With quick instinct—it was no conscious effort of will,—he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar. It was that swift movement, and that alone, that saved him from plunging2 straight down to the depths of the sea or striking the iron decks so far below him.
There he clung, head downward, sustained only by the grip of his feet on two steel posts. Every muscle of his body was strained to its utmost tension. His brain seemed bursting. With every[116] heave and roll of the ship he was swung far out and then back again, with every likelihood that if his foothold was not broken his head would be dashed against a steel brace4.
“Great Scott, sir! Look at that!”
“Look, sir, the other man, Sharp, his name is, has seen his plight8. He’s trying to haul him aboard.”
“Good heavens, they’ll both go! Man the mast there! Jump aloft! Look alive, men! Poor boy! Poor boy!”
Up the ladder sprang a red-headed youth. It was Herc, and behind him swarmed9 a half dozen Jackies who had seen the peril10 of their ship-mate.
Suddenly a second horrified shout went up from bridge and deck. Ned had made a frantic12[117] effort to grab the mast on one of his wild swings. At the same instant Sharp appeared to be laying hold of his feet to try and drag him back into the top. Those who had set up that groan of dismay had seen Ned’s feet suddenly slip out of position.
“He’s gone!” cried the captain, half turning away.
Some of the crew shut their eyes. Ned had lost his hold and was doomed13 either to be drowned,—for in that sea it would have been impossible to launch a boat,—or else to be dashed to atoms on the steel decks of the dreadnought.
But the next instant a glad cry of renewed hope went up. It was a yell, a frantic shout of encouragement and joy.
Ned had somehow managed, by the instinct of self-preservation, to seize a stay, and there he hung, swaying wildly back and forth14 as the ship rolled, but still gripping it in a firm grasp.
“Can he hang on?”
[118]
That was the question that agitated15 every man who was watching the lad’s plucky16 battle for life.
“Stick to it, Ned!” cried the sailors encouragingly.
“Hang on, old boy! We’ll help you out of it in a brace of shakes.”
But these cries, meant to encourage Ned, were not practical of execution. It was manifestly impossible to reach him. His salvation17 lay in his own hands and he must work it out alone.
Herc had, by this time, reached the top and now hung over the rail in an agony of apprehension18. There hung his comrade, twenty feet below him, dangling19 high above the decks on a slender wire stay and he was as powerless to aid him as if he had been a hundred miles away. But he shouted encouragement.
Suddenly there came a voice at his back. It was Sharp.
“He’s a goner for sure,” he muttered indifferently.
[119]
Herc faced around on him like a thunderbolt. His red hair bristled20 like the hackles on an angry dog.
“I only said that there wasn’t a chance for him to get away with it,” rejoined Sharp, a leer spreading over his countenance23. “He stands no more chance of being saved than a snowball in a furnace.”
“Oh, you think so, do you? Well, just let me tell you one thing, Ned Strong has got out of worse scrapes than the one he’s in right now. If it’s humanly possible, he’ll save himself yet, in spite of such croakers as you.”
Sharp slunk away before Herc’s broadside. He could not meet the other’s eyes.
“I did all I could to keep him from falling, but I couldn’t get him in,” he muttered.
A sudden shout from the decks attracted Herc’s attention at this moment. He rushed to[120] the edge of the top and beheld25 the most amazing specimen26 of grit27 in the face of overwhelming odds28 that he had ever witnessed.
The stay which Ned had caught stretched between the fore24 and the after masts. From it were suspended the signal halliards, the nether29 end of which ropes were on the bridge. Hand over hand, and painfully slowly, Ned was working himself along this stay. He appeared to have lost his presence of mind for the time being, for, instead of coming back to the after mast, he began working his way forward.
“Come back! Come back!” yelled Herc frenziedly.
“The other way! The other!” shouted officers and men, but Ned appeared not to hear them.
“Oh, he’ll never make it!” groaned Captain Dunham. “Poor lad! Poor lad!”
And now began a spectacle that none of those who beheld it ever forgot. It was photographed indelibly on the minds of every witness, officer and enlisted30 man.
[121]
It was seen that, provided Ned could hold on long enough, his progress must bring him above the funnels31, belching32 hot, suffocating33 gases and blinding, cinder-laden smoke. Captain Dunham sent a man below to order the fires smothered34 instantly so as to minimize the amount of vapor35 issuing from the funnels.
“I don’t believe that the lad has one chance in a thousand,” he said with an unaccustomed quaver in his voice, “but we’ll leave nothing undone36 to help him out.”
“That’s just the trouble, sir,” rejoined the navigating officer, “there’s so little we can do. It’s almost unbearable37 to have to stand here helplessly and watch that brave struggle.”
Discipline for the time being was entirely38 forgotten. The sailors crowded on the fore-decks, oblivious39 to showers of spray and water, and shouted encouragement at the tops of their voices.
[122]
“Come on! Come on! Not much farther now! Oh, stick to it, Ned! Stick to it!”
“Ned! Ned, old boy, we’re all with you!” howled poor Herc, almost beside himself. His face under the tan was ashen41 gray, and his freckles42 stood out like ink spots on blotting43 paper.
With anxiety and interest keyed up to a pitch that was almost unbearable, Ned continued to advance. The smoke from the funnels was perceptibly lessened44 by this time. The engineers, apprised45 of what was going on, had shut off all draughts46, and if Ned could only maintain his grip he would be able to make the passage above the four huge smoke pipes without being suffocated47.
His objective point was now plain. It was the signal halliards that he was making for.
“Rig up a bos’un’s chair and send it aloft on those halliards,” roared Captain Dunham.
In a jiffy the plank48 seat was attached to the halliards and sent aloft to the stay along which Ned was slowly but surely advancing.
[123]
His head was quite clear now and his fighting spirit was up. He would make those halliards. With every sense that was in him he exerted his will to reach the goal he was aiming for.
All at once he let go with one hand for an instant.
“He’s falling!”
But no, Ned had only paused for a minute to draw himself up on the stay so that he could rest his aching muscles for the final spurt50. Then he resumed his torturingly slow progress.
“He’s coming ahead again!” went up the cry, as Ned began worming himself along once more.
“So he is! Good boy!”
“Come on, ship-mate! You’re on the home-stretch!” shouted another voice.
[124]
“We’ve got the tow-rope! Come on for the old Manhattan!”
A perfect babel of sound resounded52 along the decks. The officers made no attempt to check it. They were as excited as the men themselves.
Ned reached the signal halliards at last. A score of hands seized the free end of the rope to which the bos’un’s chair was attached and lowered the exhausted53 lad to the bridge, as soon as he had clambered, with a Jackie’s dexterity54, into the swaying contrivance.
What a roar arose then!
“He’s made it!”
In the after top Herc, tears streaming down his face, danced a wild jig55 of jubilation56, while on the fore-deck Jackies threw their arms around each other and shook each other’s hands and performed a hundred mad antics. On the bridge the officers stood with sternly compressed lips, but from the captain there broke out a fervent:—
[125]
“Thank God!”
As Ned, white-faced but smiling bravely, touched the bridge, he was hauled out of the bos’un’s chair by a score of hands, and for a minute he needed the support. But he rallied as he faced the captain and saluting57 said:—
“Come aboard, sir!”
“Great heavens, Strong, you gave us all the scare of our lives!” said the captain, with a great sigh of relief.
“I’m sorry, sir,” rejoined Ned, “I somehow missed my footing and——”
“That’s it. How did it happen?” demanded the captain.
“Just as I said, sir. I missed my footing and fell against that rope-yarn. It carried away and I went through.”
“Strong, you are keeping something back.”
“No, sir. That’s how it happened to the best of my knowledge and belief.”
“Very well, if there’s nothing further to report,[126] I’m not going to heckle you now. Mr. James, see that the ropes on the top openings are replaced by pipe rails. We want no repetition of to-day’s experience. As it is, I don’t believe that there is another man in the fleet that would have come out of the ordeal58 alive. Where are you going, Strong?”
“Back to my post, sir. I’m all right,” replied Ned respectfully.
“Nonsense. You’ve been through enough to incapacitate most lads for a week. Go below and take it easy. Carry on.”
This was tantamount to an order, and Ned, although he disliked to go off duty at such a time, had no recourse but to obey. As he passed along the decks, the blue-jackets crowded about him to press his hand and cheer him. Through the throng59 Herc pushed his way, having descended60 from the after mast at express speed.
“Good boy, Ned! Oh, good boy!” was all that he said as he wrung61 his comrade’s hand, but his voice held an unaccustomed quaver as he spoke[127] and Ned saw what an ordeal Herc had been through.
“It’s all over now, Herc,” said Ned lightly.
“That fellow Sharp, had he——?”
“I don’t know. I’d accuse no man of such a dastardly thing. But I thought, only thought, mind you, that I felt a shove as I fell.”
“If I thought——”
“Now see here, Herc, don’t breathe a word of this. In times like that a fellow might imagine anything. It might all be fancy on my part.”
But, although Ned passed the matter off in this way, he had a well defined impression, which refused to be obliterated62, that at the moment that he was sent staggering to leeward63 in the top he had received an accelerating shove. Henceforth he resolved to watch Sharp narrowly. He knew that the man hated him with all the malice64 of a small, mean nature; but that he would actually attempt such a thing as Ned was forced to suspect of him, the Dreadnought Boy was loath65 to believe.
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收听单词发音
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1
poise
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| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
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2
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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3
hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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4
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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7
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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8
plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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9
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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10
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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11
navigating
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| v.给（船舶、飞机等）引航，导航( navigate的现在分词 )；（从海上、空中等）横越；横渡；飞跃 | |
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12
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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13
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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14
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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15
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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16
plucky
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| adj.勇敢的 | |
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salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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18
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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19
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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20
bristled
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| adj. 直立的，多刺毛的 动词bristle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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21
freckled
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| adj.雀斑；斑点；晒斑；（使）生雀斑v.雀斑，斑点( freckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
clenching
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的现在分词 ) | |
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23
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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24
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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25
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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26
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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27
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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28
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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29
nether
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| adj.下部的，下面的；n.阴间；下层社会 | |
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30
enlisted
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| adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
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31
funnels
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| 漏斗( funnel的名词复数 )； （轮船，火车等的）烟囱 | |
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32
belching
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| n. 喷出，打嗝 动词belch的现在分词形式 | |
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33
suffocating
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| a.使人窒息的 | |
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34
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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35
vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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36
undone
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| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
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37
unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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38
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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39
oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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40
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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41
ashen
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| adj.灰的 | |
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42
freckles
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| n.雀斑，斑点( freckle的名词复数 ) | |
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43
blotting
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| 吸墨水纸 | |
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44
lessened
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| 减少的，减弱的 | |
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45
apprised
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| v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价 | |
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46
draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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47
suffocated
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| （使某人）窒息而死( suffocate的过去式和过去分词 )； （将某人）闷死； 让人感觉闷热； 憋气 | |
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48
plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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49
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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50
spurt
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| v.喷出；突然进发；突然兴隆 | |
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51
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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52
resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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53
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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54
dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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55
jig
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| n.快步舞（曲）；v.上下晃动；用夹具辅助加工；蹦蹦跳跳 | |
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56
jubilation
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| n.欢庆，喜悦 | |
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57
saluting
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的现在分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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58
ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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59
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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60
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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61
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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62
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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63
leeward
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| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
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64
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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65
loath
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| adj.不愿意的；勉强的 | |
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