At the same time that he gave orders to pursue the "Albatross," Erik also desired his men to get the cannon1 in readiness. The operation took some time, and when they had everything in order the enemy was beyond their reach. Doubtless they had taken advantage of the time occupied by their stoppage to increase their fires, and they were two or three miles ahead. This was not too great a distance for a Gatling gun to carry, but the rolling and speed of the two vessels2 made it probable that they would miss her; and they thought it better to wait, hoping that the "Alaska" would gain upon the enemy. It soon became evident, however, that the two vessels were equally matched, for the distance between them remained about the same for several hours.
They were obliged to burn an enormous amount of coal--an article which was becoming very scarce on board the "Alaska"--and this would be a heavy loss if they could not succeed in overtaking the "Albatross" before night set in. Erik did not think it right to do this without consulting his crew. He therefore mounted the bridge, and frankly4 explained to them the position in which he was placed.
"My friends," he said, "you know that I am anxious to seize and deliver up to justice this rascal5 who attempted to shipwreck6 our vessel3 on the rocks of Sein. But we have hardly coal enough left to last us for six days. Any deviation7 from our route will compel us to finish our voyage under sail, which may make it very long and toilsome for all of us, and may even cause us to fail in our undertaking8. On the other hand, the 'Albatross' counts upon being able to get away from us during the night. To prevent this we must not slacken our speed for a moment, and we must keep her within the range of our electric light. I feel sure, however, that we will eventually overtake her, but it may take us some time to do so. I did not feel willing to continue this pursuit without laying the facts plainly before you, and asking you if you were willing to risk the dangers which may arise for us."
The men consulted together in a low tone, and then commissioned Mr. Hersebom to speak for them:
"We are of opinion that it is the duty of the 'Alaska' to capture this rascal at any sacrifice!" he said, quietly.
"Very well, then, we will do our best to accomplish it," answered Erik.
When he found that he had the confidence of his crew, he did not spare fuel, and in spite of the desperate efforts of Tudor Brown, he could not increase the distance between them. The sun had scarcely set when the electric light of the "Alaska" was brought to bear unpityingly upon the "Albatross," and continued in this position during the night. At day-break the distance between them was still the same, and they were flying toward the pole. At midday they made a solar observation, and found that they were in 78, 21', 14" of latitude10 north, by 90 of longitude11 east.
Floating ice, which they had not encountered for ten or fifteen days, now became very frequent. It was necessary to ward9 it off, as they had been compelled to do in Baffin's Bay. Erik, feeling sure that they would soon reach fields of ice, was careful to steer12 obliquely13 to the right of the "Albatross" so as to bar the way toward the east if she should attempt to change her course, finding her path toward the north obstructed14. His foresight15 was soon rewarded, for in two hours a lofty barrier of ice casts its profile on the horizon. The American yacht immediately steered16 toward the west, leaving the ice two or three miles on its starboard. The "Alaska" immediately imitated this maneuver17, but so obliquely to the left of the "Albatross" as to cut her off if she attempted to sail to the south.
The chase became very exciting. Feeling sure of the course which the "Albatross" would be compelled to take, the "Alaska" tried to push her more toward the ice. The yacht's course becomes more and more wavering, every moment they made some change, at one time steering18 north at another west. Erik, mounted aloft, watched every movement she made, and thwarted19 her attempts to escape by appropriate maneuvers20. Suddenly she stopped short, swung round and faced the "Alaska." A long white line which was apparent extending westward21 told the reason of this change. The "Albatross" found herself so close to the ice-banks that she had no recourse but to turn and face them.
The young captain of the "Alaska" had scarcely time to descend22, before some missile whistled past his head. The "Albatross" was armed, and relied upon being able to defend herself.
"I prefer that it should be so, and that he should fire the first shot," said Erik, as he gave orders to return it.
His first attack was not more successful than that of Tudor Brown--for it fell short two or three hundred yards. But the combat was now begun, and the firing became regular. An American projectile23 cut the large sail yards of the "Alaska," and it fell upon the deck killing24 two men. A small bomb from the Swedish vessel fell upon the bridge of the "Albatross," and must have made great havoc25. Then other projectiles26 skillfully thrown lodged27 in various parts of the vessel.
They had been constantly approaching each other, when suddenly a distant rumbling28 mingled29 with the roar of artillery30, and the crews raising their heads saw that the sky was very black in the east.
Was a storm with its accompanying fog and blinding snow, coming to interpose between the "Albatross" and the "Alaska," to permit Tudor Brown to escape?
This Erik wished to prevent at any price. He resolved to attempt to board her. Arming his men with sabers, cutlasses, and hatchets31, he crowded on all the steam the vessel could carry and rushed toward the "Albatross."
Tudor Brown tried to prevent this. He retreated toward the banks of ice, firing a shot from his cannon every five minutes. But his field of action had now become too limited; between the ice and the "Alaska" he saw that he was lost unless he made a bold attempt to regain32 the open sea. He attempted this after a few feigned33 maneuvers to deceive his adversary34.
Erik let him do it. Then at the precise moment when the "Albatross" tried to pass the "Alaska," she made a gaping35 hole in the side of the yacht which stopped her instantly, and rendered her almost unmanageable; then she fell quickly behind and prepared to renew the assault. But the weather, which had become more and more menacing, did not give him time to do this.
The tempest was upon them. A fierce wind from the south-east, accompanied by blinding clouds of snow, which not only raised the waves to a prodigious36 height, but dashed against the two vessels immense masses of floating ice. It seemed as if they were attacked at all points at once. Erik realized his situation, and saw that he had not a minute to lose in escaping, unless he wished to be hemmed37 in perhaps permanently38. He steered due east, struggling against the wind, the snow, and the dashing ice.
But he was soon obliged to confess that his efforts were fruitless. The tempest raged with such violence that neither the engine of the "Alaska" nor her steel buttress39 were of much use. Not only did the vessel advance very slowly, but at times she seemed to be fairly driven backward. The snow was so thick that it obscured the sky, blinded the crew, and covered the bridge a foot in depth. The ice driven against the "Alaska" by the fierce wind increased and barred their progress, so that at length they were glad to retreat toward the banks, in the hope of finding some little haven40 where they could remain until the storm passed over.
The American yacht had disappeared, and after the blow it had received from the "Alaska" they almost doubted if it would be able to resist the tornado41.
Their own situation was so perilous42 that they could only think of their own safety, for every moment it grew worse.
There is nothing more frightful43 than those arctic tempests, in which all the primitive44 forces of nature seem to be awakened45 in order to give the navigator a specimen46 of the cataclysms47 of the glacial period. The darkness was profound although it was only five o'clock in the afternoon. The engine had stopped, and they were unable to light their electric light. To the raging of the storm was added the roars of thunder and the tumult48 made by the floating blocks of ice dashing against each other. The ice-banks were continually breaking with a noise like the roar of a cannon.
The "Alaska" was soon surrounded by ice. The little harbor in which she had taken refuge was soon completely filled with it, and it commenced to press upon and dash against her sides until she began to crack, and they feared every moment that she would go to pieces.
Erik resolved not to succumb49 to the storm without a combat with it, and he set the crew to work arranging heavy beams around the vessel so as to weaken the pressure as much as possible, and distribute it over a wider surface. But, although this protected the vessel, it led to an unforeseen result which threatened to be fatal.
The vessel, instead of being suddenly crushed, was lifted out of the water by every movement of the ice, and then fell back again on it with the force of a trip-hammer. At any moment after one of these frightful falls they might be broken up, crushed, buried. To ward off this danger there was only one resource, and this was to re-enforce their barrier by heaping up the drift ice and snow around the vessel to protect her as well as they could.
Everybody set to work with ardor50. It was a touching51 spectacle to see this little handful of men taxing their pygmy muscles to resist the forces of nature--trying with anchors, chains, and planks52 to fill up the fissures53 made in the ice and to cover them with snow, so that there might be a uniformity of motion among the mass. After four or five hours of almost superhuman exertions54, and when their strength was exhausted55, they were in no less danger, for the storm had increased.
Erik held a consultation56 with his officers, and it was decided57 that they should make a depot58 on the ice-field for their food and ammunition59 in case the "Alaska" should be unable to resist the powerful shocks to which she was being subjected. At the first moment of danger every man had received provisions enough for eight days, with precise instructions in case of disaster, besides being ordered to keep his gun in his belt even while he was working. The operation of transporting twenty tons of provisions was not easy of accomplishment60, but at last it was done and the food was placed about two hundred yards from the ship under a covering of tarred canvas, which was soon covered by the snow with a thick white mantle61.
This precaution, having been taken, everybody felt more comfortable as to the result of a shipwreck, and the crew assembled to recruit their strength with a supper supplemented with tea and rum.
Suddenly, in the midst of supper, a more violent shock than any that had as yet agitated62 the vessel, split the bed of ice and snow around the "Alaska." She was lifted up in the stern with a terrible noise, and then it appeared as if she were plunging63 head-foremost into an abyss. There was a panic, and every one rushed on deck. Some of the men thought that the moment had come to take refuge on the ice, and without waiting for the signal of the officers they commenced clambering over the bulwarks64.
Four or five of these unfortunate ones managed to leap on a snow-bank. Two others were caught between the masses of floating ice and the beams of the starboard, as the "Alaska" righted herself.
Their cries of pain and the noise of their crushed bones were lost in the storm. There was a lull65, and the vessel remained motionless. The lesson which the sailors had been taught was a tragical66 one. Erik made use of it to enforce on the crew the necessity of each man's retaining his presence of mind, and of waiting for positive orders on all occasions.
"You must understand," he said to his men, "that to leave the ship is a supreme67 measure, to which we must have recourse only at the last extremity68. All our efforts ought to be directed toward saving the 'Alaska.' Deprived of her, our situation will be a very precarious69 one on the ice. It is only in case of our vessel becoming uninhabitable that we must desert it. In any case such a movement should be made in an orderly manner to avoid disasters. I therefore expect that you will return quietly to your supper, and leave to your superior officers the task of determining what is best to do!"
The firmness with which he spoke70 had the effect of reassuring71 the most timid, and they all descended72 again. Erik then called Mr. Hersebom and asked him to untie73 his good dog Kaas, and follow him without making any noise.
"We will go on the field of ice," he said, "and seek for the fugitives74 and make them return to their duty, which will be better for them than wandering about."
The poor devils were huddled75 together on the ice, ashamed of their escapade, and at the first summons were only too glad to take the path toward the "Alaska."
Erik and Mr. Hersebom having seen them safely on board, walked as far as their depot of provisions, thinking that another sailor might have taken refuge there. They went all around it but saw no one.
"I have been asking myself the last few moments," said Erik, "if it would not be better to prevent another panic by landing part of the crew?"
"It might be better perhaps," answered the fisherman. "But would not the men who remained on board feel jealous and become demoralized by this measure?"
"That is true," said Erik. "It would be wiser to occupy them up to the last moment in struggling against the tempest, and it is in fact the only chance we have of saving the ship. But since we are on the ice we may as well take advantage of it, and explore it a little. I confess all these crackings and detonations76 inspire me with some doubt as to its solidity!"
Erik and his adopted father had not gone more than three hundred feet from their depot of provisions before they were stopped short by a gigantic crevasse77 which lay open at their feet. To cross it would have required long poles, with which they had neglected to supply themselves. They were therefore compelled to walk beside it obliquely toward the west, in order to see how far it reached.
They found that this crevasse extended for a long distance, so long that after they had walked for half an hour they could not see the end of it. Feeling more secure about the extent of this field of ice upon which they had established their depot of provisions, they turned to retreat their steps.
After they had walked over about half of the distance a new vibration78 occurred, followed by detonations and tumultuous heavings of ice. They were not greatly disturbed by this, but increased their speed, being anxious to discover whether this shock had had done the "Alaska" any mischief79.
The depot was soon reached, then the little haven that sheltered the vessel.
Erik and Mr. Hersebom rubbed their eyes, and asked each other whether they were dreaming, for the "Alaska" was no longer there.
Their first thought was that she had been swallowed up by the waters. It was only too natural that they should think this after such an evening as they had just passed.
But immediately they were struck by the fact that no _debris_ was visible, and that the little harbor had assumed a new aspect since their departure. The drift ice which the tempest had piled up around the "Alaska" had been broken up, and much of it had drifted away. At the same time Mr. Hersebom mentioned a fact which had not struck him while they were hurrying along, and this was that the wind had changed and was now blowing from the west.
Was it not possible that the storm had carried away the floating ice in which the "Alaska" had become embedded80. Yes, evidently it was possible; but it remained for them to discover whether this supposition was true. Without delaying a moment, Erik proceeded to reconnoiter, followed by Mr. Hersebom.
They walked for a long time. Everywhere the drift was floating freely, the waves came and went, but the whole aspect of things around them looked strange and different.
At length Erik stopped. Now he understood what had befallen them. He took Mr. Hersebom's hand and pressed it with both his own.
"Father," said he, in a grave voice, "you are one of those to whom I can only speak the truth. Well, the fact is that this ice-field has split; it has broken away from that which surrounded the 'Alaska,' and we are on an island of ice hundreds of yards long, and carried along by the waters, and at the mercy of the storm."
收听单词发音 |
1
cannon
|
|
| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
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： |
|
|
|
|
3
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
frankly
|
|
| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
rascal
|
|
| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
shipwreck
|
|
| n.船舶失事，海难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
deviation
|
|
| n.背离，偏离；偏差，偏向；离题 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
undertaking
|
|
| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
ward
|
|
| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
latitude
|
|
| n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
longitude
|
|
| n.经线，经度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
steer
|
|
| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
obliquely
|
|
| adv.斜； 倾斜； 间接； 不光明正大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
obstructed
|
|
| 阻塞( obstruct的过去式和过去分词 )； 堵塞； 阻碍； 阻止 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
foresight
|
|
| n.先见之明，深谋远虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
steered
|
|
| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
maneuver
|
|
| n.策略[pl.]演习；v.(巧妙)控制；用策略 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
steering
|
|
| n.操舵装置 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
thwarted
|
|
| 阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
maneuvers
|
|
| n.策略，谋略，花招( maneuver的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
westward
|
|
| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
descend
|
|
| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
projectile
|
|
| n.投射物，发射体；adj.向前开进的；推进的；抛掷的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
killing
|
|
| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
havoc
|
|
| n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
projectiles
|
|
| n.抛射体( projectile的名词复数 )；（炮弹、子弹等）射弹，（火箭等）自动推进的武器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
lodged
|
|
| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
rumbling
|
|
| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
mingled
|
|
| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
artillery
|
|
| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
hatchets
|
|
| n.短柄小斧( hatchet的名词复数 )；恶毒攻击；诽谤；休战 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
regain
|
|
| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
feigned
|
|
| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
adversary
|
|
| adj.敌手，对手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
gaping
|
|
| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
prodigious
|
|
| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
hemmed
|
|
| 缝…的褶边( hem的过去式和过去分词 )； 包围 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
permanently
|
|
| adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
buttress
|
|
| n.支撑物；v.支持 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
haven
|
|
| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
tornado
|
|
| n.飓风，龙卷风 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
perilous
|
|
| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
frightful
|
|
| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
primitive
|
|
| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
awakened
|
|
| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
specimen
|
|
| n.样本，标本 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
cataclysms
|
|
| n.（突然降临的）大灾难( cataclysm的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
48
tumult
|
|
| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
succumb
|
|
| v.屈服，屈从；死 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
ardor
|
|
| n.热情，狂热 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
touching
|
|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
planks
|
|
| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
fissures
|
|
| n.狭长裂缝或裂隙( fissure的名词复数 )；裂伤；分歧；分裂v.裂开( fissure的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
exertions
|
|
| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
exhausted
|
|
| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
consultation
|
|
| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
depot
|
|
| n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
ammunition
|
|
| n.军火，弹药 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
accomplishment
|
|
| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
mantle
|
|
| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
agitated
|
|
| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
plunging
|
|
| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
bulwarks
|
|
| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
lull
|
|
| v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
tragical
|
|
| adj. 悲剧的, 悲剧性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
supreme
|
|
| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
extremity
|
|
| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
precarious
|
|
| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
reassuring
|
|
| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
untie
|
|
| vt.解开，松开；解放 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
fugitives
|
|
| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
huddled
|
|
| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
detonations
|
|
| n.爆炸 （声）( detonation的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
crevasse
|
|
| n. 裂缝，破口；v.使有裂缝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
vibration
|
|
| n.颤动，振动；摆动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
mischief
|
|
| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
embedded
|
|
| a.扎牢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |