When they pulled down the big orange-coloured volume of "Sailing Directions" for the Eastern Pacific and opened the page at Cock Island, I could better follow them.
"'The island is mountainous,'" Garth read out in his pleasant, deep voice, "'and entirely10 volcanic11, rising to several peaks, of which the highest reaches 2,856 feet. These peaks are probably volcanoes, but the interior is unexplored and almost impenetrable owing to its steep, rugged12 and often precipitous nature, the many rushing streams and the dense13 vegetation. There are small areas of comparatively level ground surrounding Sturt and Horseshoe Bays....'"
He turned the page and skipped a mass of detail.
"'There are only two harbours,'" he read, "'Sturt and Horseshoe Bays. Horseshoe Bay is larger than Sturt Bay but is less sheltered, as it opens to the west and so has a heavy swell14 during the early months of the year. Moreover, the slopes surrounding the bay are much more abrupt15 and the area of level land in its neighbourhood is much less considerable.'"
Adams, I recollected16, had spoken of the man Dutchey and himself coming upon the grave in a clearing in the undergrowth close to the shore. He had mentioned, too, that their ship's boat had had to find a way in through the bar. It looked to me, therefore, as though they had landed in Horseshoe Bay where the upward slopes began closer to the shore than in Sturt Bay.
We read on. The island, it seemed, had never had any permanent population. It was "the resort of buccaneers in the seventeenth century, and later was a watering-place for whalers." It had "little animal life"; but there were wild pigs, descendants of those left by Captain Martin of the frigate17 Rover in 1774, and rats, introduced by calling ships. Mention had been made, we were told, by various explorers of huge carved images reputed to exist in the interior of the island, similar to those for which Easter Island is famous; but there was no certain knowledge of their existence.
There were a lot of particulars about attempts to colonise the island, of stray parties of mariners18 who had landed, with the intention of settling there; but in a year or two had gone away in a passing ship or died off. And there was a string of names, British and foreign, of naval19 men or of explorers who, landing to fill up with water or to kill some fresh meat, had jotted20 down a few observations about the island and then sailed away again across the boundless21 Pacific.
"And now, Okewood," said Garth pleasantly, "you and I and all of us, you know, are merely passengers on the high seas of Captain Lawless here, and with your permission I propose that we should tell him who you are and what you have just confided22 to me. You have no objection, I take it?"
"None whatever," said I.
"Then tell him yourself!" urged Garth, dropping on to the leather settee. So, sitting between the two on the softly padded seat, I unfolded my plan while the yacht gently swayed at her moorings, and the awnings23 without cracked like a whip in the breeze.
When I had finished, Garth said:
"You'll agree, I'm sure, that we can spare a week!"
"I'm entirely in your hands, Sir Alexander!" returned the captain. "But there is one condition I should like to make, and that is that this matter remains24 strictly25 between us three. I have a very decent lot of men as crew, Sir Alexander, hard-working, reliable chaps and every one personally known to me for years. I'd go so far as to say you've got the pick of the Solent in the Naomi. But this isn't a man-o'-war, gentlemen, nor yet even a merchant vessel26. In a pleasure yacht like this there isn't rightly speaking the discipline that you'd find in either, and, to be plain-spoken, I don't want the major here to go upsetting the men with his treasure tales. Lay off at Cock Island, go ashore27 by all means, and have a 'look see' but don't, for God's sake, blab about it or you'll rot the finest crew that ever shipped! Let's keep this thing to ourselves; indeed, I'll go further than that. Leave me out of it! Then the men, should they hear anything, can't say that I'm in it while they are not! And to tell you the truth, gentlemen, I've had a strict upbringing, my people being chapel-goers, and I was taught to believe that no blessing28 rests on money that we have not earned with the sweat of our brow and the work of our strong right hand. You two gentlemen take your week ashore and I'll look after the ship!"
Garth turned to me.
"I don't want to leave Captain Lawless out," he said, "but I can't help feeling he's right about the crew!"
"And about everybody else on board, Sir Alexander!" Lawless broke in.
"You mean the women?"
"I mean everybody else on board, just as I said, sir!" reiterated29 the skipper very firmly and with meaning. "What's everybody's secret is nobody's secret! Mum's the word or you'll have trouble! Mum's the word, I say!"
"Well!" said Garth, "so be it! Mum's the word!"
Then came an unlooked-for interruption.
"Why 'mum'? What's the secret?"
A clear young voice rang out from the door. The three of us scrambled30 hastily to our feet. On the threshold stood the girl of the smoke-room.
"Morning, Marjie!" said Garth.
He wore something of a hang-dog look. So did I, I think, as I did my best to secrete31 myself behind them. I was wondering what the girl would think of me when she discovered my involuntary deception32. Fortunately Lawless's huge frame completely obliterated33 me.
"What are you two talking secrets about?" she demanded bluntly. "And why 'mum's the word'?"
Garth looked at Lawless and Lawless looked at Garth; but neither answered her question. Then she looked at the skipper. His air reminded me of a pickpocket34 caught red-handed.
"Good morning, Miss Garth!" he mumbled35 and made a stiff little bow. That bow was my undoing36; for the captain disclosed me behind him.
"Oh!" cried the girl with a little gurgle of amusement, "it's the doctor! Well, did you take my advice?"
"But I'm not the doctor...."
On that the girl coloured up a little. I knew what she was thinking of and our eyes met. I felt relieved to see the glint of humour creep into them.
Then Garth, who had turned to speak to the captain, broke in.
"I should have introduced you. Major, this is my daughter—Marjie, Major Okewood, who is coming as far as Honolulu with us. Would you see Carstairs about getting a cabin ready for him?"
With a graceful39 little nod to her father and a smile to me which had its hidden meaning for us two alone, Marjorie Garth went out again on to the sunlit deck. We three men plunged40 into our deliberations again and when at length the gong sounded for luncheon41 we had evolved a rough plan of campaign.
I told Garth quite frankly42 that the message found on the grave at Cock Island was so far unintelligible43 to me that I had no certainty of ever being able to decipher it. What I proposed to do, was to examine the grave and the island generally to see whether I could find anything on the spot to throw any light on the message. We arranged, therefore, that in reaching Cock Island, Garth and I should take a camping outfit44 and go ashore for a period not to exceed a week; that if at the end of that time, my investigations45 had led to no result I should abandon the enterprise and return with him to the yacht.
It was settled that we should sail that night, as soon as ever the spare parts required by Mr. Mackay, the engineer, were aboard; for I informed Garth of Bard's advice to me to make myself scarce without delay. The captain reckoned that, taking things easy, we should make Cock Island on the fifth day out. We finally decided46 to put ashore at Horseshoe Bay, as both Lawless and Garth agreed with me that this landing tallied47 best with the beach-comber's description.
As we crossed the deck to go down to the saloon the spare parts were being hoisted48 into the yacht from a barge49. A hard-faced little man with a rasping Scottish accent, whom I took to be Mr. Mackay, the engineer, was in charge of the operation which was accompanied by some fine, full-flavoured swearing in broad Clydebank and a torrent50 of epileptic Latin American blasphemy51 from various parties unseen in the lighter52. Small boats piled up to their thwarts53 with poultry54, fruit, vegetables and bread, were bobbing about in a wide semi-circle about the yacht and the air rang with the shrill55 cries of the vendors56.
As we passed the engineer the captain said: "You'll let none of this scum aboard, Mr. Mackay!"
"I don't give a hoot58 for the steward. I'll have none of these Dagoes aboard my ship. Have you got that clear?"
"Verra guid, sir!" replied the Scotsman resignedly.
I appreciated the skipper's motive59 and looked at him gratefully. I was beginning to have an admiration60 for Captain Lawless. Besides being a man of character he was plainly a person of quick perception.
It was now very hot. The pitch was soft in the seams of the deck and the broken white line of the port buildings on shore swam in a tremor61 of heat. It was a relief to escape from the dazzling sunlight into the shaded seclusion62 of the saloon, where two purring electric fans kept the atmosphere cool and ice tinkled63 melodiously64 in crystal jugs65 of cider cup.
The girl Marjorie was already seated at the table. With her demurely66 cropped brown hair gleaming golden where the sunshine touched it, her serene67 beauty and her white dress, she reminded me of some Florentine Madonna, the shining white port-hole like a halo framing her face against a background of deep azure68 sky.
"'Le Medecin malgré Lui'!" she exclaimed as I came in, "come and sit by me and tell me how you managed to captivate Daddy so completely! And I promise," she added, smiling up at me deliciously, "that I won't ask you for any more medical advice!"
The girl's attractive presence, the pleasant cool of the saloon, the quiet efficient service made it difficult for me to realise that, only a very few hours before, I had stumbled through blood into a dark and perilous69 adventure. As I looked into Marjorie Garth's friendly grey eyes, I found the present so attractive that it was no effort to me to thrust into the background the enigma70 of the future.
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1
seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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maze
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| n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑 | |
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nautical
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| adj.海上的，航海的，船员的 | |
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abysmal
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| adj.无底的，深不可测的，极深的；糟透的，极坏的；完全的 | |
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prelude
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| n.序言，前兆，序曲 | |
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rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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8
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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volcanic
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| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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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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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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16
recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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17
frigate
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| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
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18
mariners
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| 海员，水手（mariner的复数形式） | |
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19
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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jotted
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| v.匆忙记下( jot的过去式和过去分词 )；草草记下，匆匆记下 | |
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21
boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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23
awnings
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| 篷帐布 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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29
reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30
scrambled
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| 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 | |
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31
secrete
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| vt.分泌；隐匿，使隐秘 | |
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deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
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33
obliterated
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| v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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pickpocket
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| n.扒手；v.扒窃 | |
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mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36
undoing
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| n.毁灭的原因，祸根；破坏，毁灭 | |
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plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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39
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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41
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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42
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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43
unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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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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45
investigations
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| （正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究 | |
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46
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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47
tallied
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| v.计算，清点( tally的过去式和过去分词 )；加标签（或标记）于；（使）符合；（使）吻合 | |
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48
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
barge
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| n.平底载货船，驳船 | |
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50
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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51
blasphemy
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| n.亵渎，渎神 | |
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52
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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53
thwarts
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| 阻挠( thwart的第三人称单数 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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54
poultry
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| n.家禽，禽肉 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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vendors
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| n.摊贩( vendor的名词复数 )；小贩；（房屋等的）卖主；卖方 | |
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57
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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58
hoot
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| n.鸟叫声，汽车的喇叭声； v.使汽车鸣喇叭 | |
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59
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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61
tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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63
tinkled
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| （使）发出丁当声，（使）发铃铃声( tinkle的过去式和过去分词 )； 叮当响着发出，铃铃响着报出 | |
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64
melodiously
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jugs
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| （有柄及小口的）水壶( jug的名词复数 ) | |
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demurely
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| adv.装成端庄地，认真地 | |
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67
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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68
azure
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| adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的 | |
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69
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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enigma
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| n.谜，谜一样的人或事 | |
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auspices
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| n.资助，赞助 | |
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