Uncle Naboth’s eyes were big and staring as our dainty Indian princess came aboard; but I could see that he was pleased with her beauty and modest demeanor7.
No questions were asked us until we were all comfortably stowed on deck and the automobile8 had been hoisted9 over the side by the willing sailors and set in its old position. They were glad enough to see us safely returned without bothering us with questioning; but I knew of their eagerness to hear of our adventures and so took an early opportunity to remark:
256
“Well, Uncle Naboth and Ned, we’ve got the diamonds.”
“Sure?”
“Sure enough.”
I brought the basket and allowed them to inspect the treasure, which they did with wonder and a sort of awe10, for they had little to say.
“How much is the bunch worth?” asked my uncle, trying to be indifferent.
“Why, we are all quite ignorant of their value,” I replied; “but Moit and I both think we have secured a snug11 fortune for each one of us four who are interested in the division. We couldn’t have done anything at all without the automobile, though, so I am going to give Duncan a part of my share.”
“I won’t take it,” declared Moit. “We made a fair and square bargain, to share alike, and I mean to live up to it.”
257
“But you need the money more than we do,” I protested, “for you’ve got to build a factory to manufacture your machines and also to make a home for Ilalah. She is a prize we don’t share in, but we’d like to contribute to her happiness, so I shall suggest to Ned and Uncle Naboth that you take a half of all the diamonds and we will divide the other half.”
“Agreed!” cried my uncle and Ned, both together, and although Duncan objected in a rather pig-headed way I declared that we had fully12 made up our minds and he had nothing to say about the matter.
Then we told our story, rather briefly13 at first, for it would take some time to give our friends all the details of our adventures. Uncle was very proud of the way Bryonia and Nux had behaved, and told them so in his outspoken14 fashion. The honest fellows could have desired no higher reward.
After this Ned told me of his trip. On reaching the ocean he had rigged a mast and sail on the long boat and before a brisk breeze had soon reached Manzanillo Bay and arrived at Colon15 harbor within a half day.
Colon is a primitive16 town built upon a low coral island, but being the Atlantic terminal of the great canal it possessed17 an office of the Central and South American Telegraph Company, so that Ned was able to send a cable message by way of Galveston to Mr. Harlan.
258
He got an answer the next day, saying that the Carmenia, one of the Company’s ships, was due at Cristobal in a few days, and further instructions as to the disposition18 of the wrecked19 cargo20 would be cabled me on her arrival. Cristobal was a port adjoining Colon, and I remembered to have heard that the Carmenia was soon to come home from the Pacific with a light cargo; so I judged it would be Mr. Harlan’s intention to have her take our structural21 steel on board and carry it on to San Pedro.
All we could do now was to wait, and instead of waiting in unhealthy Colon Ned wisely decided22 to return to the wreck and report to me.
They had begun to worry over us and to fear the Indians had murdered us, so it was a great relief to them when we came back safe and successful from our perilous23 adventure.
259
Uncle Naboth admired Ilalah more and more as he came to know her, and he told Duncan with great seriousness that she was worth more than all the diamonds in the world, to which absurd proposition the inventor gravely agreed. But indeed we were all fond of the charming girl and vied with one another to do her honor. Even stolid24 Ned Britton rowed across to the marshes25 in the afternoon and returned with a gorgeous bouquet26 of wild flowers to place in the Indian maid’s cabin—formerly his own cabin, but gladly resigned for her use.
Ilalah accepted all the attentions showered upon her with simple, unaffected delight, and confided27 to us that she had altered entirely28 her old judgment29 of the whites and now liked them very much.
“They must be my people, after this,” she said, with a sad smile, “because I have left the Techlas forever.”
At dinner Bryonia outdid himself as a chef and provided for the menu every delicacy30 the ship afforded. Ilalah ate little, but enjoyed the strange foods and unusual cooking. After dinner we sat on the deck in the splendid moonlight and recited at length our adventures, until the hour grew late.
260
When I went to bed I carried the diamonds to my locker31, putting them carefully away where no one could get at them until we left the wreck and the time came to make the division. The ship was very safe for the present. Until another severe gale32 occurred to bring the waves up the river there was no danger of her going to pieces, as she held firmly to her mud bank, weighted on her open planks33 with the great mass of steel in the hold. Her bottom was like a crate34, but her upper works seemed as firm and substantial as ever.
Ilalah’s cabin was on the starboard side, but in spite of the ship’s listing her window was four or five feet above the surface of the river. She bade us a sweet good-night in her pretty broken English, and an hour later everyone on board was enjoying peaceful slumbers35 and I, for my part, was dreaming of the fortune we had so unexpectedly secured.
Suddenly a cry aroused me. I sat up and listened but could hear no further sound. Absolute silence reigned36 throughout the ship. Yet the cry still rang in my ears, and the recollection of it unnerved me.
261
While I hesitated a knock came to my door, and I got up and lighted a candle.
Moit was standing37 outside in the saloon. His face was white but as undecided in expression as my own.
“Did you hear anything, Sam?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Was it a cry for help?”
“That, or a woman’s scream, Duncan.”
“Come with me,” he said, and I followed him to the door of Ilalah’s cabin.
Two or three loud knockings failed to arouse any response. I turned the handle, found the door unlocked, and threw it open.
The room was empty.
I turned my flickering38 candle in every direction, lighting39 up the smallest cranny, as if the girl could be hidden in a rat-hole. The window stood wide open, and the cool night breeze came through it.
I turned toward Duncan, who stood in the middle of the room staring at the floor. As my gaze followed his I saw several of the blue beads40 Ilalah had worn scattered41 over the carpet.
262
“It is Nalig-Nad,” he muttered. “The San Blas have stolen my princess!”
“What’s up, boys?” asked Uncle Naboth. He was standing in the doorway42 clad in a suit of pajamas43 that were striped like a convict’s, only in more gorgeous colors.
“The Indians have stolen Ilalah and carried her away,” I answered.
I am afraid Uncle Naboth swore. He is a mild mannered old gentleman, but having taken a strong liking44 for the beautiful girl he perhaps could find no other way, on the impulse of the moment, to express his feelings.
“Well,” he remarked, after we had looked blankly into one another’s faces for a time, “we must get her back again, that’s all.”
“Of course, sir,” agreed Duncan, rousing himself. “We will go at once.”
“What time is it?” I asked.
263
“Then let us wait until morning,” I advised. “The Indians already have a good start of us and there would be no chance to overtake them before they regain46 the king’s village. We must be cautious and lay our plans carefully if we hope to succeed.”
“Perhaps you are right,” returned Duncan, wearily. “But I swear to you, Sam, that I will find Ilalah and bring her back with me, or perish in the attempt.”
I smiled at his theatric manner, but Uncle Naboth said seriously:
“I don’t blame you a bit, sir. That girl is worth a heap o’ trouble, and you can count on me to help you to the last gasp47.”
“Well, well,” said I, impatiently, “let us get dressed and go on deck to talk it over.” I well knew there would be no more sleep for us that night, and although I was not in love with the lost princess I was as eager to effect her rescue as Moit himself.
“But I must warn you, gentlemen,” I continued, “that you have to deal with the wiliest and fiercest savage48 in existence, and if we venture into his dominions49 again the chances of our ever coming out alive are mighty50 slim.”
264
“All right, Sam,” retorted Uncle Naboth, cheerfully; “we’ve got to take those chances, my lad, so what’s the use of grumbling51?”
“If you’re afraid, Sam—” began Moit, stiffly.
“Oh, get out!” was my peevish52 reply. “I may be afraid, and small wonder if I am; but you know very well I’ll go with you. So get your togs on, both of you, and I’ll meet you on deck.”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
joyful
|
|
| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
wreck
|
|
| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
mantling
|
|
| 覆巾 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
4
rugged
|
|
| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
auto
|
|
| n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
slanting
|
|
| 倾斜的，歪斜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
demeanor
|
|
| n.行为；风度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
automobile
|
|
| n.汽车，机动车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
hoisted
|
|
| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
awe
|
|
| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
snug
|
|
| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
briefly
|
|
| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
outspoken
|
|
| adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
colon
|
|
| n.冒号，结肠，直肠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
primitive
|
|
| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
disposition
|
|
| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
wrecked
|
|
| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
cargo
|
|
| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
structural
|
|
| adj.构造的，组织的，建筑（用）的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
perilous
|
|
| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
stolid
|
|
| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
marshes
|
|
| n.沼泽，湿地( marsh的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
bouquet
|
|
| n.花束，酒香 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
confided
|
|
| 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） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
delicacy
|
|
| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
locker
|
|
| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
gale
|
|
| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
planks
|
|
| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
crate
|
|
| vt.(up)把…装入箱中；n.板条箱，装货箱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
slumbers
|
|
| 睡眠，安眠( slumber的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
reigned
|
|
| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
flickering
|
|
| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
lighting
|
|
| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
beads
|
|
| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
pajamas
|
|
| n.睡衣裤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
liking
|
|
| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
regain
|
|
| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
gasp
|
|
| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
dominions
|
|
| 统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
grumbling
|
|
| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
peevish
|
|
| adj.易怒的，坏脾气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |