"The boatswain of the Randolph," replied the colonel. "He has just died."
"Poor fellow! but there are many other brave men gone this day. What think you was the complement1 of the frigate2, colonel?"
"Over three hundred men certainly," replied the colonel (the actual number was three hundred and fifteen). "Most of them not already done for were lost in the explosion, I presume?"
"Yes, assuredly; and now I owe you an apology, my dear sir. I never saw a more gallant3 action in my life. The man 's gone, of course, but he shall have full credit for it in my report; 'twas bravely done, and successfully, too. We are frightfully cut up, and in no condition to pursue. In fact, I will not conceal5 from you that some of our spars are so severely6 wounded, and the starboard rigging so damaged and scorched7 and cut up, that I know not how we could stand a heavy blow. Twenty-five are killed, and upward of sixty wounded too, and about thirty missing, killed, or wounded men of the boarding party, who were undoubtedly8 blown up with the frigate. Beauchamp is gone; and that little fellow there," pointing to a couple of seamen9 bringing a small limp body aft, "is Montagu. Poor little youngster!"
"This has indeed been a frightful4 action, captain," replied the colonel. "I knew young Seymour well. He was a man of the most consummate10 gallantry. This sacrifice is like him," he continued softly, looking at Katharine and then turning away. Perhaps the captain understood. At any rate he stepped to her side and said gently,—
"Mistress Katharine, this is no place for you; you must go below. Indeed, I must insist. I shall have to order you. Come—" and then laying his hand on her arm, he started back in surprise. "Why, you are wounded!"
"'Tis nothing, sir," said Katharine, faintly. "I welcome it; 'twas an
American bullet. Would it had found my heart!"
"Only a flesh-wound, colonel; no cause for alarm," said the captain, looking at it with the eye of experience. "It will be all right in a day or two. But now she must go below. I can't understand how you were allowed to stay here, or be here. What were they thinking of? But you saw one of the hottest and most desperate battles ever fought between two ships since you were here. They can fight; you were right, colonel," he went on in ungrudging admiration11.
"Here, Desborough," he added, addressing the lieutenant12, who just then put his foot on the deck, "take Miss Wilton below, and ask the surgeon to attend her at his convenience; she 's gone and got herself wounded by her friends."
Lieutenant Desborough, black and grimy, streaked13 with smoke and powder, turned pale at the captain's words, and sprang forward anxiously and led the object of his love down the steps to her cabin. "Wounded!" he murmured. "Oh, my love, why did no one take you to a place of safety?"
"'T is nothing," she replied, going on as if in a dream.
Desborough had his wish: his rival was gone; he had the field to himself; but he was too manly14 to feel any exultation15 now that it was over, and too sorry for the vacant despair he saw on her face. He tenderly whispered to her as he led her on,—
"Believe me, dear Katharine, it is not thus I would have triumphed over
Mr. Seymour. He was in truth a knightly16 gentleman."
Overwhelming pity for her filled his heart, and he went on magnanimously,—
"I am sorry—"
She made no answer; she did not hear. In the cabin the body of little Montagu was lying on a table. He would never get his frigate now. How small and frail17 and boyish looked the Honorable Giles to-day! Why did they send children like that to war? Had he no mother?—poor lad! Moved by a sudden impulse, she stooped and kissed him, as she had done an hour before. No throb18 of the proud little heart answered responsive to her caress19 now. Alas20! she might kiss him when and as she pleased; he would not feel it, and he would not heed21. Entering her own berth22 at last, she closed the door and sank down upon her knees,—alone with God!
"A sail coming down fast,—the little brig, sir," reported the officer of the deck to Captain Vincent. "Shall we come about and give him a broadside?"
"No, no; we dare not handle the braces23 yet,—not until the gear and spars have been well overhauled24."
"Shall we use the stern-chaser then, sir?"
The Yarmouth had left the scene of the explosion some distance away by this time, but she was still within easy gun-shot. Captain Vincent earnestly examined the brig; as he looked, she came up to the wind, hove to, and dropped a boat in the water. There was a bit of spar still floating there. The captain saw that three or four men were clinging to it.
"No; she's on an errand of mercy. There are men in the water on that topmast there. Let her go free," he said generously. "We 've done enough to-day to satisfy any reasonable man."
The colonel grasped his hand warmly and thanked him. The little brig picked up her boat, swung her mainyard, and filled away again on the port tack25, in the wake of the rest of the little squadron now far ahead; then, understanding the forbearance of the big ship, she fired a gun to leeward26 and dipped her ensign in salute27.
The force of the explosion had thrown Seymour, from his advantageous28 position aft, far out into the water and away from the sinking ship. The contact with cold water recalled him to his senses at once; and with the natural instinct of man for life, he struck out as well as he might, considering his broken leg and wounded arm and weakened state. There was a piece of a mast with the top still on it floating near by. He struggled gallantly29 to make it,—'twas no use, he could do no more; closing his eyes, he sank down in the dark water. But help was near: a hand grasped him by his long hair and drew him up; one of his men, unwounded fortunately, had saved him. The two men presently reached the bit of wreck30; the sailor scrambled31 up on it, and by a great effort drew his captain by his side; two more men swam over desperately32, and finally joined the little group. They clung there helpless, hopeless, despairing, fascinated, watching the remains33 of the Randolph disappear, marking a few feeble swimmers here and there struggling, till all was still. Then they turned their eyes upon their late antagonist34, running away before the wind in flames; they saw her fight them down successfully; appalled35, none spoke36. Presently one of the seamen glanced the other way, and saw the little brig swiftly bearing down upon them.
"God be praised! Here's the brig, the Fair American," he cried. "We shall be saved—saved!"
The brig was handled smartly; she came to the wind, backed the maintopsail, and lay gently tossing to and fro on the long swells37. The young captain stood on the rail, clinging to the back-stays, anxiously watching. The boat was dropped into the water, and with long strokes shot over to them. The men sprang aboard; rude hands gently and tenderly lifted the wounded captain in. They pulled rapidly back to the brig; the falls were manned, and the boat was run up, the yard swung, and she filled away. Seymour was lifted down; Philip received him in his arms.
"I ought to arrest you for disobedience of orders," said the captain, sternly. "Why did you pay no attention to my signals? You have jeoparded the brig. Yon ship can blow you out of the water; you are quite within range."
But they soon saw that no motion was made by the ship; and in accordance with Seymour's orders the gun was fired and the colors dipped,—a salute which the ship promptly38 returned.
"I ought to put you under arrest, Philip," again said Seymour, faintly, while he was lying in the tiny cabin, having his wounds dressed; "but I will not. 'T was gallantly done; but obey orders first hereafter,—'t is the first principle of action on the sea." That was rather cool comfort for the young officer, considering that his somewhat reckless action had just saved Seymour's life. He made brief reply, however, and then resumed his station on the deck of his little vessel39, which was rapidly overhauling40 the rest of the fleet. As soon as the night fell, the wind permitting, they were by Seymour's direction headed for the harbor of Charleston once more. Now that his mind was free again, Seymour's thoughts turned to that woman's form of which he had one brief glimpse ere the line-of-battle ship disappeared in the smoke. Could it indeed have been Katharine Wilton? Could fate play him such a trick as to awaken41 once more his sleeping hope? Through the long night he tossed in fevered unrest in his narrow berth. Again he went over the awful scenes of that one hour of horror. The roar of the guns, the crash of splintered timbers, the groans42 of the wounded men, rang in his fretted43 ear. They seemed to rise before him, those gallant officers and men, the hardy44, bold sailors, veterans of the sea, audacious youngsters with life long before them, Bentley, his old, his faithful friend,—lost—all lost. Was there reproach in their gaze? Was it worth while, after all? Ay, but duty; he had always done his duty—duty always—duty— Ah, they faded away, and Katharine looked down upon—it was she—love—duty—love—duty! Was that the roar of battle again, or only his beating heart? They found him in the morning, delirious45, shouting orders, murmuring words of love, calling Kate,—babbling like a child.
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1
complement
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| n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足 | |
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frigate
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| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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scorched
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| 烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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consummate
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| adj.完美的；v.成婚；使完美 [反]baffle | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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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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streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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knightly
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| adj. 骑士般的 adv. 骑士般地 | |
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frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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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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braces
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| n.吊带，背带；托架( brace的名词复数 )；箍子；括弧；（儿童）牙箍v.支住( brace的第三人称单数 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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24
overhauled
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| v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
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25
tack
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| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
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leeward
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| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
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27
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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28
advantageous
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| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
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gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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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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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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32
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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35
appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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36
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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37
swells
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| 增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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38
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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39
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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40
overhauling
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| n.大修；拆修；卸修；翻修v.彻底检查( overhaul的现在分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
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41
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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42
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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43
fretted
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| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 | |
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44
hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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45
delirious
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| adj.不省人事的，神智昏迷的 | |
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