For a long, long month we remained in our dark and dreary2 prison, during which dismal3 time we did not see the face of a human being except that of the silent savage4 who brought us our daily food.
There have been one or two seasons in my life during which I have felt as if the darkness of sorrow and desolation that crushed my inmost heart could never pass away until death should make me cease to feel. The present was such a season.
During the first part of our confinement5 we felt a cold chill at our hearts every time we heard a footfall near the cave, dreading6 lest it should prove to be that of our executioner. But as time dragged heavily on we ceased to feel this alarm, and began to experience such a deep, irrepressible longing7 for freedom that we chafed8 and fretted9 in our confinement like tigers. Then a feeling of despair came over us, and we actually longed for the time when the savages10 would take us forth11 to die. But these changes took place very gradually, and were mingled12 sometimes with brighter thoughts; for there were times when we sat, in that dark cavern13 on our ledge14 of rock, and conversed15 almost pleasantly about the past until we well-nigh forgot the dreary present. But we seldom ventured to touch upon the future.
A few decayed leaves and boughs16 formed our bed, and a scanty17 supply of yams and taro18, brought to us once a day, constituted our food.
“Well, Ralph, how have you slept?” said Jack19 in a listless tone on rising one morning from his humble20 couch. “Were you much disturbed by the wind last night?”
“No,” said I. “I dreamed of home all night, and I thought that my mother smiled upon me and beckoned21 me to go to her; but I could not, for I was chained.”
“And I dreamed too,” said Peterkin; “but it was of our happy home on the Coral Island. I thought we were swimming in the Water Garden. Then the savages gave a yell, and we were immediately in the cave at Spouting22 Cliff, which, somehow or other changed into this gloomy cavern; and I awoke to find it true.”
Peterkin’s tone was so much altered by the depressing influence of his long imprisonment that, had I not known it was he who spoke23, I should scarcely have recognised it, so sad was it, and so unlike to the merry, cheerful voice we had been accustomed to hear. I pondered this much, and thought of the terrible decline of happiness that may come on human beings in so short a time; how bright the sunshine in the sky at one time, and in a short space bow dark the overshadowing cloud! I had no doubt that the Bible would have given me much light and comfort on this subject if I had possessed24 one, and I once more had occasion to regret deeply having neglected to store my memory with its consoling truths.
While I meditated25 thus, Peterkin again broke the silence of the cave by saying, in a melancholy26 tone, “Oh, I wonder if we shall ever see our dear island more!”
His voice trembled, and covering his face with both hands, he bent27 down his head and wept. It was an unusual sight for me to see our once joyous28 companion in tears, and I felt a burning desire to comfort him; but, alas29! what could I say? I could hold out no hope; and although I essayed twice to speak, the words refused to pass my lips. While I hesitated Jack sat down beside him and whispered a few words in his ear, while Peterkin threw himself on his friend’s breast and rested his head on his shoulder.
Thus we sat for some time in deep silence. Soon after we heard footsteps at the entrance of the cave, and immediately our jailer entered. We were so much accustomed to his regular visits, however, that we paid little attention to him, expecting that he would set down our meagre fare as usual and depart. But, to our surprise, instead of doing so, he advanced towards us with a knife in his hand, and going up to Jack, he cut the thongs30 that bound his wrists; then he did the same to Peterkin and me! For fully31 five minutes we stood in speechless amazement32, with our freed hands hanging idly by our sides. The first thought that rushed into my mind was that the time had come to put us to death; and although, as I have said before, we actually wished for death in the strength of our despair, now that we thought it drew really near I felt all the natural love of life revive in my heart, mingled with a chill of horror at the suddenness of our call.
But I was mistaken. After cutting our bonds the savage pointed33 to the cave’s mouth, and we marched, almost mechanically, into the open air. Here, to our surprise, we found the teacher standing34 under a tree, with his hands clasped before him, and the tears trickling35 down his dark cheeks. On seeing Jack, who came out first, he sprang towards him, and clasping him in his arms, exclaimed:
“Oh my dear young friend, through the great goodness of God you are free!”
“Free?” cried Jack.
“Ay, free!” repeated the teacher, shaking us warmly by the hands again and again—“free to go and come as you will. The Lord has unloosed the bonds of the captive, and set the prisoners free. A missionary36 has been sent to us, and Tararo has embraced the Christian37 religion! The people are even now burning their gods of wood! Come, my dear friends, and see the glorious sight!”
We could scarcely credit our senses. So long had we been accustomed, in our cavern, to dream of deliverance, that we imagined for a moment this must surely be nothing more than another vivid dream. Our eyes and minds were dazzled, too, by the brilliant sunshine, which almost blinded us after our long confinement to the gloom of our prison, so that we felt giddy with the variety of conflicting emotions that filled our throbbing38 bosoms39; but as we followed the footsteps of our sable40 friend, and beheld41 the bright foliage42 of the trees, and heard the cries of the paroquets, and smelt43 the rich perfume of the flowering shrubs44, the truth—that we were really delivered from prison and from death—rushed with overwhelming power into our souls, and with one accord, while tears sprang to our eyes, we uttered a loud, long cheer of joy.
It was replied to by a shout from a number of the natives who chanced to be near. Running towards us, they shook us by the hand with every demonstration45 of kindly46 feeling. They then fell behind, and forming a sort of procession, conducted us to the dwelling47 of Tararo.
The scene that met our eyes here was one that I shall never forget. On a rude bench in front of his house sat the chief. A native stood on his left hand, who from his dress seemed to be a teacher. On his right stood an English gentleman, who I at once, and rightly, concluded was a missionary. He was tall, thin, and apparently48 past forty, with a bald forehead and thin grey hair. The expression of his countenance49 was the most winning I ever saw, and his clear grey eyes beamed with a look that was frank, fearless, loving, and truthful50. In front of the chief was an open space, in the centre of which lay a pile of wooden idols51, ready to be set on fire; and around these were assembled thousands of natives, who had come to join in or to witness the unusual sight. A bright smile overspread the missionary’s face as he advanced quickly to meet us, and he shook us warmly by the hands.
“I am overjoyed to meet you, my dear young friends,” he said. “My friend and your friend, the teacher, has told me your history; and I thank our Father in heaven with all my heart, that He has guided me to this island and made me the instrument of saving you.”
We thanked the missionary most heartily52, and asked him, in some surprise, how he had succeeded in turning the heart of Tararo in our favour.
“I will tell you that at a more convenient time,” he answered, “meanwhile we must not forget the respect due to the chief. He waits to receive you.”
In the conversation that immediately followed between us and Tararo, the latter said that the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ had been sent to the island, and that to it we were indebted for our freedom. Moreover, he told us that we were at liberty to depart in our schooner53 whenever we pleased, and that we should be supplied with as much provision as we required. He concluded by shaking hands with us warmly, and performing the ceremony of rubbing noses.
This was indeed good news to us, and we could hardly find words to express our gratitude54 to the chief and to the missionary.
“And what of Avatea?” inquired Jack.
The missionary replied by pointing to a group of natives, in the midst of whom the girl stood. Beside her was a tall, strapping55 fellow, whose noble mien56 and air of superiority bespoke57 him a chief of no ordinary kind. “That youth is her lover. He came this very morning in his war-canoe to treat with Tararo for Avatea. He is to be married in a few days, and afterwards returns to his island home with his bride.”
“That’s capital!” said Jack as he stepped up to the savage and gave him a hearty58 shake of the hand. “I wish you joy, my lad!—And you too, Avatea!”
As Jack spoke, Avatea’s lover took him by the hand and led him to the spot where Tararo and the missionary stood, surrounded by most of the chief men of the tribe. The girl herself followed and stood on his left hand, while her lover stood on his right, and commanding silence, made the following speech, which was translated by the missionary:
“Young friend, you have seen few years, but your head is old. Your heart, also, is large and very brave. I and Avatea are your debtors59; and we wish, in the midst of this assembly, to acknowledge our debt, and to say that it is one which we can never repay. You have risked your life for one who was known to you only for a few days. But she was a woman in distress60, and that was enough to secure to her the aid of a Christian man. We, who live in these islands of the sea, know that the true Christians61 always act thus. Their religion is one of love and kindness. We thank God that so many Christians have been sent here: we hope many more will come. Remember that I and Avatea will think of you, and pray for you and your brave comrades, when you are far away.”
To this kind speech Jack returned a short, sailor-like reply, in which he insisted that he had only done for Avatea what he would have done for any woman under the sun. But Jack’s forte62 did not lie in speech-making, so he terminated rather abruptly63 by seizing the chief’s hand and shaking it violently, after which he made a hasty retreat.
“Now, then, Ralph and Peterkin,” said Jack as we mingled with the crowd, “it seems to me that, the object we came here for having been satisfactorily accomplished64, we have nothing more to do but get ready for sea as fast as we can, and hurrah65 for old England!”
“That’s my idea precisely,” said Peterkin, endeavouring to wink66; but he had wept so much of late, poor fellow, that he found it difficult. “However, I’m not going away till I see these fellows burn their gods.”
Peterkin had his wish, for in a few minutes afterwards fire was put to the pile, the roaring flames, ascended67, and amid the acclamations of the assembled thousands, the false gods of Mango were reduced to ashes!
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1
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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dreading
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| v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
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7
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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8
chafed
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| v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的过去式 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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fretted
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| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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taro
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| n.芋，芋头 | |
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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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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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21
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
spouting
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| n.水落管系统v.（指液体）喷出( spout的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水 | |
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23
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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24
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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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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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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thongs
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| 的东西 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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trickling
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| n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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36
missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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38
throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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39
bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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40
sable
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| n.黑貂；adj.黑色的 | |
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41
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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42
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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43
smelt
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| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
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44
shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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45
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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46
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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47
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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48
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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49
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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50
truthful
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| adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的 | |
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51
idols
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| 偶像( idol的名词复数 )； 受崇拜的人或物； 受到热爱和崇拜的人或物； 神像 | |
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52
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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53
schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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54
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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55
strapping
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| adj. 魁伟的, 身材高大健壮的 n. 皮绳或皮带的材料, 裹伤胶带, 皮鞭 动词strap的现在分词形式 | |
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56
mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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57
bespoke
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| adj.（产品）订做的；专做订货的v.预定( bespeak的过去式 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
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58
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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debtors
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| n.债务人，借方( debtor的名词复数 ) | |
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60
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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62
forte
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| n.长处，擅长；adj.(音乐)强音的 | |
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63
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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64
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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66
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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