The oars2 dug into the water venomously, swirled4 through, emerged dripping and flashing, disappeared again. Brown, sinewy6 arms shot forward and back, bodies bent7 and unbent like powerful springs, the water was thrown in little cascades8 of glistening9 pearls, and the coxswains, open-mouthed, intense, cried unintelligible10 things in the uproar11, and looked like vindictive12 little demons13 crouching14 for a spring. There was no long, rhythmic15 swing of the oars now; there was nothing inspiring to the spectators in the quick, dashing movements of the sweeps; all seemed without system, incoherent.
Ten—eleven—twelve—thirteen—fourteen strokes! Then the savage16 struggle was past, and out from the momentary17 chaos18 of uproar and turmoil19 and seething20 water the Hillton shell shot into the lead, its bobbing cox even with Number Four of the St. Eustace boat.
“Steady all! Lengthen21 out! Lengthen out!”
The plunging22 dips of the eight crimson23-bladed oars ceased. Stroke, with a quick glance at the other boat,[258] moved back to the full limit of the slide, his sweep swirled steadily24, almost slowly, through the quieter water, came out square, turned, feathered over yards of racing25 ripples27, and again lost itself under the gleaming surface.
“Time! Time!” yelled cox.
And now backs were bending in perfect unison28, oarlocks rattled29 as one, and rowing superbly at thirty-two strokes to the minute, the crimson eight forced the shining cedar30 craft away until clear water showed between its rudder and the knifelike bow of its rival. Hillton had gained the first trick, and, although the game was by no means yet won, Dick’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction, Keene allowed a smile to cross his face, and on the Terrible, racing along in the wake of the speeding shells, Professor Beck and Coach Kirk glanced at each other and nodded. Across the intervening tide came, shrilly31, insistent32, the cry of the St. Eustace coxswain:
“Hit her up! Hit her up! Hit her up!”
In response eight blue-clad bodies bent and strained in an endeavor to place their shell beside Hillton’s, and eight blue-tipped oars flashed swiftly back and forth33. St. Eustace was rowing thirty-seven. Dick shot a glance of inquiry34 at Keene. The latter glanced over his right shoulder.
“Can’t keep it up,” he answered to Stroke’s unspoken question. “Four, you’re late!”
Slowly the bow of the St. Eustace boat crept up on[259] them; now it was abreast35 of their rudder; a dozen strokes more and it was even with cox; a minute later St. Eustace’s bow oar3 was cutting the water opposite to Dick. But there was no alteration36 of the latter’s stroke. For a minute or two the Blue’s boat hung tenaciously37 to the place it had won; then, inch by inch, it dropped astern again, yet so slowly that it was long before Dick was certain that it was so. The Blue was rowing at thirty-three now, and very wisely husbanding her strength. The half-mile was past, and the race was a quarter over.
Down at the finish crowds lined the shores and stood packed into a restless mass on the great iron bridge that spans the river a few rods below the imaginary line. The scene was a bright one. Overhead the summer sky arched warmly blue, a vast expanse of color unbroken save in the west, where a soft bank of cumulate clouds lay one upon the other like giant pillows. The river reflected the intense azure38 of the heavens and caught the sunlight on every ripple26 and wave until from long gazing upon it the eyes were dazzled into temporary blindness. On each side the banks were thickly wooded save that here and there a square or quadrangle of radiant turf stretched from the margin39 of the stream upward and away to some quiet mansion40 leaf-embowered in the distance. The western side of the river was deep-toned with shadows for a little space, and there upon the bank the trees held a promise of the twilight41 in their dark foliage42. Up the stream, to the right,[260] Marshall dozed43 in the afternoon, a picturesque44 group of white buildings, studded here and there with clumps45 of green; a long, low factory building stood by the water and glowed warmly red in the sunlight. Across the river and almost opposite to the village St. Eustace Academy sprawled46 its half-dozen edifices47 down the southern slope of a gentle hill, but only the higher towers and gables showed above the big elms that stood sentinel about it.
Along the bridge and up and down both shores by the finish crimson flags and streamers shone side by side with the deep blue banners of the rival school. Gay hats and bright-hued dresses pricked48 out the throngs49. Field-glasses now and then gave aid to eager eyes, and everywhere was an atmosphere of impatience50 and excitement. Many nerves were a-tingle there that sunny afternoon, while far up the river, like thin bright streaks51 upon the water, the two boats, to all appearances side by side, sped onward52 toward victory or defeat. It was anybody’s race as yet, said the watchers on the bridge; and indeed it looked so, not alone to them, but to the spectators in the launches and tugs53 that followed the shells, to the officials in their speeding craft, to the occupants of the slender cedar racing-ships themselves—to all save one.
Trevor Nesbitt, toiling54 over his oar with white, set face, was alone certain that defeat was to be the harvest of the eight heroes in crimson. But although he alone was sure, it is possible that Keene was already scenting55 disaster, for the[261] coxswain was staring ahead at Trevor with frowning brow and anxious eyes.
“Brace56 up, Four! You’re late!”
Trevor heard the cry as one half asleep hears the summons to awake; he wondered why cox didn’t speak louder; but he brought his wandering thoughts back the next instant and bore doggedly57 at his oar. Yes, he could still row; one more stroke; now, yet one more; and still another. It seemed as though each must be his last, and yet, when it was done, strength still remained for another, weaker, slower, but still another. Ever since the half-mile had been passed he had been on the verge58 of collapse59. He was faint and weak and dizzy; the blue sky and glistening water were merged5 in his failing sight into one strange expanse of awful, monotonous60 blue that revolved61 behind him in mighty62 sweeps like a monster cyclorama. Often it was dotted with craft that trailed soft, gray vapor63 behind them; often the lights were suddenly turned quite out, and the world was left in impenetrable blackness, and he closed his eyes and was glad.
