“Up with a sally and a flash of speed
As if they scorned.”
The rains which came at the New Year flooded all the creeks1 of the Island. Accumulations of sand usually form beds through which the sweet water slowly mingles2 with the salt, but with the violence and impetus3 of a downpour of ten inches during the night, each torrent4 had cut a channel, through which it raced from the seclusion5 of the jungle to the free, open sea. Twice in the twenty-four hours the impassive flowing tide subdued6 the impertinence of each of the brawlers, smothered7 its gurgling, and forced it back among the ferns and jungle and banana-plants which crowded its banks.
The largest stream at high water was four feet deep. As I prepared to wade8 across George, the black boy, shouted over his shoulder towards a slowly swaying cloud in the deep pool overhung with foremost flounces of the jungle. The cloud was a shoal of sea mullet. Save for a clear margin9 of about three feet, the fish filled the pond — an alert, greyish-blue mass edged with cream-coloured sand. There were several hundred fish, all bearing a family resemblance as to size as well as to feature.
It was slack water. The fish were, no doubt, about to move down-stream to the sea, for all headed that way when the disturbing presence of man blocked the passage. A thrill went through the phalanx, and it swayed to the left and then to the right. The movement — spontaneous and mechanical — slightly elongated10 the formation, and three scouts11 in single file slid down to reconnoitre, and with a nervous splash as they scented12 danger, dashed back and blended imperceptibly with the mass.
“We catch plenty big fella mullet!” George exclaimed, as he gleefully splashed the water, and the cloud contracted and shrank back. The stream was about ten feet wide. Our equipment for sport consisted of a tomahawk and a grass-tree spear so frail13 that any of the mullet could have swum off with it without inconvenience.
Straddling the stream side by side we splashed and “shooed” when the slightest symptom of a sally on the part of the fish was betrayed. A few brave leaders darted14 down, generally in pairs, and flashed back in fright at our noisy demonstrations15, and so the blockade of the mullet began.
While I stood guard shouting and “shooing” and making such commotion16 as I trusted would convince the fish that the blockading force was ever so much stronger and more truculent17 than it really was, George began to construct a pre-eminently practical wall. Its design was evolved ages upon ages ago by black students of hydrostatics and fish. George had imbibed18 the principles of its construction with his mother’s milk. He cut down several saplings, and, screwing the butt19 ends into the soft sand about a foot apart, interlaced them with branches of mangrove20 and beach-trailers and swathes of grass. But the tide began to ebb21. The pent-up current, strong and rapid, frequently carried portions of the structure away. George had to duck and dive to tie the vines and creepers to the stakes close down to the sandy bottom. Though armfuls of leafage floated to the surface and rolled out to sea, George worked with joyful22 desperation. Presently the fish began to make determined23 rushes. Shouting and splashing, tearing down branches, capturing driftwood, diving and gasping24, his efforts were unceasing. Understanding the guile25 of the fish, he sought to make the deeper part of the weir26 secure, and for an hour or so he laboured in the water with head, hands, and feet. While with deft27 fingers he weaved creepers and branches to the stakes, his feet beat the surface into surf and surge to the scaring of the fish to the remote limits of their retreat. But the tighter the weir became, the more the pressure was on it. Fast as repairs were made at one spot gaps appeared in another which demanded immediate28 attention. The quantity of material that our works absorbed was scarcely to be realised. But a double-ended, amphibious black boy can work every-day wonders. Not a single fish had escaped. We had the whole shoal at our mercy, for George had confidently provided against all contingencies29.
Buoyant on the bosom30 of the stream came a good-sized log with raking, shortened limbs. Under its cover the fish sallied forth31 a hundred strong, strenuous32 in bravery and resolution. The log swept past me, making a terrible breach33 in our weir, through which many fish shot. Some leaped high overhead. Two landed on the sand, helplessly flapping and gasping. George occupied the breach, and as he waved his arms and shouted, a four-pounder, leaping high, struck him on the forehead. He sat down emphatically, and another gap was made. As he struggled to his feet the vanquished34 members of the assaulting party fled to the main host. Honours were with the besieged35. Blood oozed36 from a lump on George’s forehead, there were cruel breaches37 in the weir, the fish had gained confidence and knowledge of our works, and only two were prisoners.
Now the sallies became frequent. Sometimes the fish came as scouts, more often in battalions38, and in the dashes for liberty many were successful. George toiled39 like a fiend. His repairs looked all right on the surface, but ever and anon considerable flotsam indicated vital gaps. In spite of splashing and “shooing” and the complications of the weir, we had had the mortification40 of seeing hosts escape.
Then George changed his tactics. Abandoning his faith in the weir, he converted it into what he called, in his enthusiastic excitement, “a bed.” He laid branches of the weir so that the leaves and twigs41 interlaced and crossed, buttressing42 the structure with another row of palisades. His theory was that the fish, as the water became shallower, would cease their efforts to wriggle43 through, and, leaping high, would land on the bed and be easily captured. No preliminary shouting and splashing affected44 the solidity of that determined array. Mullet knew all about blackfellows’ weirs45 and their beds. Some slid through. Many leaped, and, curving gracefully46 in the air, struck the “bed” at such an angle that it offered no more resistance to them than a sheet of damp tissue-paper. They sniggered as they went through it, and splashed wildly to the sea. They were grand fish — undaunted, afraid of no man or his paltry47 obstacles to liberty, up to every cunning manoeuvre48.
Were we to be beaten by a lot of silly, slippery fish in a shallow stream? Never! January’s unsheltered sun played upon my tanned, wet, and shameless back; the salt sweat coursed down my shoulders and dripped from my face. The scrub fowl49 babbled50 and chuckled51, cockatoos jeered52 from the topmost branches of giant milkwood trees and nodded with yellow crests53 grave approval of the deeds of the besieged; fleet white pigeons flew from a banquet of blue fruits to a diet of crude seeds, and not a single one of the canons of the gentle art of fishing but was scandalously violated. It was a coarse and unmanly encounter — the wit, strategy, finesse54, and boldness of fish pitted against the empty noise and bluster55 of inferior man and the flimsiness of his despicable barriers.
In silence and magnificent resolve they came at us. We fought with sticks and all the power of our lungs. Rest was out of the question. The leafy dyke56 and “bed” stood ever in need of repair; the sallies were continuous and determined. The “bed” was not made for those knightly57 fish to lie ignobly58 upon. A single fish would slip down-stream, and, gathering59 speed and effort, leap with the glitter of heroism60 in its eyes. One such George caught in his arms. Another slipped through my fingers and struck me on the shoulders, and I bore the mark of the assault for a week. George’s brow was bleeding. Indeed, all his blood was up. His “heroic rage” was at bursting point. We had toiled for two hours and counted but three fish, while as many hundred had battled past our siege works. Quite as many remained, and time, as it generally does, seemed to be in favour of the attacking party.
Was Charles Lamb right when he spoke61 of “the uncommunicating muteness of fishes”? These beleaguered62 mullet surely exchanged ideas and acted with deliberation and in concert. All swayed this way or that in accordance, so it seemed, with the will of the front rank. A tremor63 there was repeated instantly at the rear. When a detachment made a bid for liberty it was in response to a common impulse. When a single individual started on a forlorn hope the others seemed to watch our hostile demonstrations as it leaped — flashing silvery lights from its scales — to prove the unworthiness of weirs and beds, and we, of the ranks of Tuscany, cheered if its deed of derring do was neatly64 and successfully achieved.
