent48 it round the tail of the skate.
"Haul in!" shouted Derek.
"Thanks, old man!" yelled the Blimp's pilot in reply. "When you've a chance, look us up at Netherton. We'll give you a joy-ride."
"Sure thing!" replied Derek. "I'm on it!"
The airship rose slowly, her crew still winding49 in the skate that was revolving rapidly at the end of the aerial; then, having gained possession of the novel catch, the Blimp bore swiftly southwards to resume her patrol, while No. 1164 B steadied on her helm and shaped a course back to the Bar Buoy50.
Happening to glance aft, Derek was somewhat surprised to find a small black kitten in the after-cockpit.
"What's that animal doing on board?" he demanded.
"Our mascot51, sir," replied one of the men. "The Adjutant's dog chased it on board just before we left the pier52."
"No. 17 coming out, sir," reported the coxswain, pointing to a motor-craft that was approaching at high speed. Interest in the kitten was transferred to the oncoming boat.
"She's signalling, sir," continued the coxswain, as a man holding a couple of hand-flags mounted the plunging53 fore-deck.
"Will you take Sergeant54-Instructor55 Jenkins on board for the purpose of adjusting compass?" read the coxswain.
Both boats slowed down on approaching, and rounded gunwale to gunwale. The Sergeant, a short, burly man, who looked what he was—a seaman56 ex-R.N., in spite of his khaki uniform—saluted, and stepped into No. 1164 B.
"Ready to carry on, sir?" he asked.
"Yes, carry on, Sergeant," replied Derek.
The N.C.O. bent down to unship the hood57 of the compass. As he did so the kitten scrambled58 upon his back and on to his shoulder. With a yell the Sergeant dropped the metal hood fairly on the top of the compass. The glass cracked, the compass tilted on its gimbals, and the liquid poured from the bowl.
"That's gone west, sir!" exclaimed the Sergeant apologetically. "Sorry, sir; it was that blessed cat. Can't stick cats at any price. Completely up-end me, they do."
It was evident that nothing further could be done in the matter of adjusting that compass. The N.C.O. was profuse59 in his regrets, but regrets were unable to repair the damaged instrument. Accordingly the coxswain was ordered to take the boat back into the harbour.
"Yes, sir," resumed the Sergeant. "Cats are my 'beatty nowhere', [1] as the Frenchies say. Can't stick 'em at any price," he reiterated60. "Got disrated once over a party of cats."
"Eh?" exclaimed Derek incredulously.
"Fact, sir; it was in '97, when I was yeoman of signals on the Spondulux—third-class cruiser she was. We were lying off the west coast, with awnings62 rigged day and night, and all that sort o' thing, and perishing hot it was, too. Well, we had a cat on board, which was bad enough, but, to make matters worse, the cat had kittens. One night I was keeping the middle watch when I heard a most awful racket. You'll understand, sir, we had the poop awning61 set, and the dew had stretched it as tight as a drum. There was that cat and her kittens careering up and down the awning and playing all sorts of pranks63. The skipper rings his bell, so down I goes to his cabin. 'What's that?' he asked, holding up his hand, as if I couldn't hear plain enough. 'Cats, sir,' says I. 'Stop it,' says he. Those being my orders I had to carry 'em out. So out I turned, creeping along the ridge-rope of that blessed awning trying to collar the furry64 brood, or, rather, to drive 'em for'ard, 'cause touching65 'em always sends cold shivers down my back. I hadn't gone a couple of yards before the awning parted, and down I went through the hole smack66 upon the poop. The Bloke (Commander) comes tumbling up out of his cabin, swears I've been skylarking, and takes away my badges."
Against the strong ebb67 tide R.A.F. 1164 B rubbed alongside the pier. The men were ascending68 the steps when the Officer of the Watch appeared.
"What's that kitten doing on board?" he enquired69; then, without waiting for an explanation, he continued: "Sergeant Jenkins, hand that animal out."
The harassed70 instructor obeyed, although there were strong indications of repugnance71 as he handled the inoffensive little kitten.
The Officer of the Watch caught Derek's eye. The officers winked72 at each other, for each knew Sergeant Jenkins's antipathy73.
"That's the stuff to give 'em," murmured the O.W.
[1] Bête noire.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
marine
|
|
| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
depot
|
|
| n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
hoisted
|
|
| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
sentries
|
|
| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
tolled
|
|
| 鸣钟（toll的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
bugle
|
|
| n.军号，号角，喇叭；v.吹号，吹号召集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
bugler
|
|
| 喇叭手； 号兵； 吹鼓手； 司号员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
scout
|
|
| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
precepts
|
|
| n.规诫，戒律，箴言( precept的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
attain
|
|
| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
guise
|
|
| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
batch
|
|
| n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
gem
|
|
| n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
rubicund
|
|
| adj.(脸色)红润的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
trumpet
|
|
| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
accede
|
|
| v.应允，同意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
subscribed
|
|
| v.捐助( subscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；签署，题词；订阅；同意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
martial
|
|
| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
idyllic
|
|
| adj.质朴宜人的，田园风光的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
exhausted
|
|
| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
applied
|
|
| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
reposed
|
|
| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
meek
|
|
| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
idol
|
|
| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
disappearance
|
|
| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
killing
|
|
| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
foul
|
|
| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
pals
|
|
| n.朋友( pal的名词复数 )；老兄；小子；（对男子的不友好的称呼）家伙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
mules
|
|
| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
meshes
|
|
| 网孔( mesh的名词复数 )； 网状物； 陷阱； 困境 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
bulging
|
|
| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
writhing
|
|
| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
bass
|
|
| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
propeller
|
|
| n.螺旋桨，推进器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
coastal
|
|
| adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
distinctive
|
|
| adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
disastrous
|
|
| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
fin
|
|
| n.鳍；(飞机的)安定翼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
cormorant
|
|
| n.鸬鹚，贪婪的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
swooping
|
|
| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
beacon
|
|
| n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
tilted
|
|
| v. 倾斜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
vertically
|
|
| adv.垂直地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
revolving
|
|
| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
dangled
|
|
| 悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
winding
|
|
| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
buoy
|
|
| n.浮标；救生圈；v.支持，鼓励 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
mascot
|
|
| n.福神，吉祥的东西 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
pier
|
|
| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
plunging
|
|
| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
sergeant
|
|
| n.警官，中士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
instructor
|
|
| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
seaman
|
|
| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
hood
|
|
| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
scrambled
|
|
| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
profuse
|
|
| adj.很多的，大量的，极其丰富的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
reiterated
|
|
| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
awning
|
|
| n.遮阳篷；雨篷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
awnings
|
|
| 篷帐布 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
pranks
|
|
| n.玩笑，恶作剧( prank的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
furry
|
|
| adj.毛皮的；似毛皮的；毛皮制的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
touching
|
|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
smack
|
|
| vt.拍，打，掴；咂嘴；vi.含有…意味；n.拍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
ebb
|
|
| vi.衰退，减退；n.处于低潮，处于衰退状态 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
ascending
|
|
| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
enquired
|
|
| 打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
harassed
|
|
| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
repugnance
|
|
| n.嫌恶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
winked
|
|
| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
antipathy
|
|
| n.憎恶；反感，引起反感的人或事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |