It is pleasant to loll in the sunshine on a calm day in the stern of a boat and gaze down into unfathomable depths, as one listens to the slow, regular beating of the oars5, and the water rippling6 against the prow—and especially pleasant is this when one in such circumstances is convalescent after a prolonged and severe illness.
So thought Edgar Berrington one lovely morning, some months after the events related in the last chapter, as he was being rowed gently over the fair bosom7 of the China sea. The boat—a large one with a little one towing astern—was so far from the coast that no land could be seen. A few sea-gulls sported round them, dipping their wings in the wave, or putting a plaintive8 question now and then to the rowers. Nothing else was visible except a rocky isle9 not far off that rose abruptly10 from the sea.
“Well, we’re nearing the spot at last,” said Edgar, heaving that prolonged sigh which usually indicates one’s waking up from a pleasant reverie. “What a glorious world this is, Baldwin! How impressively it speaks to us of its Maker11!”
“Ay, whether in the calm or in the storm,” responded Joe.
“Yes; it was under a very different aspect I saw this place last,” returned Edgar. “Yonder is the cliff now coming into view, where the vessel12 we are in search of went down.”
“An ugly place,” remarked Joe, who was steering14 the boat. “Come boys, give way. The morning’s gittin’ on, an’ we must set to work as soon as ever we can. Time an’ tide, you know, etcetera.”
Rooney, Maxwell, Chok-foo, and Ram-stam, who were rowing, bent15 to their work with a will, but the heavy boat did not respond heartily16, being weighted with a large amount of diving gear. Just then a light breeze arose, and the boat, obedient to the higher power, bent over and rippled17 swiftly on.
The only other individual on board was a Malay—the owner of the boat. He sat on the extreme end of the bow looking with a vacant gaze at the island. He was a man of large size and forbidding, though well-formed, features, and was clothed in a costume, half European half Oriental, which gave little clew to the nature of his profession—except that it savoured a good deal of the sea. His name, Dwarro, was, like his person, nondescript. Probably it was a corruption18 of his eastern cognomen19. At all events it suffered further corruption from his companions in the boat, for Baldwin and Maxwell called him Dworro, while Rooney Machowl named him Dwarry. This diversity of pronunciation, however, seemed a matter of no consequence to the stolid21 boatman, who, when directly addressed, answered to any name that people chose to give him. He was taciturn—never spoke22 save when spoken to; and at such times used English so broken that it was difficult to put it together so as to make sense. He was there only in capacity of owner and guardian23 of the boat. Those who hired it would gladly have dispensed24 with his services, but he would not let them have it without taking himself into the bargain.
Having reached the scene of the wreck25 of the Warrior26, the party at once proceeded to sound and drag for it, and soon discovered its position, for it had not shifted much after slipping off the ledge27, where it had met its doom28 on the night of the storm. Its depth under the surface was exactly twenty-three fathoms29, or 138 feet.
“It will try our metal,” observed Baldwin, “for the greatest depth that the Admiralty allow their divers20 to go down is twenty fathom3.”
“What o’ that?” growled30 Maxwell, “I’ve worked myself many a time in twenty-three fathom water, an’ll do it again any day. We don’t need to mind what the Admiralty says. The submarine engineers of London tell us they limit a man to twenty-five fathom, an’ they ought to know what’s possible if any one should.”
“That’s true, David,” remarked Rooney, as he filled his pipe, “but I’ve heard of a man goin’ down twinty-eight fathom, an’ comin’ up alive.”
“Oh, as to that,” said Berrington, “I have heard of one man who descended33 to thirty-four fathom, at which depth he must have sustained a pressure of 88 and a half pounds on every square inch of his body—and he came up alive, but his case is an exception. It was fool-hardy, and he could do no effective work at such a depth. However, here we are, and here we must go to work with a will, whatever the depth be. You and I, Joe, shall descend32 first. The others will look after us. I’ll put on a Siebe and Gorman dress. You will don one of Heinke and Davis, and we’ll take down with us one of Denayrouze’s lamps, reserving Siebe’s electric light for a future occasion.”
In pursuance of these plans the boat was moored34 over the place where the wreck lay, a short ladder was hung over the side of a smaller boat they had in tow with its pendent line and weight, the pumps were set up and rigged, the dresses were put on, and, in a short time our hero found himself in his old quarters down beside the great crank!
But ah! What a change was there! The grinding had ceased for ever; the great crank’s labours were over, and its surface was covered with mud, sand, barnacles, and sea-weed, and involved in a maze35 of twisted iron and wrecked36 timbers—for the ship had broken her back in slipping into deep water, and wrenched37 her parts asunder38 into a state of violent confusion. Thick darkness prevailed at that depth, but Denayrouze’s lamp rendered the darkness visible, and sufficed to enable the divers to steer13 clear of bristling39 rods and twisted iron-bands that might otherwise have torn their dresses and endangered their lives.
The work of inspection40 was necessarily slow as well as fraught41 with risk, for great difficulty was experienced while moving about, in preventing the entanglement42 of air-pipes and life-lines. The two men kept together, partly for company and partly to benefit mutually by the lamp. Presently they came on human bones tightly wedged between masses of timber. Turning from the sad spectacle, they descended into the cabin and made their way towards the place where Berrington knew that the treasure had been stowed. Here he found, with something like a shock of disappointment, that the stern of the vessel had been burst open, and the contents of the cabin swept out.
On further inspection, however, the treasure-room was found to be uninjured. Putting down the lamp on an adjacent beam, Edgar lifted a heavy mass of wreck from the ground, and dashed the door in. The scene that presented itself was interesting. On the floor lay a number of little barrels, which the divers knew contained the gold they were in search of. Most of these were so riddled43 by worms that they were falling to pieces. Some, indeed, had partially44 given way, so that the piles of coin could be seen through the staves, and two or three had been so completely eaten away as to have fallen off, leaving the masses of gold in unbroken piles. There were also bags as well as kegs of coin, all more or less in a state of decay.
The divers gazed at this sight for a few moments quite motionless. Then Edgar with one hand turned the lamp full on his companion’s front-glass so as to see his face, while with the other hand he pointed45 to the treasure. Joe’s eyes expressed surprise, and his mouth smiling satisfaction. Turning the light full on his own face to show his comrade that he was similarly impressed, Edgar motioned to Joe to sit down on an iron chest that stood in a corner, and giving the requisite46 signal with his life-line, went up to the surface. He did this very slowly in order to accustom47 his frame to the change of pressure both of air and water, for he was well aware of the danger of rapid ascent48 from such a depth. Soon after, he redescended, bearing several canvas sacks, some cord, and a couple of small crowbars. Placing the lamp in a convenient position, and throwing the bags on the floor of the treasure-room, Edgar and Baldwin set to work diligently49 with the crowbars, broke open the kegs, and emptied their golden contents into one of the bags, until it was quite full; tied up the mouth, fastened it to a rope which communicated with the boat above, and gave the signal to hoist50 away. The bag quickly rose and vanished.
Previous to redescending, our hero had arranged with Rooney to have pieces of sail-cloth in readiness to wrap the bags in the instant of their being got into the small boat, so that when being transferred to the large boat’s locker52, their form and contents might be concealed53 from the pilot, Dwarro. The precaution, however, did not seem to be necessary, for Dwarro was afflicted54 with laziness, and devoted55 himself entirely56 to the occupations of alternately smoking, in a dreamy way, and sleeping.
For three hours the divers wrought57 under great excitement, as well as pressure, and then, feeling much exhausted58, returned to the surface, having sent up the contents of about twenty boxes and kegs of treasure. Rooney and Maxwell then took their turn under water, and were equally successful.
That night, being very calm and clear, they ran the boat into a sheltered crevice59 among the cliffs, and slept on board of her. Next morning at day-break they were again at work, but were not equally fortunate, for although plenty of treasure was sent up, several accidents occurred which were severe, though, happily, not fatal.
In the first place, Baldwin tore his left hand badly while attempting to raise a heavy mass of ragged60 iron-plate that prevented his reaching some loose coin lying under it. This, though painful, did not render him altogether incapable61 of working. Then, while Edgar Berrington was passing from one part of the wreck to another, threading his way carefully, a mass of wire-ropes and other wreckage63 suddenly dropt from a position where it had been balanced, and felled him to the deck with such violence that for a few moments he was stunned64. On recovering, he found to his horror that he was pressed down by the mass, and had got inextricably entangled65 with it. If his dress had been torn at that time, or his helmet damaged, it is certain that his adventures would have been finally cut short, and there can be no doubt that his preservation66 was largely owing to the excellence67 of the material of which his dress was made.
