"What are you in there for, you young sculpin?" said he. "Why are you not on deck, attending to your duty?"
"I am sick, sir," replied Noddy, faintly.
"Sick! We don't want any skulking6 of that sort on board this vessel7. You want to shirk your duty. Turn out lively, and go on deck."
"But he is sick, father," said Mollie.[155]
"Go away, Mollie. You will spoil the boy. Come, tumble out, youngster, or I shall bring down the rope's end," replied the captain.
The daughter pleaded for her patient; but the father was ugly and unreasonable8, and persisted in his purpose. Noddy did not feel able to move. He was completely prostrated9 by the violence of his disagreeable malady10; and five minutes before, he would not have considered it possible for him to get out of his berth. He must do so now or be whipped; for there was no more reason in the captain than there was in the main-mast of the schooner11. He was not able to make any resistance, if he had been so disposed.
It was very hard to be obliged to go on deck when he was sick, especially as there was no need of his services there. He raised his head, and sat upright in the berth. The movement seemed completely to overturn his stomach again. But what a chance this was, thought he, to show poor Mollie that he was in earnest, and to convince her that he had really reformed his manners. With a desperate struggle he leaped out of his berth, and put on his jacket. The Roebuck was still pitching heavily, and it was almost impossible for him to keep on his feet. He had[156] hardly tasted food for two days, and was very weak from the effects of his sickness.
He crawled on deck as well as he was able, followed by Captain McClintock, who regarded him with a look of malignant12 triumph. Poor Noddy felt like a martyr13; but for Mollie's sake, he was determined14 to bear his sufferings with patience and resignation, and to obey the captain, even if he told him to jump overboard. He did what was almost as bad as this, for he ordered the sick boy to swab up the deck—an entirely15 useless operation, for the spray was breaking over the bow of the Roebuck, and the water was rushing in torrents16 out of the lee scuppers. But Noddy, true to his resolution, obeyed the order, and dragged his weary body forward to perform his useless task. For half an hour he labored17 against nature and the elements, and of course accomplished18 nothing. It was all "work" and no "win."
A boy who had the resolution and courage to face a dozen angry fellows as large as himself, certainly ought not to lack the power to overcome the single foe19 that beset20 him from within. Noddy was strong enough for the occasion, even in his present weakly condition. It was hard work, but the victory he won was a satisfactory reward.[157]
The captain's vision was rather imperfect in his present state, and he took it into his head that the foretop-gallant sail was straining the topmast. Mr. Watts21 respectfully assured him the topmast was strong enough to stand the strain; but the master was set in his own opinion. Apparently22 his view was adopted for the occasion, for he ordered Noddy to go aloft and furl the sail. Mollie protested when she heard this order, for she was afraid Noddy was so weak that he would fall from the yard. The cabin-boy, strong in the victory he had just won, did not even remonstrate23 against the order; but, with all the vigor24 he could command, he went up the fore-rigging. He was surprised to find how much strength an earnest spirit lent to his weak body.
The pitching of the Roebuck rendered the execution of the order very difficult to one unaccustomed to the violent motion of a vessel in a heavy sea; but in spite of all the trials which lay in his path, he furled the sail. When he came down to the deck, the captain had gone below again, and the weary boy was permitted to rest from his severe labors25. Instead of being overcome by them, he actually felt better than when he had left his berth. The fresh air, and the conquest of the will over the[158] feeble body, had almost wrought26 a miracle in his physical frame. The mate told him that what he had done was the best thing in the world for seasickness; in fact, earnest exertion27 was the only remedy for the troublesome complaint.
At supper-time Noddy took some tea and ate a couple of ship biscuits with a good relish28. He began to feel like a new person, and even to be much obliged to the captain for subjecting him to the tribulations29 which had wrought his cure. The next morning he ate a hearty30 breakfast, and went to his work with the feeling that "oft from apparent ills our blessings31 rise."
The captain kept sober during the next five days, owing, it was believed by Noddy, to the influence of his daughter, who had the courage to speak the truth to him. Shortly after the departure of the Roebuck, it had been ascertained32 that, from some impurity33 in the casks, the water on board was not fit for use; and the captain decided34 to put into Barbadoes and procure35 a fresh supply. When the schooner took a pilot, on the twelfth day out, it was found that the yellow fever was making terrible ravages36 in the island; but the water was so bad on board that the captain decided to go into port and remain long enough to pro[159]cure new casks and a supply of water. If he had been entirely sober, he would undoubtedly37 have turned his bow at once from the infected island.
The Roebuck came to anchor, and the captain, regardless of his own safety, went on shore to transact38 the business. The casks were purchased, but it was impossible to get them on board before the next morning, and the vessel was compelled to remain at anchor over night. The weather was excessively hot in the afternoon, but towards night a cool breeze came in from the sea, which was very refreshing39; and Noddy and Mollie were on deck, enjoying its invigorating breath. The boat in which the captain had just returned lay at the accommodation ladder. The confinement40 of twelve days on board the vessel had been rather irksome, and both of the young people would have been delighted to take a run on shore; but the terrible sickness there rendered such a luxury impossible. They observed with interest everything that could be seen from the deck, especially the verdure-crowned hills, and the valleys green with the rich vegetation of the country.
If they could not go on shore, they could at least move about a little in the boat, which would be some relief from the monotony of their confined home.[160] They got into the boat with a warning from Mr. Watts not to go far from the schooner, and not to approach any other vessel, which might have the yellow fever on board. Noddy sculled about on the smooth water for a time, till it was nearly dark, and Mollie thought it was time to return on board. As she spoke41, she went forward and stood up in the bow of the boat, ready to step upon the accommodation ladder.
"Noddy, do you see these great fishes in the water?" asked she.
"Yes, I see them."
"Do you know what they are?" continued she, as she turned to receive the answer.
She was accustomed to boats, and her familiarity with them made her as fearless as her companion.
"I never saw any like them before," replied Noddy, still sculling the boat towards the Roebuck.
"What do you think they are?" added she, with one of those smiles which children wear when they are conscious of being wiser than their companions.
"I haven't any idea what they are; but they look ugly enough to be snakes."
"I've seen lots of them before, and I know what they are. I like you very well, Noddy; and I ask[161] you, as a particular favor, not to fall overboard," said she, with a smile, at what she regarded as a very pretty joke.
"What are they, Mollie?"
"They are sharks, Noddy."
"Sharks!" exclaimed the boy, who had heard Ben tell awful stories about the voracity42 of these terrible creatures.
"Yes, they are sharks, and big ones, too."
"Sit down, Mollie. I don't like to see you stand up there. You might fall overboard," said Noddy, who actually shuddered43 as he recalled the fearful stories he had heard about these savage44 fish.
"I'm not afraid. I'm just as safe here as I should be on board the Roebuck. I've seen sharks before, and got used to them. I like to watch them."
At that moment the boat struck upon something in the water, which might have been a log, or one of the ravenous45 monsters, whose back fins46 could be seen above the water, as they lay in wait for their prey47. It was some heavy body, and it instantly checked the progress of the boat, and the sudden stoppage precipitated48 the poor girl over the bow into the sea. Noddy's blood seemed to freeze in his veins49 as he realized the horrible situation of Mollie in the water,[162] surrounded by sharks. He expected to see her fair form severed50 in twain by the fierce creatures. He could swim like a duck, and his first impulse was to leap overboard, and save the poor girl or perish with her in the attempt.
A shout from the schooner laden51 with the agony of mortal anguish52 saluted53 his ears as Mollie struck the water. It was the voice of Captain McClintock, who had come on deck, and had witnessed the fearful catastrophe54. The voice went to Noddy's soul. He saw the slight form of Mollie as she rose to the surface, and began to struggle towards the boat. The cabin-boy sculled with all his might for an instant, which brought the boat up to the spot; but he was horrified55 to see that she was followed by a monstrous56 shark. Noddy seized the boat-hook, and sprang forward just as the greedy fish was turning over upon his side, with open mouth, to snap up his prey.
Noddy, aware that the decisive moment for action had come, and feeling, as by instinct, that a miscalculation on his part would be fatal to poor Mollie, poised57 his weapon, and made a vigorous lunge at the savage fish. By accident, rather than by design, the boat-hook struck the shark in the eye; and with a fearful struggle he disappeared beneath the surface.[163] Grasping the extended arm of Mollie, he dragged her into the boat before another of the monsters could attack her.
"O, Noddy!" gasped58 she, as she sank down upon the bottom of the boat, overcome by terror, rather than by her exertions,—for she had been scarcely a moment in the water.
"You are safe now, Mollie. Don't be afraid," said Noddy, in soothing59 tones, though his own utterance60 was choked by the fearful emotions he had endured.
"Our Father, who art in heaven, I thank thee that thou hast preserved my life, and saved me from the terrible shark," said Mollie, as she clasped her hands and looked up to the sky.
It was a prayer from the heart, and the good Father seemed to be nearer to Noddy than ever before. He felt that some other hand than his own had directed the weapon which had vanquished61 the shark.
"O, Noddy, you have saved me," cried Mollie, as she rose from her knees, upon which she had thrown herself before she uttered her simple but devout62 prayer.
"I am so glad you are safe, Mollie! But was it me that saved you?" asked Noddy, as he pointed63 up[164] to the sky, with a sincere feeling that he had had very little to do with her preservation64, though he was so deeply impressed by the event that he could not utter the sacred name of the Power which in that awful moment seemed to surround him, and to be in his very heart.
"It was God who preserved me," said she, looking reverently65 upward again; "but he did it through you; and I may thank you, too, for what you have done. O, Noddy, you have been my best earthly friend; for what would my poor father have done if the shark had killed me?"
Noddy sculled towards the Roebuck, for he knew that Captain McClintock was anxiously awaiting their return. When the boat touched the accommodation ladder, the anxious father sprang on board, not knowing even then that his daughter was entirely safe. He had seen Noddy draw her into the boat, but he feared she had lost a leg or an arm, for he was aware that the harbor swarmed66 with the largest and fiercest of the merciless "sea-pirates."
"My poor child!" exclaimed he, as he clasped her in his arms, dreading67 even then to know the worst.
"Dear father!" replied she.[165]
"Are you hurt?"
"Not at all."
"Were there any sharks out there?"
"I guess there were!" replied she, significantly.
"One of them had just heeled over to snap at her," added Noddy. "I never was so frightened in my life."
"Good Heaven!" gasped the captain.
"I gave myself up for lost," said Mollie, shuddering68, as she recalled that fearful moment.
"Well, what prevented him from taking hold of you?" asked Captain McClintock, who had not been near enough to discern precisely69 what had taken place in the boat.
"Noddy saved me, father. He jammed the boat-hook right into the shark's head. In another instant the creature would have had me in his mouth. O, father, it was such an awful death to think of—to be bitten by a shark!"
"Horrible!" groaned70 the father. "Noddy, your hand! You and I shall be friends to the last day of my life."
"Thank you, sir," replied the heroic boy, as he took the proffered71 hand. "I did the best I could;[166] but I was so scared! I was afraid the shark would catch her in spite of me."
"God bless you, Noddy! But come on board, and we will talk it over."
Captain McClintock handed Mollie, still dripping with water, to Mr. Watts, who had been an interested spectator of the touching72 scene in the boat; and she was borne to the cabin amid the congratulations of the crew, with whom she was a great favorite.
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1
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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seasickness
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| n.晕船 | |
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intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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skulking
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| v.潜伏，偷偷摸摸地走动，鬼鬼祟祟地活动( skulk的现在分词 ) | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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prostrated
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| v.使俯伏，使拜倒( prostrate的过去式和过去分词 )；（指疾病、天气等）使某人无能为力 | |
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malady
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| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
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schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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14
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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16
torrents
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| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
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labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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watts
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| （电力计量单位）瓦，瓦特( watt的名词复数 ) | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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remonstrate
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| v.抗议，规劝 | |
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vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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tribulations
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| n.苦难( tribulation的名词复数 )；艰难；苦难的缘由；痛苦 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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32
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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impurity
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| n.不洁，不纯，杂质 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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ravages
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| 劫掠后的残迹，破坏的结果，毁坏后的残迹 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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transact
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| v.处理；做交易；谈判 | |
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refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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41
spoke
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| 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 | |
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42
voracity
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| n.贪食，贪婪 | |
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43
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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ravenous
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| adj.极饿的，贪婪的 | |
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46
fins
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| [医]散热片；鱼鳍；飞边；鸭掌 | |
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47
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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48
precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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49
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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50
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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51
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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54
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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61
vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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62
devout
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| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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64
preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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66
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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67
dreading
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| v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
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shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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69
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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71
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
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