They doubted not, but that they might again succeed in sending it up, and getting it fast as before; and this confidence hindered them from grieving over the unfortunate occurrence, as they might otherwise have done.
As the wind on that day was in the wrong quarter for flying a kite towards the cliff, they determined5 to postpone6 the attempt, till a more favourable7 opportunity; and, in order that their kite should not be in danger of getting spoiled by the rain, they once more shouldered, and carried it back, rope and all, to the shelter of the hut.
Nearly a week elapsed, before there was a breeze that blew in their favour; but during this interval8, they had not been altogether unemployed9. Still uncertain of the length of time they might be detained in the valley, they had passed almost every hour of the daylight in increasing their stock of provisions—so as not to encroach upon the cured venison of the ibex, of which a considerable quantity was still to the good.
Their guns were no longer used for procuring10 food. The last loads still remained in the barrels; and were not to be fired off—until every other means of capturing game should fail them.
Indeed, they were now so confident of being able to get out of their prison, that at times they almost fancied themselves already on their way down the mountains; and talked of keeping their guns loaded, against any danger from large animals they might encounter on their homeward journey. For procuring food they knew that firearms were not necessary. Ossaroo’s bow was sufficient weapon for that. Often might it be heard twanging among the trees; and as often did the shikaree’s arrow pierce the breast of some fine bird—a peacock, or argus pheasant, or one of the beautiful Brahminy geese that frequented the waters of the lake.
Ossaroo’s nets and lines, too, were not without their use. Fish were caught of various kinds, and excellent quality; and there was one sort in particular, should all else fail, that promised to furnish them with an inexhaustible supply. This was a large species of eel11, in which the lake abounded12, to such an extent, that it was only necessary to cast in a hook, with a worm upon it, and an eel of nearly six feet in length would be instantly landed.
As they did not always relish13 to dine upon eels14, but little of their time was spent in procuring them. For all that, they were gratified on discovering the abundance of these slippery creatures—knowing that, should other resources fail, they would find in them a staple15 article of wholesome16 food, that could never become scarce, no matter how much they should eat of it.
A favourable wind at length came on to blow; and the kite was once more shouldered, and carried to the same place as before. Just in the same way did they proceed to fly it; and in the same style it again rose soaring above the cliff; and—the cord having been suddenly slacked—sank to rest upon the slope of the mountain.
So far were they once more successful; but alas17! it proved to be just so far and no farther.
Pulling upon the rope, to ascertain18 whether their anchor had “bit,” they were chagrined19 to receive an answer in the negative. The cord came back to them with scarce any resistance; or only such, as was caused by friction20 over the edge of the cliff, and by the drag of the kite itself along the snowy surface.
Hand over hand, they drew it back: foot by foot, and yard by yard, it came yieldingly towards them—until they saw the broad curving breast of the pseudo-bird projecting over the parapet edge of the precipice21!
Once more was it launched out into the air; once more was rope given it, till it had ascended22 to the full length of its tether; and once more was it allowed to alight.
Again the pull downward and inward—again the cord came freely to hand—and again was the rounded bow seen upon the brow of the precipice, and outlined against the blue sky above; not like the beautiful bow of the iris—a thing of promise—but one of disappointment and chagrin.
Again the flight—again the failure—again and again; until the patience of the operators—to say nothing of their strength—was well nigh exhausted23.
But it was no mere24 play for the sake of pastime. They were not flying that kite for their amusement; nor yet for the purpose of making some scientific experiment. They were flying it as a means of obtaining their personal liberty; and they were all of them interested in the success or failure of the attempt—almost as much as if their lives rested on the issue.
However tried their strength, or worn out their patience, it would not do to give up; and therefore—although at each unsuccessful effort, with hopes constantly becoming diminished—they continued their exertions25.
For more than a score of times they had sent up the kite, and as often dragged it back to the brow of the cliff; not always at the same point: for they had themselves changed their ground, and tried the flight in different places.
In all cases, the result was the same. The bird refused to take hold with its claws—either on rocks, or blocks of ice, or banks of frozen snow—all of which lay scatter26 over the slope of the mountain.
Considering that it had caught hold on the very first trial, so many failures were regarded by our adventurers with some surprise. Had it never held, there would have been no cause for this; and after so many attempts, they would have been the more inclined to yield up their plan, deeming it impracticable. But the fact of their first success sustained them in the hope that success might again be obtained; and, in this belief, they were encouraged to “keep on trying.”
Half a dozen additional flights were made, but fortune still declining to favour them, they desisted from their efforts, leaving the paper-bird with its breast protruding27 over the cliff: as if perched there in preparation for a further flight.
By this time the kite had become sadly damaged—its plumage having received rough usage by constant trailing over the rocks and sharp angles of ice. While up in the air, daylight could be seen shining through it in several places; and it no longer exhibited that majesty28 of flight that had originally characterised it. It was evident that repairs would soon be needed; and to discuss this question, as also to consider the propriety29 of proceeding30 to make trial at some other place, our adventurers, for a time, discontinued their efforts.
All three were standing31 together, but at several paces distant from the end of the rope; which they had for the moment abandoned, and which lay negligently32 along the ground.
They had not taken the slightest precaution to secure it: for it had not occurred to them that there was any risk in leaving it loose.
It was only when too late, that they perceived the mistake they had committed—only when they saw the cord suddenly jerked up from the ground, as if some invisible hand was lifting it aloft into the sky!
All three rushed towards it at the same instant. They were too late. Already the end of the rope was dangling33 at such a height above their heads, that even the tallest of them could not touch it with the tips of his fingers.
Ossaroo leaped high into the air in an endeavour to clutch the string. Caspar ran to procure34 a pole which lay near, in hopes of retaining it in that way: while Karl ran up the ladder that was resting against the cliff, near which the rope was yet trailing.
The efforts of all three were alike vain. For a second or two, the end of the cord hung oscillating above their heads—just sufficiently35 out of reach to tantalise them; and then, as if the invisible hand above had given it another gigantic jerk, it was drawn36 rapidly and vertically37 upward, till it finally disappeared over the crest38 of the cliff!
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1
miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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compensated
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| 补偿，报酬( compensate的过去式和过去分词 )； 给（某人）赔偿（或赔款） | |
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3
chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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4
entangled
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| adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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5
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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6
postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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7
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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8
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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9
unemployed
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| adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的 | |
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10
procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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11
eel
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| n.鳗鲡 | |
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12
abounded
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| v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
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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14
eels
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| abbr. 电子发射器定位系统（=electronic emitter location system） | |
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15
staple
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| n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类 | |
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wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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17
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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18
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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19
chagrined
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| adj.懊恼的，苦恼的v.使懊恼，使懊丧，使悔恨( chagrin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
friction
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| n.摩擦，摩擦力 | |
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21
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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22
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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24
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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25
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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26
scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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27
protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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28
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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29
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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30
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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31
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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32
negligently
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33
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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34
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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35
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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36
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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37
vertically
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| adv.垂直地 | |
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38
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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