Scarcely had the sun shot its first ray across the bosom1 of the broad Pacific when Jack2 sprang to his feet, and hallooing in Peterkin’s ear to awaken3 him, ran down the beach to take his customary dip in the sea. We did not, as was our wont4, bathe that morning in our Water Garden, but in order to save time, refreshed ourselves in the shallow water just opposite the bower5. Our breakfast was also despatched without loss of time, and in less than an hour afterwards all our preparations for the journey were completed.
In addition to his ordinary dress, Jack tied a belt of cocoa-nut cloth round his waist, into which he thrust the axe6. I was also advised to put on a belt and carry a short cudgel or bludgeon in it, for, as Jack truly remarked, the sling7 would be of little use if we should chance to come to close quarters with any wild animal. As for Peterkin, notwithstanding that he carried such a long and, I must add, frightful-looking spear over his shoulder, we could not prevail on him to leave his club behind; “for,” said he, “a spear at close quarters is not worth a button.” I must say that it seemed to me that the club was, to use his own style of language, not worth a button-hole; for it was all knotted over at the head, something like the club which I remember to have observed in picture-books of Jack the Giant-killer, besides being so heavy that he required to grasp it with both hands in order to wield9 it at all. However, he took it with him, and in this manner we set out upon our travels.
We did not consider it necessary to carry any food with us, as we knew that wherever we went we should be certain to fall in with cocoa-nut trees—having which we were amply supplied, as Peterkin said, with meat and drink and pocket-handkerchiefs! I took the precaution, however, to put the burning-glass into my pocket lest we should want fire.
The morning was exceedingly lovely. It was one of that very still and peaceful sort which made the few noises that we heard seem to be quiet noises (I know no other way of expressing this idea)—noises which, so far from interrupting the universal tranquillity10 of earth, sea, and sky, rather tended to reveal to us how quiet the world round us really was. Such sounds as I refer to were the peculiar11, melancholy—yet, it seemed to me, cheerful—plaint of sea-birds floating on the glassy waters or sailing in the sky; also the subdued12 twittering of little birds among the bushes, the faint ripples13 on the beach, and the solemn boom of the surf upon the distant coral reef. We felt very glad in our hearts as we walked along the sands, side by side. For my part, I felt so deeply overjoyed that I was surprised at my own sensations, and fell into a reverie upon the causes of happiness. I came to the conclusion that a state of profound peace and repose14, both in regard to outward objects and within the soul, is the happiest condition in which man can be placed; for although I had many a time been most joyful15 and happy when engaged in bustling16, energetic, active pursuits or amusements, I never found that such joy or satisfaction was so deep or so pleasant to reflect upon as that which I now experienced. And I was the more confirmed in this opinion when I observed—and, indeed, as told by himself—that Peterkin’s happiness was also very great; yet he did not express this by dancing, as was his wont, nor did he give so much as a single shout, but walked quietly between us with his eye sparkling and a joyful smile upon his countenance17. My reader must not suppose that I thought all this in the clear and methodical manner in which I have set it down here. These thoughts did indeed pass through my mind; but they did so in a very confused and indefinite manner, for I was young at that time and not much given to deep reflections. Neither did I consider that the peace whereof I write is not to be found in this world—at least in its perfection—although I have since learned that, by religion, a man may attain18 to a very great degree of it.
I have said that Peterkin walked along the sands between us. We had two ways of walking together about our island. When we travelled through the woods we always did so in single file, as by this method we advanced with greater facility, the one treading in the other’s footsteps. In such cases Jack always took the lead, Peterkin followed, and I brought up the rear. But when we travelled along the sands, which extended almost in an unbroken line of glistening19 white round the island, we marched abreast20, as we found this method more sociable21 and every way more pleasant. Jack, being the tallest, walked next the sea, and Peterkin marched between us, as by this arrangement either of us could talk to him or he to us, while if Jack and I happened to wish to converse22 together we could conveniently do so over Peterkin’s head. Peterkin used to say, in reference to this arrangement, that had he been as tall as either of us, our order of march might have been the same; for, as Jack often used to scold him for letting everything we said to him pass in at one ear and out at the other, his head could, of course, form no interruption to our discourse23.
We were now fairly started. Half-a-mile’s walk conveyed us round a bend in the land which shut out our bower from view, and for some time we advanced at a brisk pace without speaking, though our eyes were not idle, but noted24 everything—in the woods, on the shore, or in the sea—that was interesting. After passing the ridge25 of land that formed one side of our valley—the Valley of the Wreck—we beheld26 another small vale lying before us in all the luxuriant loveliness of tropical vegetation. We had indeed seen it before from the mountain-top, but we had no idea that it would turn out to be so much more lovely when we were close to it. We were about to commence the exploration of this valley when Peterkin stopped us, and directed our attention to a very remarkable27 appearance in advance along the shore.
“What’s yon, think you?” said he, levelling his spear as if he expected an immediate28 attack from the object in question, though it was full half-a-mile distant.
As he spoke29, there appeared a white column above the rocks, as if of steam or spray. It rose upwards30 to a height of several feet, and then disappeared. Had this been near the sea, we would not have been so greatly surprised, as it might in that case have been the surf, for at this part of the coast the coral reef approached so near to the island that in some parts it almost joined it. There was, therefore, no lagoon31 between, and the heavy surf of the ocean beat almost up to the rocks. But this white column appeared about fifty yards inland. The rocks at the place were rugged32, and they stretched across the sandy beach into the sea. Scarce had we ceased expressing our surprise at this sight when another column flew upwards for a few seconds, not far from the spot where the first had been seen, and disappeared; and so, at long, irregular intervals33, these strange sights recurred34. We were now quite sure that the columns were watery35, or composed of spray; but what caused them we could not guess, so we determined36 to go and see.
In a few minutes we gained the spot, which was very rugged and precipitous, and, moreover, quite damp with the falling of the spray. We had much ado to pass over dry-shod. The ground, also, was full of holes here and there. Now, while we stood anxiously waiting for the reappearance of these waterspouts, we heard a low, rumbling39 sound near us, which quickly increased to a gurgling and hissing40 noise, and a moment afterwards a thick spout37 of water burst upwards from a hole in the rock and spouted42 into the air with much violence, and so close to where Jack and I were standing8 that it nearly touched us. We sprang aside, but not before a cloud of spray descended43 and drenched44 us both to the skin.
Peterkin, who was standing farther off; escaped with a few drops, and burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter on beholding45 our miserable46 plight47.
“Mind your eye!” he shouted eagerly; “there goes another!” The words were scarcely out of his mouth when there came up a spout from another hole, which served us exactly in the same manner as before.
Peterkin now shrieked48 with laughter; but his merriment was abruptly49 put a stop to by the gurgling noise occurring close to where he stood.
“Where’ll it spout this time, I wonder?” he said, looking about with some anxiety and preparing to run. Suddenly there came a loud hiss41 or snort; a fierce spout of water burst up between Peterkin’s legs, blew him off his feet, enveloped50 him in its spray, and hurled51 him to the ground. He fell with so much violence that we feared he must have broken some of his bones, and ran anxiously to his assistance; but fortunately he had fallen on a clump52 of tangled53 herbage, in which he lay sprawling54 in a most deplorable condition.
It was now our turn to laugh; but as we were not yet quite sure that he was unhurt, and as we knew not when or where the next spout might arise, we assisted him hastily to jump up and hurry from the spot.
I may here add that, although I am quite certain that the spout of water was very strong, and that it blew Peterkin completely off his legs, I am not quite certain of the exact height to which it lifted him, being somewhat startled by the event, and blinded partially55 by the spray, so that my power of observation was somewhat impaired56 for the moment.
“What’s to be done now?” asked Peterkin ruefully.
“Make a fire, lad, and dry ourselves,” replied Jack.
“And here is material ready to our hand,” said I, picking up a dried branch of a tree as we hurried up to the woods.
In about an hour after this mishap57 our clothes were again dried. While they were hanging up before the fire we walked down to the beach, and soon observed that these curious spouts38 took place immediately after the fall of a huge wave, never before it; and, moreover, that the spouts did not take place excepting when the billow was an extremely large one. From this we concluded that there must be a subterraneous channel in the rock into which the water was driven by the larger waves, and finding no way of escape except through these small holes, was thus forced up violently through them. At any rate, we could not conceive any other reason for these strange waterspouts, and as this seemed a very simple and probable one, we forthwith adopted it.
“I say, Ralph, what’s that in the water? Is it a shark?” said Jack just as we were about to quit the place.
I immediately ran to the overhanging ledge58 of rock, from which he was looking down into the sea, and bent59 over it. There I saw a very faint, pale object of a greenish colour, which seemed to move slightly while I looked at it.
“It’s like a fish of some sort,” said I.
“Hallo, Peterkin!” cried Jack. “Fetch your spear; here’s work for it!”
But when we tried to reach the object, the spear proved to be too short.
Jack now drove the spear forcibly towards the object, and let go his hold. But although it seemed to be well aimed, he must have missed, for the handle soon rose again; and when the spear was drawn61 up, there was the pale-green object in exactly the same spot, slowly moving its tail.
“Very odd!” said Jack.
But although it was undoubtedly62 very odd, and although Jack and all of us plunged63 the spear at it repeatedly, we could neither hit it nor drive it away, so we were compelled to continue our journey without discovering what it was. I was very much perplexed64 at this strange appearance in the water, and could not get it out of my mind for a long time afterwards. However, I quieted myself by resolving that I would pay a visit to it again at some more convenient season.
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1
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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2
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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3
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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4
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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5
bower
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| n.凉亭，树荫下凉快之处；闺房；v.荫蔽 | |
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6
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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7
sling
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| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
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8
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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9
wield
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| vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等) | |
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10
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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11
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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12
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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13
ripples
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| 逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
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14
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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15
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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16
bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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17
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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18
attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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19
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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20
abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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21
sociable
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| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
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22
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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23
discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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24
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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25
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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26
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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27
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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28
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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29
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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30
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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31
lagoon
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| n.泻湖，咸水湖 | |
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32
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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33
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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34
recurred
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| 再发生，复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 )； 治愈 | |
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35
watery
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| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
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36
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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37
spout
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| v.喷出，涌出；滔滔不绝地讲；n.喷管；水柱 | |
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38
spouts
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| n.管口( spout的名词复数 )；（喷出的）水柱；（容器的）嘴；在困难中v.（指液体）喷出( spout的第三人称单数 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水 | |
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39
rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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40
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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41
hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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42
spouted
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| adj.装有嘴的v.（指液体）喷出( spout的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水 | |
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43
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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44
drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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45
beholding
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| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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46
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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47
plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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48
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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50
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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52
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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53
tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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54
sprawling
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| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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55
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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56
impaired
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| adj.受损的；出毛病的；有（身体或智力）缺陷的v.损害，削弱( impair的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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58
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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59
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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60
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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61
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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62
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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63
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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64
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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