Ethel remained at the wharf4, since the steep climb up the bluff must have proved too trying for her injured ankle. But the Doctor, acting5 under the girl's instructions, made his way up the hillside to the stores in order to purchase for her some necessary apparel to replace that lost in the wreck6. There was occasion also to buy additional gasoline for the launch. With these things provided, the two again set forth7 on their voyaging.
The physician, though he appeared genial8 enough, was in fact greatly perturbed9. He had tried in vain to secure morphia at either of the stores in Atlantic. He took advantage of his absence from Ethel to administer another injection, so that for the present the craving10 was stilled. But he was filled with dread11 for the future. While the launch moved forward steadily12 through the calm water, he secretly counted again the pellets remaining in the vial. Heartsick, he realized the truth. It was a matter only of a few hours before his stock of the drug would be entirely13 exhausted14. In such a situation, knowing as he did the horrible suffering that must ensue to him for lack of morphia, Garnet did not hesitate. He had learned by inquiries15 that there was a physician at Portsmouth, on the south side of Ocracoke Inlet, at the extreme northerly end of Core Banks. He must direct the launch thither17, there to seek relief from his fellow practitioner18. There was even the possibility of whiskey to mitigate19 his torture, for as one of the natives had informed him in Atlantic, "No'th Caroliny wasn't plumb20 bone-dry."
For some time now, Ethel Marion had closely watched her companion. She could not but perceive how different was his manner from that of the man who, for years, had visited her father's house whenever medical aid was needed. Formerly21 he had been full of life and vigor22; a man of most affable bearing, while now he was morose23, almost diffident. Since her return to consciousness, she had not once seen a smile on his face. Instead, his expression was always abstracted and remote. Moreover, at times, the girl had seen him turn his face quickly to the south as if moved by some irresistible24 and baneful25 attraction. And, too, at such times he had shuddered26 visibly. Ethel felt convinced that there remained something very frightful27 in the story still to be told concerning the wreck of the yacht. As she watched the man, a vague fear developed in her—a fear of him, for him. She had as yet no suspicion that she had been in mortal peril28 through the act of this man. But she was more than half convinced that he could be no longer a safe protector, for the peculiarity29 of his appearance and manner soon convinced her that he was actually deranged30. It was evident that he desired to be left to his own musings. So, for a long time, she refrained from any attempt toward conversation. She even feigned31 sleep, but through the long, brown lashes32 she continued to study the worn and harassed33 visage before her. And it was during this period of sly observation that she detected his deft34 resort to the hypodermic syringe. She witnessed as well the febrile anxiety with which he once more inspected the number of pellets. She noted35 with dismay the horror in his drawn36 features as he stared at the vial. Her ears even caught his whispered words:
"Only two!"
But before the startled and apprehensive37 girl could formulate38 a conclusion as to the significance of what she had seen and heard, there came an interruption.
In the spring great numbers of shad journey from the depths of the Atlantic to their spawning39 grounds far up in the head waters of the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers. The Sound fisherman is alert to know the time of their coming and stakes his gill nets all along the miles upon miles of shallows away from the buoy-marked channel of the Sound, in order that he may gain for himself the high prices paid in the northern markets for these delicacies40 of the sea. It is the rule that after the shad season the stakes to which the nets had been tied shall be removed. But sometimes carelessness, or worse, leaves the stakes in their places. In many instances these are broken off below the surface of the water by the buffeting41 of the waves. Thus invisible, they become a serious menace in the course of small boats. Sometimes in rough water, a boat falling from a wave has struck on one of these to have its bottom pierced, and forthwith to fill and sink.
It was one of these stakes that now caused catastrophe42. The sloping stern scraped over it. Next instant, the brittle43 bronze propeller44 blades rasped against it. They were swept off as smoothly45 as icicles from a window ledge46, and the homeward cruise of the frail47 little tender was at an end.
There came a scream from Ethel, which was echoed by a groan48 from the physician as his thoughts went in despair to the two pellets—only two! It was with the mechanical action of the experienced yachtsman that he threw the throttle49 of the engine as it raced free from the propeller's resistance.
"Oh, Doctor," the girl cried, "what is it now? What has happened to us—"
"Our propeller blades are stripped, Miss Marion," he answered, in a tone of deep dejection. "There is no injury to the hull50, of course, or we would have taken in water already. There is no danger, but," he concluded with great bitterness, "it is very discouraging, I must admit."
"What shall we do, Doctor?—drift with the wind until we are picked up by some passing vessel51?"
"I think not, Miss Ethel," Garnet replied. "Judging from the direction of the breeze, in less than an hour we shall come on the shore of Core Banks."
He spoke52 in a new voice of gentleness as he continued:
"Pray do not worry. I don't believe there is an acre of water that we will pass over where the depth would be above our arm-pits."
The thought of being stranded53 upon the barren Core Banks would have been serious enough to awaken54 dread in the heart of any woman, even in the company of a sane55 person. But Ethel Marion had her distress56 instantly increased by the fact that the man with her was of unsound mind. She had a general idea of how far they would be distant from any human habitation. This very strip of sand had been pointed57 out to her many times by the local pilot aboard her father's yacht. Now, there came crashing into her tortured brain memories of tales told by that same pilot; concerning treasure secreted58 there years agone by the pirate Black Beard; concerning the weird59 lights that rose from the sands at night, then mysteriously vanished; concerning the evil beach-combers who burned here their flares60 to trick the skippers of ships out at sea and deliver them to death upon these sands, where the bones of the vessels61 might be picked at ease; concerning the utter isolation62 of this region, where no human beings were to be found short of Portsmouth at one end and Cape63 Lookout64 at the other—fifty miles apart.
The launch drifted slowly, but none the less surely, toward the strip of sterile65 bleakness66 broken only by the huddled67 masses of the dunes68. As she saw them that morning from the porch of Squire69 Goodwin's home, Ethel had thought them a splendid and inspiring spectacle. Now, under the changed circumstances, their nearer aspect terrified her. She felt a desperate wonder as to what fate might hold in store.
By a mighty70 effort of will, the girl forced back the fear that threatened to overcome her. She addressed Garnet in a voice that trembled only slightly.
"Would it not be better to drop the anchor, and remain out here where we could surely be seen by passing boats?"
The Doctor shook his head in negation71 as he answered:
"No, Miss Ethel. It would be of no use, for we are too far from the traveled route. Besides, you have been so long cramped72 up aboard this little boat that it's imperative73 that you should stretch yourself ashore74. As far as the fishermen are concerned, we can make signals to them on shore as well as from here, better in fact."
He pointed suddenly.
"I can make out a rough fisherman's shack75 over younder between the dunes. There's no chance of its being occupied at this season, but the shelter afforded by it will mean everything to you."
Ethel looked in the direction indicated.
"Oh, yes, Doctor, I see it. I suppose it would help in an emergency, but I do hope we shall not be compelled to pass a night in this desolate76 place."
The physician's voice was surcharged with gloom—perhaps from pity for himself rather than for her—as he replied.
"It's already near sundown, so I'm greatly afraid we must pass at least a night in this wretched place. There is just one chance. Should the wind veer77 a little further to the southward, I could possibly use a pole and so push the boat up along the shore toward Portsmouth. But while the breeze remains78 in its present quarter, we have no choice but to stay here marooned79. I only wish we had taken on more supplies at Atlantic. Should I be obliged to go on foot to Portsmouth in order to bring back a boat for you, a collection of canned goods would prove capital company for you during my absence."
Ethel regarded the physician with surprise, and a tremulous smile bent80 her lips, for this was his first and only attempt at humor throughout all the trip. But as she studied his face, with its lugubrious81 expression, she came to the conclusion that, after all, he had not in the least meant to be funny; had, on the contrary, spoken in all seriousness.
Presently, the waves bore the tender gently upon the shelving strip of sand. Ethel remained on board, while Garnet went to make an inspection82 of the hut.
Shrimp83, too, hurriedly hopped84 from the tiny deck forward, and when he found himself safe ashore expressed his gratification by a lusty crow—his first during the voyage.
Garnet found the accommodations far better than he could have expected. The shack contained a small cook-stove, cooking utensils85, clean bunks86, some chairs and a table. He returned and aided Ethel to disembark. Then, still holding her hand, he led her toward the shack.
She went in a mood of dire16 foreboding toward this miserable87 shelter, under the escort of a man whom she now knew to be crazed.
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1
afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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7
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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perturbed
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| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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craving
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| n.渴望,热望 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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12
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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14
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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15
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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16
dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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17
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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18
practitioner
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| n.实践者，从事者；(医生或律师等)开业者 | |
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19
mitigate
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| vt.（使）减轻，（使）缓和 | |
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20
plumb
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| adv.精确地，完全地；v.了解意义，测水深 | |
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21
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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22
vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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23
morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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24
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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25
baneful
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| adj.有害的 | |
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26
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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27
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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28
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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29
peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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30
deranged
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| adj.疯狂的 | |
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31
feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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32
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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33
harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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34
deft
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| adj.灵巧的，熟练的（a deft hand 能手） | |
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35
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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36
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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37
apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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38
formulate
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| v.用公式表示；规划；设计；系统地阐述 | |
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39
spawning
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| 产卵 | |
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40
delicacies
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| n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到 | |
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41
buffeting
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| 振动 | |
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42
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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43
brittle
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| adj.易碎的；脆弱的；冷淡的；(声音)尖利的 | |
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44
propeller
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| n.螺旋桨，推进器 | |
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45
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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46
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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47
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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48
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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49
throttle
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| n.节流阀，节气阀，喉咙；v.扼喉咙，使窒息，压 | |
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50
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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51
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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52
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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53
stranded
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| a.搁浅的，进退两难的 | |
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54
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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55
sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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56
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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57
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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58
secreted
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| v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的过去式和过去分词 )；隐匿，隐藏 | |
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59
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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60
flares
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| n.喇叭裤v.（使）闪耀( flare的第三人称单数 )；（使）（船舷）外倾；（使）鼻孔张大；（使）（衣裙、酒杯等）呈喇叭形展开 | |
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61
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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62
isolation
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| n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离 | |
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63
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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64
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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65
sterile
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| adj.不毛的，不孕的，无菌的，枯燥的，贫瘠的 | |
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66
bleakness
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| adj. 萧瑟的, 严寒的, 阴郁的 | |
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67
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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68
dunes
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| 沙丘( dune的名词复数 ) | |
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69
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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70
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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71
negation
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| n.否定；否认 | |
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72
cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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73
imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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74
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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75
shack
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| adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚 | |
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76
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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77
veer
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| vt.转向，顺时针转，改变；n.转向 | |
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78
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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79
marooned
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| adj.被围困的；孤立无援的；无法脱身的 | |
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80
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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81
lugubrious
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| adj.悲哀的，忧郁的 | |
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82
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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83
shrimp
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| n.虾，小虾；矮小的人 | |
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84
hopped
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| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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85
utensils
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| 器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物 | |
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86
bunks
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| n.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的名词复数 )；空话，废话v.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的第三人称单数 )；空话，废话 | |
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87
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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