It was now plain enough that Jermin was by no means unwilling3 to take the Julia to sea; indeed, there was nothing he so much desired; though what his reasons were, seeing our situation, we could only conjecture4. Nevertheless, so it was; and having counted much upon his rough popularity with the men to reconcile them to a short cruise under him, he had consequently been disappointed in their behaviour. Still, thinking that they would take a different view of the matter, when they came to know what fine times he had in store for them, he resolved upon trying a little persuasion5.
So on going forward, he put his head down the forecastle scuttle7, and hailed us quite cordially, inviting8 us down into the cabin; where, he said, he had something to make merry withal. Nothing loth, we went; and throwing ourselves along the transom, waited for the steward to serve us.
As the can circulated, Jermin, leaning on the table and occupying the captain's arm-chair secured to the deck, opened his mind as bluntly and freely as ever. He was by no means yet sober.
He told us we were acting9 very foolishly; that if we only stuck to the ship, he would lead us all a jovial10 life of it; enumerating11 the casks still remaining untapped in the Julia's wooden cellar. It was even hinted vaguely12 that such a thing might happen as our not coming back for the captain; whom he spoke13 of but lightly; asserting, what he had often said before, that he was no sailor.
Moreover, and perhaps with special reference to Doctor Long Ghost and myself, he assured us generally that, if there were any among us studiously inclined, he would take great pleasure in teaching such the whole art and mystery of navigation, including the gratuitous14 use of his quadrant.
I should have mentioned that, previous to this, he had taken the doctor aside, and said something about reinstating him in the cabin with augmented15 dignity; beside throwing out a hint that I myself was in some way or other to be promoted. But it was all to no purpose; bent16 the men were upon going ashore17, and there was no moving them.
At last he flew into a rage—much increased by the frequency of his potations—and with many imprecations, concluded by driving everybody out of the cabin. We tumbled up the gangway in high good-humour.
Upon deck everything looked so quiet that some of the most pugnacious18 spirits actually lamented19 that there was so little prospect21 of an exhilarating disturbance22 before morning. It was not five minutes, however, ere these fellows were gratified.
Sydney Ben—said to be a runaway23 Ticket-of-Leave-Man, and for reasons of his own, one of the few who still remained on duty—had, for the sake of the fun, gone down with the rest into the cabin; where Bembo, who meanwhile was left in charge of the deck, had frequently called out for him. At first, Ben pretended not to hear; but on being sung out for again and again, bluntly refused; at the same time, casting some illiberal24 reflections on the Mowree's maternal25 origin, which the latter had been long enough among the sailors to understand as in the highest degree offensive. So just after the men came up from below, Bembo singled him out, and gave him such a cursing in his broken lingo26 that it was enough to frighten one. The convict was the worse for liquor; indeed the Mowree had been tippling also, and before we knew it, a blow was struck by Ben, and the two men came together like magnets.
The Ticket-of-Leave-Man was a practised bruiser; but the savage27 knew nothing of the art pugilistic: and so they were even. It was clear hugging and wrenching28 till both came to the deck. Here they rolled over and over in the middle of a ring which seemed to form of itself. At last the white man's head fell back, and his face grew purple. Bembo's teeth were at his throat. Rushing in all round, they hauled the savage off, but not until repeatedly struck on the head would he let go.
His rage was now absolutely demoniac; he lay glaring and writhing29 on the deck, without attempting to rise. Cowed, as they supposed he was, from his attitude, the men, rejoiced at seeing him thus humbled30, left him; after rating him, in sailor style, for a cannibal and a coward.
Ben was attended to, and led below.
Soon after this, the rest also, with but few exceptions, retired31 into the forecastle; and having been up nearly all the previous night, they quickly dropped about the chests and rolled into the hammocks. In an hour's time, not a sound could be heard in that part of the ship.
Before Bembo was dragged away, the mate had in vain endeavoured to separate the combatants, repeatedly striking the Mowree; but the seamen32 interposing, at last kept him off.
And intoxicated33 as he was, when they dispersed34, he knew enough to charge the steward—a steady seaman35 be it remembered—with the present safety of the ship; and then went below, when he fell directly into another drunken sleep.
Having remained upon deck with the doctor some time after the rest had gone below, I was just on the point of following him down, when I saw the Mowree rise, draw a bucket of water, and holding it high above his head, pour its contents right over him. This he repeated several times. There was nothing very peculiar36 in the act, but something else about him struck me. However, I thought no more of it, but descended37 the scuttle.
After a restless nap, I found the atmosphere of the forecastle so close, from nearly all the men being down at the same time, that I hunted up an old pea-jacket and went on deck; intending to sleep it out there till morning. Here I found the cook and steward, Wymontoo, Hope Yarn38, and the Dane; who, being all quiet, manageable fellows, and holding aloof39 from the rest since the captain's departure, had been ordered by the mate not to go below until sunrise. They were lying under the lee of the bulwarks40; two or three fast asleep, and the others smoking their pipes, and conversing41.
To my surprise, Bembo was at the helm; but there being so few to stand there now, they told me, he had offered to take his turn with the rest, at the same time heading the watch; and to this, of course, they made no objection.
It was a fine, bright night; all moon and stars, and white crests42 of waves. The breeze was light, but freshening; and close-hauled, poor little Jule, as if nothing had happened, was heading in for the land, which rose high and hazy43 in the distance.
After the day's uproar44, the tranquillity45 of the scene was soothing46, and I leaned over the side to enjoy it.
More than ever did I now lament20 my situation—but it was useless to repine, and I could not upbraid47 myself. So at last, becoming drowsy48, I made a bed with my jacket under the windlass, and tried to forget myself.
How long I lay there, I cannot tell; but as I rose, the first object that met my eye was Bembo at the helm; his dark figure slowly rising and falling with the ship's motion against the spangled heavens behind. He seemed all impatience49 and expectation; standing50 at arm's length from the spokes51, with one foot advanced, and his bare head thrust forward. Where I was, the watch were out of sight; and no one else was stirring; the deserted52 decks and broad white sails were gleaming in the moonlight.
Presently, a swelling53, dashing sound came upon my ear, and I had a sort of vague consciousness that I had been hearing it before. The next instant I was broad awake and on my feet. Eight ahead, and so near that my heart stood still, was a long line of breakers, heaving and frothing. It was the coral reef girdling the island. Behind it, and almost casting their shadows upon the deck, were the sleeping mountains, about whose hazy peaks the gray dawn was just breaking. The breeze had freshened, and with a steady, gliding54 motion, we were running straight for the reef.
All was taken in at a glance; the fell purpose of Bembo was obvious, and with a frenzied55 shout to wake the watch, I rushed aft. They sprang to their feet bewildered; and after a short, but desperate scuffle, we tore him from the helm. In wrestling with him, the wheel—left for a moment unguarded—flew to leeward56, thus, fortunately, bringing the ship's head to the wind, and so retarding57 her progress. Previous to this, she had been kept three or four points free, so as to close with the breakers. Her headway now shortened, I steadied the helm, keeping the sails just lifting, while we glided58 obliquely59 toward the land. To have run off before the wind—an easy thing—would have been almost instant destruction, owing to a curve of the reef in that direction. At this time, the Dane and the steward were still struggling with the furious Mowree, and the others were running about irresolute60 and shouting.
But darting61 forward the instant I had the helm, the old cook thundered on the forecastle with a handspike, "Breakers! breakers close aboard!—'bout2 ship! 'bout ship!"
Up came the sailors, staring about them in stupid horror.
"Haul back the head-yards!" "Let go the lee fore6-brace!" "Beady about! about!" were now shouted on all sides; while distracted by a thousand orders, they ran hither and thither62, fairly panic-stricken.
It seemed all over with us; and I was just upon the point of throwing the ship full into the wind (a step, which, saving us for the instant, would have sealed our fate in the end), when a sharp cry shot by my ear like the flight of an arrow.
It was Salem: "All ready for'ard; hard down!"
Round and round went the spokes—the Julia, with her short keel, spinning to windward like a top. Soon, the jib-sheets lashed63 the stays, and the men, more self-possessed, flew to the braces64.
"Main-sail haul!" was now heard, as the fresh breeze streamed fore and aft the deck; and directly the after-yards were whirled round.
In a half-a-minute more, we were sailing away from the land on the other tack65, with every sail distended66.
Turning on her heel within little more than a biscuit's toss of the reef, no earthly power could have saved us, were it not that, up to the very brink67 of the coral rampart, there are no soundings.
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收听单词发音
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1
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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scuttle
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| v.急赶，疾走，逃避；n.天窗；舷窗 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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enumerating
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| v.列举，枚举，数( enumerate的现在分词 ) | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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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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14
gratuitous
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| adj.无偿的，免费的；无缘无故的，不必要的 | |
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15
Augmented
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| adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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18
pugnacious
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| adj.好斗的 | |
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lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
lament
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| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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illiberal
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| adj.气量狭小的，吝啬的 | |
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maternal
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| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
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lingo
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| n.语言不知所云，外国话，隐语 | |
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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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28
wrenching
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| 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 | |
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29
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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30
humbled
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| adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低 | |
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31
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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32
seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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33
intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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34
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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36
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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38
yarn
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| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
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39
aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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40
bulwarks
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| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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41
conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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42
crests
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| v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的第三人称单数 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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43
hazy
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| adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的 | |
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44
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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45
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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46
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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47
upbraid
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| v.斥责，责骂，责备 | |
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48
drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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49
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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50
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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51
spokes
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| n.（车轮的）辐条( spoke的名词复数 )；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 | |
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52
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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53
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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54
gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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55
frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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56
leeward
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| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
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57
retarding
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| 使减速( retard的现在分词 )； 妨碍； 阻止； 推迟 | |
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58
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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59
obliquely
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| adv.斜； 倾斜； 间接； 不光明正大 | |
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60
irresolute
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| adj.无决断的，优柔寡断的，踌躇不定的 | |
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61
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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62
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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63
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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64
braces
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| n.吊带，背带；托架( brace的名词复数 )；箍子；括弧；（儿童）牙箍v.支住( brace的第三人称单数 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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65
tack
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| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
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66
distended
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| v.（使）膨胀，肿胀( distend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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