Fish to the number of five having fallen into our clutches, we stood by and watched the rest. Most of them leaped gloriously to liberty. Some ignominiously65 wriggled66. Others remained in the pool, their nerves so shattered by bluster and assault that they had not the melancholy67 courage to slip away. In his wrath68 — for blood still oozed from his forehead — George would have exterminated69 the skulkers, and, checked in his bloodthirstiness, he showered upon them contemptible70 titles while he cooked two of those we had captured. Wrapped in several folds of banana and “ginger” leaves, and steamed in hot sand, the full flavour of the fish was retained and something of the aroma71 of the leaves imparted. I was not, therefore, astonished when George, having eaten a three-pounder, finished off my leavings — nothing to boast of, by the way — and proceeded to cook another (for the dog); and Barry, I am bound to say, got fairly liberal pickings. The weather was close, and being satisfied, and, for once, frugal72, George cooked the two remaining fish, and swathing them neatly in fresh green leaves, sauntered away, cooing a corroboree of content.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
creeks
|
|
| n.小湾( creek的名词复数 )；小港；小河；小溪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
mingles
|
|
| 混合，混入( mingle的第三人称单数 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
impetus
|
|
| n.推动，促进，刺激；推动力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
torrent
|
|
| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
seclusion
|
|
| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
subdued
|
|
| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
smothered
|
|
| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
wade
|
|
| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
margin
|
|
| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
elongated
|
|
| v.延长，加长( elongate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
scouts
|
|
| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
scented
|
|
| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
frail
|
|
| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
darted
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
demonstrations
|
|
| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
commotion
|
|
| n.骚动，动乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
truculent
|
|
| adj.野蛮的，粗野的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
imbibed
|
|
| v.吸收( imbibe的过去式和过去分词 )；喝；吸取；吸气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
butt
|
|
| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
mangrove
|
|
| n.(植物)红树，红树林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
ebb
|
|
| vi.衰退，减退；n.处于低潮，处于衰退状态 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
joyful
|
|
| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
gasping
|
|
| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
guile
|
|
| n.诈术 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
weir
|
|
| n.堰堤，拦河坝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
deft
|
|
| adj.灵巧的，熟练的（a deft hand 能手） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
contingencies
|
|
| n.偶然发生的事故，意外事故( contingency的名词复数 )；以备万一 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
strenuous
|
|
| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
breach
|
|
| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
vanquished
|
|
| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
besieged
|
|
| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
oozed
|
|
| v.（浓液等）慢慢地冒出，渗出( ooze的过去式和过去分词 )；使（液体）缓缓流出；（浓液）渗出，慢慢流出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
breaches
|
|
| 破坏( breach的名词复数 )； 破裂； 缺口； 违背 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
battalions
|
|
| n.（陆军的）一营（大约有一千兵士）( battalion的名词复数 )；协同作战的部队；军队；（组织在一起工作的）队伍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
toiled
|
|
| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
mortification
|
|
| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
twigs
|
|
| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
buttressing
|
|
| v.用扶壁支撑，加固( buttress的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
wriggle
|
|
| v./n.蠕动，扭动；蜿蜒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
affected
|
|
| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
weirs
|
|
| n.堰，鱼梁（指拦截游鱼的枝条篱）( weir的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
gracefully
|
|
| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
paltry
|
|
| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
manoeuvre
|
|
| n.策略，调动；v.用策略，调动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
fowl
|
|
| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
babbled
|
|
| v.喋喋不休( babble的过去式和过去分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
chuckled
|
|
| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
jeered
|
|
| v.嘲笑( jeer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
crests
|
|
| v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的第三人称单数 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
finesse
|
|
| n.精密技巧，灵巧，手腕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
bluster
|
|
| v.猛刮；怒冲冲的说；n.吓唬，怒号；狂风声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
dyke
|
|
| n.堤，水坝，排水沟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
knightly
|
|
| adj. 骑士般的 adv. 骑士般地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
ignobly
|
|
| 卑贱地，下流地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
59
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
heroism
|
|
| n.大无畏精神，英勇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
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： |
|
|
|
|
62
beleaguered
|
|
| adj.受到围困[围攻]的；包围的v.围攻( beleaguer的过去式和过去分词)；困扰；骚扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
tremor
|
|
| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
neatly
|
|
| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
ignominiously
|
|
| adv.耻辱地，屈辱地，丢脸地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
wriggled
|
|
| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
melancholy
|
|
| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
wrath
|
|
| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
exterminated
|
|
| v.消灭，根绝( exterminate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
contemptible
|
|
| adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
aroma
|
|
| n.香气，芬芳，芳香 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
frugal
|
|
| adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |