Originally she was intended to drag after her a floating torpedo2 in the hope that she could pass under a vessel's keel and explode the torpedo when she reached the proper position. General Beauregard, however, had positively3 forbidden that she should be used as a submarine any longer on account of her disastrous4 behavior, and on this occasion she was provided with a long spar sticking out from her nose, on the end of which was one hundred pounds of powder in a copper5 cylinder6 provided with four extremely sensitive tubes of lead containing a highly explosive mixture, which would ignite upon contact with a ship's side or bottom and explode the torpedo.
She was painted a slate-gray, and her ballast was so adjusted that with the seven men who manned her on board, one to steer7, one to look after the torpedo, and five to turn the propeller8 crank, her low hatch scarcely rose above the water. In that condition, and especially at night, she looked like a plank9 floating on the surface. By hard and conscientious10 labor11 her five man-power engine could shove her along at about a speed of four knots. Although the order of General Beauregard that she should not be submerged again had materially diminished the risk which experience had shown was overwhelming, yet the proposed expedition was nevertheless hazardous12 in the extreme.
In the first place, an excellent lookout13 was kept on the union ships on account of the several attempts which had been made against them by similar boats. If she were discovered, one shot striking the boat as she approached, even a rifle shot, would suffice to sink her. No one knew what she would do even if she succeeded in exploding the torpedo. It was scarcely hoped that she could get away from a sinking ship in that event.
The little party of officers grouped on the wharf14 bade good-by to the men who entered the deadly affair as if they were saying farewell to those about to die. Every preparation had been made, the artillery15 officer had finally and carefully inspected the torpedo to see if it was in good working order, the men had descended16 into the cramped17 narrow little hull18 of the boat and had made ready to start the propeller. None of them wore any superfluous19 clothing, for it was oppressively hot in the confined area of the little iron shell, and they might have to swim for their lives anyway—perhaps they would be lucky if they got the chance. In short, everybody was ready and every one was there except the commander of the expedition.
Great secrecy20 had been observed in the preparations lest there might be a spy in the town, who, learning of the attempt, would communicate the valuable information to the Federal fleet, and so frustrate21 it. General Beauregard had caused the wharf to be cleared and guarded early in the evening. It was quite dark in February at six o'clock, and no one except his trusted staff officers and Lacy, who had so magnanimously surrendered his opportunity to Sempland, was present.
At a quarter before seven, which was the time Sempland had appointed to return when he left in obedience23 to Fanny Glen's summons, the general began to feel some uneasiness. He spoke24 about it to Lacy, but was reassured25 by that gentleman, who professed26 full confidence that the young lieutenant27 would undoubtedly28 be there in a few moments. He had already of his own motion despatched a soldier to Fanny Glen's house and had learned from him the false news that Sempland had been there and had left. Lacy supposed he had returned to his quarters.
The state of the tide, the necessities of the blockade-runners who hoped to escape that night under cover of the confusion caused by the attack, rendered it absolutely necessary that there should be no delay in the departure of the torpedo boat. The time had been set for seven o'clock, as late as practicable, in order to secure the advantage of settled darkness before the blow was delivered. The party on the wharf waited apprehensively29 a little longer, conversing30 in low tones as the moments ran away, and there was great anxiety as to the whereabouts of the missing officer. Seven o'clock struck from the ancient church steeple hard by; still he did not appear.
"General," said Lacy, a few moments later, "if I might suggest, sir—"
"Go on. What is it?"
"It might be well to send for him."
"Never!" said the general, shortly; "it is a soldier's duty to be at the place appointed him at the specified31 time. I shall not send for him. If he has forgotten himself, his duty, for any cause, he shall suffer the consequences."
Lacy was in despair. He could not understand the situation. He had not the slightest doubt of Sempland's courage. He knew his friend's rigid32 idea of soldierly duty or honor. Where had he gone? If there had been any way, he would have despatched men to hunt for him in every direction, but the general's prohibition33 was positive. And for some reason which he could not explain he refrained from saying anything about Sempland's visit to Fanny Glen, merely advising the general, in response to an inquiry34, that he had left him to go to his quarters to write a letter.
Five minutes more dragged along.
"General Beauregard," said Lacy at last, "with your permission I will seek him myself."
"No," said the general, sternly, "we can wait no longer. I need you for something else."
"You mean—?"
"I mean that I shall carry out the original plan. Mr. Sempland has forfeited35 any consideration whatever at our hands."
"Then I am to—?"
Lacy pointed22 toward the David.
"Unless you wish to back out."
"No one has ever used these words to me, sir," answered Lacy, proudly. "I am as ready, as anxious, to go as I ever was. But Sempland—sir, I would stake my life on his fidelity36."
"It may be so. I can wait no longer. Will you go, or shall I give up the expedition?"
"Rather than that, sir," said one of his staff officers, "if Major Lacy hesitates, let me go."
"Enough!" said Lacy. "Will you explain to Sempland how it came about? Good-by."
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收听单词发音
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1
boiler
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| n.锅炉；煮器(壶，锅等) | |
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torpedo
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| n.水雷，地雷；v.用鱼雷破坏 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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cylinder
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| n.圆筒，柱(面)，汽缸 | |
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7
steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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8
propeller
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| n.螺旋桨，推进器 | |
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9
plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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10
conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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12
hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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13
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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14
wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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15
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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16
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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19
superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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20
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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frustrate
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| v.使失望；使沮丧；使厌烦 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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24
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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25
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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26
professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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apprehensively
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| adv.担心地 | |
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30
conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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31
specified
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| adj.特定的 | |
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32
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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33
prohibition
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| n.禁止；禁令，禁律 | |
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34
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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35
forfeited
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| （因违反协议、犯规、受罚等）丧失，失去( forfeit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36
fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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