But how to escape from his wire-cage was a difficulty he could not solve, for the lamp had been extinguished, and the entanglement of his line and air-pipe rendered signalling impossible. He continued to struggle helplessly, therefore, in total darkness. That the air-tube continued all right, was evident from the fact that air came down to him as before.
In this dilemma68 he remained for a short time, occasionally managing to clear himself partially, and at other times becoming more and more involved.
At last Rooney Machowl, who was attending to the lines above, bethought him that he had not received any signals for some time or observed any of those motions which usually indicate that a diver is busy below. He therefore gave a pull to the lifeline. Of course no answer was received.
“Hallo!” exclaimed Rooney, with a start, for in diving operations Life and Death frequently stand elbowing each other.
He gave another and still more decided69 pull, but no answer was returned.
Jumping up in excitement, he attempted to haul on the line, so as to bring Edgar to the surface by force, but to his consternation70 he found it to be immovably fixed71.
“Hooroo! Man alive,” he yelled, rather than shouted, to Maxwell, who was attending the other line, “signal for Joe to come up—look sharp!”
Maxwell obeyed with four strong quick pulls on Joe’s line, and Joe appeared at the surface rather sooner than was consistent with safety. On learning the cause of his being called, he infixed his bull’s-eye hastily; went down again with a heavy plunge72, and discovering his companion, soon removed the wreck by which he was entangled, and set him free.
Experience, it is said, teaches fools; much more does it instruct wise men. After this event our hero became a little more careful in his movements below.
When a considerable amount of treasure had been recovered, it was thought advisable to return to the shore and place it in security.
“It won’t be easy to manage this,” said Edgar to Baldwin in a low tone, as they sailed away from the rocky islet, under a light breeze. “I have an uncomfortable belief that that fellow Dwarro suspects the nature of the contents of these bags, despite our efforts at concealment73.”
“I don’t think he does,” whispered Baldwin. “He seems to me to be one o’ these miserable74 opium-smokers whose brains get too much fuddled to understand or care for anything.”
“Whist now, don’t spake so loud,” said Rooney, advancing his head closer to his companions, and glancing doubtfully at the object of their suspicion; “sure he’s got a sharp countenance75, fuddled or not fuddled.”
The pilot had indeed an intelligent cast of countenance, but as he sat in a careless attitude in the bow of the boat smoking listlessly and gazing dreamily, almost stupidly, towards the shore, it did seem as though he had indulged too freely in the noxious76 drag which poisons so many inhabitants of these unhappy lands.
As he was out of earshot, the four adventurers drew their heads still closer together, and talked eagerly about their prospects77.
“Sure our fortins is made already,” said Rooney; “how much d’ee think we’ve fished up, Mr Berrington?”
“I cannot say, but at a rough guess I should think not less than twenty thousand pounds.”
“Ye don’t main it? Och! Molly astore! Ye shall walk in silks an’ satins from this day forward—to say nothin’ of a carridge an’ four, if not six.”
“But where’ll we putt it, sir?” asked Baldwin.
“I’ve been thinking of that,” replied Edgar. “You see I don’t like the notion of running right into port with it, where this pilot has probably numerous friends who would aid him in making a dash for such a prize—supposing he has guessed what we are about. Now, I happen to have a trusty friend here, a young Scotchman, who lives in a quiet out-o’-the-way part. We’ll run up to his place, land the gold quickly, and get him to carry it off to some place of security—”
“Whist, not so loud! I do belave,” said Rooney, “that rascal79 is cocking his weather ear.”
“He don’t understand a word of English,” muttered Baldwin.
Dwarro looked so intensely absent and sleepy as he sat lounging in the bow, that the divers felt relieved and continued, though in more cautious tones, to discuss their plans.
Meanwhile the boat ran into the Hong-Kong river. As it proceeded, a small light boat or skiff was observed approaching. Baldwin, who steered80, sheered out a little in the hope of avoiding her, but the man who sculled her conformed to the movement, and quickly shot past their bow—so closely that he could exchange salutations with the pilot. Nothing more appeared to pass between the two,—indeed there seemed no time for further communication—nevertheless Rooney Machowl declared that some telegraphic signals by means of hands and fingers had certainly been exchanged.
In a short time the boat was turned sharp round by Baldwin, and run into a cove1 near a wall in which was a little wooden gate. A flight of dilapidated steps led to this gate.
“What if your friend should not be at home?” asked Joe, in a whisper.
“I’ll land the bags in any case and await him, while you return to the port with Dwarro,” replied Edgar.
If the pilot was interested in their proceedings81, he must have been a consummate82 actor, for he took no notice whatever of the sudden change of the boat’s course, but continued to smoke languidly, and to gaze abstractedly into the water as if trying to read his fortune there, while Edgar and Rooney landed the bags, and carried them through the little gate into the Scotchman’s garden. In a few minutes Edgar returned to the boat, stepped in, and pushed off, while the two Chinamen, in obedience83 to orders, rowed out into the river.
“It’s all right,” whispered Edgar, sitting down beside Joe, “Wilson is at home, and has undertaken to have the bags carried to a place of safety long before any attempt to capture them could be organised, even if Dwarro knew our secret and were disposed to attempt such a thing. Besides, we will keep him under our eyes to-night as long as possible.”
That night, highly elated at the success of their labours, our four friends sat round their evening meal in the pagoda84 and related their various diving adventures and experiences to the admiring and sympathetic Molly Machowl. They had previously85 entertained the pilot with unlimited86 hospitality and tobacco, and that suspected individual, so far from showing any restless anxiety to shorten his stay, had coolly enjoyed himself until they were at last glad when he rose to go away.
On the following morning, too, he was ready with his boat before day-break, and the party returned to the scene of operations at the wreck in high spirits.
It is certain that their enthusiasm would have been considerably87 damped had they known that exactly three hours after their gold was landed, a party of six stout88 nautical-looking Malays entered the residence of Wilson, the Scotchman, knocked down Wilson’s servants, gagged Wilson’s mouth, drank up the claret with which Wilson had been regaling himself, and carried off the bags of gold before his very eyes! Fortunately for their peace of mind and the success of their labours, our adventurers did not know all this, but, descending51 to the wreck with heavy soles and light hearts, they proceeded to recover and send up additional bags of gold.
That day they were not quite so successful. Unforeseen difficulties lay in their way. Some of the gold had been washed out of the treasure-room in their absence, and was not easily recovered from the sand and sea-weed. In order the better to find this, the electric-lamp was brought into requisition and found to be most effective, its light being very powerful—equal to that of fifteen thousand candles,—and so arranged as to direct the light in four directions, one of these being towards the bottom by means of a reflecting prism. It burned without air, and when at the bottom, could be lighted or extinguished from the boat by means of electricity.
Still, notwithstanding its aid, they had not collected treasure beyond the value of about eight thousand pounds when the time for rest and taking their mid-day meal arrived. This amount was, however, quite sufficient to improve their appetites, and render them sanguine89 as to the work of the afternoon.
“You’d better signal Mr Berrington to come up,” said Joe, who with all the others of the party were assembled in the stern of the boat, anxiously waiting to begin their dinner.
“Sure I’ve done it twice a’ready,” replied Rooney, who was attending to our hero’s life-line while Ram-stam and Chok-foo toiled90 at the air-pumps.
“What does he reply?” asked Joe.
“He replies, ‘all right,’ but nothin’ more. If he knew the imptiness of my—och! There he goes at last, four tugs91. Come along, my hearty,” said Rooney, coiling away the slack as Edgar rose slowly to the surface.
Presently his helmet appeared like a huge round goblet92 ascending93 from the mighty94 deep. Then the surface was broken with a gurgle, and the goggle-eyes appeared. Rooney unscrewed the front-glass, and the Chinamen were free to cease their weary pumping. When Edgar was assisted into the boat, it was observed that he had a small peculiarly-shaped box under his arm. He made no reference to this until relieved of his helmet, when he took it up and examined it with much curiosity.
“What have you got there, sir?” asked Joe Baldwin, coming forward.
“That is just what I don’t know,” answered Edgar. “It seems to me like an iron or steel box much encrusted with rust78, and I shouldn’t wonder if it contained something of value. One thing is certain, that we have not got the key, and must therefore break it open.”
While he was speaking, David Maxwell gazed at the box intently. He did not speak, but there was a peculiar95 motion about his lips as if he were licking them. A fiend happened just then to stand at Maxwell’s ear. It whispered, “You know it.”
“Ay,” said Maxwell, under his breath, in reply, “I knows it—well.”
“I wonder if there are valuables in it,” said Edgar.
