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CHAPTER XXIII TO THE RESCUE
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Back in the Racer cottage there was an anxious consultation1 going on. It was the afternoon of the second day since Andy and Frank had gone to Cliff Island, and they had not returned.

“I don’t like it!” exclaimed Mr. Racer, tossing aside the paper he had been trying to read, and restlessly pacing the floor. “I wish they hadn’t gone. I wish they were back.”

“Don’t you think they can look after themselves?” asked the mother. Usually she was the more nervous, but this time it was her husband.

“Oh, I suppose they could, ordinarily,” he answered. “But this is different.”

“How, Dick?” and there was an anxious note in Mrs. Racer’s voice. She had just come in from a tennis tournament to find that her husband had returned from New York earlier than usual. Now she began to realize the cause. It was on account of the boys.

“Well, there’s a storm coming up, for one thing, and then there’s that man. I wish Andy and Frank hadn’t started after him.”

“It was to help Paul, dear.”

“I know. They meant all right, but they’re too daring. However, it can’t be helped. Where’s Paul?”

“He felt so well that he went for a little walk. He said he’d go down toward the pier2 and see if he could see or hear anything of the boys.

“Well, I’m glad he’s getting better.” Mr. Racer once more tried to read the paper, but gave it up.

“You’re nervous,” said his wife, as he tossed it aside.

“Yes, I am. Nothing is worse than sitting still, and waiting—waiting for something to happen.

“Oh, Dick! I’m sure you don’t want anything to happen!”

“Of course not. But I don’t like this weather.”

Paul came in at that moment. The glow of health was beginning to reappear in his pale cheeks.

“Well?” asked Mr. Racer quickly.

“They’re not in sight,” answered the lad who did not know who he was. “And Captain Trent says a bad storm is brewing3.”

“That settles it!” exclaimed Mr. Racer. He started up and took down an old overcoat and hat.

“Where are you going?” asked his wife in alarm.

“I’m going for those boys. I can’t stand it any longer.”

“But how can you get to Cliff Island if a storm is coming up? You have no boat, and to row—”

“I don’t intend to row. Mr. Lacey, a friend of mine, put in here with his big motor boat a little while ago. I saw him as I got off the New York steamer, and he said he might stay here a couple of days. His craft is at the pier float. I know he’ll take me to Cliff Island, blow or no blow, and his Norma is big enough to weather quite a sea.”

“Oh, Dick, I’m afraid to have you go!”

“Oh, there’s no danger, but there might be to our boys, and I’m going to the rescue. Don’t worry. I may be able to get out to the island and back before dark. They’re probably scouting4 around, looking for that man, and he isn’t there at all. They think they’re having a good time, but they don’t realize what the weather is going to be.”

Mr. Racer went on with his preparations for being out in the storm. Mrs. Racer, after the first alarm, agreed with him that it was best to go after the boys.

“Do you think that I—that is—Oh, mayn’t I go?” burst out Paul Gale5. “I’d like to help. Andy and Frank have done so much for me. Can’t I go?”

“I’m afraid you’re not strong enough,” objected Mr. Racer.

“Oh, but I am!” insisted the lad. “I believe it will do me good. But can’t you ask Dr. Martin?”

They were saved the necessity of calling the physician up on the telephone for he drove past at that moment and Mr. Racer hailed him. The case was soon stated.

“I agree with you that it is a good thing to go after Andy and Frank,” said the medical man. “As for taking Paul along—hum—well, I don’t know.”

“Oh, I’m all right, doctor,” insisted the lad again.

“You certainly have gained much strength in the last few days,” went on the physician. “If you take care of yourself perhaps it won’t do you any harm. But don’t exert yourself too much.”

“No,” promised Paul eagerly. Then, as he hurried to his room to get ready, Dr. Martin said to Mr. Racer in a low voice:

“I’m not so sure but what it won’t be a good thing for him. He lost his memory in a storm, you know, and if there is a little blow out in the bay his mind may be restored again. We doctors don’t know as much about the brain as we’d like to. It can’t do any harm to try it, especially as you are going in a big, safe boat. Good luck to you.”

Mrs. Racer parted with her husband and Paul rather tearfully. The signs of the storm increased as the two went down to the pier. Mr. Racer found his friend there, and Mr. Lacey readily agreed to the use of his boat.

“I’ll pilot you to the island myself,” he said generously, “and I’ll tell the engineer and crew to make all the speed they can. We’ve got lots of gasolene, and I guess we can weather almost any blow that’s due this time of year.”

They were soon speeding away from the pier, and the sharp prow6 of the Norma was turned in the direction of Cliff Island. Clouds were rapidly gathering7 and there was an occasional muttering of thunder.

Paul Gale kept to the cabin, as the wind had freshened since they started and there was quite a sea on, that sent the spume and spray of the salty waves across the deck.

They were longer reaching the island than they counted on, and just before they sighted it the storm broke in all its fury. But they were prepared for it, and the Norma plunged8 gallantly9 ahead through the smashing big seas of green water that at times buried her nose out of sight.

Suddenly there was a slight crash forward and a shiver seemed to go through the gasolene craft.

“What’s that?” cried Mr. Racer in alarm.

“We hit something,” said Mr. Lacey. “Danforth, just see what it is, will you?” he asked of the mate, who was in the snug10 cabin with the owner and his guests.

But Mr. Racer did not wait. He rushed up on deck. The Norma had been brought to quarter speed and the silk merchant could see, floating off to one side, a small wrecked11 skiff. It seemed familiar to him.

“That’s what we hit, sir,” explained one of the crew. “Cut it right in two.”

“It’s my boys’ boat!” cried Mr. Racer. “The one they carry on the Gull13. I know the shape of it, and I can see the red circle on the stern. Were they in it when we cut it down?”

“No, sir. I don’t think so, sir,” answered the sailor as he noted14 the anguish15 of Mr. Racer. “I saw it immediately after we struck, and I’m almost sure no one was in it. I’d have seen them, sir, if there was, sir.”

“Oh, but perhaps they were in it!” cried Mr. Racer. “Their sailboat may have foundered16, and they might have had to take to the small boat. Oh, Mr. Lacey. We must pick up my boys!” he added, as the owner came on deck.

“Of course. Captain Nelson, put back and circle around that boat. Light the searchlight and play it on the wreck12.”

“Aye, aye, sir!”

The Norma began the search amid the storm and gathering darkness, while the father peered over the side in anguished17 fear.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 consultation VZAyq     
n.咨询;商量;商议;会议
参考例句:
  • The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
  • The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。
2 pier U22zk     
n.码头;桥墩,桥柱;[建]窗间壁,支柱
参考例句:
  • The pier of the bridge has been so badly damaged that experts worry it is unable to bear weight.这座桥的桥桩破损厉害,专家担心它已不能负重。
  • The ship was making towards the pier.船正驶向码头。
3 brewing eaabd83324a59add9a6769131bdf81b5     
n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式
参考例句:
  • It was obvious that a big storm was brewing up. 很显然,一场暴风雨正在酝酿中。
  • She set about brewing some herb tea. 她动手泡一些药茶。
4 scouting 8b7324e25eaaa6b714e9a16b4d65d5e8     
守候活动,童子军的活动
参考例句:
  • I have people scouting the hills already. 我已经让人搜过那些山了。
  • Perhaps also from the Gospel it passed into the tradition of scouting. 也许又从《福音书》传入守望的传统。 来自演讲部分
5 gale Xf3zD     
n.大风,强风,一阵闹声(尤指笑声等)
参考例句:
  • We got our roof blown off in the gale last night.昨夜的大风把我们的房顶给掀掉了。
  • According to the weather forecast,there will be a gale tomorrow.据气象台预报,明天有大风。
6 prow T00zj     
n.(飞机)机头,船头
参考例句:
  • The prow of the motor-boat cut through the water like a knife.汽艇的船头像一把刀子劈开水面向前行驶。
  • He stands on the prow looking at the seadj.他站在船首看着大海。
7 gathering ChmxZ     
n.集会,聚会,聚集
参考例句:
  • He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
  • He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。
8 plunged 06a599a54b33c9d941718dccc7739582     
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降
参考例句:
  • The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
  • She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳,从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。
9 gallantly gallantly     
adv. 漂亮地,勇敢地,献殷勤地
参考例句:
  • He gallantly offered to carry her cases to the car. 他殷勤地要帮她把箱子拎到车子里去。
  • The new fighters behave gallantly under fire. 新战士在炮火下表现得很勇敢。
10 snug 3TvzG     
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:
  • He showed us into a snug little sitting room.他领我们走进了一间温暖而舒适的小客厅。
  • She had a small but snug home.她有个小小的但很舒适的家。
11 wrecked ze0zKI     
adj.失事的,遇难的
参考例句:
  • the hulk of a wrecked ship 遇难轮船的残骸
  • the salvage of the wrecked tanker 对失事油轮的打捞
12 wreck QMjzE     
n.失事,遇难;沉船;vt.(船等)失事,遇难
参考例句:
  • Weather may have been a factor in the wreck.天气可能是造成这次失事的原因之一。
  • No one can wreck the friendship between us.没有人能够破坏我们之间的友谊。
13 gull meKzM     
n.鸥;受骗的人;v.欺诈
参考例句:
  • The ivory gull often follows polar bears to feed on the remains of seal kills.象牙海鸥经常跟在北极熊的后面吃剩下的海豹尸体。
  • You are not supposed to gull your friends.你不应该欺骗你的朋友。
14 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的,知名的
参考例句:
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
15 anguish awZz0     
n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦,烦恼
参考例句:
  • She cried out for anguish at parting.分手时,她由于痛苦而失声大哭。
  • The unspeakable anguish wrung his heart.难言的痛苦折磨着他的心。
16 foundered 1656bdfec90285ab41c0adc4143dacda     
v.创始人( founder的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Three ships foundered in heavy seas. 三艘船在波涛汹涌的海面上沉没了。 来自辞典例句
  • The project foundered as a result of lack of finance. 该项目因缺乏资金而告吹。 来自辞典例句
17 anguished WzezLl     
adj.极其痛苦的v.使极度痛苦(anguish的过去式)
参考例句:
  • Desmond eyed her anguished face with sympathy. 看着她痛苦的脸,德斯蒙德觉得理解。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The loss of her husband anguished her deeply. 她丈夫的死亡使她悲痛万分。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》


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