"I wonder what is the name of this island?" said Robert.
"Perhaps it has no name. Mayhap we are the first that ever visited it."
"I have a great mind to declare myself the king," said our young hero, smiling, "unless you want the office."
"You shall be captain, and I will be mate," said Bates, to whom the distinctions of sea life were more familiar than those of courts.
"How long do you think we shall have to stay here?" asked Robert, anxiously.
"There's no telling, lad. We'll have to stick up a pole on the seashore, and run up a flag when any vessel2 comes near."
"We have no flag."
"Have you a handkerchief?"
"Only one," said Robert.
"That's one more than I have. We'll rig that up when it's wanted."
"Where shall we sleep?"
"That's what I have been thinking. We must build a house."
"A brownstone front?" said Robert. "The governor ought to live in a good house."
"So he shall," said Bates. "He shall have the first on the island."
"I wonder if it rains often?"
"Not much at this season. In the winter a good deal of rain falls, but I hope we won't be here then."
"Where shall we build our house?"
"It would be pleasanter inland, but we must be near the shore, so as to be in sight of ships."
"That's true, Bates. That is the most important consideration."
They set to work at once, and built a hut, something like an Indian's wigwam, about a hundred yards from the shore. It was composed, for the most part, of branches of trees and inclosed an inner space of about fifteen feet in diameter. They gathered large quantities of leaves, which were spread upon the ground for beds.
"Yes," said Robert. "I wouldn't wish any better bed. It is easy to build and furnish a house of your own here."
"The next thing is dinner," said his companion.
"Shall we go to market?" asked Robert, with a smile.
"We'll find a market just outside."
"You mean the trees?"
"Yes; we'll find our dinner already cooked on them."
The fruit of which they partook freely was quite sweet and palatable4. Still, one kind of food cloys5 after a time, and so our new settlers found it. Besides, it was not very substantial, and failed to keep up their wonted strength. This set them to looking up some other article which might impart variety to their fare. At last they succeeded in finding an esculent root, which they partook of at first with some caution, fearing that it might be unwholesome. Finding, however, that eating it produced no unpleasant effects, they continued the use of it. Even this, however, failed to afford them as much variety as they wished.
"I feel as if I should like some fish for breakfast," said Robert one morning, on waking up.
"So should I, lad," returned Bates. "Why shouldn't we have some?"
"You mean that we shall go fishing?"
"Yes; we've got a boat, and I have some cord. We'll rig up fishing lines, and go out on a fishing cruise."
"I wonder we hadn't thought of it before. I used to be a fisherman, Bates."
"Did you?"
"Yes; I supplied the market at home for a short time, till Captain Haley smashed my boat."
"The mean lubber! I wish we had him here."
"I don't; I prefer his room to his company."
"I'd try how he'd like being tied to a tree."
"You may bet high on that, lad."
They rigged their fishing lines—cutting poles from the trees—and armed them with hooks, of which, by good luck, Bates happened to have a supply with him. Then they launched the ship's boat, in which Bates had come to the island, and put out to sea.
Robert enjoyed the row in the early morning, and wondered they had not thought of taking out the boat before. At last they came to the business which brought them out, and in about half an hour had succeeded in catching8 four fishes, weighing perhaps fifteen pounds altogether.
"That'll be enough for us, unless you are very hungry," said Robert. "Now, suppose we land and cook them."
"Ay, ay, lad!"
Of course, their cooking arrangements were very primitive9. In the first place, they were compelled to make a fire by the method in use among the savages10, of rubbing two sticks smartly together, and catching the flame in a little prepared tinder. The fish were baked over the fire thus kindled11. Though the outside was smoked, the inside was sweet and palatable, and neither was disposed to be fastidious. The preparation of the meal took considerable time, but they had abundance of that, and occupation prevented their brooding over their solitary12 situation.
"I wish I had 'Robinson Crusoe' here," said Robert—"we might get some hints from his adventures. I didn't imagine, when I used to read them, that I should ever be in a similar position."
"I've heard about him," said Bates; "but I never was much of a reader, and I never read his yarn13. You might maybe tell me something of it."
"I will tell you all I can remember, but that isn't very much," said Robert.
He rehearsed to the attentive14 sailor such portions as he could call to mind of the wonderful story which for centuries to come is destined15 to enchain the attention of adventurous16 boys.
"That's a pretty good yarn," said Bates, approvingly. "Did he ever get off the island?"
"Yes, he got off, and became quite rich before he died."
"Maybe it'll be so with us, lad."
"I hope so. I don't know what I should do if I were alone as he was. It's selfish in me, Bates, to be glad that you are shut up here with me, but I cannot help it."
"You needn't try, lad. It would be mighty17 dull being alone here, 'specially18 if you was tied to a tree."
"But suppose we should never get off!"
"We won't suppose that, lad. We are sure to get off some time."
This confident assurance always cheered up Robert, and for the time inspired him with equal confidence. But when day after day passed away and the promised ship did not come in sight, he used to ponder thoughtfully over his situation, and the possibility that he might have to spend years at least on this lonely island. What in the meantime would become of his mother? She might die, and if he ever returned it would be to realize the loss he had sustained. The island, pleasant as it was, began to lose its charm. If his sailor companion ever shared his feelings, he never manifested them, unwilling19 to let the boy see that he was becoming discouraged.
At length—about six weeks after their arrival upon the island—they were returning from an excursion to the other side of the island, when, on arriving in sight of the shore, an unexpected sight greeted their eyes.
A pole had been planted in the sand, and from it waved the familiar flag, dear to the heart of every American—the star-spangled banner.
They no sooner caught sight of it, than, in joyful20 excitement, they ran to the shore with all the speed they could muster21.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
ardor
|
|
| n.热情，狂热 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
bunks
|
|
| n.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的名词复数 )；空话，废话v.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的第三人称单数 )；空话，废话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
palatable
|
|
| adj.可口的，美味的；惬意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
cloys
|
|
| v.发腻，倒胃口( cloy的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
alacrity
|
|
| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
untie
|
|
| vt.解开，松开；解放 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
catching
|
|
| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
primitive
|
|
| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
savages
|
|
| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
kindled
|
|
| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
solitary
|
|
| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
yarn
|
|
| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
attentive
|
|
| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
destined
|
|
| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
adventurous
|
|
| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
specially
|
|
| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
unwilling
|
|
| adj.不情愿的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
joyful
|
|
| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
muster
|
|
| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |