"Down below!" the words struck harshly on Dan's ear for good old Brother Bart was more used to obedience1 than command, and he was sick and shaken and doing his guardian2 duty under sore stress and strain to-night.
"Go below! What for?" asked Dan, shortly. "I'm all right up here, Brother Bart. I can't stand being packed in downstairs."
"Stand it or not, I'll not have ye up here," said Brother Bart, resolutely3. "Down with ye, Dan Dolan! Ye were put under my orders, and ye'll have to mind my words."
"Not when it means being sick as a dog all night," answered Dan, rebelliously4. "I tell you I can't stand it down in that stuffy5 place below, and I won't, I am going to stay up here."
"And is that the way ye talk?" said Brother Bart, who had a spirit of his own. "And it's only what I might look for, ye graceless young reprobate6! God knows it was sore against my will that I brought ye with me, Dan Dolan; for I knew ye'd be a sore trial first to last. But I had to obey them that are above me. Stay, then, if you will against my word; for it's all I have to hold ye, since ye are beyant any rule or law.--We'll go back, my man," continued Brother Bart to the burly deck hand who had been supporting his swaying form. "Help me to get down to my bed, in God's name; for I am that sick I can scarcely see."
And Brother Bart tottered7 away, leaving Dan standing8 hot and defiant9 by his new friend, Mr. Wirt.
"Sorry to have made trouble for you," said that gentleman; "but when I found that good old man wandering sick and distracted over the boat, stirring up everyone in search of a lost boy, there was nothing to do but give him the tip."
"Freddy may stand it," said Dan, fiercely; "but I won't be grannied. What harm is there in staying up here?"
"None at all from our standpoint," was the reply; "but the good old gentleman looks at things in another light. You're under his orders," he said; and there was a faint, mocking note in the words, that Dan was keen enough to hear. He was hearing other things too,--the pant of the engines, the throb10 of the pulsing mechanism11 that was bearing him on through darkness lit only by the radiance of those sweeping12 worlds above; but that mocking note in his new friend's voice rose over all.
"Orders!" he repeated angrily. "I bet you wouldn't take any such orders if you were a boy."
"No, I wouldn't, and I didn't" (there was a slight change in the speaker's voice as he paused to light a cigar), "and you see where it left me."
"Where?" asked Dan, curiously13.
"Adrift," was the answer,--"like this big boat would be if there was no one to command: beyond rule and law, as that good old friend of yours said just now,--beyond rule and law."
"Beyond rule and law,--rule and law." The words began to hammer somehow on Dan's head and heart as he recalled with waking remorse14 poor Brother Bart tottering15 away in the darkness,--Brother Bart, who, as Dan knew, was only doing his duty faithfully, to the boy under his care,--Brother Bart, who, like the steamboat, like the stars, was obeying.
For a moment or two Mr. Wirt puffed16 at his cigar silently, while the fierce fire that had blazed up in Dan's breast sank into bounds, mastered by the boy's better self, even as he had seen Nature's fierce forces of flame and steam mastered by higher powers to-day.
"In short," said Mr. Wirt at last, as if he had been having thoughts of his own, "I am a derelict, my boy."
"What's that?" asked Dan, who had never heard the word before.
"A ship adrift, abandoned by captain and crew,--a wreck17 that tosses on the sea, a peril18 to all that come near it. There is nothing a good sailor dreads19 more than a derelict, and he makes it his business to sink it promptly20 whenever he can."
"Couldn't he tow it into port?" asked Dan, with interest.
"Not worth the trouble," was the grim answer.
"Jing!" said Dan. "I'd try it, sure."
"Would you?" asked Mr. Wirt.
"Yes," replied Dan, decidedly. "If a ship can float, it must be worth something. I'd try to fling a hawser21 about it somewhere, and haul it in and dry-dock it to find out what was wrong. I've seen an oyster22 boat, that was leaking at every seam, calked and patched and painted to be good as new."
"Perhaps," said Mr. Wirt, with a short laugh; "but the oyster boats don't go very far a-sea, and derelicts drift beyond hope or help. I am that kind, and if--if" (the speaker hesitated for a moment),--"if I had a boy like you, I wouldn't take any chances with him: I'd keep him off my deck; I'd put him on a sound ship with a wise captain and a steady crew, and he should be under orders until--well, until he had learned to sail midnight seas like this by the light of the stars." And, tossing his half-smoked cigar into the water, Mr. Wirt turned abruptly23 away without any further "goodnight."
"He's a queer one," said Dan to himself, as he stared after the tall figure disappearing in the darkness. "I don't know what he means by his drifting and derelicts, but I guess it's a sort of talk about breaking laws and rules like I am doing here to-night. Gee24! but Brother Bart is an old granny; stirring up all this fuss about nothing; and I'll be dead sick, I know. But I'm under orders" (Dan stretched his arms over his head, and, drawing a long, reluctant sigh, took a last look at the stars), "and I guess I'll have to go."
And he went, making his way with some difficulty over the swaying decks and down deep stairs where the footing was more perilous25 than the heights of Old Top; through long stretches of gorgeous saloons whence all the life and gayety had departed; for, despite the stars, the sea was rough to-night, and old Neptune26 under a friendly smile was doing his worst.
Jim and Dud, sturdy fellows that they were, had somewhat recovered their equilibrium27 and were dozing28 fitfully; but little Freddy was still white and wretched; and poor Brother Bart, all the ruddy glow gone from his face, lay with his hands clasping his Rosary, very sick indeed.
"Say your prayers as well as ye can, laddie," he moaned to that small sufferer. "The Lord be merciful to us both if we're not to see the morning light!--Ah, are ye back, Dan Dolan?" as his eyes fell upon the wandering sheep of his flock standing beside him. "May God forgive ye for this night's work! It was the looking for ye that killed me entirely29."
"O Brother Bart, no, you're not as bad as that!" said Dan, remorsefully30; "but I'm down here now to take care of you and Freddy, and you see if I don't do it right."
And Dan, who in the old days of Tabby and the blue teapot had watched with and waited on Aunt Winnie through many a night of pain, proved as good as his word. It was as close and hot and stuffy as he had foreseen; the big boat plunged31 and rolled so that it was hard to keep his footing; at times he himself grew so sick that he could scarcely steady his helping32 hand, but he never gave up his job. He bathed poor Brother Bart's aching head with all a woman's tenderness; bandaged Freddy's throbbing33 temples with the cold compress that sent him off to sleep; made dizzy forays into unknown domestic departments for cracked ice and soda34 water; shocked Brother Bart out of what he believed his last agony by reporting everyone on the boat in "the same fix."
"We'll be in smooth water, the men say, by morning; and then you'll be all right, Brother Bart. Let me bathe your head some more, and try to go to sleep."
And when at last Brother Bart did fall asleep in the grey glimmer35 of the early dawn, it was a very pale, shaking, dizzy Dan that crept out on the open deck beyond the staterooms for a breath of fresh air. He could not have climbed to forbidden heights now even if he would. But they were in smooth waters, and the boat was pushing onto a sandy point, where a branch railroad came down to the shore. A dozen or more passengers were preparing to land; among them was Mr. Wirt, with a gun slung36 to his shoulder, a knapsack on his back, and his two great tawny37 dogs pulling in their leashes38 impatiently,--all evidently ready for a summer in the wilds.
Dan felt too weak and sick for conversation until Mr. Wirt's eye fell upon the pale, trembling boy, who, with head bared to the morning breeze, was clinging weakly to an awning39 post.
"Why, hello, my lad!" said the gentleman. "What's the matter. I thought you were all right when I saw you last up above."
"I was," answered Dan, grimly. "But I came down, and, jing! I've had a night of it, with Brother Bart and Freddy both dead sick on my hands."
"And you nursed them all night?" (There was an odd tremor40 in the speaker's voice.) "Are they better this morning?"
"Yes," answered Dan. "They are all right now, sleeping like tops; but they had a tough time. It was lucky I gave up and came down to look after them."
"So you obeyed orders, after all. And now you're all broken up yourself?" said the gentleman, compassionately41.
"Pooh, no!" was the sturdy answer. "I don't break up so easily. I'll be all right, too, in a little while,--after I've had more of this fresh air. Going to get off here?--" as the boat pushed up to the wharf42.
"Yes," said Mr. Wirt. "I'm off to the woods for a few weeks; but--but maybe you will see me again later. Meanwhile what did the little fellow call you?"
"Dan,--my name is Dan Dolan," was the answer.
"Then good-bye, Dan!" Mr. Wirt's shapely hand closed over the boy's in a strong pressure. "You've given me a lesson, Dan,--I won't forget you." And he was off with his dogs across the gangway to the shore just flushing with the morning light.
The worst was over; and Dan, worn out with his night of watching, was glad to creep into his "packing box" of a stateroom, and, flinging himself in his berth43, dropped off to sleep,--a sleep full of strange dreams. They were wild and troubled dreams at first. He was down in black depths where, stripped to the waist, he was working amid roaring fires and hissing44 steam; he was out on a dark wide ocean, striving to fling a rope to a wreck drifting helplessly amid thundering breakers; he was up on a wind-swept deck, with Brother Bart's shaking grasp dragging him down below. Then suddenly the picture changed: it was not Brother Bart but old Father Mack whose trembling hand was upon his arm, guiding him through the leafy shadows of the college walk where they had last talked together. Beyond and above them was the dazzling glory of the stars, those sweeping worlds on which the young dreamer had looked last night. But as he walked on now, the leafy shadows seemed to grow into arched and pillared aisles45 rising far, far above him, and the stars were but the countless46 tapers47 on a mighty48 altar reaching to heights he could not see; and Aunt Winnie, was kneeling on the steps,--old Aunt Winnie, with clasped hands and uplifted eyes. Then the guiding hand seemed to tighten49 on his arm, and it was Brother Bart again beside him,--Brother Bart, his sturdy, ruddy self again, shaking him awake.
"I hate to rouse ye, Danny lad" (there was a new friendliness50 in the old man's tone), "for it was the long, hard night ye had with us; but we're to get off here. Praise be to God, our killing51 journey is nearly done!"
And Dan stumbled out hurriedly to the deck, to find the boat pushing into the harbor of a quaint52 old town, whose roofs and spires53 were glittering in the noonday sunshine. Pretty sailboats were flitting hither and thither54 on sunny wings; the white stretch of beach was gay with bathers; the full notes of an orchestra came from the band stand on the jutting55 pier56.
"Jing!" exclaimed Dan, in amazement57 at such a festive58 scene. "Is this Killykinick?"
"No," was Dud Fielding's surly answer. "I wish it was. But I mean to cut over here to the Fosters whenever I can. This is Beach Cliff, where we have to take a sailboat to Killykinick. And," Dud went on, with deepening disgust, "I bet it's that old tub that is signalling to us now."
Dan's eyes, following Dud's sullen59 gaze, saw, among the gaily60 painted pleasure craft moored61 at the wharfs62, a clumsy little boat with rusty63 sides and dingy64 sail. An old man stood in the stern waving a tattered65 flag that, caught out by the breeze, showed in large faded letters--Killykinick.
收听单词发音 |
1
obedience
|
|
| n.服从，顺从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
guardian
|
|
| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
resolutely
|
|
| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
rebelliously
|
|
| adv.造反地，难以控制地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
stuffy
|
|
| adj.不透气的，闷热的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
reprobate
|
|
| n.无赖汉；堕落的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
tottered
|
|
| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
defiant
|
|
| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
throb
|
|
| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
mechanism
|
|
| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
sweeping
|
|
| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
curiously
|
|
| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
remorse
|
|
| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
tottering
|
|
| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
puffed
|
|
| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
wreck
|
|
| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
peril
|
|
| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
dreads
|
|
| n.恐惧，畏惧( dread的名词复数 )；令人恐惧的事物v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
hawser
|
|
| n.大缆；大索 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
oyster
|
|
| n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
gee
|
|
| n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
perilous
|
|
| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
Neptune
|
|
| n.海王星 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
equilibrium
|
|
| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
dozing
|
|
| v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
remorsefully
|
|
| adv.极为懊悔地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
helping
|
|
| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
throbbing
|
|
| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
soda
|
|
| n.苏打水；汽水 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
glimmer
|
|
| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
slung
|
|
| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
tawny
|
|
| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
leashes
|
|
| n.拴猎狗的皮带( leash的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
awning
|
|
| n.遮阳篷；雨篷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
tremor
|
|
| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
compassionately
|
|
| adv.表示怜悯地，有同情心地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
wharf
|
|
| n.码头，停泊处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
berth
|
|
| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
hissing
|
|
| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
aisles
|
|
| n. (席位间的)通道, 侧廊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
countless
|
|
| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
tapers
|
|
| （长形物体的）逐渐变窄( taper的名词复数 )； 微弱的光； 极细的蜡烛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
tighten
|
|
| v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
friendliness
|
|
| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
killing
|
|
| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
quaint
|
|
| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
spires
|
|
| n.（教堂的） 塔尖，尖顶( spire的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
thither
|
|
| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
jutting
|
|
| v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
pier
|
|
| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
festive
|
|
| adj.欢宴的，节日的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
sullen
|
|
| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
gaily
|
|
| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
moored
|
|
| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
wharfs
|
|
| 码头，停泊处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
rusty
|
|
| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
dingy
|
|
| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
tattered
|
|
| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |