If the Grampus had not had her fight with the cachalot she would not have put in at Port of Spain, and if Ensign Glennie had not lost his dispatches he would not have put in there, either.
The damage to the fore1 rudder had been insignificant2. Some of the iron bars protecting the rudder had been twisted and bent3 by the whale’s flukes, and Bob Steele had repaired the damage while coming through the Boca Drago into the gulf4.
The submarine was riding high in the water a quarter of a mile off shore, the Stars and Stripes fluttering gayly from the little flagstaff forward. A small boat was in the water and a colored boatman was rowing two lads around the bow of the Grampus. Three men and another boy were forward on the submarine’s deck, evidently assisting in an examination of some sort.
Glennie had the skipper of the launch lay alongside the small boat.
“Hello, there!” called Glennie. “Is that boat the Grampus?”
“Yes,” replied one of the lads in the other boat.
“I’m looking for Bob Steele.”
“You mean you’re looking at him and not for him. I’m Bob Steele.”
“Well, I’m Ensign Glennie. What the dickens are you doing at Port of Spain?”
“What the dickens are you doing here? We were to pick you up at Georgetown.”
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“What I’m doing here is my business,” said Glennie, stiffening6. “I wasn’t expecting you for two or three days yet, and expected to be in Georgetown by the time you got there.”
Bob stared at the haughty7 young man in the trim uniform. Dick Ferral, who was in the boat with him, gave a long whistle.
“Then,” said Bob coolly, “I guess our reason for being here is our own business. We were expecting to find a midshipman, Glennie, and not——”
“Mr. Glennie,” struck in the ensign. “I’m a passed midshipman and a commissioned officer.”
Dick got to his feet, pulled off his cap, and bowed.
“Mr. Glennie!” he exclaimed, with an accent on the “mister” that was not entirely8 respectful. “Our brass9 band has been given shore leave, so we can’t muster10 the outfit11 and play you aboard. It’s a little bit hard, too, considering our limited number, to dress ship.”
A smothered12 laugh came from the deck of the Grampus. Glennie stared at Ferral, and then at Speake, Gaines, Clackett, and Carl. The latter, grabbing the flag halyards, dipped the ensign.
A flush ran through the ensign’s cheeks.
“Who is that person, Steele?” demanded Glennie, pointing to Dick.
“Mr. Steele,” corrected Bob. “This, Mr. Glennie,” with mock gravity, “is my friend, Mr. Dick Ferral. The Dutchman on the boat is another friend—Mr. Carl Pretzel. The hands are Mr. Speake, Mr. Gaines, and Mr. Clackett. This colored gentleman is Mr. Scipio Jones. Now that we are all acquainted, Mr. Glennie, may I ask you if you are coming aboard to stay?”
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“I am,” was the sharp rejoinder. “Those were my orders from the captain of the Seminole.”
Bob caught a rope which Carl threw to him and stepped to the rounded deck of the Grampus.
“The submarine’s all right, Dick,” said he, “and hasn’t a dent5 in her anywhere. Go ashore14 and get the gasoline. Have you the hydrometer in your pocket?”
“Yes.”
“Then be sure and test the gasoline thoroughly15.”
As Dick was rowed away he once more removed his hat ostentatiously in passing the launch. Ensign Glennie disregarded the mocking courtesy and motioned his boatman to place the launch close to the submarine.
Gaines grabbed the piece of luggage. “Why didn’t you whistle, Mr. Glennie?” he asked, dropping the suit case down the open hatch of the conning17 tower and listening to the smash as it landed at the foot of the iron ladder. “We’re well trained and can walk lame18, play dead, an’ lay down an’ roll over at a mere19 nod.”
The ensign ignored Gaines’ remarks. Climbing to the rounded deck he faced Bob Steele with considerable dignity.
In spite of the ensign’s arrogance20 there was about him a certain bearing learned only at Annapolis and on the quarter-deck of American warships—a bearing that predisposed Bob in his favor.
“We had a fight with a cachalot, Mr. Glennie,” said Bob, unbending a little, “and thought best to put in here and look the Grampus over to see if——”
“You were guilty of gross carelessness,” interrupted Glennie, “by risking the submarine in such a contest. But possibly you are ignorant of the fact that a bull223 cachalot has been known to attack and sink a full-rigged ship?”
“Vat a high-toned feller id is!” grunted21 Carl disgustedly. “He vill make it aboudt as bleasant on der poat as a case of measles22.”
Bob frowned at Carl.
“It was either sink the cachalot or run the risk of being stove in,” said Bob. “We’ll have to have a little talk, Mr. Glennie, so you had better go below to the periscope23 room.”
The ensign nodded, climbed over the top of the tower, and disappeared.