“Shouldn’t wonder if there wor,” said Rooney.
“Eight or nine thousand pounds, more or less,” whispered the fiend, quoting words used by Mr Hazlit on a former occasion.
“Ah—jis’ so,” muttered Maxwell.
“Don’t you say a word more, David,” said the fiend.
“I wont,” muttered Maxwell’s heart; for the hearts of men are desperately96 wicked.
“That’s right,” continued the fiend, “for if you keep quiet, you know, the contents will fall to be divided among you, and the loss won’t be felt by a rich fellow like old Hazlit.”
Maxwell’s heart approved and applauded the sentiment, but a stronger power moved in the rough man’s heart, and softly whispered, “Shame!”
“Why, Maxwell,” said Edgar, smiling, “you look at the box as if it were a ghost!”
“An’ so it is,” said Maxwell, with a sudden and unaccountable growl31, at the sound of which the fiend sprang overboard, and, diving into the sea, disappeared from Maxwell’s view for ever!
“Why, what d’ee mean, David?” asked Baldwin, in surprise.
“I mean, sir,” said Maxwell, turning to Edgar with a look of unwonted honesty on his rugged97 face, “that that box is the ghost of one that belongs to Miss Hazlit, if it ain’t the box itself.”
“To Miss Hazlit,” exclaimed Edgar, in surprise; “explain yourself.”
In reply to this the diver told how he had originally become acquainted with the box and its contents, and said that he had more than once searched about the region of Miss Hazlit’s cabin while down at the wreck in hope of finding it, but without success.
“Strange,” said Edgar, “I too have more than once searched in the same place in the hope of finding something, or anything that might have belonged to her, but everything had been washed away. Of course, knowing nothing about this box, I did not look for it, and found it at last, by mere98 chance, some distance from the berth99 she occupied. Why did you not mention it before?”
Maxwell was silent, and at that moment the drift of thought and conversation was abruptly turned by Rooney Machowl shouting, “Dinner ahoy!” with impatient asperity100.
While engaged in the pleasant duty of appeasing101 hunger, our divers chatted on many subjects, chiefly professional. Among other things, Rooney remarked that he had heard it said a diving-dress contained sufficient air in it to keep a man alive for more than five minutes.
“I have heard the same,” said Edgar.
“Come, David,” suggested Joe Baldwin, “let’s test it on you.”
“Ready,” said Maxwell, rising and wiping his huge mouth.
The proposal which was made in jest was thereupon carried out in earnest!
Dinner being over, Maxwell put on his diving-dress; the Chinamen set the pump going, and the front-glass was screwed on. Air was forced into the dress until it was completely inflated102 and looked as if ready to burst, while Maxwell stood on the deck holding on to a back-stay. At a given signal the pumpers ceased to work, and the adventurous103 man was thus cut off from all further communication with the outward air.
At first the onlookers104 were amused; then they became interested, and as the minutes flew by, a little anxious, but Maxwell’s grave countenance, as seen through the bull’s-eye, gave no cause for alarm. Thus he stood for full ten minutes, and then opening the escape-valve, signalled for more air.
This was a sufficient evidence that a man might have ample time to return to the surface from great depths, even if the air-pumps should break down.
“But, perhaps,” said Edgar, as they conversed105 on the subject, “you might not be able to hold out so long under water where the pressure would be great.”
“Sure that’s true. What d’ee say to try, David?” said Rooney.
Again Maxwell expressed willingness to risk the attempt. The glass was once more screwed on, the pumps set agoing, and down the bold diver went to the bottom. On receiving a pre-arranged signal, the pumps were stopped.
This, let the reader fully62 understand, is a thing that is never done with the ordinary pumps, which are not permitted to cease working from the time the bull’s-eye is fixed on until after it is taken off, on the diver’s return to the surface. It was therefore with much anxiety that the experimenters awaited the result—anxiety that was not allayed106 by Rooney Machowl’s expression of countenance, and his occasional suggestion that “he must be dead by this time,” or, “Och! He’s gone entirely now!”
For full five minutes Maxwell stayed under water without a fresh supply of air—then he signalled for it, and the anxious pumpers sent it down with a will. Thus it was found that there was still sufficient time for a man to return to the surface with the air contained in his dress, in the event of accident to the pumps. (See Note 1.)
While the divers were engaged with these experiments, Chok-foo was sent on shore in the small boat for a supply of fresh water from a spring near the top of the island.
Having filled his keg, the Chinaman turned his fat good-humoured countenance toward the sea, for the purpose of taking an amiable107 view of Nature in general before commencing the descent. As he afterwards gazed in the direction of the mainland, he observed what appeared to be a line of sea-gulls on the horizon. He looked intently at these after shouldering his water-keg. Chok-foo’s visage was yellow by nature. It suddenly became pale green. He dropped his burden and bounded down the hillside as if he had gone mad. The water-keg followed him. Being small and heavy it overtook him, swept the legs from under him, and preceded him to the beach, where it was dashed to atoms. Chok-foo recovered himself, continued his wild descent, sprang into the boat, rowed out to his companions in furious haste, and breathlessly gave the information that pirates were coming!
Those to whom he said this knew too well what he meant to require explanation. They were aware that many so-called “traders” in the Eastern seas become pirates on the shortest notice when it suits their convenience.
Edgar Berrington immediately drew a revolver from his pocket, and stepping suddenly up to Dwarro, said sternly:—
“Look here!”
The pilot did look, and for the first time his calm, cool, imperturbable108 expression deserted109 him, for he saw that he had to deal with a resolute110 and powerful man. At the same time his right hand moved towards his breast, but it was arrested from behind in the iron grip of Joe Baldwin.
“Now, pilot,” said Edgar, “submit, and no one shall harm you. Resist, and you are a dead man. Search him, Joe.”
The diver opened Dwarro’s pilot-coat, and found beneath it a brace111 of pistols and a long sheath knife, which he quietly removed and transferred to his own person. The other men in the boat looked on, meanwhile, in silence.
“Dwarro,” continued Edgar, “you have planned this, I know, but I’ll thwart112 you. I won’t tie or gag you. I’ll make you sit at the helm and steer, while we evade113 your friends. I shall sit beside you, and you may rely on it that if you disobey an order in the slightest degree, or give a signal by word or look to any one, I’ll blow out your brains. D’you understand me?”
The pilot made no reply save by a slight inclination114 of the head, while a dark frown settled on his features.
It was obvious that fear found no place in the man’s breast, for a deep flush of indignation covered his countenance. He merely felt that he must obey or die, and wisely chose the former alternative.
Meanwhile the fleet of boats which had appeared to the Chinaman on the hill-top was now seen by the party in the boat as they drew nearer under the influence of a land breeze—their high sails rendering115 them visible before the low boat of our divers could be seen by them.
The wind had not yet reached the island, but, even if it had, the divers would not have hoisted116 sail, lest they should have been seen.
“Ship your oars now, lads, and pull for life,” cried Edgar, seizing the tiller with one hand, while with the other he held the revolver. “You take this oar4, Dwarro, and pull with a will.”
In a few seconds the pilot boat was creeping pretty swiftly along the rugged shore of the island, in the direction of the open sea. To lighten her, the little boat astern was cut adrift. Continuing their course, they rowed quite past the island, and then, turning abruptly to the southward, they pulled steadily117 on until the first “cat’s-paw” of the breeze ruffled118 the glassy sea.
By this time the fleet of boats was distinctly visible, making straight for the island. Edgar now ordered the sails to be set, and bade Dwarro take the helm. The pilot obeyed with the air of a Stoic119. It was clear that his mind was made up. This had the effect of calling up a look of settled resolution on Edgar’s face.
In a few minutes the sails filled, and then, to the surprise not only of Dwarro but all on board, Edgar ordered the pilot to steer straight for the line of advancing boats.
Two of these had changed their course on first observing the divers’ boat, but when they saw it steering straight down, as if to meet or join them, they resumed their course for the island. Presently the breeze increased, and the pilot boat leaped over the waves as if it had received new life.
“It’s a bowld thing to try,” muttered Rooney Machowl, “but I’m afeard, sir—”
He was silenced by a peremptory120 “Hush” from Edgar. “Get down so as to be out of sight,” he continued, “all of you except the Chinamen.—You two come and sit by Dwarro.”
As he spoke, Edgar himself sat down on an oar, so as to be able to see over the gunwale without himself being seen. To those in the fleet it would thus appear that their vessel was a pilot boat returning from seaward with its skipper and two Chinamen. Whatever Dwarro’s intentions had been, he was evidently somewhat disconcerted, and glanced more than once uneasily at the calm youth who sat pistol in hand at his side directing him how to steer.
Although there was a considerable fleet of the piratical boats, they were spread out so that a space of several hundred yards intervened between each. Edgar steered for the centre of the widest gap, and his bold venture was favoured by a sudden increase of wind, which caused the waves to gurgle from the bow.
Just as they passed between two of the boats they were hailed by one of them. Edgar kept his eyes fixed on Dwarro, who became slightly pale. The click of the pistol at the moment caused the pilot to start.
“You may inform and we may be caught,” said Edgar, sternly; “but whatever happens you shall die if you disobey. Speak not, but wave your hand in reply.”
Dwarro obeyed. Those who had hailed him apparently121 thought the distance too great for speech; they waved their hands in return, and the boat passed on. A few minutes more and our divers were safely beyond the chance of capture, making for the mainland under a steady breeze.
Note 1. The pump used by Denayrouze of Paris, besides being very simple in its parts and action, possesses an air-reservoir which renders a cessation of the pump-action for a few minutes of no importance.
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1
cove
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| n.小海湾，小峡谷 | |
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circumvented
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| v.设法克服或避免（某事物），回避( circumvent的过去式和过去分词 )；绕过，绕行，绕道旅行 | |
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fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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4
oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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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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rippling
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| 起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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11
maker
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| n.制造者，制造商 | |
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12
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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13
steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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14
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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rippled
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| 使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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18
corruption
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| n.腐败，堕落，贪污 | |
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19
cognomen
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| n.姓；绰号 | |
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20
divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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21
stolid
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| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
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22
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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23
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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24
dispensed
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| v.分配( dispense的过去式和过去分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
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25
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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26
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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27
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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28
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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29
fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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30
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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31
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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32
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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33
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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34
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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35
maze
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| n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑 | |
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36
wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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37
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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38
asunder
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| adj.分离的，化为碎片 | |
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39
bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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40
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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41
fraught
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| adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的 | |
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42
entanglement
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| n.纠缠，牵累 | |
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43
riddled
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| adj.布满的；充斥的；泛滥的v.解谜，出谜题(riddle的过去分词形式) | |
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44
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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45
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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46
requisite
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| adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品 | |
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47
accustom
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| vt.使适应，使习惯 | |
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48
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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49
diligently
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| ad.industriously;carefully | |
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50
hoist
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| n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起 | |
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51
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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52
locker
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| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
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53
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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54
afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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56
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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57
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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58
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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59
crevice
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| n.(岩石、墙等)裂缝；缺口 | |
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60
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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61
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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62
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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63
wreckage
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| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
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64
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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65
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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66
preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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67
excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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68
dilemma
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| n.困境，进退两难的局面 | |
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69
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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70
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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71
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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72
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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73
concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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74
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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75
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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76
noxious
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| adj.有害的，有毒的；使道德败坏的，讨厌的 | |
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77
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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78
rust
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| n.锈；v.生锈；(脑子)衰退 | |
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79
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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80
steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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81
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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82
consummate
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| adj.完美的；v.成婚；使完美 [反]baffle | |
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83
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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84
pagoda
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| n.宝塔（尤指印度和远东的多层宝塔），（印度教或佛教的）塔式庙宇 | |
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85
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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86
unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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87
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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89
sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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90
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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91
tugs
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| n.猛拉( tug的名词复数 )；猛拖；拖船v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的第三人称单数 ) | |
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92
goblet
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| n.高脚酒杯 | |
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93
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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94
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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95
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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96
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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97
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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98
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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99
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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100
asperity
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| n.粗鲁，艰苦 | |
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101
appeasing
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的现在分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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102
inflated
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| adj.（价格）飞涨的；（通货）膨胀的；言过其实的；充了气的v.使充气（于轮胎、气球等）( inflate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）膨胀；（使）通货膨胀；物价上涨 | |
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103
adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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104
onlookers
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| n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 ) | |
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105
conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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106
allayed
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| v.减轻，缓和( allay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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107
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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108
imperturbable
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| adj.镇静的 | |
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109
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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110
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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111
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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112
thwart
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| v.阻挠，妨碍，反对；adj.横(断的) | |
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113
evade
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| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
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114
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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115
rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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116
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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117
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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118
ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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119
stoic
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| n.坚忍克己之人，禁欲主义者 | |
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120
peremptory
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| adj.紧急的，专横的，断然的 | |
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121
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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