"Yes, sir. How do you feel, captain?"
"I think I'm a little better. I wish you would ask Mollie to come in; I want to see her."
"Does your head ache now, sir?" asked Noddy, who did not like to tell him that his daughter had just been taken with the fever.
"Not so bad as it did. Just speak to Mollie."
"I think you are ever so much better, sir. You will be out in a day or two."
"Do you think so, Noddy?"
"Yes, sir; I'm certain you will," answered the boy, who knew that faith was life in the present instance.
"I'm glad you think so. I certainly feel a great[181] deal better," replied the captain, as though he was already cheered by the inspiration of hope.
"You must be careful, and keep still; and you will be all right in a week, at the most."
"I hope so; for I couldn't help thinking, when I was taken down, what a bitter thing it would be to poor Mollie if I should die so far from home and friends."
"You have got over the worst of it now, captain."
"Is Mollie out in the cabin?" asked the sufferer, persistently1 returning to the subject near his heart.
"No, sir; she is not, just now."
"Has she gone on deck?"
"No, sir."
"Where is she, Noddy?" demanded he, earnestly, as he attempted to raise himself up in his cot.
"Don't stir, captain; it will make you worse, if you do."
"Tell me where Mollie is at once, or I shall jump out of my berth2. Is she—is she—"
"She is in her room, captain. Don't be worried about her," replied Noddy, who was afraid that the[182] truth would have a bad effect upon the devoted3 father. "She laid down a little while ago."
"Is she dead?" gasped4 the captain, with a mighty5 effort to utter the appalling6 word.
"O, no, sir! She was taken sick a little while ago."
"O, mercy!" groaned7 the sick man. "I know it all now."
"It's no use to deny it, sir. She has got the fever."
"And I lay here helpless!"
"She said she felt a little better when I came out. I gave her the medicine, and did everything for her."
"I must go to her."
"You will worry her to death, if you do, captain. She is more troubled about you than she is about herself. If you lay still, so I can report that you are doing well, it will be the best thing in the world for her. It will do her more good than the medicine."
"Tell her I am well, Noddy!"
"It won't do to tell her too much; she won't believe anything, if I do," said Noddy, sorely troubled about the moral management of the cases.
"Tell her I am well, Noddy; and I will go and sit[183] by her," replied the sufferer, who was no more able to get out of his bed than he was to cure the fearful disease.
"I can't do anything, captain, if you don't keep still in your bed. She is a little out just now; but I think she will do very well, if you only let her alone."
Captain McClintock was in an agony of suspense8; but Noddy succeeded in consoling him so that he promised to remain quietly in his bed. As physician and nurse, as well as friend and comforter, the cabin-boy found his hands full; but he had a heart big enough for the occasion; and all day and all night he went from one patient to another, ministering to their wants with as much skill and judgment9 as though he had been trained in a sick room.
Mollie grow worse as the hours wore heavily away; but this was to be expected, and the patient nurse was not discouraged by the progressive indications of the disease. Towards morning the captain went to sleep; but it required all the faithful boy's energies to keep Mollie in her bed, as she raved10 with the heated brain of the malady11.
In the morning one of the seamen12 was reported out of danger, and the others in a hopeful condition.[184] Noddy was completely exhausted13 by his labors14 and his solicitude15. Mr. Lincoln saw that he could endure no more; and as he had obtained a few hours' sleep on deck during the night, he insisted that the weary boy should have some rest, while he took care of the sick. Noddy crawled into his berth, and not even his anxiety for poor Mollie could keep him awake any longer. He slept heavily, and the considerate mate did not wake him till dinner-time, when he sprang from his berth and hastened to the couch of the sick girl.
Another day passed, and Mollie began to exhibit some hopeful symptoms. Her father was still improving. The patients in the forecastle were also getting better. Noddy felt that no more of the Roebuck's people were to be cast into the sea. Hope gave him new life. He was rested and refreshed by the bright prospect16 quite as much as by the sleep which the kindness of Mr. Lincoln enabled him to obtain.
The schooner17 still sped on her course with favoring breezes; while Noddy, patient and hopeful, performed the various duties which the fell disease imposed upon him. He had not regarded the danger of taking the fever himself. He had no thought[185] now for any one but poor Mollie, who was daily improving. One by one the crew, who had been stricken down with the malady, returned to the deck; but it was a long time before they were able to do their full measure of duty. In a week after Mollie was taken sick, her father was able to sit a portion of the day by her side; and a few days later, she was able to sit up for a few moments.
