“I’m ready!” sang out Amos, almost before the marine2 who had aroused them according to orders from the lieutenant3, whose duty kept him on deck at this hour, could have made his report.
“Same here,” came a voice from the darkness, “and the sooner we make out to reach the deck the better. They may object to losing even a minute of their precious time for a couple of Yankee boys.”
They knew their way perfectly4, whether it were broad daylight or in the inky darkness of
[150]
night. Jack had looked out for that. It was a habit born of his woodcraft education that when in strange quarters the first thing to be done must be to impress every little thing on his mind—and a very good idea for any boy to take as his motto.
So they came on deck without colliding with anything. The first thing Jack did—and this also sprang from his two years’ experience out on the plains—was to cast an eye aloft.
The stars shone brightly, even though the world below lay shrouded6 in darkness. Those stars meant much more to Jack Maxfield than they might to the ordinary careless, happy-go-lucky lad. He was so well acquainted with the positions of the various planets that stood for the signs of the zodiac that all he needed at any time was one good look around, and he could tell pretty closely what the hour was.
Knowing this strong point on the part of his chum, Amos therefore was not at all surprised to hear him immediately mutter:
“It’s a good deal later than I expected. They
[151]
said the boat would come any time after midnight; but right now it’s less than two hours to peep of dawn.”
“Ginger! that may play the dickens with our plans for getting ashore7, Jack!” exclaimed Amos. It might be noticed that never for one instant did he question the accuracy of his comrade’s statement; for in truth he had seen the other prove his ability to tell time by the position of the stars again and again.
“Oh, let’s hope not,” Jack went on to say with his customary assurance, for he always saw the bright side of things. “They must know what they are doing, and just how long it’s going to take them to run across to Gallipoli.”
“Yes, and, Jack, you remember the commander assured you they would have to send a boat in to shore, no matter what happened, for certain things had to be delivered to the general in charge of the Territorials8. I guess it’s going to be all right.”
“There’s the dispatch boat coming up now, and with only one light showing. All these movements
[152]
look ghostly, let me tell you, Amos.”
“But there’s a good reason for every one of them,” remarked Amos, as they watched the swift boat drawing close to the bulky battleship.
“You can be sure there is,” said Jack. “If ever there was a case where constant vigilance is the price of safety, the British seamen9 know it during these exciting days. They never can tell when, without warning, a torpedo10 will smash against the side of their war vessel11, sinking it inside of five minutes.”
“Or an aeroplane come sailing along overhead, and try to drop bombs down on the deck that might do a heap of damage. Whew! talk about living under a strain, I bet there’ll be a lot of old-young men after this war is over. Their hair will turn white in a year, from the constant suspense12 and worry.”
“There, the dispatch boat has halted, and they are sending a boat over to us, you can see. I make out the dip of the oars13 in the water, and can just barely hear the same in the rowlocks.
[153]
We’re expected to go off in that same boat, Amos.”
Two minutes later and they saw someone come aboard. The lieutenant of the big battleship met him and there ensued a short talk in low tones. Doubtless he was first of all handing over something which was to be taken ashore, possibly mail for the Territorials from their home ports. Then Jack guessed he must be giving the Vice-Admiral’s orders that the two American boys be landed at the camp, particular care being taken to insure their safety.
Immediately afterwards the officer belonging to the Thunderer turned and made a gesture with his hand that Jack knew must be meant for them. Accordingly he and his comrade drew forward.
“You are to be put in charge of this gentleman, who will see that you are taken ashore. It is the admiral’s orders, and we hope you will meet in your search with the success you certainly deserve.”
The British officer would not likely say as much as that to most strangers, but somehow
[154]
these two wide-awake lads had become favorites in the mess-room during their brief stay aboard the grim war vessel.
Shaking hands with the lieutenant, after he had made the first move himself, the boys managed to drop into the waiting boat with a fair amount of agility14. Although they may not have been born seamen, and indeed, until lately, had had very little to do with boats of any size, at the same time they were naturally nimble, and athletic15 as well.
The two sailors rowed them across to the destroyer which was acting16 as a dispatch boat, awaited their coming, lying like a bird on the heaving bosom17 of the sea. They lost no time in getting aboard, after which the boat was hoisted18 with as little noise as possible.
Indeed, silence seemed to be at a premium19 in these exciting times. Every block had apparently20 been well oiled so that when the ropes pulled through there would be no squeaking21 to announce the fact. Smaller things than this have betrayed the presence of a boat to lurking22 foes23;
[155]
and evidently the order had gone forth24 that nothing should be left undone25 to baffle those who would only too willingly open a battery upon them.
Now they were off.
The boys first of all noticed the difference in motion when aboard the speedy destroyer as compared with the bulky battleship.
“I guess the one might be called a bulldog and the other a greyhound, so far as looks and speed go,” said Amos, speaking almost in a whisper, for everything seemed to be done in such a ghostly fashion that he did not dare talk out in his natural tones.
“But I like this much better than the other,” Jack told him. “It makes you feel almost as if you were flying. We are cutting through the water at a rate of twenty miles an hour right now, and yet you’d hardly believe it.”
Another stop was made, and more mail collected or delivered. Evidently then the dispatch boat was also being used for the mails. Amos began to feel a little uneasy again.
[156]
“All I hope is that we don’t have to make many more stops like this,” he muttered disconsolately26, as they strained their eyes to make out the shadowy shape of the big sea fighter close to which they had come to, while the boat was again lowered and rowed away. “Ten precious minutes each and every time would soon put us on the ragged27 edge.”
“Oh! they know what they are doing,” Jack assured him. “Right now I bet you the commander of this little craft has the minutes figured up, and understands just when he can get to where he expects to run his boat ashore. And you’ll find that it isn’t going to be done in broad daylight either.”
Jack absolutely refused to borrow trouble. He had perfect faith in those keen-witted officers who had control of the war vessels28. If they were not fully29 competent he believed they would not be filling the responsible positions they held in His Majesty’s service.
Presently the boat returned, and was once more hoisted aboard.
[157]
“This time let’s hope it’s come for good,” ventured Amos.
“They seem to be taking more pains at stowing it away than before,” Jack informed him, “and from that fact I imagine it’s going to stay aboard for a spell. Yes, and as we start off you may notice that they’ve changed the course by several points.”
“Well, it’s little escapes you, Jack, I must say. Now that you mention it I can see that we are running straight toward that bright star, while before this it lay on our right. Do you think we’re pointing into the east now?”
“Well, hardly that,” mused30 Jack; “rather something like east-by-north would fit in better.”
At that Amos chuckled31.
“Whew! what d’ye think of that now—my chum here beginning to talk like an old salt, and able to box the compass like any Jack Tar5. By the time we get home you’ll be a regular walking encyclopedia32 of knowledge.”
“Perhaps I may,” replied the other quietly, “but one thing sure, if I miss anything it isn’t
[158]
going to be my fault. Now, as we’re spinning along at such a fast clip we had better get out of the breeze, and stop talking so much.”
Amos just gloried in the speed they were making. He mentally calculated that it must assuredly be close on thirty miles an hour. Never in all his life had he experienced anything like it when aboard a boat.
As the minutes crept on the boys continued to keep a bright lookout33 ahead. They thought several times they could see shadowy objects on the water, but were never quite sure whether these were boats belonging to the fleet, or islands. Once or twice they watched the swinging around the circle of a powerful searchlight, no doubt aboard a sentry34 vessel. When it fell on the destroyer and rested there, they knew full well signals were set to disclose their identity. Then the dazzling shaft35 passed on as though the workers of the searchlight had become convinced of their friendly mission.
An hour and more had gone. Amos was getting nervous.
[159]
“I’m sure it can’t be very far from peep of dawn, Jack,” he said, crossly. “Still, we’re shooting along as if we had the whole night ahead of us.”
“I wonder what those dim lights can be I make out dead ahead,” ventured Jack, who himself knew that the dawn was really coming on, though he did not wish to admit as much to Amos, for fear of increasing the other’s unrest.
“Why, yes, there are a number of them, too. Try your glass on the same, Jack. It does pretty good night work, as well as in the daytime.”
A minute later and Jack made an announcement.
“As near as I can make out they seem to be smouldering camp-fires, Amos.”
“Oh! that must mean we are in sight of the camp of the Territorials—those fellows from the other side of the world, Australia, New Zealand and perhaps South Africa. Then it can’t be long now before we get in close enough to launch a boat, and start for the shore.”
The minutes passed. Jack saw the darkness
[160]
was beginning to be dissipated; already the gray of dawn had come. His flesh tingled36 with eagerness to learn what difference that would make. Possibly the enemy was kept at a sufficient distance from the landing place by the presence of the troops ashore, so that it was really safe to use a small boat without any great risk, even in the gray mists of early dawn.
“Oh! see what the sailors are pointing at over there, Jack!” suddenly exclaimed Amos. “It looks like a pole sticking out of the water, only it’s moving all the time. Jack, I wonder now can that be the periscope37 of one of those terrible submarines?”
And Jack, fastening his eyes on the odd sight, hastened to add:
“It seems almost too strange to be true, Amos, but I do believe you’re right!”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
jack
|
|
| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
marine
|
|
| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
lieutenant
|
|
| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
tar
|
|
| n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
shrouded
|
|
| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
ashore
|
|
| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
territorials
|
|
| n.（常大写）地方自卫队士兵( territorial的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
9
seamen
|
|
| n.海员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
torpedo
|
|
| n.水雷，地雷；v.用鱼雷破坏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
suspense
|
|
| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
oars
|
|
| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
agility
|
|
| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
athletic
|
|
| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
hoisted
|
|
| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
premium
|
|
| n.加付款；赠品；adj.高级的；售价高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
squeaking
|
|
| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的现在分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
lurking
|
|
| 潜在 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
foes
|
|
| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
undone
|
|
| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
disconsolately
|
|
| adv.悲伤地，愁闷地；哭丧着脸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
ragged
|
|
| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
mused
|
|
| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
chuckled
|
|
| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
encyclopedia
|
|
| n.百科全书 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
lookout
|
|
| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
sentry
|
|
| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
shaft
|
|
| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
tingled
|
|
| v.有刺痛感( tingle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
periscope
|
|
| n. 潜望镜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |