"Captain Lawless and that Scots engineer of his," he said, "spent the greater part of the night ashore3 grubbing for gold round the image. But they didn't find as much as a dollar. And then to discover they had lost their launch. Gee4! they were as sick as mud!"
"Bah!" I answered. "I'm fed up with the whole place. The sooner we're at sea again the better I shall be pleased. I want to get back to work, John...."
"We're sailing at four o'clock," my friend replied. "But before we up anchor, Desmond, old man, I should like to have a look at that burial-chamber and the passage by which you escaped. What do you say to taking me ashore now and showing me round?"
"Anything to pass the time," I said wearily. "When do we start?"
"Right now. And I'll bring a pick and spade. If there's time we might have another grub for gold in the lava5 round the idol6...."
Half an hour later we were pushing our way across the rocky valley at the end of which, against the mountainside, the great idol was set. We skirted the smoking volcano and at length stood before the narrow fissure8, half-hidden by a gigantic boulder9, through which I had emerged from the burial-chamber.
We had borrowed a couple of lanterns from the ship and Bard carried a pick-axe while I shouldered a spade. We left our tools at the entrance and lit our lamps. Then I led the way into the passage. At the end I found the solid masonry10 of the table hanging down into the passage. A steady heave swung it round and there, above our heads, was the black square opening of the death-chamber.
And now I struck. The place had too poignant11 memories for me. I hoisted12 Bard up into the hole, but I declined to accompany him. Swinging my lamp in my hand, I wandered back along the passage towards the cleft13 by which we had entered.
I had gone perhaps a hundred yards from the cave when the light of my lantern, striking low, revealed a square flag set in the floor of the passage. It sounded hollow to the foot. Setting down my lamp I stooped to examine it and then I saw that the stone was roughly carved. The carving14 was worn and filled in with dust. I scraped it clear as best I could with my hands and then saw that the stone was carved with the likeness15 of a turtle, the counterpart of the turtle carved on the table in the cave. I could see the head and tail and the four flippers roughly hewn.
"John!" I shouted. "Here, John!"
My voice reverberated16 weirdly17 in the low-roofed passage. I dropped to my knees and tried to heave the stone up. But it was firmly set and resisted all my efforts. Then I heard Bard's footsteps echoing along the passage.
"Will you look at that?" I said as he came up.
"By George!" he exclaimed. "Captain Roberts, his mark! Can you heave it up? Wait! I'll get the tools!"
With the aid of the pick we prised the stone up. A slot had obviously been cut for it in the rock. A shallow opening was revealed and at the bottom stood a black box.
It was of black leather, discoloured but apparently19 in good condition, the corners bound with some dull metal which I took to be brass20. It was about four foot long, with a rounded lid studded with nails. Bard lifted up one of the lanterns whilst I, lying on my face, dropped an arm into the hole. My fingers closed on a handle at the side of the box. I heaved. The box was immensely heavy and I found that I could barely lift it. I managed, however, to push it to one side, thus making room for my feet. Then I dropped into the hole, up-ended the casket and by dint22 of our combined exertions23 we landed it on the floor of the passage.
I looked at Bard and he looked at me.
The box seemed to be of Spanish manufacture for the leather was handsomely tooled in the Cordova fashion. It was fitted with an elaborately chased iron or steel lock with a hasp that rattled25 to Bard's touch. Without further ceremony he inserted the point of the pick under the hasp, wrenched26, and the nails giving way in the rotten leather, the whole lock came off. Then he threw up the lid and we saw a layer of discoloured brown canvas. This I pulled aside and we fell back in amazement27.
For the box was filled to the brim with magnificent gold and silver vessels28, interspersed29 with them richly chased pistols and a couple of daggers30 with hilts studded with gems31. There were, amongst other things, a superbly wrought32 ewer33 and basin, both of which seemed to be of solid gold, a flat gold dish set with diamonds and rubies34, a gem-laden crucifix, the Christ in pure gold, and an enormous variety of gold and silver forks and spoons. We laid all these treasures out on the floor of the passage and then, beneath some folded lengths of rich crimson35 brocade, came upon a long ebony box in which, wrapped loosely in a cambric scarf yellowed with age, was a superb collection of gems. There were no less than three magnificent parures of pearls, such as great ladies in the days of the Merry Monarch36 wore upon their neck and bosom37, a number of diamond and pearl drops such as were worn on the forehead, diamond ear-rings, a huge emerald set as a brooch, several heavy gold chains, and some diamond buckles38. Beside the ebony box, enveloped39 in a flowered silk wrap, was a curiously40 fashioned silver globe richly set with different precious stones to represent the various capitals of the world.
Bard heaved a deep sigh and looked at me.
"My word, old boy!" he exclaimed, "you've done it at last!"
"What—what do you suppose it's worth?" I asked rather unsteadily.
"A hundred thousand, two hundred thousand pounds," answered Bard. "Who can say? The antiquarian value, altogether apart from the intrinsic, of some of these things—that crucifix and that globe, for example must be very considerable.
"That emerald and those brilliants, for instance.... but you aren't listening."
I wasn't. A sudden vision had come to me of clear grey eyes trustfully raised to mine, of a tangle41 of copper-coloured hair that rested against my coat, of a slim warm body that clung confidingly42 to me. The discoloured leather trunk which lay at our feet was destined43 to change the whole course of my life. Hope, to which, with Marjorie, I had said good-bye, came surging back into my heart. Our island dream was not at an end.... unless good fortune had come to me too late.
"When will the Naomi reach Panama?" I suddenly asked.
"In about a week or ten days," John replied. "Why?"
"Because," I said, "I must reach her by cable!...."
It was ultimately from Rodriguez that my message was sent. Akawa, Bard's Japanese butler, took it down the hill to the cable office. I was prostrate44 with a bad bout21 of malaria45, which I must have contracted in the steamy woods of Cock Island. My cable was to Marjorie, and this is what it said:
"The barriers are down. When will you marry me? DESMOND."
But no reply came. All through the feverish46 days of my illness, a shadowy cable addressed to me flitted through my tortured mind. Sometimes, when I was light-headed, as Bard told me afterwards, I would fancy that Marjorie had replied, that Akawa was handing me the message.... But when consciousness returned, I awoke to a dark world which even the leather trunk locked away in Bard's strong-room could not illumine....
It was weeks before I could travel to New York, where I placed the treasure in the hands of a firm of antiquaries. They advised that it should only come on the market gradually, piece by piece, in order not to depreciate47 its value. I do not, therefore, know even now exactly how much it will realise; but from what they tell me I am quite justified48 in regarding myself as a comparatively wealthy man. Bard will not touch a cent of the treasure. He does not need it, he says, and it belongs to me....
A cable from the Chief, to whom I had communicated my New York address, awaited me on my arrival from Panama. It directed me to go to Washington for instructions. The treasure disposed of, I accordingly boarded the train and proceeded to the capital.
From my hotel at Washington I telephoned to my old friend, Vincent Pargett, at the Embassy, and invited myself to dinner. Vincent made me welcome in his very comfortable bachelor apartment, and over the cocktails49 produced a batch50 of cables.
"You'd better read this one first, Desmond," he said. "It came only this morning. The rest have been here a week," and he tossed over the envelope.
It was from Marjorie. My heart seemed to stop beating as my eyes fell on her name printed at the foot of the message. It was from London, and I realised that my cable must have missed her at Panama and followed her home. This was her reply:
"Whenever you like.—Your MARJORIE."
There are moments which justify51 even the Secret Service agent in abandoning his wonted habit of reticence52. With Marjorie's dear message in my hand I told old Vincent, whom I had known all my life, the news which it contained.
"Three cheers!" exclaimed my friend, then raised his glass.
*****
I wonder! Shall I, in the stay-at-home Government billet which the Chief procured54 for me and happy in the possession of Marjorie as my wife, always be able to resist the beckoning55 finger of romance luring56 towards high adventure and spirited endeavour? Shall I, to the end of the chapter, remain deaf to the call of the blood, aloof57 from the thrill of the man-hunt? Quien sabe? Who knows?
Of Clubfoot I never heard again, and to this day I do not know whether, weak as he was and single-handed in that little launch, he ever made the land. Garth, inclined to be difficult at first, resigned himself at the last with a good grace to our matrimonial projects. I think the argument that my share of Captain Roberts' treasure would remain in the family made a distinct appeal to his Lancashire horse-sense. Carstairs is with us still and is developing into an excellent butler.
For the Vice-Consul at Rodriguez, whose friendly services I had not forgotten, the Chief procured the C.B.E. I am told that he wears it very impressively, dangling58 from its purple ribbon on his shirt front, when, in evening dress, according to the protocol59, he attends the President of Rodriguez at the opening of the Legislature....
THE END
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
smear
|
|
| v.涂抹；诽谤，玷污；n.污点；诽谤，污蔑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
bard
|
|
| n.吟游诗人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
ashore
|
|
| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
gee
|
|
| n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
lava
|
|
| n.熔岩，火山岩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
idol
|
|
| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
canny
|
|
| adj.谨慎的，节俭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
fissure
|
|
| n.裂缝；裂伤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
boulder
|
|
| n.巨砾；卵石，圆石 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
masonry
|
|
| n.砖土建筑；砖石 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
poignant
|
|
| adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
hoisted
|
|
| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
cleft
|
|
| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
carving
|
|
| n.雕刻品，雕花 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
likeness
|
|
| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
reverberated
|
|
| 回响，回荡( reverberate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使反响，使回荡，使反射 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
weirdly
|
|
| 古怪地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
darted
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
brass
|
|
| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
bout
|
|
| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
dint
|
|
| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
exertions
|
|
| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
hoarsely
|
|
| adv.嘶哑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
rattled
|
|
| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
wrenched
|
|
| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
vessels
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
interspersed
|
|
| adj.[医]散开的；点缀的v.intersperse的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
daggers
|
|
| 匕首，短剑( dagger的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
gems
|
|
| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
wrought
|
|
| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
ewer
|
|
| n.大口水罐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
rubies
|
|
| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
crimson
|
|
| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
monarch
|
|
| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
buckles
|
|
| 搭扣，扣环( buckle的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
enveloped
|
|
| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
curiously
|
|
| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
tangle
|
|
| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
confidingly
|
|
| adv.信任地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
destined
|
|
| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
prostrate
|
|
| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
malaria
|
|
| n.疟疾 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
feverish
|
|
| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
depreciate
|
|
| v.降价，贬值，折旧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
justified
|
|
| a.正当的，有理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
cocktails
|
|
| n.鸡尾酒( cocktail的名词复数 )；餐前开胃菜；混合物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
batch
|
|
| n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
justify
|
|
| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
reticence
|
|
| n.沉默，含蓄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
premier
|
|
| adj.首要的；n.总理，首相 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
procured
|
|
| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
beckoning
|
|
| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
luring
|
|
| 吸引，引诱（lure的现在分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
aloof
|
|
| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
dangling
|
|
| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
protocol
|
|
| n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |