Ethel's thoughts veered9 to Roy again. But, now, there was something of comfort in her musing10. It occurred to her that he at least would believe the truth, though all the rest of the world should mock at it as a lie. Besides, there was the message she had thrown into the sea for him, which she had seen picked up by the fisherman. There was no doubt in her mind now that Roy had received it. There came a little glow of courage in her heart as she reflected that even at this very moment he was searching desperately11 for her.... Had she been outside the cabin just then, she might have seen the lights of The Hialdo, on which her lover was being carried to Beaufort, there to receive the news of her having left Ichabod's Island alive.
A new courage for herself left her free to feel compassion12 toward the miserable13 being who had done her such grievous wrong. She could guess in some measure from the man's lined and haggard face and twitching14 body how great was his suffering and remorse15. From the fact that he had made such a full confession16 of his guilt17, she knew that he would make every restitution18 in his power. Sympathy for him, added to sympathy for herself, proved too much for her self-restraint. Woman-like, she hid her face in her arms outstretched on the table, and wept.
After a little while, the fit of weeping ended. The girl brushed away the tears, and again sat erect19. Then, for a long time, neither she nor the man opposite her moved or spoke20. What, indeed, was there for her to say to him who had made her his victim? She had not the heart to reproach him. She could find no word of comfort. It seemed to her that there could be no assuagement21 of his misery—that he were better dead. If he lived, he must be a fugitive22 from justice, or, if captured, he must be tried and condemned23 for murder. Or he might end his days in a mad-house. Surely, death were preferable.
But Ethel knew that Doctor Garnet, despite her earlier belief, was not mad. Notwithstanding the tortures he endured, his narrative25 to her had revealed a mind lucid26 and sane27. She wondered suddenly if, after all, it might be possible somehow to save him from the law's penalty? Yet, the damning evidence of the murdered man in the wreck28 of the yacht could not be concealed2. The consequence of it would be that there could be no safety for the guilty one—at least on this continent.
That last phrase brought inspiration to the girl. There flashed into her mind a thought of another continent, where death was riding ruthless over countless29 thousands. There, under a new identity, this miserable creature might return to his manhood, might once again exercise his great skill in behalf of suffering humanity, might indeed atone30 for the past, might win a martyr's crown.... If he could but be smuggled31 out of the country!
It was hours past midnight now; a ghostly trace of dawn showed in the eastern sky. The physician, it was evident, was fighting desperately against the anguish32 induced by his abstinence after over-indulgence in the drug. But, presently, he noted33 through the open doorway34 the lightening of the horizon. Once again, now, he spoke to Ethel.
"Miss Marion, it's near daylight and the wind is still holding to the same course it was blowing yesterday. I see little chance of getting away from this place until there is a change. It is, I should judge, about twenty miles to Portsmouth. With your permission, I shall set out for there at once, in order to procure35 a boat and then return to you. I'm sure that I can make it. I shall be spurred on by two of the strongest incentives36: one is my anxiety in your behalf; the other—for I shall be frank with you—is my anxiety to reach a physician. I know that unless I can secure relief within a few hours I shall become insane."
He paused for a moment, and then added in a voice surcharged with emotion:
"This has been a terrible night. It was a horrible ordeal37 for me to make my confession to you. But now I feel the better for it. I have fought my hardest to retain my self-control, and I have succeeded thus far. Now, if you can only continue to be brave for a few hours, I'll have you safely on your way home."
"But do you consider that you are equal to the trip, Doctor?" Ethel inquired doubtfully. "Twenty miles is a long, long distance for one in your state of body and mind. Oh, how I wish my ankle was fit, so that I could stand the journey! But, of course, you most certainly have my permission, Doctor Garnet. That is, on one condition."
"And what is that condition, Miss Marion?"
"I want you to go under sealed instructions. I shall write these out and give them to you, but you must not read them until you have gone ten miles up the shore. Before you answer, let me tell you that in those instructions you will find nothing but what is to the best interests of both yourself and me."
"I owe you every obedience," the Doctor declared instantly, though there was a note of astonishment38 in his voice. "It shall be as you wish."
At her request, Doctor Garnet provided Ethel with his fountain-pen and some pages torn from his memorandum-book. She wrote her instructions hurriedly, folded them and gave them to the physician, who bestowed39 them in his coat-pocket. Then, with a short word of farewell, he set forth40 on his journey, while the girl, standing24 in the doorway, looked after him with brooding eyes. When he had disappeared from view, she seated herself on the doorstep and mused41 for a long time on the curious adventures through which she had passed, and of which the end was not yet come. She felt a great content over being thus alone, gladdened by a sheer relief at the absence of the Doctor. She no longer felt any fear, and presently she limped across to the bunk42 that had been prepared for her, where she quickly fell asleep on Ichabod's blankets. When at last she awoke, it was after a sound slumber43 of some hours, for the sun was now high in the heavens. She found herself greatly refreshed, and a desire came on her for the added refreshment44 of a plunge45 into the sea. There was no sign of a human being anywhere within sight, so she undressed and entered the water.
When her bath was ended, and she was again clothed, Ethel found a stick to serve her as a cane46, and with its aid made a halting ascent47 of one of the sand dunes49. She was surprised and pleased at the manifest improvement in her ankle. There remained little pain, even when her weight bore upon it in walking, and the swelling50 was greatly reduced, so that she was able partly to button her shoe over it. From the crest51 of the sand dune48, she was able to look out over a wide expanse of the waters all round-about.
To the eastward52, she could see for miles out over the bosom53 of the Atlantic. Far away in the distance, she saw a large steamer headed toward the north. At sight of it, she was swept with a sick longing54 to be on board, bound back to home and lover. Scattered56 over the surface of the Sound were visible many small sails of the fishing boats, darting57 to and fro, many skirting the shore. These were, however, located far away to the southwest, miles distant from where she stood. It was evident that, for the time being at least, there would be no opportunity to signal for help. A sudden realization58 of hunger drove her back to the shack59.
Ethel gathered sticks from the shore for the rusty60 ramshackle stove. She lighted them with matches brought from the tender. Soon she had water boiling for coffee, and presently, with the remnants left from Mrs. Goodwin's supply, the girl was able to make a meal that seemed wonderfully savory61 to her sharpened appetite.
As the day lengthened62, Ethel's mind busied itself with the problem of finding a means to signal her presence. There was always the possibility of the physician's failure to reach his destination. Prudence63 demanded that she herself should make every effort possible for relief. From her reading, she remembered how shipwrecked castaways in similar plight64 had used a shirt or any white garment as a flag of distress. She saw a net-pole lying on the strand65, which, she believed, she could drag to the top of the sand dune, in spite of her ankle's weakness. Her muslin petticoat would serve as the banner. The idea no sooner presented itself than she proceeded to its execution. The moving and the erection of the heavy pole taxed her strength to the utmost, but it was at last accomplished66, and its white flag fluttered bravely in the light breeze. Ethel looked with pride on her achievement, and dared to believe that her father, could he have seen her now, would have praised her courage and resourcefulness. She felt oddly like a soldier who has scaled the wall in the face of the enemy, and planted his flag in triumph on the rampart—though hers was a flag of truce67. She surveyed her work complacently68, though every muscle was aching from long-continued digging in the shifting sand with her bare hands and the tramping it into firmness about the pole.
When again she glanced out over the Sound, Ethel saw off to the northward69 a small skiff sailing toward her. Even at this distance, she was sure that it was approaching her refuge. It was evident that her signal had been seen. She sat down, and stared eagerly. She felt suddenly faint in the reaction of joy over the prospect70 of rescue. Then, a minute later, the castaway was forgotten in the woman. She hastily pulled her signal banner from the pole, wadded it under her arm, and hurried down the dune to the hut. Having accomplished its extraordinary purpose so valiantly71, the white flag should now disappear to perform its ordinary useful service.
She sat down and stared eagerly.
And as the signal banner came down, there sounded a clarion72 note, as if of victory, from the crest of a neighboring sand dune. It was the crowing of Shrimp73, still bold to challenge the world.
But Ethel gave no heed74 to the bird that had been her companion for a time in misfortune. It occurred to her that she ought not to go away from this place in such fashion as to leave Doctor Garnet to worry over her fate, should he return and find her gone. She decided75 that she would offer her rescuers a sufficient payment to wait throughout the day for his return, before taking their departure.
Now, the boat was putting in at some little distance up the shore. But there could be no doubt that a landing was intended, for the little sail had been lowered, and one of the men was sculling toward the beach with an oar55.
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1
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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repugnance
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| n.嫌恶 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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scoff
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| n.嘲笑，笑柄，愚弄；v.嘲笑，嘲弄，愚弄，狼吞虎咽 | |
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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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slanders
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| 诽谤，诋毁( slander的名词复数 ) | |
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accomplice
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| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
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veered
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| v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的过去式和过去分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转 | |
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musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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11
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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restitution
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| n.赔偿；恢复原状 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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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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assuagement
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| n.缓和；减轻；缓和物 | |
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fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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lucid
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| adj.明白易懂的，清晰的，头脑清楚的 | |
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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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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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atone
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| v.赎罪，补偿 | |
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smuggled
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| 水货 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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incentives
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| 激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机 | |
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ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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39
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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42
bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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43
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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44
refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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45
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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46
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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47
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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48
dune
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| n.(由风吹积而成的)沙丘 | |
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49
dunes
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| 沙丘( dune的名词复数 ) | |
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50
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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51
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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52
eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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53
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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56
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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shack
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| adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚 | |
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rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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savory
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| adj.风味极佳的，可口的，味香的 | |
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62
lengthened
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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67
truce
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| n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束 | |
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68
complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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69
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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71
valiantly
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| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 | |
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clarion
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| n.尖音小号声；尖音小号 | |
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73
shrimp
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| n.虾，小虾；矮小的人 | |
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74
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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