[27]
Valise in hand he stood on the platform of the first car when the long train rolled in. And while the brakes were yet crunching7 against the wheels he leapt down, to the imminent8 peril9 of a colored porter whom he nearly bowled over in his mad haste to reach Forty-second Street. Down the long concourse and through the waiting-room he hurried until he finally gained the sidewalk. There he hailed the first taxicab in sight. Pausing only a moment to give the driver hasty instructions, Jack plunged10 inside and immediately was being whisked through New York at top speed.
But with all this hustle11 and bustle12 he came very near to missing the boat. Indeed he was among the last aboard. All but one gang-plank had been hauled in and the few remaining visitors were being hastened ashore13 by the stewards14 when he finally gained the deck and paused to catch his breath. She was a long low white-hulled steamer that sailed under the name of the Yucatan and her seaworthiness was apparent even to Jack, who had never before set foot on a ship’s deck.
[28]
The first thing that the boy from Drueryville Academy did after locating his stateroom was to see that the wallet with its precious contents was secure in its proper place. His mind at ease on this point, he immediately returned to the deck, for he was eager to see the sights of New York harbor. The Yucatan was slipping past the lower end of Governor’s Island and the entire skyline of Manhattan was spread out before his admiring gaze. But presently, as the ship passed Tompkinsville, his attention was diverted to three huge gray vessels18 with queer basket-like masts that were anchored just off the Staten Island shore. He recalled that a United States Navy coaling station was located in that vicinity and concluded that this was the reason for the presence there of three of the largest of Uncle Sam’s battleships.
And as these vessels faded in the distance a new delight was revealed to him. The Yucatan was steaming down the Narrows toward the lower bay and on either bank Jack beheld19 the many innocent looking grass-grown terraces of Fort Wadsworth and Fort Hamilton[29] behind which the deadly disappearing guns of the harbor defense20 are concealed21. The mere5 sight of these embankments with the Stars and Stripes whipping in the breeze above them made the young Vermonter thrill with patriotism22, and for the first time in his life he realized fully23 how glad he was that Yankee blood coursed through his veins24. And as he stood there almost spell-bound by this picture of silent power, some one at his elbow spoke25 to him.
“They look almost impregnable,” said the stranger, whereat Jack turned to find himself addressed by a tall, good looking man whose face was tanned to a ruddy brown, and whose eyes sparkled with as much enthusiasm as his own.
“Indeed they do, and I am proud of them,” our young friend replied with feeling.
“So am I, son; so am I,” said the other with equal fervor26. “And every day I feel more grateful to Providence27 for making an American of me. You’ll appreciate it too after you have traveled in foreign lands a little while.”
Jack instinctively28 liked this man. He was[30] so heartily29 enthusiastic about America and everything American that the boy could not help but admire him. Indeed he found him decidedly interesting as a companion and they chatted away about everything in general until the Yucatan reached Sandy Hook. Here the stranger brought forth30 a pair of binoculars31 and scrutinized32 the beach and the Atlantic Highlands beyond until he located the object of his search. Then he passed the glasses to Jack, saying as he did so:
“Here, look at the greatest lighthouses in the world. See those two towers standing33 out of the foliage34 over there on the hill. The reflection of their lights can be seen seventy miles out at sea.”
After a search Jack found them. They appeared like the towers of some medieval castle connected by a long low brick structure.
“No,” said his companion, “they are officially known as the Navesink Lights. The Sandy Hook Light is that old octagonal white tower over yonder. That is one of the oldest,[31] if not the oldest, lighthouse in America. It was built by the British Government in 1764 and during the Revolutionary War the King’s soldiers used it as a military prison. Not long ago when they were making some improvements in the foundation a dungeon36 was unearthed37 in which were found several human skeletons, evidently Colonial soldiers imprisoned38 there and not liberated39 when the lighthouse was abandoned. Now if you will turn your glasses off to the right you will be able to see the Sandy Hook Lightship. That little cockleshell of a craft is there winter and summer fighting every storm and fog that comes up. She’s in competent hands, however, for the captain is a master mariner41.”
Jack was exceedingly interested. He wondered how his companion came to know so much about lighthouses and lightships and several times he was on the point of asking him. This, however, was not necessary, for a few moments later the information was furnished quite voluntarily.
“By the way,” said the stranger, after Jack had finished scrutinizing42 the tossing lightship,[32] “I’ve neglected to introduce myself. My name is Warner, James Warner, I am supposed to be a marine40 engineer. You understand; a builder of lighthouses, concrete dykes43 and all that.”
“And I am John Strawbridge of Drueryville Academy, but since Strawbridge is a rather large mouthful I suggest you call me Jack Straw. It’s handier, you know.”
“Jack Straw, eh? Well, that’s corking,” said Mr. Warner heartily, clapping the boy on the back. “Where are you bound for, Jack? I’m on my way to Tampico. President Huerta, of Mexico, has just given me a contract to rebuild the foundation of the Lobo’s Island Light. That is one of the most important coast markings in Mexico.”
“I’m bound for Necaxa, by way of Vera Cruz and Mexico City,” said Jack, who had already begun to feel like a seasoned traveler.
“Necaxa,” exclaimed his companion; “why that’s where the big hydro-electric power plant is located. That’s where Mexico City gets its light from. Harry44 Ryder, the engineer in charge of the plant, is an old chum of mine.[33] In fact, we were classmates at Sheffield Scientific School.”
“Why, he’s the man I am expecting to visit there,” said Jack, somewhat surprised at the fact that Mr. Warner knew Dr. Moorland’s nephew. He refrained, however, from telling his companion the reason for his journey.
“Well, that’s mighty45 interesting,” replied the marine engineer. “I haven’t seen Harry Ryder in more than two years, though I’ve kept in touch with him. He’s a very capable fellow, and he deserves the honor of being in charge of the largest electric station in Mexico. He won the office, you know, about a year or so ago. President Madero held competitive examinations in Mexico City. Harry carried off the highest honors. But from what he told me he was rather hard pressed by several other good electrical engineers, both Americans and Mexicans. I guess he expected to lose his position when Huerta won the revolution and deposed46 Madero. But the new president reappointed him.”
Jack was greatly pleased to learn that Dr.[34] Moorland’s relative was so well liked by his former classmate. It served to increase his interest in the man whose plans he was carrying and he concluded that his visit to Mexico was destined47 to be very pleasant with Mr. Ryder as his host. He became silent after that, for his thoughts were far away, anticipating his sojourn48 in the land that Cortez conquered. The voice of Mr. Warner interrupted this pleasant mental occupation.
“Look over there on the horizon. That’s a storm cloud. I rather think it’s fixing for a blow. Do you ever get seasick49?” he queried.
“Well, I’ve never had an opportunity to find out,” said Jack, “for you see this is my first experience on salt water.”
“Well, you’ll know within an hour. It’s freshening up now and before long the boat will be pitching around like a Mexican burro, a beast you are destined to become acquainted with before you have traveled in Mexico very long.”
Jack smiled at Mr. Warner’s simile50, but it was not long before he noticed that the long[35] rolling swells51 had changed to white crested52 waves that pounded against the steel sides of the Yucatan with a hiss53 and a shower of salt spray. The pitching of the ship had increased, too, by the time he and Mr. Warner went below for luncheon54. Indeed, he found it rather hard to follow his companion across the dining saloon without seeming to stagger. At the same time he began to feel very peculiarly. It was as if he had been swinging around and around so violently that he had finally become very dizzy. He tried his best to hide his feelings from Mr. Warner, hoping that he would be a little better after he had eaten. But his companion looked at him sharply as he took his seat at the table and Jack was certain that he saw the semblance56 of a smile about the corners of his mouth. This nettled57 the boy and he determined58 that he would master the peculiar55 feeling immediately. About that time, however, the waiter placed a plate of hot soup before him. Jack looked at it once and all his self-control vanished. Somehow the sight of food made him extremely[36] ill and without even the formality of excusing himself he pushed back his chair and bolted for his stateroom.
Life hardly seemed worth living to Jack Straw during the next three days for he was so ill that he could not stir out of his stateroom. The Yucatan pitched and rolled as if she was being tossed about for a plaything by some very inconsiderate giant, and it frequently seemed to the boy that the steel hull16 was on the point of foundering59 under the heavy seas that broke against it. Nor did Jack care particularly whether it did or not.
Several times he made an attempt to leave his stateroom, believing that he would feel very much better if he could only reach deck. But each time he left his berth60 he became so nauseated61 that he was glad to climb back again. Mr. Warner made three efforts to visit him but Jack had bolted the door against all intruders, including a solicitous62 steward15 who tried to persuade him to drink a cup of tea and eat some hot toast.