“That there uniform makes him top-heavy, Bob,” growled24 Clackett. “The quicker you pull some o’ the red tape off o’ him the better it’ll be for all of us.”
“He’s all right, boys,” said Bob, “and I’ll bet he’s a good fellow down at the bottom. He forgets he’s not on the Seminole, that’s all.”
When Bob got down into the periscope room he found Glennie examining one corner of the suit case, which was badly smashed.
“I regret to note, Mr. Steele,” said he, “that there is a serious lack of discipline aboard this boat. Such a thing could never be tolerated in the service. We are to take a long and hazardous25 journey, and I shall insist on having the men keep their places.”
“You are not here to insist on anything, Mr. Glennie,” replied Bob, coolly placing himself on one of the low stools that were used as seats. “My own duties, and yours, are pretty clear in my mind. Let’s see if I have the situation exactly as you understand it.
“The owner of this boat, Captain Nemo, junior, is recovering from a sick spell in Belize, and he has sold the Grampus to the United States government for one hundred thousand dollars, conditional26 upon the sub224marine’s being taken around the Horn and delivered safely to the commandant at Mare27 Island Navy Yard, San Francisco. For this long cruise I have been placed in charge of the boat. You are aboard as representative of the government, merely to observe her performance. Have I got it right?”
Glennie nodded.
“Upon my report,” said he, “will largely depend the acceptance or rejection28 of the craft when she reaches Mare Island. Don’t overlook that point. A lack of discipline will get us all into trouble, and may result in the loss of the——”
“I will attend to the discipline,” said Bob stiffly. “If the boat behaves well, you can find no fault with the way I manage her. I must ask you not to bother me with any remarks as to how the Grampus is to be run. I and my friends are not in the naval29 service, but we all know the submarine perfectly30 and understand what is expected of us.
“The cruise we are to make is one that no submarine ever made before. It is full of dangers, and unforeseen difficulties are going to bob up and will have to be dealt with. The Grampus is equal to the work, and in due time she will be delivered to the commandant at Mare Island, but I want, and will insist on having, a perfectly free hand. A friendly footing is what I desire among all on board, more than anything else.”
Bob smiled and stretched out his hand.
“Just a minute, Mr. Steele,” said Glennie, pursing up his lips. “I understood that I was to be here in an advisory31 capacity. From your talk I take it that you consider yourself the whole works, and that I am to play the r?le of an innocent bystander.”
“I am to manage the boat,” returned Bob firmly.
“Then,” cried Glennie, “if you get us into serious225 difficulties, I am to say nothing, but bear the brunt of your mistakes along with the rest of the men?”
“Do you know anything about submarines?”
“A graduate of Annapolis is equipped with all the knowledge he can possibly need in his work.”
“Theoretical knowledge,” qualified32 Bob. “Have you ever had any practical experience on a submarine?”
“No.”
“Then, if I get into difficulties, I don’t think you could give any advice that would help us out.”
The ensign bowed coldly. “Have you a cabin reserved for me?” he inquired.
Bob nodded toward a bulkhead door leading to a steel room abaft33 the periscope chamber34. “We have fixed35 up a place in there for you,” said he.
“Then, inasmuch as I am a passenger, I will proceed to eliminate myself and keep out of your way.”
Without taking Bob’s hand he picked up his suit case and started. At the door he paused while a hail came down from the hatch.
“Hello dere, Bob!”
“What is it, Carl?”
“Dere iss a Chink feller alongsite, und he say dot he vant to see Misder Glennie.”
“A Chinaman!” muttered Glennie, pausing. “Why does he want to see me?”
“Vell, he say dot he tell you somet’ing aboudt a feller mit der name oof Dolo, und——”
A shout of joy escaped Glennie, and he dropped his suit case and jumped for the ladder.
“Wait, Mr. Glennie,” said Bob, “and I’ll have the Chinaman come down.”
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收听单词发音
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1
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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3
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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dent
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| n.凹痕，凹坑；初步进展 | |
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6
stiffening
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| n. (使衣服等)变硬的材料, 硬化 动词stiffen的现在分词形式 | |
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7
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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8
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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10
muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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13
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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14
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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15
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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16
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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17
conning
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| v.诈骗，哄骗( con的现在分词 )；指挥操舵( conn的现在分词 ) | |
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18
lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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arrogance
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| n.傲慢，自大 | |
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grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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measles
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| n.麻疹，风疹，包虫病，痧子 | |
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23
periscope
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| n. 潜望镜 | |
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growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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25
hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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26
conditional
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| adj.条件的，带有条件的 | |
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27
mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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28
rejection
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| n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃 | |
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29
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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advisory
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| adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询 | |
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qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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abaft
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| prep.在…之后；adv.在船尾，向船尾 | |
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34
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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36
smothering
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的现在分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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locker
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| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
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