As the cloud ascended7, the water grew rapidly blacker, and in half an hour broke into jets of white foam8, all over its surface, with an angry look. Meantime a white film of fog spread down the bay from the northward9. The wind hauled from southwest to northwest, so suddenly and strongly that all the anchored boats seemed to have swung round instantaneously, without visible process. The instant the wind shifted, the rain broke forth10, filling the air in a moment with its volume, and cutting so sharply that it seemed like hail, though no hailstones reached the ground. At the same time there rose upon the water a dense11 white film, which seemed to grow together from a hundred different directions, and was made partly of rain, and partly of the blown edges of the spray. There was but a glimpse of this; for in a few moments it was impossible to see two rods; but when the first gust12 was over, the water showed itself again, the jets of spray all beaten down, and regular waves, of dull lead-color, breaking higher on the shore. All the depth of blackness had left the sky, and there remained only an obscure and ominous13 gray, through which the lightning flashed white, not red. Boats came driving in from the mouth of the bay with a rag of sail up; the men got them moored14 with difficulty, and when they sculled ashore15 in the skiffs, a dozen comrades stood ready to grasp and haul them in. Others launched skiffs in sheltered places, and pulled out bareheaded to bail16 out their fishing-boats and keep them from swamping at their moorings.
The shore was thronged17 with men in oilskin clothes and by women with shawls over their heads. Aunt Jane, who always felt responsible for whatever went on in the elements, sat in-doors with one lid closed, wincing18 at every flash, and watching the universe with the air of a coachman guiding six wild horses.
Just after the storm had passed its height, two veritable wild horses were reined19 up at the door, and Philip burst in, his usual self-composure gone.
“Emilia is out sailing!” he exclaimed,—“alone with Lambert’s boatman, in this gale20. They say she was bound for Narragansett.”
“Impossible!” cried Hope, turning pale. “I left her not three hours ago.” Then she remembered that Emilia had spoken of going on board the yacht, to superintend some arrangements, but had said no more about it, when she opposed it.
“Harry21!” said Aunt Jane, quickly, from her chair by the window, “see that fisherman. He has just come ashore and is telling something. Ask him.”
The fisherman had indeed seen Lambert’s boat, which was well known. Something seemed to be the matter with the sail, but before the storm struck her, it had been hauled down. They must have taken in water enough, as it was. He had himself been obliged to bail out three times, running in from the reef.
“Was there any landing which they could reach?” Harry asked.
There was none,—but the light-ship lay right in their track, and if they had good luck, they might get aboard of her.
“The boatman?” said Philip, anxiously,—“Mr. Lambert’s boatman; is he a good sailor?”
“Don’t know,” was the reply. “Stranger here. Dutchman, Frenchman, Portegee, or some kind of a foreigner.”
“Seems to understand himself in a boat,” said another.
“Mr. Malbone knows him,” said a third. “The same that dove with the young woman under the steamboat paddles.”
“That’s so,” was the answer. “But grit don’t teach a man the channel.”
All agreed to this axiom; but as there was so strong a probability that the voyagers had reached the light-ship, there seemed less cause for fear.
The next question was, whether it was possible to follow them. All agreed that it would be foolish for any boat to attempt it, till the wind had blown itself out, which might be within half an hour. After that, some predicted a calm, some a fog, some a renewal23 of the storm; there was the usual variety of opinions. At any rate, there might perhaps be an interval24 during which they could go out, if the gentlemen did not mind a wet jacket.
Within the half-hour came indeed an interval of calm, and a light shone behind the clouds from the west. It faded soon into a gray fog, with puffs25 of wind from the southwest again. When the young men went out with the boatmen, the water had grown more quiet, save where angry little gusts26 ruffled27 it. But these gusts made it necessary to carry a double reef, and they made but little progress against wind and tide.
