“The captain is too mucha selfish,” he said one day to a fellow-sailor. “He should share his brandy with the men.”
“I think I will try some of the captain’s brandy when he is away,” said Francesco, slyly.
“If you do, you will get into trouble. The captain will half murder you if he finds it out.”
“He is not captain now—we are all equal—all comrades. We are not on ze sheep.”
“Take my advice, Francesco, and leave the brandy alone.”
He watched the captain, and ascertained6 where he kept his secret store. Then he watched his opportunity to help himself. It was some time before he had an opportunity to do so unobserved, but at length the chance came.
The first draught7 brought light to his eyes, and made him smack8 his lips with enjoyment9. It was so long since he had tasted the forbidden nectar that he drank again and again. Finally he found himself overcome by his potations, and sank upon the ground in a drunken stupor10.
He was getting over the effects when, to his ill-luck, the captain returned from his usual solitary11 ramble12.
“He has been at my brandy!” Captain Hill said to himself, with flaming eyes. “The fool shall pay dearly for his temerity13.”
He advanced hastily to the prostrate14 man, and administered a severe kick, which at once aroused the half-stupefied man.
Francesco looked up with alarm, for the captain was a much larger and stronger man than himself.
“You have been drinking my brandy, you beast,” said Captain Hill, furiously.
I draw a veil over the brutal16 treatment poor Francesco received. When it was over he crawled away, beaten and humiliated17, but in his eye there was a dangerous light that boded18 no good to the captain.
Presently Francesco began to absent himself. Where he went no one knew or cared, but he, too, would be away all day. His small, black eyes glowed with smoldering19 fires of hatred20 whenever he looked at the captain, but his looks were always furtive21, and so for the most part escaped observation.
One day Captain Hill stood in contemplation on the edge of a precipitous bluff22, looking seaward. His hands were folded, and he looked thoughtful. His back was turned, so he could not, therefore, see a figure stealthily approaching, the face distorted by murderous hate, the hand holding a long, slender knife. Fate was approaching him in the person of a deadly enemy. He did not know that day by day Francesco had dogged his steps, watching for the opportunity which had at last come.
So stealthy was the pace, and so silent the approach of the foe23, that the captain believed himself wholly alone till he felt a sharp lunge, as the stiletto entered his back between his shoulders. He staggered, but turned suddenly, all his senses now on the alert, and discovered who had assailed24 him.
“Ha! it is you!” he exclaimed wrathfully, seizing the Italian by the throat. “Dog, what would you do?”
“Kill you!” hissed25 the Italian, and with the remnant of his strength he thrust the knife farther into his enemy’s body.
Perceiving it, and not thinking of his own danger, Francesco gave him a push, and losing his balance the captain fell over the edge, a distance of sixty feet, upon the jagged rocks beneath. But not alone! Still retaining his fierce clutch upon the Italian’s throat, the murderer, too, fell with him, and both were stretched in an instant, mangled29 and lifeless, at the bottom of the precipice.
When night came, and neither returned, it was thought singular, but the night was dark, and they were unprovided with lanterns, so that the search was postponed30 till morning. It was only after a search of several hours that the two were found.
After the captain’s death two distinct camps were still maintained, but the most cordial relations existed between them. At the suggestion of the mate, an inventory31 was made of the stock of provisions, and to each camp was assigned an amount proportioned to the number of men which it contained.
There was no immediate32 prospect33 of want. Still, the more prudent34 regarded with anxiety the steady diminution35 of the stock remaining, and an attempt to eke36 them out by fresh fish caught off the island. But the inevitable37 day was only postponed. At length only a week’s provisions remained. The condition was becoming serious.
“What shall we do?” was the question put to Mr. Holdfast, who was now looked upon by all as their leader and chief.
Upon this the mate called a general meeting of all upon the island, sailors and passengers alike.
“My friends,” he said, “it is useless to conceal38 our situation. We are nearly out of provisions, and though we may manage to subsist39 upon the fish we catch, and other esculents native to this spot, it will be a daily fight against starvation. I have been asked what we are to do. I prefer rather to call for suggestions from you. What have you to suggest?”
“In my view there are two courses open to us,” said Mr. Stubbs, finding that no one else appeared to have anything to propose. “We must remain here and eat the rest of our provisions, but there seems very little chance of our attracting the attention of any passing vessel40. We appear to be out of the ordinary course. Of course, it is possible that some ship may have passed the island without attracting our notice. What is your opinion, Mr. Holdfast?”
“The flag of the Nantucket, as you know, has floated night and day from a pole erected41 on a high bluff,” said the mate. “The chances are that if any vessel had come sufficiently42 near it would have attracted attention, and led to a boat being lowered, and an exploring party sent thither43.”
“While we’ve got any provisions left,” said the boatswain, “let us take the boats, and pull out to sea. We can go where the ships are, and then we’ll have some chance. They’ll never find us here, leastways, such is my opinion.”
“My friends,” said the mate, “you have heard the proposal made by the boatswain. All who are in favor of it will please raise their right hand.”
All voted in the affirmative.
“My friends,” said Mr. Holdfast, “it seems to be the unanimous sentiment that we leave the island, and sail out far enough to be in the course of passing vessels44. I concur45 in the expediency46 of this step, and am ready to command one of the boats. Mr. Harrison will command the other.”
“How soon shall we start?” asked a passenger.
“The sooner the better! To-morrow morning, if it is pleasant.”
This decision pleased all. Something was to be done, and hope was rekindled47 in the breasts of all. Heretofore they had been living on, without hope or prospect of release. Now they were to set out boldly, and though there was the possibility of failure, there was also a chance of deliverance.
In the appointment of passengers, Mr. Holdfast, who commanded the long boat, retained Harry49, the professor and Clinton. Six sailors, including Jack50 Pendleton, made up the complement51.
“I am glad you are going to be with us, Jack,” said Harry, joyfully52. “I shouldn’t like to be separated from you.”
“Nor I from you, Harry,” returned Jack.
At eight o’clock the next morning they started. As the island faded in the distance, all looked back thoughtfully at their sometime home.
Three days the boats floated about on the bosom53 of the ocean—three days and nights of anxiety, during which no sail was visible. But at length a ship was sighted.
“In one way or another we must try to attract attention,” said the mate.
Not to protract54 the reader’s suspense55, let me say that by great good fortune the mate of the approaching ship, in sweeping56 the ocean with his glass caught sight of the two boats, and changed the course of the vessel so as to fall in with them.
“Who are you?” he hailed.
“Shipwrecked sailors and passengers of the ship Nantucket,” was the answer of Mr. Holdfast.
They were taken on board, and discovered that the vessel was the Phocis, from New York, bound for Melbourne.
“We shall reach our destination after all, then, professor,” said Harry, “and you will be able to give your entertainments as you at first proposed.”
Professor Hemenway shook his head.
“I shall take the first steamer home,” he said. “My wife will be anxious about me, and even now is in doubt whether I am alive or dead. You can return with me, if you like.”
“No,” answered Harry. “After the trouble I have had in getting to Australia, I mean to stay long enough to see what sort of a country it is. I think I can make a living in one way or another, and if I can’t, I will send to America for the money I have there.”
In due time they reached Melbourne, without further mischance. Harry induced Jack to remain with him, but Mr. Clinton, with a new stock of trousers, purchased in Melbourne, returned to America on the same steamer with the professor.
Here we leave Harry and Jack to pursue their course to such eminence57 as they may desire from the characteristics they have portrayed58 in this narrative59.
THE END
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1
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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stimulant
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| n.刺激物，兴奋剂 | |
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3
tantalizing
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| adj.逗人的；惹弄人的；撩人的；煽情的v.逗弄，引诱，折磨( tantalize的现在分词 ) | |
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4
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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6
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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smack
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| vt.拍，打，掴；咂嘴；vi.含有…意味；n.拍 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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stupor
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| v.昏迷；不省人事 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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12
ramble
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| v.漫步，漫谈，漫游；n.漫步，闲谈，蔓延 | |
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13
temerity
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| n.鲁莽，冒失 | |
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prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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15
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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17
humiliated
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| 感到羞愧的 | |
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18
boded
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| v.预示，预告，预言( bode的过去式和过去分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
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19
smoldering
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| v.用文火焖烧，熏烧，慢燃( smolder的现在分词 ) | |
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20
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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22
bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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23
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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25
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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26
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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29
mangled
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| vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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30
postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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inventory
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| n.详细目录，存货清单 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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diminution
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| n.减少；变小 | |
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eke
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| v.勉强度日，节约使用 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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38
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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39
subsist
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| vi.生存，存在，供养 | |
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40
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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41
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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42
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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43
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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44
vessels
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| 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 | |
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45
concur
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| v.同意，意见一致，互助，同时发生 | |
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46
expediency
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| n.适宜；方便；合算；利己 | |
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47
rekindled
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| v.使再燃( rekindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
embarking
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| 乘船( embark的现在分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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49
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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50
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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51
complement
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| n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足 | |
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52
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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53
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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54
protract
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| v.延长，拖长 | |
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55
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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56
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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58
portrayed
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| v.画像( portray的过去式和过去分词 )；描述；描绘；描画 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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