“Four! Four! What’s the matter? Brace up, man!”
And then he opened his aching eyes again, slowly, unwillingly64, to find the world for the moment normal; to see the muscles of Waters’s neck straining like cords; to see a line of crimson bodies working back and forth; to wonder with alarm why he was sitting there motionless when every one else was at work, and then to suddenly discover[262] that he, too, was going forward and back on the slide, and in time with the other toilers. In one such moment he looked aside and saw a line of blue figures moving like automatons65 almost even with them. He wondered if they knew—those automatons—that they were going to win. He could tell them, but he wouldn’t; not a word. A funny little figure apparently66 sliding up and down at the stern reminded him of a ridiculous image of a heathen god he had once seen in a museum. It was very funny. He tried to grin——
“Eyes in the boat, Four!” shrieked67 the coxswain shrilly, angrily.
Trevor wondered who he was talking to. Strange that he should talk when they were losing the race; silence—silence like his own—would have been more fitting. There was a sudden jerk at his arms that for the instant brought him back to reality. He didn’t know what had happened; possibly he had struck a snag; but he found the time again after a fashion and worked on doggedly, as a machine might work, with neither sensation nor spirit. He had caught a crab68, but he didn’t know it then. Suddenly an almost overmastering hatred69 of the tossing blue line across the little breadth of water surged over him. They would win, the beasts, the monsters! And the little heathen image that slid up and down at the end would be happy! And Dick and Keene and all the others would be miserable70 and heartbroken! Heaven, how he hated[263] those monsters in blue and the little red-haired heathen image!
The cox was talking again now; what was it he said? Water? Cox wanted water; surely some one could get him water? But he had said Five, hadn’t he? Well, he wasn’t Five, and so—— What was this? He was wet! Oh, yes, Five was splashing him desperately71 with water. He wondered why and wished he’d stop; it got into his eyes and mouth and bothered him.
“Four, brace up, can’t you? It’s almost over!” pleaded cox from a great distance.
What was almost over? Trevor opened his eyes and drew his white, dripping forehead into a puzzled frown. Oh, yes, the race! His mind and vision cleared, and he saw things as they were; saw Keene’s eyes looking at him despairingly, saw the cox of the St. Eustace boat slide by him and disappear; saw the one mile buoy72 rush astern; saw himself, huddled73 over his motionless oar that dragged, splashing, on the surface. His brain was once more clear. He seized the oar handle, and tried to draw it to him. It was no use. He tried to explain it all to Keene in one long, agonized74 look. Then he saw the only way by which he could aid, and summoning a semblance75 of strength, with a deep breath, he reached out, and with trembling, nerveless fingers unlocked his oar and dropped it aside. It was lost to sight on the instant.
The only way by which he could aid.
“Careful, Four!” warned the cox.
Trevor steadied himself with a hand on the gunwale, brought his reluctant body half erect76, and then flung himself over the side. He heard the coxswain’s voice for an instant:
“Mind oars, Five and Seven!”
Then the waters closed over his head.
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收听单词发音
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1
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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2
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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3
oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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4
swirled
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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5
merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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sinewy
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| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
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7
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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8
cascades
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| 倾泻( cascade的名词复数 )； 小瀑布（尤指一连串瀑布中的一支）； 瀑布状物； 倾泻（或涌出）的东西 | |
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9
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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10
unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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11
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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12
vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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13
demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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14
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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15
rhythmic
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| adj.有节奏的，有韵律的 | |
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16
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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17
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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18
chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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19
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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20
seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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21
lengthen
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| vt.使伸长，延长 | |
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22
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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23
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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24
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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25
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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26
ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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27
ripples
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| 逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
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28
unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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29
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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30
cedar
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| n.雪松，香柏(木) | |
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31
shrilly
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| 尖声的； 光亮的，耀眼的 | |
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32
insistent
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| adj.迫切的，坚持的 | |
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33
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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34
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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35
abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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36
alteration
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| n.变更，改变；蚀变 | |
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37
tenaciously
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| 坚持地 | |
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38
azure
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| adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的 | |
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39
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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40
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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41
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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42
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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43
dozed
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| v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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45
clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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46
sprawled
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| v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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47
edifices
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| n.大建筑物( edifice的名词复数 ) | |
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48
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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49
throngs
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| n.人群( throng的名词复数 )v.成群，挤满( throng的第三人称单数 ) | |
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50
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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51
streaks
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| n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹 | |
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52
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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53
tugs
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| n.猛拉( tug的名词复数 )；猛拖；拖船v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的第三人称单数 ) | |
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54
toiling
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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55
scenting
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| vt.闻到（scent的现在分词形式） | |
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56
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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57
doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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58
verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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59
collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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60
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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61
revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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62
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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63
vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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64
unwillingly
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| adv.不情愿地 | |
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65
automatons
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| n.自动机，机器人( automaton的名词复数 ) | |
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66
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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67
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68
crab
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| n.螃蟹，偏航，脾气乖戾的人，酸苹果；vi.捕蟹，偏航，发牢骚；vt.使偏航，发脾气 | |
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69
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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70
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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71
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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72
buoy
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| n.浮标；救生圈；v.支持，鼓励 | |
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73
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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74
agonized
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| v.使（极度）痛苦，折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 )；苦斗；苦苦思索；感到极度痛苦 | |
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75
semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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76
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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