“You are ill, Will Ward1,” was Dick Darvall’s first remark when there was sufficient daylight to distinguish faces.
“You’re another!” was the cabin-boy’s quick, facetious2 retort, which caused Darvall to smile and had the effect of rousing the half-sleeping crew.
“No, Dick, not exactly ill,” returned Will, with a faint smile, “but I’m queer.”
Each man had spent that stormy night on the particular thwart4 on which he had chanced to sit down when he first entered the boat, so that all were looking more or less weary, but seamen5 are used to uncomfortable and interrupted slumbers6. They soon roused themselves and began to look about and make a few comments on the weather. Some, recurring7 naturally to their beloved indulgence, pulled out their pipes and filled them.
“No, Jack9, I haven’t” answered Jim, in a less sleepy tone, slapping all his pockets and thrusting his hands into them.
“Have you, Dick?” asked the rugged man in some anxiety.
“No, I haven’t,” replied Darvall, in a very serious voice, as he also took to slapping his pockets; “no—nor baccy!”
It was curious to note at this point how every seaman in that boat became suddenly sympathetic and wide awake, and took to hasty, anxious examination of all his pockets—vest jacket, and trousers. The result was the discovery of a good many clay pipes, more or less blackened and shortened, with a few plugs of tobacco, but not a single match, either fusee or congreve. The men looked at each other with something akin10 to despair.
“Was no matches putt on board wi’ the grub an’ other things?” asked Jim in a solemn tone.
“And no tobacco?” inquired the mate.
No one could answer in the affirmative. A general sigh—like a miniature squall—burst from the sailors, and relieved them a little. Jim put his pipe between his lips, and meekly11 began, if we may say so, to smoke his tobacco dry. At an order from the mate the men got out the oars12 and began to pull, for there was barely enough wind to fill the sail.
“No rest for us, lads, ’cept when it blows,” said the mate. “The nearest land that I know of is five hundred miles off as the crow flies. We’ve got a compass by good luck, so we can make for it, but the grub on board won’t hold out for quarter o’ that distance, so, unless we fall in with a ship, or fish jump aboard of us, ye know what’s before us.”
“Hear—hear!” exclaimed Jim.
“No, Jack,” returned the mate; “at least not for the purpose o’ lettin’ you have a short life an’ a merry one. Now, look here, men: it has pleased Providence14 to putt you an’ me in something of a fix, and I shouldn’t wonder if we was to have some stiffish experiences before we see the end of it. It has also pleased Providence to putt me here in command. You know I’m not given to boastin’, but there are times when it is advisable to have plain speakin’. There is a small supply of spirits aboard, and I just want to tell ’ee—merely as a piece of useful information, and to prevent any chance o’ future trouble—that as I’ve got charge o’ them spirits I mean to keep charge of ’em.”
The mate spoke15 in a low, soft voice, without the slightest appearance of threat or determination in his manner, but as he concluded he unbuttoned his pilot-cloth coat and pointed17 to the butt16 of a revolver which protruded18 from one of his vest pockets.
The men made no reply, but instinctively19 glanced at the two biggest and strongest men in the boat. These were Charlie Brooke and Dick Darvall. Obviously, before committing themselves further, they wished, if possible, to read in the faces of these two what they thought of the mate’s speech. They failed to read much, if anything at all, for Charlie’s eyes were fixed20 in dreamy expressionless abstraction on the horizon, and Dick was gazing up into the clouds, with a look of intense benignity—suggesting that he was holding pleasant intercourse21 with any celestial22 creatures who might be resident there.
Without a word the whole crew bent23 to their oars, and resigned themselves to the inevitable24. Perhaps if each man had expressed his true feelings at that moment he would have said that he was glad to know there was a firm hand at the helm. For there are few things more uncomfortable in any community, large or small, than the absence of discipline, or the presence of a weak will in a position of power.
“But I say, Will,” remarked Darvall, who pulled the stroke-oar, “you really do look ill. Is anything the matter with ’ee?”
“Nothin’, Dick; ’cept that I’m tired,” answered the cabin-boy.
“Breakfast will put that right” said our hero in an encouraging tone. “Let’s feel your pulse. Hm. Well, might be slower. Come, Captain,” he added, giving the mate his new title as he turned to him, “will you allow me to prescribe breakfast for this patient?”
“Certainly, Doctor,” returned the mate cheerily. “Come, lads, we’ll all have breakfast together.”
In a few minutes the biscuit and salt junk barrels were opened, and the mate measured out an exactly equal proportion of food to each man. Then, following the example of a celebrated25 commander, and in order to prevent dissatisfaction on the part of any with his portion, he caused one of the men to turn his back on the food, and, pointing to one of the portions said, “Who shall have this?”
The portion was immediately handed to Charlie Brooke amid a general laugh.
Thus every portion was disposed of, and the men sat down to eat in good humour, in spite of the too evident fact that they had been at once placed on short allowance, for, when each had finished, he assuredly wished for more, though no one ventured to give expression to the wish.
The only exception was the little cabin-boy, who made a brave attempt to eat, but utterly27 failed at the second mouthful.
“Come, Will,” said Charlie in a kindly28 tone, pretending to misunderstand the state of matters, “don’t try to deceive yourself by prolonging your breakfast. That won’t make more of it. See, here, I’m not up to eating much to-day, somehow, so I’ll be greatly obliged if you will dispose of half of mine as well as your own. Next time I am hungry, and you are not, I’ll expect you to do the same.”
But Will Ward could not be thus induced to eat. He was really ill, and before night was in a high fever. You may be sure that Dr Brooke, as every one now called him, did his best to help the little sufferer, but, of course, he could do very little, for all the medicines which he had prepared had been put into the long-boat, and, in a small open boat with no comforts, no medicines, and on short allowance of food, little could be done, except to give the boy a space of the floor on which to lie, to shield him from spray, and to cover him with blankets.
For a week the boat was carried over the sea by a fresh, steady breeze, during which time the sun shone out frequently, so that things seemed not so wretched as one might suppose to the shipwrecked mariners29. Of course the poor cabin-boy was an exception. Although his feverish30 attack was a slight one he felt very weak and miserable31 after it. His appetite began to return, however, and it was evident that the short daily allowance would be insufficient32 for him. When this point was reached Dick Darvall one day, when rations33 were being served out, ventured to deliver an opinion.
“Captain and mates all,” he said, while a sort of bashful smile played upon his sunburnt features, “it do seem to me that we should agree, each man, to give up a share of our rations to little Will Ward, so that he may be able to feed up a bit an’ git the better o’ this here sickness. We won’t feel the want of such a little crumb34 each, an’ he’ll be ever so much the better for it.”
“Agreed,” chorused the men, apparently35 without exception.
“All right, lads,” said the mate, while a rare smile lighted up for a moment his usually stern countenance36; “when the need for such self-denial comes I’ll call on ye to exercise it, but it ain’t called for yet, because I’ve been lookin’ after the interests o’ Will Ward while he’s been ill. Justice, you see, stands first o’ the virtues37 in my mind, an’ it’s my opinion that it wouldn’t be justice, but something very much the reverse, if we were to rob the poor boy of his victuals38 just because he couldn’t eat them.”
“Right you are, sir,” interposed Dick Darvall.
“Well, then, holdin’ these views,” continued the mate, “I have put aside Will Ward’s share every time the rations were served, so here’s what belongs to him—in this keg for the meat, and this bag for the biscuit—ready for him to fall-to whenever his twist is strong enough.”
There were marks of hearty39 approval, mingled40 with laughter, among the men on hearing this, but they stopped abruptly41 and listened for more on observing a perplexed42 look on their leader’s face.
“But there’s something that puzzles me about it, lads,” resumed the mate, “and it is this, that the grub has somehow accumulated faster than I can account for, considering the smallness o’ the addition to the lot each time.”
On hearing this the men were a little surprised, but Charlie Brooke burst into a short laugh.
“What!” he exclaimed, “you don’t mean to say that the victuals have taken root and begun to grow, do you?”
“I don’t mean to say anything,” returned the mate quietly; “but I’m inclined to think a good deal if you’ve no objection, Doctor.”
“How d’ee feel now, Will?” said Charlie, stooping forward at the moment, for he observed that the boy—whose bed was on the floor at his feet—had moved, and was gazing up at him with eyes that seemed to have grown enormously since their owner fell sick.
“I feel queer—and—and—I’m inclined to think, too,” returned Will in a faint voice.
Nothing more was said at that time, for a sudden shift in the wind necessitated43 a shift of the sail, but Dick Darvall nodded his head significantly, and it came to be understood that “Doctor” Brooke had regularly robbed himself of part of his meagre allowance in order to increase the store of the cabin-boy. Whether they were right in this conjecture44 has never been distinctly ascertained45. But all attempts to benefit the boy were soon after frustrated46, for, while life was little more than trembling in the balance with Will Ward, a gale47 burst upon them which sealed his fate.
It was not the rougher motion of the boat that did it, for the boy was used to that; nor the flashing of the salt spray inboard, for his comrades guarded him to some extent from that. During the alarm caused by a wave which nearly swamped the boat two of the crew in their panic seized the first things that came to hand and flung them overboard to prevent their sinking, while the rest baled with cans and sou’-westers for their lives. The portion of lading thus sacrificed turned out to be the staff of life—the casks of biscuit and pork!
It was a terrible shock to these unfortunates when the full extent of the calamity48 was understood, and the firmness of the mate, with a sight of the revolvers alone prevented summary vengeance49 being executed on the wretched men who had acted so hastily in their blind terror.
Only a small keg of biscuit remained to them. This was soon expended50, and then the process of absolute starvation began. Every nook and cranny of the boat was searched again and again in the hope of something eatable being found, but only a small pot of lard—intended probably to grease the tackling—was discovered. With a dreadful expression in their eyes some of the men glared at it, and there would, no doubt, have been a deadly struggle for it if the mate had not said, “Fetch it here,” in a voice which none dared to disobey.
It formed but a mouthful to each, yet the poor fellows devoured51 it with the greed of ravening52 wolves, and carefully licked their fingers when it was done. The little cabin-boy had three portions allotted53 to him, because Charlie Brooke and Dick Darvall added their allowance to his without allowing him to be aware of the fact.
But the extra allowance and kindness, although they added greatly to his comfort, could not stay the hand of Death. Slowly but surely the Destroyer came and claimed the young life. It was a sweet, calm evening when the summons came. The sea was like glass, with only that long, gentle swell54 which tells even in the profoundest calm of Ocean’s instability. The sky was intensely blue, save on the western horizon, where the sun turned it into gold. It seemed as if all Nature were quietly indifferent to the sufferings of the shipwrecked men, some of whom had reached that terrible condition of starvation when all the softer feelings of humanity seem dead, for, although no whisper of their intention passed their lips, their looks told all too plainly that they awaited the death of the cabin-boy with impatience55, that they might appease56 the intolerable pangs57 of hunger by resorting to cannibalism58.
Charlie Brooke, who had been comforting the dying lad all day, and whispering to him words of consolation59 from God’s book from time to time, knew well what those looks meant. So did the mate, who sat grim, gaunt and silent at his post, taking no notice apparently of what went on around him. Fortunately the poor boy was too far gone to observe the looks of his mates.
There was a can of paraffin oil, which had been thrown into the boat under the impression that it was something else. This had been avoided hitherto by the starving men, who deemed it to be poisonous. That evening the man called Jim lost control of himself, seized the can, and took a long draught60 of the oil. Whether it was the effect of that we cannot tell, but it seemed to drive him mad, for no sooner had he swallowed it than he uttered a wild shout, drew his knife, sprang up and leaped towards the place where the cabin-boy lay.
The mate, who had foreseen something of the kind, drew and levelled his revolver, but before he could fire Charlie had caught the uplifted arm, wrested61 the knife from the man, and thrust him violently back. Thus foiled Jim sprang up again and with a maniac’s yell leaped into the sea, and swam resolutely62 away.
Even in their dire63 extremity64 the sailors could not see a comrade perish with indifference65. They jumped up, hastily got out the oars, and pulled after him, but their arms were very weak; before they could overtake him the man had sunk to rise no more.
It was while this scene was being enacted66 that the spirit of the cabin-boy passed away. On ascertaining67 that he was dead Charlie covered him with a tarpaulin68 where he lay, but no word was uttered by any one, and the mate, with revolver still in hand, sat there—grim and silent—holding the tiller as if steering69, and gazing sternly on the horizon. Yet it was not difficult to divine the thoughts of those unhappy and sorely tried men. Some by their savage70 glare at the cover that concealed71 the dead body showed plainly their dreadful desires. Brooke, Darvall, and the mate showed as clearly by their compressed lips and stern brows that they would resist any attempt to gratify these.
Suddenly the mate’s brow cleared, and his eyes opened wide as he muttered, under his breath, “A sail!”
“A sail! a sail!” shrieked72 the man in the bow at the same moment, as he leaped up and tried to cheer, but he only gasped73 and fell back in a swoon into a comrade’s arms.
It was indeed a sail, which soon grew larger, and ere long a ship was descried74 bearing straight towards them before a very light breeze. In less than an hour the castaways stood upon her deck—saved.
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收听单词发音
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1
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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facetious
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| adj.轻浮的，好开玩笑的 | |
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seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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thwart
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| v.阻挠，妨碍，反对；adj.横(断的) | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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slumbers
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| 睡眠，安眠( slumber的名词复数 ) | |
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recurring
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| adj.往复的，再次发生的 | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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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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akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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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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growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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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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16
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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protruded
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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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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21
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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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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24
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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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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mariners
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| 海员，水手（mariner的复数形式） | |
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feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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crumb
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| n.饼屑，面包屑，小量 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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victuals
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| n.食物；食品 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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40
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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41
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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42
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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43
necessitated
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| 使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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45
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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47
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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48
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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49
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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50
expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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51
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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52
ravening
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| a.贪婪而饥饿的 | |
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53
allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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55
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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56
appease
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| v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足 | |
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57
pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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58
cannibalism
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| n.同类相食；吃人肉 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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60
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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61
wrested
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| （用力）拧( wrest的过去式和过去分词 )； 费力取得； （从…）攫取； （ 从… ） 强行取去… | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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enacted
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ascertaining
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 ) | |
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68
tarpaulin
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| n.涂油防水布，防水衣，防水帽 | |
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69
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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70
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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71
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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72
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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73
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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74
descried
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| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
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