The terrible scourge18 had wasted itself; but the chief mate and three of the crew had fallen victims to the sad visitation. Yellow fever patients convalesce19 very slowly; and it was a fortnight before Captain McClintock was able to go on deck; but at the same time, Mollie, weak and attenuated20 by her sufferings, was helped up the ladder by her devoted friend and nurse. The cloud had passed away from the vessel21, and everybody on board was as happy as though disease and death had never invaded those wooden walls. But the happiness was toned to the circumstances. Hearts had been purified by suffering. Neither the officers nor the men swore; they spoke22 to each other in gentle tones, as though the tribulations23 through which they had passed had softened25 their hearts, and bound them together in a holier than earthly affection.[186]
As Mr. Watts26 and three sailors had died, the vessel was short-handed, but not crippled; and the captain decided27 to prosecute28 his voyage without putting into any port for assistance. Mr. Lincoln was appointed chief mate, and a second mate was selected from the forecastle. Everything went along as before the storm burst upon the devoted vessel.
"How happy I am, Noddy!" exclaimed Mollie, as they sat on deck one afternoon, when she had nearly recovered her strength. "My father was saved, and I am saved. How grateful I am!"
"So am I, Mollie," replied Noddy.
"And how much we both owe to you! Wasn't it strange you didn't take the fever?"
"I think it was."
"Were you not afraid of it?"
"I didn't think anything about it, any way; but I feel just as though I had gone through with the fever, or something else."
"Why?"
"I don't know; everything looks odd and strange to me. I don't feel like the same fellow."
Mollie persisted in her desire to know how the cabin-boy felt, and Noddy found it exceedingly difficult to describe his feelings. Much of the religious[187] impressions which he had derived29 from the days of tribulation24 still clung to him. His views of life and death had changed. Many of Bertha's teachings, which he could not understand before, were very plain to him now. He did not believe it would be possible for him to do anything wrong again. Hopes and fears had been his incentives30 to duty before; principle had grown up in his soul now. The experience of years seemed to be crowded into the few short days when gloom and death reigned31 in the vessel.
The Roebuck sped on her way, generally favored with good weather and fair winds. She was a stanch32 vessel, and behaved well in the few storms she encountered. She doubled Cape33 Horn without subjecting her crew to any severe hardships, and sped on her way to more genial34 climes. For several weeks after his recovery, Captain McClintock kept very steady, and Mollie hoped that the "evil days" had passed by. It was a vain hope; for when the schooner entered the Pacific, his excesses were again apparent. He went on from bad to worse, till he was sober hardly a single hour of the day. In vain did Mollie plead with him; in vain she reminded him of the time when they had both lain at death's door;[188] in vain she assured him that she feared the bottle more than the fever. He was infatuated by the demon35 of the cup, and seemed to have no moral power left.
The Roebuck was approaching the thick clusters of islands that stud the Pacific; and it was important that the vessel should be skilfully36 navigated38. Mr. Lincoln was a good seaman39, but he was not a navigator; that is, he was not competent to find the latitude40 and longitude41, and lay down the ship's position on the chart. The captain was seldom in condition to make an observation, and the schooner was in peril42 of being dashed to pieces on the rocks. The mate was fully37 alive to the difficulties of his position; and he told Mollie what must be the consequences of her father's continued neglect. The sea in which they were then sailing was full of islands and coral reefs. There were indications of a storm, and he could not save the vessel without knowing where she was.
"Noddy," said the troubled maiden43, after Mr. Lincoln had explained the situation to her, "I want you to help me."
"I'm ready," replied he, with his usual promptness.[189]
"We are going to ruin. My poor father is in a terrible state, and I am going to do something."
"What can you do?"
"You shall help me, but I will bear all the blame."
"You would not do anything wrong, and I am willing to bear the blame with you."
"Never mind that; we are going to do what's right, and we will not say a word about the blame. Now come with me," she continued, leading the way to the cabin.
"I am willing to do anything that is right, wherever the blame falls."
"We must save the vessel, for the mate says she is in great danger. There is a storm coming, and Mr. Lincoln don't know where we are. Father hasn't taken an observation for four days."
"Well, are you going to take one?" asked Noddy, who was rather bewildered by Mollie's statement of the perils44 of the vessel.
"No; but I intend that father shall to-morrow."
"What are you going to do?"
She opened the pantry door, and took from the shelf a bottle of gin.[190]
"Take this, Noddy, and throw it overboard," said she, handing him the bottle.
"I'll do that;" and he went to the bull's eye, in Molli's state-room, and dropped it into the sea.
"That's only a part of the work," said she, as she opened one of the lockers45 in the cabin, which was stowed full of liquors.
She passed them out, two at a time, and Noddy dropped them all into the ocean. Captain McClintock was lying in his state-room, in a helpless state of intoxication47, so that there was no fear of interruption from him. Every bottle of wine, ale, and liquor which the cabin contained was thrown overboard. Noddy thought that the sharks, which swallow everything that falls overboard, would all get "tight;" but he hoped they would break the bottles before they swallowed them. The work was done, and everything which could intoxicate48 was gone; at least everything which Mollie and the cabin-boy could find. They did not tell Mr. Lincoln what they had done, for they did not wish to make him a party to the transaction.
They were satisfied with their work. The vessel would be saved if the storm held off twelve hours longer. The captain rose early the next morning,[191] and Noddy, from his berth, saw him go to the pantry for his morning dram. There was no bottle there. He went to the locker46; there was none there. He searched, without success, in all the lockers and berths49 of the cabin. While he was engaged in the search, Mollie, who had heard him, came out of her room.
The captain's hand shook, and his whole frame trembled from the effects of his long-inebriation50. His nerves were shattered, and nothing but liquor could quiet them. Mollie could not help crying when she saw to what a state her father had been reduced. He was pale and haggard; and when he tried to raise a glass of water to his lips his trembling hand refused its office, and he spilled it on the floor.
"Where is all the liquor, Mollie?" he asked, in shaken, hollow tones.
"I have thrown it all overboard," she replied, firmly.
He was too weak to be angry with her; and she proceeded to tell him what must be the fate of the vessel, and of all on board, if he did not attend to his duty. He listened, and promised not to drink another drop; for he knew then, even when his shat[192]tered reason held but partial sway, that he would be the murderer of his daughter and of his crew, if the vessel was wrecked51 by his neglect. He meant to keep his promise; but the gnawing52 appetite, which he had fostered and cherished until it became a demon, would not let him do so. In the forenoon, goaded53 by the insatiate thirst that beset54 him, he went into the hold, which could be entered from the cabin, and opened a case of liquors, forming part of the cargo55. He drank long and deep, and lay down upon the merchandise, that he might be near this demon.
Twelve o'clock came, and no observation could be taken. Mollie looked for her father, and with Noddy's help she found him in the hold, senseless in his inebriation. Mr. Lincoln was called down, and he was conveyed to his berth. The liquor was thrown overboard, but it was too late; before dark the gale56 broke upon the Roebuck, and fear and trembling were again in the vessel.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
persistently
|
|
| ad.坚持地；固执地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
berth
|
|
| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
appalling
|
|
| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
groaned
|
|
| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
suspense
|
|
| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
raved
|
|
| v.胡言乱语( rave的过去式和过去分词 )；愤怒地说；咆哮；痴心地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
malady
|
|
| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
seamen
|
|
| n.海员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
exhausted
|
|
| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
labors
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
solicitude
|
|
| n.焦虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
schooner
|
|
| n.纵帆船 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
scourge
|
|
| n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
convalesce
|
|
| v.康复，复原 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
attenuated
|
|
| v.（使）变细( attenuate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）变薄；（使）变小；减弱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
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： |
|
|
|
|
23
tribulations
|
|
| n.苦难( tribulation的名词复数 )；艰难；苦难的缘由；痛苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
tribulation
|
|
| n.苦难，灾难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
softened
|
|
| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
watts
|
|
| （电力计量单位）瓦，瓦特( watt的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
prosecute
|
|
| vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
derived
|
|
| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
incentives
|
|
| 激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
reigned
|
|
| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
stanch
|
|
| v.止住（血等）；adj.坚固的；坚定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
cape
|
|
| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
genial
|
|
| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
demon
|
|
| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
skilfully
|
|
| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
navigated
|
|
| v.给（船舶、飞机等）引航，导航( navigate的过去式和过去分词 )；（从海上、空中等）横越；横渡；飞跃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
seaman
|
|
| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
latitude
|
|
| n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
longitude
|
|
| n.经线，经度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
peril
|
|
| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
maiden
|
|
| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
perils
|
|
| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
lockers
|
|
| n.寄物柜( locker的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
locker
|
|
| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
intoxication
|
|
| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
intoxicate
|
|
| vt.使喝醉，使陶醉，使欣喜若狂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
berths
|
|
| n.（船、列车等的）卧铺( berth的名词复数 )；（船舶的）停泊位或锚位；差事；船台vt.v.停泊( berth的第三人称单数 )；占铺位 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
inebriation
|
|
| n.醉，陶醉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
wrecked
|
|
| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
gnawing
|
|
| a.痛苦的，折磨人的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
goaded
|
|
| v.刺激( goad的过去式和过去分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
beset
|
|
| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
cargo
|
|
| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
gale
|
|
| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |