CHAPTER XIX THE GOOD OF THE ILL WIND

Mabel waked up just as Jane triumphantly¹ rode her last wave and was cast up on the sand still holding on to her unconscious burden.

Lorna’s friends, shrieking² and crying, threw themselves on her wailing³ and moaning:

“She is dead! She is dead!”

“Give her to me!” sternly demanded her stricken father.

Jane was completely exhausted⁴ and lay for a moment with her eyes closed while the crowd of holiday makers⁵ closed in around her, praising her and lauding⁶ her to the skies. But Jane’s work was not over. As soon as she could pull herself together she was on her feet and, pushing her way unceremoniously through the crowd, she caught Mr. Breckenridge by the arm where he stood clasping his Lorna to his broken heart.

“Don’t listen to them! She is not dead! Give her to me. Give her here, I say! Mabel!” she called, “come and help me.”

Mabel was there in a moment.

“Push the crowd back and come give first aid to the drowning. You know how.” Jane spoke⁷ authoritatively⁸ and Mabel took matters into her own hands. Lorna’s friends were the hardest to manage as they insisted upon hanging over her and covering her with kisses.

“You are killing⁹ her!” Jane spoke sternly. “Mr. Breckenridge, if you can’t make these people stop, I’ll not answer for your daughter’s life.”

And now Mr. Breckenridge took matters into his own hands and pushed away the curious ones who would crowd in and with no gentle hand pulled the well-meaning if ill-advised friends away from his daughter.

Then Mabel began the process of bringing to life the seemingly dead. Many times had she practiced this stunt¹⁰ in classes until she knew how to do it better than any one of the group of Camp Fire Girls.

“That fat girl will mash¹¹ her,” wailed¹² one of the friends.

“I may be fat but I’m no fool,” retorted Mabel, who had placed Lorna on her face with arms above her head and face turned to one side. Then she had seated herself astride the prostrate¹³ body and with clever and strong hands manipulated her lungs. At first it seemed hopeless. The friends still wailed and it took all of Jane’s strength, and stubborn determination, combined with Mr. Breckenridge’s, to hold them back from what they thought was their dead darling.

“She has just swallowed a lot of water,” Jane comforted the stricken father. “She wasn’t under water long enough to be drowned. Her heart is all right, isn’t it?”

“As right as a trivet, my dear.”

His “my dear” gave Jane a little thrill.

“She needs all the air she can get and the more people crowd around her the harder it will be for her,” she said to the father, and to herself she wailed: “Where, where is Breck?” and she prayed: “Oh, God, send Breck.”

And Breck came at that moment. Laden¹⁴ with food and with the rest of the Boojummers Charlie and Breck had started back to the spot where they had left the girls. From afar off they saw the crowd and began to run. Suppose something had happened to Jane or Mabel. Breck remembered with thanksgiving that Jane had promised not to go in the water again until he got back.

“Good old Jane wouldn’t break her word for a million,” he said to himself as he raced to see what was the matter anyhow.

Towering above the crowd he saw the head of his own father and something in his face told him there was tragedy in the air.

Breaking through the crowd to the space kept open by the exertions¹⁵ of Jane and Mr. Breckenridge, the son caught his father by the hand.

“Father!” he cried.

“Allen! My son! Look, your sister! She is drowned.”

“No, she is not,” put in Jane reassuringly¹⁶. “See, her breath is coming back!” and sure enough as Mabel pressed upon the lungs and then removed the pressure a sign of animation¹⁷ could be discerned in the prostrate body. The shoulders heaved slightly and there was a quivering of the long lashes¹⁸ that rested on the marble cheek.

Mabel began to sob¹⁹.

“Let me take your place, Mabel, please,” suggested Jane.

“Never!” cried Mabel. “I’m just sobbing²⁰ because I’m so happy. She’s trying to breathe.”

“She’s going to live,” Jane whispered to Breck.

“I’ve always wanted to bring somebody back ever since the time it was Miss Min’s riding skirt and not Miss Min that got drowned,” continued Mabel, still pressing gently but firmly on Lorna’s lungs and then releasing the pressure.

“I believe, little sister, you tried to take in the whole ocean,” said Breck, kneeling by Lorna’s side and taking her hand in his after it was all over and she had come back to consciousness.

“Oh, Allen! And we have found you at last. We have been searching up and down the coast for days and days,” she whispered faintly. “Father didn’t know I understood what he was doing, but he couldn’t fool me. He has been as restless as a caged lion. He was sure he would find you at Nantucket Town and when you weren’t there he sailed away, but only went around the island and put in again this morning.”

This was in such a low tone that nobody except Breck heard it, but Jane noticed that there were tears in his eyes when he got to his feet and again grasped the hand of his father.

“Father, I want you to know my friends. This is Mr. Wing. I shipped as common seaman²² on his yacht, the ‘Boojum,’ but, by a stroke of good fortune, I am now—er—eating at the captain’s table.”

Breck went down the line introducing his friends, but with an unwonted shyness saved Jane until the last. Jane stood by looking on and blushing in spite of herself. Her bathing cap that the waves had spared had been lost in the scuffle with the crowd and the importunate²³ friends and her wealth of blue-black hair had fallen about her shoulders, making her look very handsome. Mr. Breckenridge looked at the girl keenly as his son at last turned to her. He took her brown hand in both of his and said:

“Somehow I don’t need to be introduced to this young lady. I know her already, all but her name. I know she risked her life for a perfect stranger and I know she has more grit²⁴ than any man on the beach, as much grit as any man I have ever known.”

He leant over and kissed her hand. “I can never repay you, my dear, whatever your name is. There is no way to repay you.”

“Yes there is, sir,” said Jane blushing furiously but smiling bravely. “You can give your son and me your blessing²⁵, because we are thinking about getting married.”

It was a good thing the crowd had dispersed²⁶ and gone back to the safer beach, because crowd or no crowd Breck put his arm around his dear Jane and kissed her again and again.

Then Charlie felt he should kiss Mabel because she had done such good work in resuscitating²⁷ the drowned. And Mr. Breckenridge thanked her all over again for her wonderful skill.

“Where did you learn how to do it?” he asked.

“Part of being a Camp Fire Girl,” declared Mabel. “Camp Fire Girls are just hanging around longing²⁸ for emergencies to occur so they can get more beads²⁹. You needn’t be grateful to me for resuscitating your daughter. I have been praying for such a chance for ever so long.”

Everybody laughed at Mabel, who usually put her foot in it and never could get out a long word without mixing it up.

“And you are a Camp Fire Girl too?” Mr. Breckenridge asked Jane.

“Oh yes, and it was being one that made me able to save Lorna. You see we practice saving people. Mabel doesn’t mean we want things to happen but that we want to be near by and able to help if things do happen.”

“I see,” he smiled.

“Well, I’m mighty³⁰ hungry,” put in the irrepressible Mabel.

“Here are the eats,” whispered Charlie. “Hot-dog sandwiches and long green pickles³² and ginger³³ ale, but you have to drink out of the bottles.”

Jane and Mabel could not help being amused to see the elegant persons who had been so superior not half an hour before and too refined even to bathe in the ocean with the common herd³⁴ actually sitting down on the beach with them, whom they had so ignored, and sharing the crude luncheon³⁵ with ill-concealed gusto.

“Excitement always makes me hungry,” sighed Mabel to one of the chinless youths who was daintily munching³⁶ a long dill pickle³¹.

As for Lorna’s flattering friends, they watched to see what she would do and then did likewise even to the extent of a vulgar hot-dog sandwich.

“I don’t know whether it is good for anyone who has been so near drowning to eat such food, but I guess you can try it, little Sister,” laughed Breck.

The warm sun quickly dried the wet suits. Color came back into the wan²¹ faces and laughter was on the lips that had so recently uttered only moans. It was a merry party. No one could be stiff and elegant very long with the Boojummers headed by the amusing and altogether natural Mabel.

Breck watched with pleasure his sister’s interest in Jane. His father’s eyes were never off his son’s fiancée and in them it was plain to read supreme³⁷ satisfaction and approval.

And is this not a very good place to leave our Camp Fire Girls? They have had a wonderful summer trying to live up to the principles taught by their organization. Some of the beads they have won will not show on their strings³⁸ but will be what Mabel called “character beads.”

Mr. Breckenridge saw to it that the two young women who saved his daughter’s life should have something more tangible³⁹ than just “character beads.” When they got back to New York, they had hardly reached their hotel, when each received a package by special messenger. Each box contained a priceless string of pearls, with Mr. Breckenridge’s card, on which was written.

Some Camp Fire Beads
For
A Brave Girl

“Have you told your father about Hurricane Island yet?” Jane asked Breck.

“Yes, and he merely wanted to know if you approved and was mighty disappointed to hear most of the stock was bid for already. I guess we’ll have to let the Governor in on it for a little.” And Jane smiled a happy assent⁴⁰.

THE END

1 triumphantly   

ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地

参考例句：

• The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
• Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。

2 shrieking   

v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The boxers were goaded on by the shrieking crowd. 拳击运动员听见观众的喊叫就来劲儿了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They were all shrieking with laughter. 他们都发出了尖锐的笑声。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 wailing   

v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱

参考例句：

• A police car raced past with its siren wailing. 一辆警车鸣着警报器飞驰而过。
• The little girl was wailing miserably. 那小女孩难过得号啕大哭。

4 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

5 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 lauding   

v.称赞，赞美( laud的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Let sing out our own song lauding life, lauding world. 让我们以我们自己的歌来咏赞生命，咏赞世界吧！ 来自互联网
• Vice President-elect Joe Biden also spoke, lauding the value of work and the dignity it brings. 副总统当选人乔·拜登经常说，要赞颂工作的价值及其带来的高贵。 来自互联网

7 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：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

8 authoritatively   

命令式地，有权威地，可信地

参考例句：

• "If somebody'll come here and sit with him," he snapped authoritatively. “来个人到这儿陪他坐着。”他用发号施令的口吻说。
• To decide or settle(a dispute, for example) conclusively and authoritatively. 判定结论性、权威性地决定或解决（纠纷等）

9 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

10 stunt   

n.惊人表演，绝技，特技；vt.阻碍...发育，妨碍...生长

参考例句：

• Lack of the right food may stunt growth.缺乏适当的食物会阻碍发育。
• Right up there is where the big stunt is taking place.那边将会有惊人的表演。

11 mash   

n.麦芽浆，糊状物，土豆泥；v.把…捣成糊状，挑逗，调情

参考例句：

• He beat the potato into a mash before eating it.他把马铃薯捣烂后再吃。
• Whiskey,originating in Scotland,is distilled from a mash of grains.威士忌源于苏格兰，是从一种大麦芽提纯出来的。

12 wailed   

v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She wailed over her father's remains. 她对着父亲的遗体嚎啕大哭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The women of the town wailed over the war victims. 城里的妇女为战争的死难者们痛哭。 来自辞典例句

13 prostrate   

v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的

参考例句：

• She was prostrate on the floor.她俯卧在地板上。
• The Yankees had the South prostrate and they intended to keep It'so.北方佬已经使南方屈服了,他们还打算继续下去。

14 laden   

adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的

参考例句：

• He is laden with heavy responsibility.他肩负重任。
• Dragging the fully laden boat across the sand dunes was no mean feat.将满载货物的船拖过沙丘是一件了不起的事。

15 exertions   

n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使

参考例句：

• As long as they lived, exertions would not be necessary to her. 只要他们活着，是不需要她吃苦的。 来自辞典例句
• She failed to unlock the safe in spite of all her exertions. 她虽然费尽力气，仍未能将那保险箱的锁打开。 来自辞典例句

16 reassuringly   

ad.安心，可靠

参考例句：

• He patted her knee reassuringly. 他轻拍她的膝盖让她放心。
• The doctor smiled reassuringly. 医生笑了笑，让人心里很踏实。

17 animation   

n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作

参考例句：

• They are full of animation as they talked about their childhood.当他们谈及童年的往事时都非常兴奋。
• The animation of China made a great progress.中国的卡通片制作取得很大发展。

18 lashes   

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

参考例句：

• Mother always lashes out food for the children's party. 孩子们聚会时，母亲总是给他们许多吃的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Never walk behind a horse in case it lashes out. 绝对不要跟在马后面，以防它突然猛踢。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 sob   

n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣

参考例句：

• The child started to sob when he couldn't find his mother.孩子因找不到他妈妈哭了起来。
• The girl didn't answer,but continued to sob with her head on the table.那个女孩不回答，也不抬起头来。她只顾低声哭着。

20 sobbing   

<主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的

参考例句：

• I heard a child sobbing loudly. 我听见有个孩子在呜呜地哭。
• Her eyes were red with recent sobbing. 她的眼睛因刚哭过而发红。

21 wan   

(wide area network)广域网

参考例句：

• The shared connection can be an Ethernet,wireless LAN,or wireless WAN connection.提供共享的网络连接可以是以太网、无线局域网或无线广域网。

22 seaman   

n.海员，水手，水兵

参考例句：

• That young man is a experienced seaman.那个年轻人是一个经验丰富的水手。
• The Greek seaman went to the hospital five times.这位希腊海员到该医院去过五次。

23 importunate   

adj.强求的；纠缠不休的

参考例句：

• I would not have our gratitude become indiscreet or importunate.我不愿意让我们的感激变成失礼或勉强。
• The importunate memory was kept before her by its ironic contrast to her present situation.萦绕在心头的这个回忆对当前的情景来说，是个具有讽刺性的对照。

24 grit   

n.沙粒，决心，勇气；v.下定决心，咬紧牙关

参考例句：

• The soldiers showed that they had plenty of grit. 士兵们表现得很有勇气。
• I've got some grit in my shoe.我的鞋子里弄进了一些砂子。

25 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

26 dispersed   

adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的

参考例句：

• The clouds dispersed themselves. 云散了。
• After school the children dispersed to their homes. 放学后，孩子们四散回家了。

27 resuscitating   

v.使（某人或某物）恢复知觉，苏醒( resuscitate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Purpose To observe the curative effect of resuscitating and scalp acupunctures on apoplectic hemiplegia. 目的观察醒脑开窍法与头针治疗中风偏瘫的疗效。 来自互联网

28 longing   

n.（for）渴望

参考例句：

• Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
• His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。

29 beads   

n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链

参考例句：

• a necklace of wooden beads 一条木珠项链
• Beads of perspiration stood out on his forehead. 他的前额上挂着汗珠。

30 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

31 pickle   

n.腌汁，泡菜；v.腌，泡

参考例句：

• Mother used to pickle onions.妈妈过去常腌制洋葱。
• Meat can be preserved in pickle.肉可以保存在卤水里。

32 pickles   

n.腌菜( pickle的名词复数 )；处于困境；遇到麻烦；菜酱

参考例句：

• Most people eat pickles at breakfast. 大多数人早餐吃腌菜。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I want their pickles and wines, and that.' 我要他们的泡菜、美酒和所有其他东西。” 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛

33 ginger   

n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气

参考例句：

• There is no ginger in the young man.这个年轻人没有精神。
• Ginger shall be hot in the mouth.生姜吃到嘴里总是辣的。

34 herd   

n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• He had no opinions of his own but simply follow the herd.他从无主见，只是人云亦云。

35 luncheon   

n.午宴，午餐，便宴

参考例句：

• We have luncheon at twelve o'clock.我们十二点钟用午餐。
• I have a luncheon engagement.我午饭有约。

36 munching   

v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was munching an apple. 他在津津有味地嚼着苹果。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Munching the apple as he was, he had an eye for all her movements. 他虽然啃着苹果，但却很留神地监视着她的每一个动作。 来自辞典例句

37 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

38 strings   

n.弦

参考例句：

• He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上，随意地拨着吉他的弦。
• She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。

39 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。

40 assent   

v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可

参考例句：

• I cannot assent to what you ask.我不能应允你的要求。
• The new bill passed by Parliament has received Royal Assent.议会所通过的新方案已获国王批准。