The ocean itself was less than a quarter of a mile from where the old boat was moored11, and so the poor woman might well be excused for growing more alarmed as the minutes went on and the gale4 increased, until the boat fairly rocked, and the children in the adjoining cabin began crying and screaming in their fright.
"Coomber! Coomber!" she said at last, shaking her husband, and starting up in bed; for a sound more dreadful than the children'sscreams had made itself heard above the din12 of the wind and waves.
"There's a ship, Coomber, close in shore; I can hear the guns!" screamed his wife, giving him another vigorous shake.
"Ship! guns!" exclaimed the old fisherman, starting up in bed. The next minute he was on his feet, and working himself into his clothes. "She must be on the sand-bar if you heard the guns," he said.
A sudden lurch13 of the boat almost pitched the old man forward, and the children's screams redoubled, while Mrs. Coomber hastily scrambled14 out of bed and lighted the lantern that hung against the wall.
"What are yer going to do?" asked her husband, in some surprise; "women ain't no good in such work as this."
"What are you going to do?" asked Mrs. Coomber, almost crying herself; "the boat will soon be adrift with this wind and tide, and we shall all be drowned like rats in a hole."
"Nay15, nay, old woman, the boat was made taut16 enough before I brought you here, and you think she wouldn't have broke away before this if she was going to do it? Don't be a stupid lubber," he added.
"But the children, Coomber, the children. I ain't afraid for myself," said the mother, with a sob17.
"Well, well, the old boat'll hold the boys for many a day yet," said the fisherman; "you go in and stop their noise, while I get help for the poor souls that are surely perishing out there."
"But what can you do for them?" asked his wife; "there ain't a boat besides ours at Bermuda Point, nor a man to help you manage it besides Bob."
"No, no; Bob and I couldn't manage the boat in such a sea as this; but he shall go with me to Fellness. Bob! Bob!" called his father, in the same breath.
"Aye, aye," came an answering shout from the adjoining cabin.
"Slip into your things as quick as you can; we must be off to Fellness; there's a ship out there on the bar sands."
"I'm a'most ready, dad; I heard mother call yer, and thought you'd let me go along," replied Bob.
Before the fisherman put on his sou'-wester he took a black bottle from a recess18, and after taking a hearty19 draught20, he said, "It's lucky we've got a drop to-night," as he handed it to his wife; and with a parting word to her not to be afraid, he and Bob stepped out of the boat-house door, to meet the full fury of the blast, that threatened at first to carry them off their legs. The three miles' walk to the little fishing village of Fellness was no easy task such a wild night as this, for although the road was inland, it was fully21 exposed to the sea, and between the wilder outbreaks of the wind and rain they could hear the guns of distress22, and occasionally see a rocket piercing the midnight blackness of the sky, appealing for help for the drowning men.
At the coastguard station, midway betweenthe Point and the village, they found the men on the alert, and two volunteered to go with Coomber and help man the boat. Then the four plodded23 silently along the slushy road, for talking was next to impossible in such a gale, and it needed all the strength and energy they could muster24 to fight the wind and rain.
They made their way to the beach as soon as they reached Fellness, and, as they expected, found most of the men gathered there, watching the distressed25 vessel26.
"Halloo! here's Coomber from the Point," said one, as the new-comers pushed their way in among them.
"What are yer standing27 here for?" shouted Coomber, in some impatience28; "looking won't do her no good."
"We can't do nothing else," said the man; "we've got Rodwell's boat here—she's the best craft on this coast for such a trip, and we've made three tries in her, but it's no good; nothing could live in such a sea as this; we've been beat back every time, and well-nigh swamped."
"Well, mates, I don't say nothing but what yer may have tried; but suppose now one of yer had got a boy out in that there ship—I've got a boy in that, or another, if he ain't gone to where there's no more sea," said the old fisherman, with a groan29; and before he had done speaking, one or two had moved to where the boat had been dragged on to the low sandy shore.
"We'll try again," they said, in quiet but determined30 voices.
"Let the youngsters go," said Coomber, as two or three married men pressed forward; "them as has got wives ain't no call to go on such a trip as this. There'll be enough of us; there's me and Bob, and Rook and White came with us a purpose, and——"
"But how about your wife, Coomber?" interrupted one of the men.
"Oh, never you fear, lads; she'll not grudge31 me if I save her boy. Now, lads, look here; seven of us'll be enough, and we've got four."
There were so many volunteers for the three vacant places, that the men seemed on the point of quarrelling among themselves now for the privilege of joining in this dangerous errand; but by common consent Coomber was constituted the leader of the party, and he chose three of the most stalwart of the single men, and the rest were allowed to run the boat down through the surf. Then, with a loud cheer from all who stood on the shore, the seven brave men bent32 to their oars33, and during a slight lull34 in the wind, they made a little headway towards the wreck35. But the next minute they were beaten back again, and the boat well-nigh swamped. Again they pushed off, but again were they driven back; and five times was this repeated, and thus an hour was lost in the fruitless endeavour to get away from the shore. At length the fury of the storm somewhat abated36, and they were able to get away, but it was a long time before they could get near the dangerous bar sands, on which the vessel had struck, and when they did get there, the ship had disappeared. There was plenty of wreckage37 about—broken spars, fragments of masts and torn sail-cloth.
"We're too late," groaned38 one of the men, as he peered through the darkness, trying to descry39 the hull40 of the vessel. They had not heard the guns or seen a rocket thrown up for some time.
"They're all gone, poor fellows," said another, sadly; "we may as well go back now, before the gale freshens again."
"Oh, stop a bit; we'll look among this rubbish, and see what there is here; perhaps some of them are holding on to the floating timber," said Coomber, who had frequently been out on a similar errand.
They raised their voices together, and cried "Hi! hi!" trying to outscream the wind; but it was of no use; there was no answering call for help, and after waiting about for some time, and going as near to the dangerous sands as they dared, they at length reluctantly turned their boat towards the shore, and began to row back. But before they had got far on their way, they descried41 the gleam of something white floating in front of them.
"Only a bit of sail-cloth," said one, as they paused in their rowing to concentrate all their attention upon the object.
"Let's make sure, mates," said Coomber. "Steady, now; mind your oars; let her float; it's coming this way, and we'll pick it up;" and in another minute Coomber had reached over and seized the white bundle, which he found to be carefully lashed42 to a spar.
"It's a child!" he exclaimed. "Mates, we ain't come out for nothing, after all. Now row for dear life," he said, as he carefully laid the bundle in the bottom of the boat. They could do nothing for it here, not even ascertain43 whether it was dead or alive; and they pulled for the shore with even greater eagerness than they had left it.
The dawn was breaking before they got back, and they were welcomed with a shout from their waiting comrades, who were watching anxiously for the return of the boat. There was disappointment, however, in the little crowd of watchers when they saw only the brave crew returning from the perilous44 journey.
"What, nothing!" exclaimed one of the men, as the boat drew close in shore.
"Only a child, and that may be dead," shouted one of the crew.
"But I think it's alive," said Coomber. "Run, Peters, and rouse up your missus; the womenfolk are better hands at such jobs than we are;" and as soon as he could leave the boat, he picked up the white bundle, and hurried after Peters, leaving his companions to tell the story of their disappointment.
Mrs. Peters was a motherly woman, and had already lighted a fire to prepare some breakfast for her husband, in readiness for his return from the beach, so the wet clothes were soon taken off the child, and they saw it was a little girl about five years old, fair and delicate-looking, decently, but not richly clad, with a small silver medal hung round her neck by a black ribbon. At first they feared the poor little thing was dead, for it was not until Mrs. Peters had well-nigh exhausted45 all her best-known methods for restoring the apparently46 drowned, that the little waif showed any sign of returning life.
Coomber stood watching with silent but intense anxiety the efforts of the dame47 to restore animation48, not daring to join in the vigorous chafings and slappings administered, for fear his rough horny hands should hurt the tender blue-white limbs.
For some time the woman was too much occupied with her task to notice his presence, but when her labour was rewarded by a faint sigh, and a slightly-drawn breath parted the pale lips, she heard a grunt49 of satisfaction behind her; and turning her head, she exclaimed, "What gowks men are, to be sure."
"Eh, what is it, dame?" said Coomber, meekly50; for he had conceived a wonderful respect for Mrs. Peters during the last ten minutes. "Ha' you been a-standing there like a post all this while, and never put out yer hand to help save the child?" she said, reproachingly.
"I couldn't, dame, I couldn't with such hands as these; but I'll do anything for you that I can," whispered the fisherman, as though he feared to disturb the child.
"Well, I want a tub of hot water," snapped Mrs. Peters. "You'll find the tub in the backyard, and the kettle's near on the boil. Look sharp and get the tub, and then go upstairs and get a blanket off the bed."
Coomber soon brought the tub, and a pitcher51 of cold water that stood near, but it was not so easy for him to grope his way upstairs. The staircase was narrow and dark, and seemed specially52 contrived53 that the uninitiated might bump and bruise54 themselves. Coomber, in his boat-home, having no such convenience or inconvenience in general use, found the ascent55 anything but easy, and the dame's sharp voice was heard calling for the blanket long before he had groped his way to the bedroom door. But what would he not do for that child whose faint wail56 now greeted his ears? He pushed on, in spite of thumps57 and knocks against unexpected corners, and when he had found the blanket, was not long in making his way down with it.
"Now what's to be done with her?" demanded the woman, as she lifted the little girl out of the water, and wrapped her in the blanket.
"Won't she drink some milk?" said Coomber, scratching his head helplessly.
"I dessay she will presently; but who's to keep her? You say there ain't none of the people saved from the wreck to tell who she belongs to?"
"No, there ain't none of 'em saved, so I think I'll take her myself," said Coomber.
"You take her!" exclaimed the woman; "what will your wife say, do you think, to another mouth to fill, when there's barely enough now for what you've got—four hearty boys, who are very sharks for eating?"
"Well, dame, I've had a little gal2 o' my own, but ain't likely to have another unless I takes this one," said Coomber, with a little more courage, "and so I ain't a-going to lose this chance; for I do want a little gal."
"Oh, that's all very well; but you ain't no call to take this child that's no ways your own. She can go to the workus, you know. Peters'll take her by-and-by. Her clothes ain't much, so her belongings58 ain't likely to trouble themselves much about her. Yer can see by this trumpery59 medal she don't belong to rich folks; so my advice is, let her go to the workus, where she'll be well provided for."
"No, no! the missus'll see things as I do, when I talk to her a bit. So if you'll take care of her for an hour or two, while I go home and get off these duds, and tell her about it, I'll be obliged;" and without waiting for the dame's reply, Coomber left the cottage.
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1
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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gal
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| n.姑娘，少女 | |
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gales
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| 龙猫 | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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tarpaulin
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| n.涂油防水布，防水衣，防水帽 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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lurch
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| n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行 | |
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scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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taut
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| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
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sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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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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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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21
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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23
plodded
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| v.沉重缓慢地走（路）( plod的过去式和过去分词 )；努力从事；沉闷地苦干；缓慢进行（尤指艰难枯燥的工作） | |
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24
muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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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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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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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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29
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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30
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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32
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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33
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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34
lull
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| v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇 | |
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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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36
abated
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| 减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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37
wreckage
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| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
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38
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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39
descry
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| v.远远看到；发现；责备 | |
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40
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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41
descried
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| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
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42
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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43
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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44
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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45
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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46
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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47
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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48
animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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49
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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50
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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51
pitcher
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| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
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52
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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53
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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54
bruise
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| n.青肿，挫伤；伤痕；vt.打青；挫伤 | |
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55
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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56
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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57
thumps
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| n.猪肺病；砰的重击声( thump的名词复数 )v.重击， （指心脏）急速跳动( thump的第三人称单数 ) | |
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58
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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trumpery
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| n.无价值的杂物；adj.（物品）中看不中用的 | |
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