Mahmed was first on board, his duty being to assist the two lascars to hoist2 Preston over the gunwale. This operation was successfully performed without even a groan3 or a gasp4 from the injured man, and the lascars returned to carry the portly Mrs. Shallop through the water.
They had a difficult task this time, for the lady confessed to twelve stone, and probably tipped the scale at fifteen. Nevertheless the lascars tackled the job with such a will that their energy was more than sufficient.
Mrs. Shallop began to rock. The oscillations continued until in desperation she clutched at the head of one of her bearers. At the same moment his feet struck a particularly sharp patch of rock. Never "strong on his pins", and additionally handicapped by an unequal share of his fifteen-stone burden, the Indian found himself falling. The prospect5 of being sandwiched between the sharp coral and the portly mem-sahib was too much for his self-control. With a vigorous and despairing effort he threw himself clear. The other lascar, unable to maintain his charge, let Mrs. Shallop go with a run.
For some seconds she floundered in eighteen inches of tepid6 water, her horrified7 features mercifully obscured from the onlookers8 by a miniature waterspout. Before Mostyn could go to her assistance she regained9 her feet. For a very brief interval10 there was absolute silence. Even the lapping of the wavelets upon the shore seemed to have ceased.
Then the storm broke. Mrs. Shallop's pent-up loquacity11 let itself loose, after being kept under control for nearly forty-eight hours. She stormed at the lascars until they took to their heels, but fortunately they were ignorant of what she did say. Then she directed her battery upon Peter, although he was quite at a loss to know why he should be marked down in this fashion; while for vehemence12 her expressions—to quote the immortal13 Pepys—"outvied the daughters of Billingsgate".
Mostyn suffered the storm in silence. Most people in their passions "give themselves away", and in this instance Mrs. Shallop's outburst simply confirmed Peter's doubts as to the lady's claims to be a naval14 captain's daughter.
But when Mrs. Shallop included Olive in her revilings Peter's square jaw15 tightened16.
"Enough of this!" he exclaimed sternly. "On board—at once!"
Mrs. Shallop hesitated, trying, perhaps, to find a flaw in the armour18 of her youthful antagonist19. For his part Peter kept his eyes fixed20 steadily21 upon the infuriated woman, although he found himself inquiring what he could do to enforce obedience22 should she prove obdurate23.
The tension was broken by Preston's gruff voice. From where he lay in the stern-sheets the Acting24 Chief could see nothing of what was going on. One ear was covered with bandages, but the other was doubly sharp of hearing. To him a refusal to obey lawful25 orders was mutiny, whether it came from a dago, "Dutchie", or, as in the present instance, from a blindly angry woman.
"You had one ducking by accident," he shouted. "You'll get another by design—in double quick time—if you don't take your place in the boat."
It was high time, Preston thought, that he had a say in the matter. It was a drastic step to threaten a woman with physical punishment, but there were limitations to the patience and forbearance of himself and his companions. A person of the explosive and abusive temperament26 of Mrs. Shallop in the boat was not only an unmitigated nuisance but a positive danger. Shorthanded as they were, they could not afford to run the additional risk of being hampered27 by an irresponsible passenger should they get in a tight squeeze, when the safety of all concerned depended upon coolness, quickness, and unhampered action.
The prospect of another sousing quelled28 the termagant's spirit. Meekly29 she waded30 to the boat and scrambled31 unassisted over the gunwale.
"Now, Olive!" exclaimed Peter. "To avoid a repetition of part of the performance——"
He lifted the girl in his arms and carried her through the water.
By this time the lascars had returned, and the boat's complement was now complete. The kedge was broken out and stowed, and under oars32 the repaired craft headed for the open sea, where the dancing ripples33 betokened34 the presence of a breeze—and a fair wind at that.
Peter was at the helm, with one hand grasping the tiller and the other shading his eyes from the dazzling sunlight. The two lascars rowed, while Mahmed, armed with the lead-line, took frequent soundings until the boat had drawn35 clear of the outlying reefs.
