"She is won: we are gone, over bank, bush, and scaur;
They'll have fleet steeds that follow," quoth young Lochinvar.
MARMION.
The liberated1 seamen2 once more pushed forward, no longer guided by Isabella, who had got as far as her knowledge of the place extended, and were again, in nautical3 language, "brought up all standing4." A priest, returning from the death-bed of one of his flock, saw them gliding5 along silently and in "Indian file." His head being full of good wine, death, the devil, &c., and the place enjoying moreover the reputation of being haunted, his imagination magnified and multiplied the seven fugitives7 into a legion of devils, with horns, tails, and fiery8 breath complete. Under this impression he began to thunder forth9 a Latin form of exorcism: "In nomine sanctae Trinitatis et purissimae Virginis, exorcizo vos! Apage, Satana! Vade retro, diabole!" &c. &c. in such abominably10 bad Latin, that a devil or a ghost of the least classical taste would have incontinently fled to the Red Sea, without waiting to hear another syllable11 of the formula that sent him thither12. The bawling13 of the priest awoke several of the neighbors, and sundry14 night-capped heads were protruded15 from the windows of the nearest houses; but the proprietors16, catching17 a glimpse of the objects of the priest's alarm, and not caring to play bo-peep with the devil, closed and barred their casements18, and betook them to their beads19.
The party glided20 on in the same swift, silent pace; but the hindmost sailor, irritated by the continued vociferation of the priest, and stumbling at that moment over the carcase of a dog that had given up the ghost a few hours before, seized it by the hind21 leg, and flung it at the holy man with such true aim and force, as brought him to the ground. Luckily the monk22 swooned away with terror at this unexpected buffeting23 in the flesh from Satan, and his noise was consequently stopped. The next moment the party plunged24 into the bushy path, and were instantly lost to the view of the inhabitants, if indeed any were looking after them.
Advancing swiftly along the rough path, and losing their way two or three times, they at length heard the light dash of the surf upon the sand-beach; but, to their no small alarm, they also plainly heard, from time to time, the low hum of voices, though their language was not distinguishable. Fearing the worst, Morton advanced alone to reconnoitre, notwithstanding Isabella's earnest entreaties25 not to be left alone. Moving slowly and cautiously towards the point whence proceeded the voices, the soft sand rendering26 his footsteps inaudible, he approached as near as he durst, and listened for some minutes with the most fixed27 attention, to catch a word that would indicate the character and nation of the speakers, but in vain; and he was on the point of returning to his friends in despair, when he plainly distinguished28 the exclamation29, "d----n my eyes," uttered by some one at no great distance from where he stood. No Sontag or Malibran ever warbled a note that contained a hundredth part of the sweetness and music that was comprised in that simple and unsophisticated ejaculation; it decided30 in an instant, and beyond all possibility of doubt, who and what was the speaker. His joy was inconceivable, and he could scarce refrain from giving vent31 to it in a loud shout. Returning immediately, he communicated the joyful32 intelligence to his friends; and the whole party, with light hearts and rapid steps, advanced towards the beach. Just as they stepped from the shade and covert33 of the bushes, a pistol, the bright barrel of which glittered in the star-light, was presented to Morton's breast; and the holder34 thereof, in a grum voice, commanded him to "stand!"
"Heave to, and let's overhaul35 your papers," continued the speaker, who was immediately recognized, by the voice, as Jones, the boatswain of the Albatross.
"God bless you, Mr. Morton, it is you indeed--I thought 'twas a raft of them thundering sojers bearing down upon us. I've been lying to, under the lee of this 'ere bush, for this two hours or more, waiting for you."
The parleying between their "look-out ship," as they called Jones, and the strangers, attracted the whole party of the Albatross to the spot; and Morton, to his surprise, found himself and his companions surrounded by at least thirty well-armed men. His friend Walker, the second mate of the ship, advanced, and testifying the sincerest affection, welcomed him once more to liberty and the company of his shipmates. Kind greetings and hearty37 welcomes were given by the seamen, in their blunt, straight-forward way, and not a few jokes were passed upon the four liberated tars38 by their light-hearted messmates.
"I say, Tom Wentworth, how much grub did the Don Degos allow you? a rat a-piece, or the hind leg of a jackass among the four of you?"
"Ay," said another, "and Sundays they had a jackass's head stewed39 in a lantern, and stuffed with sogers' coats."
"Yes," said a third, "and green-hide soup three times a week."
"Seasoned with brick-dust and pig-weeds," said a fourth, "by way of red pepper and cabbages."
"Well, never mind what they've had," said old Tom Jones, interposing, "one thing's sartain, they ha'n't had any steam, that's jist as clear as mud."
"You're idle there, old Tom Pipes; we've had as much good wine as we could lay our sides to. But howsomever, if you've got any white-eye in that black betty that you're rousing out of your pea-jacket pocket, I don't much care if I take a drop."
"Poor children!" said the boatswain, "they've been kept this whole week in a snug40, warm caliboose, and they'll catch cold if they're out in the night air."
So saying, he offered his junk-bottle of New England to Morton, who declined it, and it was then passed to his four fellow-prisoners, who took a long, deliberate, steady aim at the stars through it in succession.
By this time the two whale-boats and yawls, that constituted the flotilla of the shore party, were hauled as close to the beach as the shoalness of the water would permit, and the embarkation41 commenced; Morton carrying the fair Isabella in his arms, and depositing her in the stern-sheets of the swiftest of the boats, in which he found ample store of boat-cloaks and pea-jackets to protect her from the night air and heavy dews. Her attendant, Transita, was about following her mistress, when Tom Jones, who had no suspicion that there were more than one "young gentleman" concerned in effecting the escape of his shipmates, or about taking passage in the ship, laid his huge hand upon her shoulder, exclaiming,
"Halloa! shipmate, where are you bound to, if the wind stands?"
"What are you about there, Jones?" shouted Morton from the boat, "she--he, I mean, is to go off with us. Take him through the surf."
"Ay, ay, sir; come, Mr. She--he, just get upon my shoulders, if you please; come, bear a hand before it snows--there, stow yourself away in the starn-sheets--there, that's the time of day--shove her bows off, Sam, and jump aboard--so, pull round your larboard oars43--now give way together."
Their oars being all muffled44, they glided, silently and swiftly, towards the offing, edging away a little to the south, or farther side of the bay, to avoid the possibility of observation from the shore. They had proceeded swiftly for some minutes, and had passed the point on which the battery stands without speaking a word, when the silence was broken by Morton,--
"Where is the ship, Jones? do you see any thing of her?"
The boatswain desisted rowing, and, holding his head down as near the water as possible, looked long and anxiously to the western horizon.
"I don't see her," said he, "unless that's her, here on our starboard bow."
"No, that's the rock."
By this time the other boats had come up, and all agreed that nothing could be seen of the ship. After a brief consultation45, it was decided that their safest plan was to continue rowing to the westward46, and that they would be sure of seeing the ship at day-break; whereas if daylight found them in the bay, they would most assuredly be seen, and chased by the boats from the shore.
Isabella, whom most powerful excitement had supported from the prison to the point of embarkation, had since then, reclining on the stern-sheets of the boat, and supported by her lover's arms, been in a state of stupor47 and silence; her thoughts were in a complete whirl, almost amounting to delirium48; the kind and soothing49 voice of Morton she scarcely heard, and she only awoke to consciousness during the short deliberation just mentioned. In an agony of terror at the doubt and uncertainty50 that she heard expressed around her, she uttered the wildest exclamations51, and struggled with Morton and her attendant, who endeavored in vain to pacify52 and sooth her. With unspeakable anguish53 Morton witnessed, for half an hour, the confusion of her intellects, till at length she sunk down exhausted54, and wept bitterly. At this moment a voice from the yawl that had gone ahead, shouted, "There she is!"
"Where, where?" asked a dozen eager voices.
"Right ahead."
Every eye was instantly turned in that direction, and, to their unutterable joy, they saw, at the distance of about a mile, the light of a signal-lantern. Every oar42 was most vigorously plied6, and in a few minutes the headmost boat was greeted with "Boat ahoy!" from Captain Williams--"Albatross," was the reply, and the boats dashed up to the lee gangway and fore-chains.
Isabella, whose buoyant spirit had recovered its spring when she saw the danger was over, was assisted up the side by her lover and two or three of the most careful men. As soon as Morton stepped upon deck, he was caught in the arms of his commander, who was inarticulate from emotion. Morton, quietly disengaging himself, presented his fair deliverer. The old seaman55 folded her in his arms, and kissing her cheek, drew her arm under his, and conducted her to the cabin, whither they were followed by Morton.
Under the superintendence of the second mate and boatswain the boats were now hoisted56 up and secured; the ship wore with her head to the westward, all sails set, and hot coffee, beef, bread, cheese, &c. provided liberally for the "shore party;" after which the watch was set, the deck "relieved" by Captain Williams, and the Albatross, with her white wings expanded, flew rapidly on her course before a fresh easterly breeze.
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1
liberated
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| a.无拘束的，放纵的 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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nautical
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| adj.海上的，航海的，船员的 | |
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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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gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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7
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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abominably
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| adv. 可恶地，可恨地，恶劣地 | |
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syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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12
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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13
bawling
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的现在分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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protruded
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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proprietors
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| n.所有人，业主( proprietor的名词复数 ) | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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casements
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| n.窗扉( casement的名词复数 ) | |
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beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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monk
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| n.和尚，僧侣，修道士 | |
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buffeting
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| 振动 | |
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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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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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32
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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covert
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| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
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holder
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| n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物 | |
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overhaul
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| v./n.大修，仔细检查 | |
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hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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tars
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| 焦油，沥青，柏油( tar的名词复数 ) | |
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39
stewed
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| adj.焦虑不安的，烂醉的v.炖( stew的过去式和过去分词 )；煨；思考；担忧 | |
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40
snug
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| 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 | |
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41
embarkation
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| n. 乘船, 搭机, 开船 | |
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42
oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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43
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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44
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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45
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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46
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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47
stupor
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| v.昏迷；不省人事 | |
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48
delirium
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| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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49
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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50
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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51
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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52
pacify
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| vt.使(某人)平静(或息怒)；抚慰 | |
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53
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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54
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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55
seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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56
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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