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CHAPTER XXI. A SEASICK PASSENGER.
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 The good ship Columbia had got fifty miles under way before Dodger1 opened his eyes.
 
He looked about him languidly at first, but this feeling was succeeded by the wildest amazement2, as his eyes took in his unusual surroundings.
 
He had gone to sleep on a bed—he found himself on awakening3 in a ship’s bunk4.
 
He half arose in his birth, but the motion of the vessel5 and a slight feeling of dizziness compelled him to resume a recumbent position.
 
“I must be dreaming,” thought Dodger. “It’s very queer. I am dreaming I am at sea. I suppose that explains it.”
 
He listened and heard the swish of the waters as they beat against the sides of the vessel.
 
He noted6 the pitching of the ship, and there was an unsteady feeling in his head, such as those who have gone to sea will readily recall.
 
Dodger became more and more bewildered.
 
“If it’s a dream, it’s the most real dream I ever had,” he said to himself.
 
“This seems like a ship’s cabin,” he continued, looking about him. “I think if I got up I should be seasick7. I wonder if people ever get seasick in dreams?”
 
There was another pitch, and Dodger instinctively8 clung to the edge of his berth9, to save himself from being thrown out.
 
“Let me see,” he said, trying to collect his scattered10 recollection. “I went to sleep in a house uptown—a house to which Curtis Waring lured11 me, and then made me a prisoner. The house was somewhere near One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street. Now it seems as if I was on board a ship. How could I get here? I wish somebody would come in that I could ask.”
 
As no one came in, Dodger got out of the berth, and tried to stand on the cabin floor.
 
But before he knew it he was staggering like one intoxicated12, and his head began to feel bad, partly, no doubt, on account of the sleeping potion which he had unconsciously taken.
 
At this moment the steward13 entered the cabin. “Hello, young man! Have you got up?” he asked.
 
“Where am I?” asked Dodger, looking at him with a dazed expression.
 
“Where are you? You’re on the good ship Columbia, to be sure?”
 
“Are we out to sea?”
 
“Of course you are.”
 
“How far from land?”
 
“Well, about fifty miles, more or less, I should judge.”
 
“How long have I been here?”
 
“It seems to me you have a poor memory. You came on board last evening.”
 
“I suppose Curtis Waring brought me,” said Dodger, beginning to get his bearings.
 
“There was a gentleman came with you—so the mate told me. I don’t know his name.”
 
“Where is the ship bound?”
 
“To San Francisco, around Cape14 Horn. I supposed you knew that.”
 
“I never heard of the ship Columbia before, and I never had any idea of making a sea voyage.”
 
The steward looked surprised.
 
“I suppose your guardian15 arranged about that. Didn’t he tell you?”
 
“I have no guardian.”
 
“Well, you’ll have to ask Capt. Barnes about that. I know nothing, except that you are a passenger, and that your fare has been paid.”
 
“My fare paid to San Francisco?” asked Dodger, more and more at sea, both mentally and physically16.
 
“Yes; we don’t take any deadheads on the Columbia.”
 
“Can you tell me what time it is?”
 
“About twelve o’clock. Do you feel hungry?”
 
“N—not very,” returned Dodger, as a ghastly expression came over his face, and he tumbled back into his berth, looking very pale.
 
The steward smiled.
 
“I see how it is,” he said; “you are getting initiated17.”
 
“What’s that?” muttered Dodger, feebly.
 
“You’re going to be seasick. You’ll hardly be able to appear at the dinner table.”
 
“It makes me sick to think of eating,” said Dodger, feebly.
 
As he sank back into his berth, all thoughts of his unexpected position gave way to an overpowering feeling of seasickness18.
 
He had never been tried in this way before, and he found the sensation far from agreeable.
 
“If only the vessel would stop pitching,” he groaned19. “Oh, how happy I should be if I were on dry land.”
 
But the vessel wouldn’t stop—even for a minute.
 
The motion, on the other hand, seemed to increase, as was natural, for they were getting farther and farther from land and were exposed to the more violent winds that swept the open ocean.
 
There is something about seasickness that swallows up and draws away all minor20 cares and anxieties, and Dodger was too much affected21 to consider how or why it was that he so unexpectedly found himself a passenger to California.
 
“Lie flat on your back,” said the steward. “You will feel better if you do.”
 
“How long is it going to last?” groaned Dodger, feeling quite miserable22.
 
“Oh, you’ll feel better to-morrow. I’ll bring you some porridge presently. You can get that clown, and it is better to have something on your stomach.”
 