On the morning of the fourth day out, however, he awoke to find himself much relieved.[37] To be sure he was very weak, but the sea had gone down and walking was not the effort it had been before. He found himself able to eat a light breakfast and later he managed to reach his steamer chair into which he sank with a sigh of relief. He was not the only passenger convalescing63. Indeed all the occupants of the steamer chairs were pale and weak appearing and Jack found a great deal of satisfaction in knowing that others had been affected64 by the storm.
The Yucatan was plowing65 her way through the dark blue water of the Gulf66, riding the long lazy swells with graceful67 ease, and to Jack, who had never before been out of sight of land, the vast stretch of water was awe-inspiring. The vessel17 seemed small and insignificant68 out there all alone and he wondered how Columbus and other early adventurers had ever found courage enough to sail for weeks over untraveled seas knowing so little of their destination. In fact, how mariners69 could navigate70 a vessel even with present-day charts and equipment seemed a mystery to the boy from Vermont.
[38]
Late that afternoon while Jack was trying to get interested in a book that he had brought from his stateroom, Mr. Warner appeared on deck. “By George,” he exclaimed as he caught sight of Jack, “you’re not the boy with whom I was talking a day or so ago! Why, you look as pale as a ghost. You must have had a rather disagreeable few days. Well, we did run through something of a blow and I guess you weren’t the only one who was seasick. To tell the truth, I felt a little squeamish myself for a time.”
“I think it was about the most unpleasant sensation I ever had,” said Jack.
“You are right,” said Mr. Warner; “but most of us have to experience it sometime. Well, you are headed straight for your destination now. I expect we will reach Tampico by late to-morrow night or the following morning, and after that it is only a day to Vera Cruz. I am rather glad I came across you here, for I’ve a lot of figuring to do on some specifications71 I brought with me and I may not have an opportunity to see you again before I land. I’ll say good-by to you now and[39] let me wish you the very best of luck in Mexico. Be sure and remember me to Harry Ryder when you see him and tell him also that I may find an opportunity to visit him if I am in Mexico long enough.”
Jack shook his hand warmly, for he had come to like the marine engineer a great deal.
“I am sure we shall see each other again some day,” he said as they parted company.
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收听单词发音
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1
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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steamship
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| n.汽船，轮船 | |
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pier
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| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
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wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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depot
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| n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站 | |
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7
crunching
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| v.嘎吱嘎吱地咬嚼( crunch的现在分词 )；嘎吱作响；（快速大量地）处理信息；数字捣弄 | |
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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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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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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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11
hustle
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| v.推搡；竭力兜售或获取；催促；n.奔忙(碌) | |
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12
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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13
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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stewards
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| （轮船、飞机等的）乘务员( steward的名词复数 )； （俱乐部、旅馆、工会等的）管理员； （大型活动的）组织者； （私人家中的）管家 | |
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steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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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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vessels
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| 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 | |
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19
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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defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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21
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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25
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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fervor
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| n.热诚；热心；炽热 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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binoculars
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| n.双筒望远镜 | |
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32
scrutinized
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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unearthed
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| 出土的（考古） | |
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38
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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liberated
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| a.无拘束的，放纵的 | |
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40
marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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41
mariner
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| n.水手号不载人航天探测器，海员，航海者 | |
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42
scrutinizing
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的现在分词 ) | |
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43
dykes
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| abbr.diagonal wire cutters 斜线切割机n.堤( dyke的名词复数 )；坝；堰；沟 | |
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44
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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45
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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46
deposed
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| v.罢免( depose的过去式和过去分词 )；（在法庭上）宣誓作证 | |
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47
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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48
sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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49
seasick
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| adj.晕船的 | |
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50
simile
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| n.直喻，明喻 | |
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51
swells
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| 增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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52
crested
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| adj.有顶饰的，有纹章的，有冠毛的v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的过去式和过去分词 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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53
hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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54
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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55
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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57
nettled
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| v.拿荨麻打，拿荨麻刺（nettle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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58
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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59
foundering
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| v.创始人( founder的现在分词 ) | |
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60
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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61
nauseated
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| adj.作呕的，厌恶的v.使恶心，作呕( nauseate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62
solicitous
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| adj.热切的，挂念的 | |
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convalescing
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| v.康复( convalesce的现在分词 ) | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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plowing
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| v.耕( plow的现在分词 )；犁耕；费力穿过 | |
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66
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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mariners
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| 海员，水手（mariner的复数形式） | |
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navigate
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| v.航行，飞行；导航，领航 | |
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71
specifications
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| n.规格；载明；详述；（产品等的）说明书；说明书( specification的名词复数 )；详细的计划书；载明；详述 | |
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