A dark-gray fog, broken by frequent wind-flaws, makes the ugliest of all days on the water. A still, pale fog is soothing28; it lulls29 nature to a kind of repose30. But a windy fog with occasional sunbeams and sudden films of metallic31 blue breaking the leaden water,—this carries an impression of something weird32 and treacherous33 in the universe, and suggests caution.
As the boat floated on, every sight and sound appeared strange. The music from the fort came sudden and startling through the vaporous eddies34. A tall white schooner35 rose instantaneously near them, like a light-house. They could see the steam of the factory floating low, seeking some outlet36 between cloud and water. As they drifted past a wharf37, the great black piles of coal hung high and gloomy; then a stray sunbeam brought out their peacock colors; then came the fog again, driving hurriedly by, as if impatient to go somewhere and enraged38 at the obstacle. It seemed to have a vast inorganic39 life of its own, a volition40 and a whim41. It drew itself across the horizon like a curtain; then advanced in trampling42 armies up the bay; then marched in masses northward; then suddenly grew thin, and showed great spaces of sunlight; then drifted across the low islands, like long tufts of wool; then rolled itself away toward the horizon; then closed in again, pitiless and gray.
Suddenly something vast towered amid the mist above them. It was the French war-ship returned to her anchorage once more, and seeming in that dim atmosphere to be something spectral43 and strange that had taken form out of the elements. The muzzles44 of great guns rose tier above tier, along her side; great boats hung one above another, on successive pairs of davits, at her stern. So high was her hull45, that the topmost boat and the topmost gun appeared to be suspended in middle air; and yet this was but the beginning of her altitude. Above these were the heavy masts, seen dimly through the mist; between these were spread eight dark lines of sailors’ clothes, which, with the massive yards above, looked like part of some ponderous46 framework built to reach the sky. This prolongation of the whole dark mass toward the heavens had a portentous47 look to those who gazed from below; and when the denser48 fog sometimes furled itself away from the topgallant masts, hitherto invisible, and showed them rising loftier yet, and the tricolor at the mizzen-mast-head looking down as if from the zenith, then they all seemed to appertain to something of more than human workmanship; a hundred wild tales of phantom vessels49 came up to the imagination, and it was as if that one gigantic structure were expanding to fill all space from sky to sea.
They were swept past it; the fog closed in; it was necessary to land near the Fort, and proceed on foot. They walked across the rough peninsula, while the mist began to disperse50 again, and they were buoyant with expectation. As they toiled51 onward52, the fog suddenly met them at the turn of a lane where it had awaited them, like an enemy. As they passed into those gray and impalpable arms, the whole world changed again.
They walked toward the sound of the sea. As they approached it, the dull hue53 that lay upon it resembled that of the leaden sky. The two elements could hardly be distinguished54 except as the white outlines of the successive breakers were lifted through the fog. The lines of surf appeared constantly to multiply upon the beach, and yet, on counting them, there were never any more. Sometimes, in the distance, masses of foam rose up like a wall where the horizon ought to be; and, as the coming waves took form out of the unseen, it seemed as if no phantom were too vast or shapeless to come rolling in upon their dusky shoulders.
Presently a frail55 gleam of something like the ghost of dead sunshine made them look toward the west. Above the dim roofs of Castle Hill mansion-house, the sinking sun showed luridly56 through two rifts57 of cloud, and then the swift motion of the nearer vapor veiled both sun and cloud, and banished58 them into almost equal remoteness.
Leaving the beach on their right, and passing the high rocks of the Pirate’s Cave, they presently descended59 to the water’s edge once more. The cliffs rose to a distorted height in the dimness; sprays of withered60 grass nodded along the edge, like Ossian’s spectres. Light seemed to be vanishing from the universe, leaving them alone with the sea. And when a solitary61 loon62 uttered his wild cry, and rising, sped away into the distance, it was as if life were following light into an equal annihilation. That sense of vague terror, with which the ocean sometimes controls the fancy, began to lay its grasp on them. They remembered that Emilia, in speaking once of her intense shrinking from death, had said that the sea was the only thing from which she would not fear to meet it.
Fog exaggerates both for eye and ear; it is always a sounding-board for the billows; and in this case, as often happens, the roar did not appear to proceed from the waves themselves, but from some source in the unseen horizon, as if the spectators were shut within a beleaguered63 fortress64, and this thundering noise came from an impetuous enemy outside. Ever and anon there was a distinct crash of heavier sound, as if some special barricade65 had at length been beaten in, and the garrison66 must look to their inner defences.
The tide was unusually high, and scarcely receded67 with the ebb68, though the surf increased; the waves came in with constant rush and wail69, and with an ominous rattle70 of pebbles71 on the little beaches, beneath the powerful suction of the undertow; and there were more and more of those muffled72 throbs73 along the shore which tell of coming danger as plainly as minute-guns. With these came mingled74 that yet more inexplicable75 humming which one hears at intervals76 in such times, like strains of music caught and tangled77 in the currents of stormy air,—strains which were perhaps the filmy thread on which tales of sirens and mermaids78 were first strung, and in which, at this time, they would fain recognize the voice of Emilia.
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1
murky
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| adj.黑暗的，朦胧的；adv.阴暗地，混浊地；n.阴暗；昏暗 | |
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2
hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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3
phantom
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| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
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4
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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scud
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| n.疾行；v.疾行 | |
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6
vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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7
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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9
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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10
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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12
gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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13
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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14
moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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15
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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16
bail
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| v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人 | |
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17
thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
wincing
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的现在分词 ) | |
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19
reined
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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20
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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21
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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22
grit
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| n.沙粒，决心，勇气；v.下定决心，咬紧牙关 | |
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23
renewal
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| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
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24
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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25
puffs
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| n.吸( puff的名词复数 )；（烟斗或香烟的）一吸；一缕（烟、蒸汽等）；（呼吸或风的）呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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26
gusts
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| 一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作 | |
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27
ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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28
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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29
lulls
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| n.间歇期（lull的复数形式）vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的第三人称单数形式） | |
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30
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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31
metallic
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| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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32
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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33
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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34
eddies
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| （水、烟等的）漩涡，涡流( eddy的名词复数 ) | |
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35
schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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36
outlet
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| n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄 | |
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37
wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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38
enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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39
inorganic
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| adj.无生物的；无机的 | |
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40
volition
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| n.意志；决意 | |
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41
whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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42
trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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43
spectral
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| adj.幽灵的，鬼魂的 | |
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44
muzzles
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| 枪口( muzzle的名词复数 )； （防止动物咬人的）口套； （四足动物的）鼻口部； （狗）等凸出的鼻子和口 | |
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45
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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46
ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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47
portentous
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| adj.不祥的，可怕的，装腔作势的 | |
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48
denser
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| adj. 不易看透的, 密集的, 浓厚的, 愚钝的 | |
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49
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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50
disperse
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| vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散 | |
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51
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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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
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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54
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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55
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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56
luridly
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| adv. 青灰色的(苍白的, 深浓色的, 火焰等火红的) | |
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57
rifts
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| n.裂缝( rift的名词复数 )；裂隙；分裂；不和 | |
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58
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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60
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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61
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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62
loon
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| n.狂人 | |
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63
beleaguered
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| adj.受到围困[围攻]的；包围的v.围攻( beleaguer的过去式和过去分词)；困扰；骚扰 | |
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64
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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65
barricade
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| n.路障，栅栏，障碍；vt.设路障挡住 | |
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66
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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67
receded
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的过去式和过去分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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68
ebb
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| vi.衰退，减退；n.处于低潮，处于衰退状态 | |
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69
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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70
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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71
pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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72
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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73
throbs
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| 体内的跳动( throb的名词复数 ) | |
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74
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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75
inexplicable
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| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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76
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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77
tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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78
mermaids
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| n.（传说中的）美人鱼( mermaid的名词复数 ) | |
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