He was right. The next day Dodger felt considerably23 better, and ventured to go upon deck. He looked about him in surprise.
 
There had been a storm, and the waves were white with foam24.
 
As far as the eye could see there was a tumult25 and an uproar26.
 
The ship was tossed about like a cockle shell. But the sailors went about their work unruffled. It was no new sight for them.
 
Though his head did not feel exactly right, the strong wind entered Dodger’s lungs, and he felt exhilarated. His eyes brightened, and he began to share in the excitement of the scene.
 
Pacing the deck was a stout27, bronzed seaman28, whose dress made it clear even to the inexperienced eyes of Dodger that he was the captain.
 
“Good-morning, Master Grant,” he said, pleasantly. “Are you getting your sea legs on?”
 
The name was unfamiliar29 to Dodger, but he could see that the remark was addressed to him.
 
“Yes, sir,” he answered.
 
“Ever been to sea before?”
 
“No, sir.”
 
“You’ll get used to it. Bless me, you’ll stand it like an old sailor before we get to ’Frisco.”
 
“Is it a long voyage, captain?” asked Dodger.
 
“Five months, probably. We may get there a little sooner. It depends on the winds and weather.”
 
“Five months,” said Dodger to himself, in a tone of dismay.
 
The captain laughed.
 
“It’ll be a grand experience for a lad like you, Arthur!” said the captain, encouragingly.
 
Arthur! So his name was Arthur! He had just been called Master Grant, so Arthur Grant was his name on board ship.
 
Dodger was rather glad to have a name provided, for he had only been known as Dodger heretofore, and this name would excite surprise. He had recently felt the need of a name, and didn’t see why this wouldn’t answer his purpose as well as any other.
 
“I must write it down so as not to forget it,” he resolved. “It would seem queer if I forgot my own name.”
 
“I shouldn’t enjoy it much if I were going to be seasick all the time,” he answered.
 
“Oh, a strong, healthy boy like you will soon be all right. You don’t look like an invalid30.”
 
“I never was sick in my life.”
 
“But your guardian told me he was sending you on a sea voyage for your health.”
 
“Did Mr. Waring say that?”
 
“Yes; didn’t you know the object of your sea trip?” asked Capt. Barnes, in surprise.
 
“No.”
 
“There may be some tendency to disease in your system—some hereditary31 tendency,” said the captain, after a pause.
 
“Were your parents healthy?”
 
“They—died young,” answered Dodger, hesitatingly.
 
“That accounts for your guardian’s anxiety. However, you look strong enough, in all conscience; and if you’re not healthy, you will be before the voyage ends.”
 
“I don’t know what I am to do for clothes,” said Dodger, as a new source of perplexity presented itself. “I can’t get along with one shirt and collar for five months.”
 
“You will find plenty of clothes in your valise. Hasn’t it been given you?”
 
“No, sir.”
 
“You may ask the steward for it. You didn’t think your guardian would send you on a five-months’ voyage without a change of clothing, did you?”
 
And the captain laughed heartily32.
 
“I don’t know Mr. Waring very well,” said Dodger, awkwardly.
 
As he went downstairs to inquire about his valise, this question haunted him:
 
“Why did Curtis Waring send him on a sea voyage?”

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 dodger Ku9z0c     
n.躲避者;躲闪者;广告单
参考例句:
  • They are tax dodgers who hide their interest earnings.他们是隐瞒利息收入的逃税者。
  • Make sure she pays her share she's a bit of a dodger.她自己的一份一定要她付清--她可是有点能赖就赖。
2 amazement 7zlzBK     
n.惊奇,惊讶
参考例句:
  • All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
  • He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
3 awakening 9ytzdV     
n.觉醒,醒悟 adj.觉醒中的;唤醒的
参考例句:
  • the awakening of interest in the environment 对环境产生的兴趣
  • People are gradually awakening to their rights. 人们正逐渐意识到自己的权利。
4 bunk zWyzS     
n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位;废话
参考例句:
  • He left his bunk and went up on deck again.他离开自己的铺位再次走到甲板上。
  • Most economists think his theories are sheer bunk.大多数经济学家认为他的理论纯属胡说。
5 vessel 4L1zi     
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管
参考例句:
  • The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
  • You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。
6 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。
7 seasick seasick     
adj.晕船的
参考例句:
  • When I get seasick,I throw up my food.我一晕船就呕吐。
  • He got seasick during the voyage.在航行中他晕船。
8 instinctively 2qezD2     
adv.本能地
参考例句:
  • As he leaned towards her she instinctively recoiled. 他向她靠近,她本能地往后缩。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He knew instinctively where he would find her. 他本能地知道在哪儿能找到她。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 berth yt0zq     
n.卧铺,停泊地,锚位;v.使停泊
参考例句:
  • She booked a berth on the train from London to Aberdeen.她订了一张由伦敦开往阿伯丁的火车卧铺票。
  • They took up a berth near the harbor.他们在港口附近找了个位置下锚。
10 scattered 7jgzKF     
adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的
参考例句:
  • Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来,塞进文件夹里。
11 lured 77df5632bf83c9c64fb09403ae21e649     
吸引,引诱(lure的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • The child was lured into a car but managed to escape. 那小孩被诱骗上了车,但又设法逃掉了。
  • Lured by the lust of gold,the pioneers pushed onward. 开拓者在黄金的诱惑下,继续奋力向前。
12 intoxicated 350bfb35af86e3867ed55bb2af85135f     
喝醉的,极其兴奋的
参考例句:
  • She was intoxicated with success. 她为成功所陶醉。
  • They became deeply intoxicated and totally disoriented. 他们酩酊大醉,东南西北全然不辨。
13 steward uUtzw     
n.乘务员,服务员;看管人;膳食管理员
参考例句:
  • He's the steward of the club.他是这家俱乐部的管理员。
  • He went around the world as a ship's steward.他当客船服务员,到过世界各地。
14 cape ITEy6     
n.海角,岬;披肩,短披风
参考例句:
  • I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
  • She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。
15 guardian 8ekxv     
n.监护人;守卫者,保护者
参考例句:
  • The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
  • The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。
16 physically iNix5     
adj.物质上,体格上,身体上,按自然规律
参考例句:
  • He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服,心绪也很乱。
  • Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。
17 initiated 9cd5622f36ab9090359c3cf3ca4ddda3     
n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始,创始,启蒙,介绍加入
参考例句:
  • He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
  • The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。
18 seasickness ojpzVf     
n.晕船
参考例句:
  • Europeans take melons for a preventive against seasickness. 欧洲人吃瓜作为预防晕船的方法。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • He was very prone to seasickness and already felt queasy. 他快晕船了,已经感到恶心了。 来自辞典例句
19 groaned 1a076da0ddbd778a674301b2b29dff71     
v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 );发牢骚;抱怨;受苦
参考例句:
  • He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
  • The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》
20 minor e7fzR     
adj.较小(少)的,较次要的;n.辅修学科;vi.辅修
参考例句:
  • The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
  • I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。
21 affected TzUzg0     
adj.不自然的,假装的
参考例句:
  • She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
  • His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。
22 miserable g18yk     
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的
参考例句:
  • It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他,这是可耻的。
  • Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。
23 considerably 0YWyQ     
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上
参考例句:
  • The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
  • The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。
24 foam LjOxI     
v./n.泡沫,起泡沫
参考例句:
  • The glass of beer was mostly foam.这杯啤酒大部分是泡沫。
  • The surface of the water is full of foam.水面都是泡沫。
25 tumult LKrzm     
n.喧哗;激动,混乱;吵闹
参考例句:
  • The tumult in the streets awakened everyone in the house.街上的喧哗吵醒了屋子里的每一个人。
  • His voice disappeared under growing tumult.他的声音消失在越来越响的喧哗声中。
26 uproar LHfyc     
n.骚动,喧嚣,鼎沸
参考例句:
  • She could hear the uproar in the room.她能听见房间里的吵闹声。
  • His remarks threw the audience into an uproar.他的讲话使听众沸腾起来。
28 seaman vDGzA     
n.海员,水手,水兵
参考例句:
  • That young man is a experienced seaman.那个年轻人是一个经验丰富的水手。
  • The Greek seaman went to the hospital five times.这位希腊海员到该医院去过五次。
29 unfamiliar uk6w4     
adj.陌生的,不熟悉的
参考例句:
  • I am unfamiliar with the place and the people here.我在这儿人地生疏。
  • The man seemed unfamiliar to me.这人很面生。
30 invalid V4Oxh     
n.病人,伤残人;adj.有病的,伤残的;无效的
参考例句:
  • He will visit an invalid.他将要去看望一个病人。
  • A passport that is out of date is invalid.护照过期是无效的。
31 hereditary fQJzF     
adj.遗传的,遗传性的,可继承的,世袭的
参考例句:
  • The Queen of England is a hereditary ruler.英国女王是世袭的统治者。
  • In men,hair loss is hereditary.男性脱发属于遗传。
32 heartily Ld3xp     
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很
参考例句:
  • He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿,就出去找他的马。
  • The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手,热情地和我握手。


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