From my elevated perch5 I watched them file along the ledge6 to the sands, and upon reaching the level set off toward the forest. Not till they were well out of sight did Nux or I venture to rise upright and stretch our limbs.
The morning was warm and sultry. The sun gleamed hot in a cloudless sky and not a breath of air stirred the leaves of the three tall trees that stood at the edge of our towering rock.
“It’s going to be a roasting day,” I said to Nux, “and we won’t get any shade from those trees until afternoon. Do you suppose we dare go down to the cave for a while.”
Nux shook his head.
“We all safe now, Mars Sam,” he replied. “Better not run no risk wid dis yeah gold dust.”
Thoughtfully I gazed toward the forest.
“Those fellows will be cool and comfortable enough in the shade,” I remarked, rebelliously7, “and I don’t believe they’ll come back through the hot sun until it’s time to get the treasure. Let’s go down to the sea and take a swim.”
Nux was unable to resist the temptation; so, leaving the trousers full of golden grains resting on top of the rock, we made our way cautiously along the narrow, winding8 ledge until we reached the shore.
There was not a ripple9 on the sea. It lay as still and inert10 as a sheet of glass; but the water was cool, nevertheless, when compared with the stifling11 atmosphere, and so I and my black companion paddled in it for more than an hour, feeling much refreshed by our luxurious12 bath.
Afterward13 we ate our simple breakfast and then climbed the ledge as far as the mouth of the cave, where we sat down in the shade. Even that slight exertion14 quite exhausted15 us.
“We will be sure to hear them if they should by chance return,” said I, “and we’ll certainly be roasted if we get on top of this rock, where the sun can strike us. I believe it’s the hottest day I ever knew.”
Meantime the men in the forest were finding their work far from pleasant, as Bryonia afterward told us. They were shaded from the sun, it is true; but the air they breathed was as hot as if it came fresh from an oven, and the least exertion caused the perspiration16 to stream from their pores. So there was considerable grumbling17 among them and a general shirking of work that made their progress slow. Even Bryonia, who was fairly heat-proof, found he had little energy to swing his axe18, although he made a pretense19 of working as industriously20 as ever.
“Never mind, boys,” said Daggett, when noon had arrived and they were eating the luncheon21 they had brought in their pockets. “The raft will be big enough to carry us and the gold to the ship, I’m sure, for the sea is as still as a mill-pond. We’ll just get these two logs to the shore, and fasten them to the others, and call the thing a go. What do you say?”
They agreed with him readily enough. As a matter of fact the raft might suffice to carry them all, but none of them believed that all five would embark22 upon it, so many murderous schemes were lurking23 in their minds.
Wearily they dragged the two logs toward the sea, but much time was consumed in this operation, and the day was far spent before the raft was complete and ready to launch.
Most of the men had stripped themselves naked, to work more comfortably, for the heat was well-nigh unbearable24; but now, as they stood ready to push the raft into the water, the sun suddenly disappeared and a cold chill swept over them.
“We’re going to have a storm,” cried Daggett, looking curiously25 into the sky. “Better leave the raft where it is, my lads, and make for the cave.”
The warning was unquestionable. Already a low, moaning sound came to their ears across the sea, and the sky grew darker each moment.
With one accord the men seized their clothing in their arms and ran along the beach toward the cave, while tiny points of lightning darted26 here and there about them, casting weird27 if momentary28 gleams upon their naked forms.
Nux and I sitting half asleep by the mouth of the cave, were warned by the first chill blast that swept over us that the weather had changed and a storm was imminent29. Springing to my feet I looked fearfully at the darkening sky.
“What’ll we do, Nux?” I asked. “This will bring our enemies back here in double-quick time.”
“Better climb on top de rock, Mars Sam,” advised the Sulu.
“’Spect it will, Mars Sam. But rain won’t hurt us much.”
“And Daggett’s gang will, if they catch us. I guess you’re right, Nux. Come along.”
As we started along the ledge the wind came upon us in sudden gusts31, and the sky grew so dark that we almost had to feel our way. It was necessary to exercise great care, both to find a secure footing and to cling fast to the face of the rock, to prevent our being blown into the abyss below; but we struggled manfully on, and presently reached the top, where Nux hoisted32 me over the edge and then scrambled33 after me.
By this time the lightning was playing all around us, and we were obliged to crawl carefully on hands and knees to the little hollow in the center of the rock, where we were to an extent shielded from the fierce gusts of wind. Even then I feared we would be blown away; but Nux shouted in my ear to hold fast to the gold, which served as a sort of anchor, and enabled us both, as we lay flat in the hollow, to maintain our positions securely.
And now the lightning began to be accompanied by sharp peals34 of thunder, while the wind suddenly subsided35 to give place to wild floods of rain. At intervals36 could be heard the shouts of the robbers, who had reached the rocks and were creeping along the ledge to their cave. All the elements seemed engaged in a confused turmoil37, until I was nearly deafened38 by the uproar39. I tried to ask a question of Nux, but could not hear my own voice, and gave up the attempt. The thought crossed my mind that we had been very foolish to climb to this peak of rock, where we were exposed to the full fury of the storm, and I wondered vaguely40, as I clung to the sack of gold we had risked so much to secure, how long it would be before the wind swept us away, or we would be annihilated41 by a bolt of lightning.
Presently an arm was laid across my back, as if to protect me, and raising my head I saw by the light of a vivid flash that Bryonia had joined us and was lying in the hollow at my side.
I wondered how the daring Sulu had ever managed to reach us; but the strong arm gave me a new sense of security, and impulsively42 I seized the black man’s hand and pressed it to express my gratitude43 and welcome.
An instant later a terrible crash sounded in my ears, while at the same time a blast of fire swept over the rock and seemed to bathe our three prostrate44 figures in its withering45 flame. Again came a crash; and another—and still another, while the crisp lightning darted through the air and made each nerve of our bodies tingle46 as if pricked47 by myriads48 of needle points.
Half bewildered, I raised my head, and saw the great rocking-stone sway from side to side and then plunge49 headlong into the gulf50 that lay between the precipice51 and the solitary52 rock whereon we reclined. And I felt the mighty53 column of rock shake and lean outward, as if about to topple into the sea, while the impact of the fallen mass reverberated54 above the shriek55 of the wind and the thunder’s loudest roar.
Instinctively56 I braced57 myself for the end—the seemingly inevitable58 outcome of this terrible catastrophe59; but to my surprise no violent calamity60 overwhelmed us. Instead, the lightning, as if satisfied with its work of destruction, gradually abated61. The blinding flashes no longer pained my closed eyes with their vivid recurrence62, and even the wind and rain moderated and grew less violent.
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1
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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nefarious
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| adj.恶毒的，极坏的 | |
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conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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rebelliously
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| adv.造反地，难以控制地 | |
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8
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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inert
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| adj.无活动能力的，惰性的；迟钝的 | |
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stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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pretense
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| n.矫饰，做作，借口 | |
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industriously
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luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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22
embark
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| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
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lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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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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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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torrents
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| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
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31
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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32
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
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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34
peals
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| n.（声音大而持续或重复的）洪亮的响声( peal的名词复数 )；隆隆声；洪亮的钟声；钟乐v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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35
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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36
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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37
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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38
deafened
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| 使聋( deafen的过去式和过去分词 )； 使隔音 | |
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39
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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40
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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41
annihilated
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| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的过去式和过去分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
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42
impulsively
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| adv.冲动地 | |
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43
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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44
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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45
withering
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| 使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的 | |
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46
tingle
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| vi.感到刺痛，感到激动；n.刺痛，激动 | |
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47
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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48
myriads
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| n.无数，极大数量( myriad的名词复数 ) | |
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49
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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50
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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51
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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52
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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53
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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54
reverberated
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| 回响，回荡( reverberate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使反响，使回荡，使反射 | |
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55
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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56
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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57
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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58
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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59
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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60
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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61
abated
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| 减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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62
recurrence
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| n.复发，反复，重现 | |
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