"Way 'nough!" ordered Mostyn. "Hoist sail!"
While the Indians were engaged in this operation the Wireless36 Officer, handing Olive the tiller, made a hasty yet comprehensive survey of the bilges. Except for a slight leaking 'twixt wind and water, the boat seemed absolutely tight. The canvas patches, reinforced as they were with woodwork, were standing37 the strain splendidly and gave not the slightest indication of leaking. Whether they would withstand the "working" of the boat in a seaway was still a matter that had to be proved.
"What's the course, old man?" asked Peter.
"Keep her at nor'-by-east," replied Preston. "Another thirty-six hours ought to work the oracle38."
"It's nearly a dead run," reported Mostyn, after he had steadied the boat on her course.
"So much the better, s'long as you don't gybe her," rejoined the Acting Chief. "Not so much chance of making leeway."
Peter saw the force of this contention39, but that did not alter the fact that of all forms of sailing "running" was what he least liked. It soon became apparent that there were others who were of a similar opinion, for, as the boat rolled heavily before the hot, sultry wind, Mrs. Shallop and the lascars were quickly hors de combat, showing no enthusiasm when the first meal on board for that day was served out.
Even Olive Baird, used as she was to sailing, felt the motion of the boat uncomfortable. The light breeze was scarcely perceptible, although it was making the sail draw well. Not only was the sun pouring down with considerable strength, but the sea was reflecting hot rays of dazzling light.
Already the island astern was a mere40 pin-prick on the horizon. Ahead and on either beam was the now monotonous41 expanse of sea and sky.
Late in the afternoon a shoal of flying fish came athwart the boat's course. Evidently they were being pursued, for they flew blindly, several of them bringing up against the sail and dropping stunned43 upon the thwarts44.
"Dolphins in pursuit, I think," explained Peter, in answer to Olive's question. "I don't know about that, though," he added after a pause. "Look at that."
He pointed45 astern. Twenty yards away was the triangular46 dorsal47 fin17 of a shark.
"The brute," ejaculated Olive, with a slight shudder48. "I hope he goes off soon."
But the girl's wish was not to be fulfilled. If the shark had been chasing the flying fish he no longer did so. Perhaps he scented49 promising50 and more satisfying fare, for without any apparent effort he began to follow the boat, rarely increasing or decreasing the distance.
"Hang the shark," exclaimed Peter. "Here, Olive, is a chance to show what a good shot you are."
He handed the girl his automatic. Without hesitation51 Olive took the somewhat complicated weapon. Peter noted52, with a certain degree of satisfaction, that she handled it fearlessly, and at the same time with proper caution. He had no cause to duck his head because of the muzzle53 pointing in his direction.
"Don't forget to release the safety-catch," he said.
"I've done so already," rejoined Olive, pulling back the mechanism54 that performed the double action of cocking the pistol and inserting a cartridge55 into the breech.
It was not an easy target, even at twenty yards. Not only was the boat yawing, but the dorsal fin of the shark was constantly on the move.
The pistol cracked. Mostyn, intent upon preventing the boat from gybing, had no opportunity of seeing the result of the shot. The girl, replacing the safety catch, handed the weapon back to its owner.
"Missed it, I'm afraid," she said. "But there's one good thing—the shark's disappeared."
"Scared stiff, if not hit," rejoined Peter. "Do you mind hanging on to the tiller, while I clean out the barrel?"
The day wore on. At six o'clock Peter roused one of the lascars, and told him to take on for a couple of hours. Already the tent had been rigged amidships, while the jib—useless, or nearly so, while running—had been employed as a sun-screen for Preston.
The sun sank to rest, its slanting56 rays turning the hitherto blue sea into a pool of liquid, ruddy fire, that gave place to a spangled carpet of indigo57 as the long undulations reflected the starlight. Away in the west the young moon was on the point of setting. It was the sort of sub-tropical evening that made the discomfort58 of the open boat pale by its soothing59 influence.
At eight Peter "took over". He had no desire for sleep, and was quite content to keep watch until relieved at dawn by one of the lascars; but he was somewhat surprised to find that Olive was likewise disinclined to turn in.
They watched the crescent moon dip behind the horizon; they saw the stars pale as a slight mist rose from the waters of the Indian Ocean, and the starlight give place to a darkness broken only by the feeble rays of the binnacle lamp.
By this time the wind had dropped to a gentle breeze on the port quarter, and there was no longer any risk of gybing. The erratic60 movement of the dead run had given way to the steadier "full and bye", with sufficient "kick" in the helm to make steering61 a pleasure rather than a monotonous routine.
Suddenly the boat quivered and heeled over to starboard. The shock was sufficient to rouse the sleepers62.
"Aground!" exclaimed Olive.
Peter put the helm down. The boat responded instantly to the action of the rudder.
"No," he replied. "We've hit something. Wreckage63, perhaps."
"It's a fish!" declared the girl, as with a trail of phosphorescence a huge object darted64 under the keel and disappeared in the darkness. "That shark."
"Or another one," rejoined Peter. "There's one blessing65: it isn't a whale. Chup rao!" he called out to the jabbering66 lascars.
In two or three minutes the awakened67 members of the boat's crew had relapsed into slumber68. Peter swung the boat back on her course, and handed the tiller to the girl.
"I'll have a cigarette, if you don't mind," he said.
"And one for me, old thing, while you are about it," added a bass69 voice from the stern-sheets.
"By Jove, Preston, I thought you were sound asleep," remarked Peter, as he placed a cigarette to the Acting Chief's lips.
"Keeping an eye on you, old thing," retorted Preston, with brutal70 candour, then in a lower tone he added.
"Don't say a word to the girl, but I believe we've sprung a leak. Hear that? It's not the water lapping the boat's sides. It's water trickling71 in fairly fast. Put a lascar on with the baler. That ought to keep it under until we can see what's wrong."
"Right-o," rejoined Mostyn.
He began to make his way for'ard, moving cautiously past the tent in which Mrs. Shallop was breathing stertorously72. But before he could get to the nearest of the three Indians a wild shriek73 rent the air.
For the moment Peter was under the mistaken impression that he had trodden upon the sleeping form of Mrs. Shallop, but his fears on that score were corrected by the lady exclaiming:
"We're sinking. I'm in the water. Let me out! Let me out!"
It was some time before the Wireless Officer could release the woman. She had laced the flap of the improvised74 tent from the inside, finishing up with a wondrous75 and intricate knot. In the darkness the task was even more difficult. Peter solved it by wrenching76 one side of the canvas away from the gunwale, and was rewarded by being capsized by the impact of Mrs. Shallop's ponderous78 and decidedly moist figure.
Meanwhile Mahmed, acting upon his own initiative, had lighted the lamp. By the uncertain light Peter found that his fears were realized. Water was spurting79 in through a rent in the canvas patch on the gar-board strake.
A long, pointed object attracted his attention. It was the beak80 of a large sword-fish. The creature had come into violent contact with the boat, driving the formidable "sword" completely through the temporary planking, two thicknesses of heavy canvas, and the intervening padding of clay. The bone had broken off short, but the worst of the business was that the sudden wrench77 had split the piece of elm forming the outside of the patch, and through the long narrow orifice thus made, gallons of the Indian Ocean were pouring into the boat.
Desperately81 Peter strove to wrench the sword clear of the hole. It swayed easily enough, but no amount of force at the Wireless Officer's command enabled him to remove the long, tapering82 horn.
"Bale away!" he exclaimed to the lascars, who were inertly83 watching their sahib's efforts to free the swordfish's formidable spike84. "Bale, or we'll sink."
"If you can't pull it out, push it back, old son," exclaimed Preston.
Glancing up, Peter found the Acting Chief in a sitting position, supporting himself with one hand grasping the after thwart42.
Mostyn acted upon the advice, but he proceeded warily85. It was a fairly easy matter to knock out the sword with a metal crutch—it was merely driving out an elongated86 wedge—but the question arose whether any display of force would prise the temporary planking from its fastenings.
At last to his satisfaction he felt the horny spike giving. After that it moved easily. Peter pushed its point completely clear of the boat, but the next instant the water poured in with redoubled violence, a phosphorescent waterspout rising a good eight or ten inches above the kelson.
Seizing a piece of canvas Peter wedged it into the gaping87 hole. The inflow was appreciably88 checked, but in order to withstand the pressure it was necessary for some one to hold the "stopper" in position, until repairs of a more substantial nature could be effected.
Calling to one of the lascars, Peter bade him carry on with the plugging process.
Hot, wellnigh breathless, and spent with his exertions89, Peter sat up. He glanced aft. The feeble light from the binnacle showed him that Olive was at the helm, calm and collected. Throughout the anxious five minutes she had kept the boat on her course with the skill of a master-mind—a vivid contrast to the hysterical90 woman whose incapacity in a tight corner belied91 her oft-repeated statement as to her naval forbears.
And during that five minutes the breeze had freshened considerably92. Already the seas were breaking viciously, their white crests93 showing ominously94 in the darkness. Another peril95 faced the crew. Could the badly strained and leaking boat withstand the onslaught of the threatened storm?
点击收听单词发音
1 complement | |
n.补足物,船上的定员;补语;vt.补充,补足 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 hoist | |
n.升高,起重机,推动;v.升起,升高,举起 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 groan | |
vi./n.呻吟,抱怨;(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 gasp | |
n.喘息,气喘;v.喘息;气吁吁他说 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 prospect | |
n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 tepid | |
adj.微温的,温热的,不太热心的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 horrified | |
a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 onlookers | |
n.旁观者,观看者( onlooker的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 regained | |
复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 ); 赢回; 重回; 复至某地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 interval | |
n.间隔,间距;幕间休息,中场休息 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 loquacity | |
n.多话,饶舌 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 vehemence | |
n.热切;激烈;愤怒 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 immortal | |
adj.不朽的;永生的,不死的;神的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 naval | |
adj.海军的,军舰的,船的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 jaw | |
n.颚,颌,说教,流言蜚语;v.喋喋不休,教训 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 tightened | |
收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 ); (使)变紧; (使)绷紧; 加紧 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 fin | |
n.鳍;(飞机的)安定翼 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 armour | |
(=armor)n.盔甲;装甲部队 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 antagonist | |
n.敌人,对抗者,对手 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 steadily | |
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 obedience | |
n.服从,顺从 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 obdurate | |
adj.固执的,顽固的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24 acting | |
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25 lawful | |
adj.法律许可的,守法的,合法的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26 temperament | |
n.气质,性格,性情 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27 hampered | |
妨碍,束缚,限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28 quelled | |
v.(用武力)制止,结束,镇压( quell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29 meekly | |
adv.温顺地,逆来顺受地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30 waded | |
(从水、泥等)蹚,走过,跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31 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: |
|
|
32 oars | |
n.桨,橹( oar的名词复数 );划手v.划(行)( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33 ripples | |
逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34 betokened | |
v.预示,表示( betoken的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36 wireless | |
adj.无线的;n.无线电 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38 oracle | |
n.神谕,神谕处,预言 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39 contention | |
n.争论,争辩,论战;论点,主张 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
40 mere | |
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
41 monotonous | |
adj.单调的,一成不变的,使人厌倦的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
42 thwart | |
v.阻挠,妨碍,反对;adj.横(断的) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
43 stunned | |
adj. 震惊的,惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
44 thwarts | |
阻挠( thwart的第三人称单数 ); 使受挫折; 挫败; 横过 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
45 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
46 triangular | |
adj.三角(形)的,三者间的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
47 dorsal | |
adj.背部的,背脊的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
48 shudder | |
v.战粟,震动,剧烈地摇晃;n.战粟,抖动 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
49 scented | |
adj.有香味的;洒香水的;有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
50 promising | |
adj.有希望的,有前途的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
51 hesitation | |
n.犹豫,踌躇 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
52 noted | |
adj.著名的,知名的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
53 muzzle | |
n.鼻口部;口套;枪(炮)口;vt.使缄默 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
54 mechanism | |
n.机械装置;机构,结构 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
55 cartridge | |
n.弹壳,弹药筒;(装磁带等的)盒子 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
56 slanting | |
倾斜的,歪斜的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
57 indigo | |
n.靛青,靛蓝 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
58 discomfort | |
n.不舒服,不安,难过,困难,不方便 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
59 soothing | |
adj.慰藉的;使人宽心的;镇静的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
60 erratic | |
adj.古怪的,反复无常的,不稳定的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
61 steering | |
n.操舵装置 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
62 sleepers | |
n.卧铺(通常以复数形式出现);卧车( sleeper的名词复数 );轨枕;睡觉(呈某种状态)的人;小耳环 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
63 wreckage | |
n.(失事飞机等的)残骸,破坏,毁坏 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
64 darted | |
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
65 blessing | |
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
66 jabbering | |
v.急切而含混不清地说( jabber的现在分词 );急促兴奋地说话;结结巴巴 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
67 awakened | |
v.(使)醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
68 slumber | |
n.睡眠,沉睡状态 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
69 bass | |
n.男低音(歌手);低音乐器;低音大提琴 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
70 brutal | |
adj.残忍的,野蛮的,不讲理的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
71 trickling | |
n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 );淌;使)慢慢走;缓慢移动 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
72 stertorously | |
参考例句: |
|
|
73 shriek | |
v./n.尖叫,叫喊 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
74 improvised | |
a.即席而作的,即兴的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
75 wondrous | |
adj.令人惊奇的,奇妙的;adv.惊人地;异乎寻常地;令人惊叹地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
76 wrenching | |
n.修截苗根,苗木铲根(铲根时苗木不起土或部分起土)v.(猛力地)扭( wrench的现在分词 );扭伤;使感到痛苦;使悲痛 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
77 wrench | |
v.猛拧;挣脱;使扭伤;n.扳手;痛苦,难受 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
78 ponderous | |
adj.沉重的,笨重的,(文章)冗长的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
79 spurting | |
(液体,火焰等)喷出,(使)涌出( spurt的现在分词 ); (短暂地)加速前进,冲刺; 溅射 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
80 beak | |
n.鸟嘴,茶壶嘴,钩形鼻 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
81 desperately | |
adv.极度渴望地,绝望地,孤注一掷地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
82 tapering | |
adj.尖端细的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
83 inertly | |
adv.不活泼地,无生气地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
84 spike | |
n.长钉,钉鞋;v.以大钉钉牢,使...失效 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
85 warily | |
adv.留心地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
86 elongated | |
v.延长,加长( elongate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
87 gaping | |
adj.口的;张口的;敞口的;多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 );张开,张大 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
88 appreciably | |
adv.相当大地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
89 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: |
|
|
90 hysterical | |
adj.情绪异常激动的,歇斯底里般的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
91 belied | |
v.掩饰( belie的过去式和过去分词 );证明(或显示)…为虚假;辜负;就…扯谎 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
92 considerably | |
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
93 crests | |
v.到达山顶(或浪峰)( crest的第三人称单数 );到达洪峰,达到顶点 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
94 ominously | |
adv.恶兆地,不吉利地;预示地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
95 peril | |
n.(严重的)危险;危险的事物 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |