For several days the shipwrecked party continued to live chiefly on limpets and mussels gathered on the sea-shore. Only a very little of the pork was used, for the purpose of converting the food into soup. As they could not tell, of course, how long they might be compelled to live there, it behoved them to be very careful of the food-supply already in possession. Fortunately, the weather continued fine, though cold, so that it was not necessary at first to make any alteration1 in their camp arrangements.
During this period much of their time was necessarily spent in laying in a stock of shell-fish, and in attempting to bring down with stones some of the gulls2 which flew inquisitively3 about and very temptingly near to the camp, but none of the party was a good marksman with stone ammunition4, and it soon became evident that unless some other means of obtaining food were discovered there was every prospect5 of starvation ending their career.
In this emergency Dr Hayward organised an exploring expedition on a more extended scale. He divided the party into three bands—one consisting of Ned Jarring, Tomlin, and himself, to examine the shores; another comprising Joe Slag6, John Mitford, and O’Connor, to penetrate7 the interior and higher lands; while it was appointed to Bob Massey, who had by that time come to be more frequently addressed by his old title of “coxswain,” to stay at the camp, keep the all-important fire going, and guard the women.
“You see, we must go about this business thoroughly,” said the doctor, when they were all assembled in the camp one day after their frugal8 meal, excepting O’Connor, who was a short distance off, trying, with unwearied perseverance9 and unvaried failure, to kill gulls with stones. “And for this purpose, we must hold a council of war. Where’s Terrence?”
“A-missin’ of ’em, you mean,” suggested Mitford.
“Hallo, Terrence!” shouted Hayward, catching11 sight of the Irishman at that moment. “Here! we want you.”
“Comin’, sor, jist wan12 more shot at this baste13. He’s bin14 flyin’ round me hid for half-an-hour at laste, winkin’ at the stones as they go by him. Och! missed again—bad luck to ye!”
As he uttered the malediction15 the disappointed man heaved a last stone, angrily and without an attempt at an aim. He did not even look up to observe the result, but turned sharply round towards the camp.
That stone, however, was like the arrow shot at a venture. It hit the bird full on the breast and brought it down, which fact was made known to the sportsman by a cheer from the camp and a heavy thud behind him.
“Well done, Terrence!” cried Hayward as he came up with his prize. “I regard it as a good omen—a sort of turn in the tide which will encourage us on our contemplated16 expedition.”
The leader then gave minute instructions as to how long they were to be away; how much food they were to take; the direction to be followed, and the work to be done.
“In short,” said the doctor in conclusion, “we must use our eyes, ears, and limbs to the best advantage; but bear in mind that the grand object of the expedition is—”
“Grub,” suggested O’Connor.
“Just so. Grub is our first and greatest necessity. Meanwhile, Peggy, Nell, and Eva will do what they can to make our camp comfortable: gather mussels and other shell-fish and see that the coxswain does not eat more than a fair share of victuals17, and conducts himself in all respects like an obedient and trusted servant.”
With such and similar touches of pleasantry Hayward sought to cheer the spirits of the party and divert their minds from dwelling18 too much on the fact that their case was a very serious one—almost desperate, for they were on a comparatively small island, far to the southward of the usual track of ships, without food or shelter, and without any of the ordinary means of procuring19 either.
The remainder of that day was spent in making preparation for the projected expedition. As they had no offensive or defensive20 arms, except two gully knives, their first business was to provide each man with a spear. Fortunately, some of the surrounding trees had very straight branches of various sizes, so they had only to cut down such as were suitable, and peel the bark off. But the formation of hard points gave them some anxiety, until Tomlin hit upon the idea of utilising the bones of their pork.
“The very thing!” said Mitford, with a look of melancholy21 satisfaction.
Having no turn whatever for mechanics, he never saw difficulties till they met and overcame him, and was always ready to rush in where mechanical angels—if we may say so—feared to tread.
“And how would you propose to cut the bones, John?” asked Slag, with an air of modest simplicity22.
“Cut ’em? eh! well—wi’ the knife, of course.”
It was found, however, that the knife made but slight impression on the bones, and after one or two vain attempts, they turned to a more effective method. Finding a huge boulder23 of some kind of sandstone they broke it up, and on the rough surface thus produced, ground the bones into sharp points, and by an ingenious method known to Slag, who learned it from the Eskimos, they fixed24 these firmly on the ends of their spears.
Thus armed, and with a small quantity of cold pork, and a large allowance of cold boiled limpets and mussels in their wallets, they set out on their explorations.
It is impossible to accompany two parties at once. Let us follow just now the one composed of Joe Slag, Terrence O’Connor, and John Mitford. These, with Joe as their leader, proceeded along the shore some miles in a northerly direction; and then, turning into the bush, which was nowhere thick, they pushed into the interior of the island. After advancing about ten miles they came on a wide stretch of sandhills or downs, and found that, having crossed a sort of isthmus25, they had come out again on the sea-shore.
“This won’t do,” said Slag, on making the discovery. “We’ll have to steer26 d’rect for the highest land.”
“That’s so, Joe,” said Mitford, “and yonder’s a height away there, right in the wind’s eye, that will act as a beacon27 to us.”
“I sees it, John—but, I say, what’s the matter wi’ Terrence?”
This question was drawn28 forth29 by the action of the Irishman, who had walked on about fifty yards in advance of his comrades. He was standing30 in the attitude of an ancient Roman about to discharge a javelin31. Stooping low as if to render themselves less conspicuous32, Mitford muttered, “hallo!” and his comrade whispered, “Sh! he sees suthin’!”
Whatever it was he saw, O’Connor evidently felt too far off to act effectively, for, after standing a moment in the classic position just referred to, he suddenly lowered his spear, dropped on hands and knees, and made a slow, undignified advance of a few yards. Then he rose again, became classic once more and discharged his spear, in a manner that would have done credit to Achilles himself.
The growl33 that followed, and the “bad luck to ye,” that came faintly back on the breeze, told too plainly that the result was a miss.
“Sure it’s a rabbit I saw,” he said, returning to his companions, “an’ if I’d only sent it two yards more to the left, I’d have hit the baste!”
To the satisfaction of the explorers, it was found that the sandhills were burrowed34 all over by rabbits, and that there existed there a large colony of them. Cheered by this—in spite of their bad javelin play—they made for the high ground, and soon found themselves threading a belt of wood, after crossing which they reached the foot of the range of hills that bounded the island to the westward35.
It was a weird36, rugged37 spot, covered with great boulders38 that had rolled down the hill-sides, and with gaps and chasms39 here and there of considerable depth, that suggested the idea of volcanic40 action having visited the place at some remote period. These chasms or rents in the earth were overgrown with trees or bushes in many places, and obliged the travellers to make wide detours41 in some places to avoid them.
Thus they were so much delayed that night was upon them before they had reached the higher parts of the hill-range where they had intended to encamp.
The difference between blanketing and gossamer42 is great, yet it is inconceivably slight compared with the difference between gossamer and nothing! In the pride of their strength the members of the exploring party lay down to sleep without covering of any kind, for the good reason that they possessed43 none, and before morning they would gladly have given a fabulous44 price for even a gossamer coverlet.
“It’s freezin’ I am, if not froze,” said Terrence O’Connor at the end of the second sleepless45 hour. “If we could have only brought away some o’ the fire in our pockets, what a comfort it would have bin!”
He got up, shook himself, and slapped his arms across his breast vigorously.
Slag and Mitford followed his example.
“I’m beginnin’ to feel better on the outside,” continued O’Connor, pausing, “but my spinal46 marrow47 isn’t properly warm yet.”
“Pity it’s too dark to see yer face, John,” said Terrence. “It must be a sight worth seein’. Och, av I only had a good-sized pocket-han’kicher I’d wrap me feet in it, anyhow.”
“Suppose we cut some grass and try that?” suggested Mitford.
The suggestion was acted on.
It was slow work cutting grass with a clasp-knife; tearing it up in handfuls was still slower, but the labour warmed the tired explorers, and when they lay down again under this Adam-an’-Eveic bedding, they fell asleep almost immediately, and did not waken till the sun was pretty well up in the eastern sky.
“Breakfast fust,” said Slag, on completing a tremendous stretch and yawn. “It’s always bin my way since I was a babby—business first; pleasure to foller. Grub is business, an’ work is pleasure—leastwise, it ought to be to any man who’s rated ‘A. One’ on the ship’s books. Hallo! sorrowful-monkey-face, clap a stopper on yer nose an’ tumble up,—d’ye hear?”
Mitford did not hear, but a touch of Slag’s toe caused him to feel and to rise.
O’Connor was already astir, preparing breakfast. Cold boiled mussels and a bit of pork may be good food, but it is not appetising. Consequently they did not linger long over the meal, but were soon striding up the mountain-side rejoicing in the fresh air and sunshine.
There was a certain phase in John Mitford’s character which had not yet been discovered by his friends, and was known only to his wife. He was romantic—powerfully so. To wander through unknown lands and be a discoverer had been the dream of his youth. He was naturally reticent52, and had never said so to any one but Peggy, who, being the reverse of romantic, was somewhat awe-stricken by the discovery, and, in an imbecile way, encouraged him to hope that, “one of these days he’d ’ave ’is desires gratified, as there was nothink to prevent ’im from goin’ to Novazealand—if that was the right way to pronounce it—or to Van Demons53 land—not in a sinful way of course, for they had given up transportin’ people there now—though wherever they transported ’em to she couldn’t imagine—anyhow, there was nothink to prevent his tryin’.” And John did try, which was the primary cause of his being a member of the exploring party now under consideration.
Influenced by his romantic spirit, Mitford betrayed a troublesome tendency to wander from his comrades in pursuit of the Unknown. O’Connor, with the straightforward54 simplicity of his nation, set it down to pig-headedness. Slag, being a man of feeling, opined that it was absence of mind.
“The spalpeen! he’s off again,” said O’Connor, turning round as they halted to rest a minute, after breasting the hill for half-an-hour. “Hallo, John! Where are ye, boy?”
“Here—all right,” shouted a voice in the distance, “I’m exploring behind the knoll55 here. Go ahead; I’ll meet ye at the top o’ the hill.”
By that time they were within about an hour’s walk of the highest ridge56 of the island, so they pushed on without delay, expecting to find their lugubrious57 friend there before them, or not far behind them. It turned out as had been supposed. The mountain ridge formed the summit of the great precipice58 along the foot of which they had sailed after quitting the cavern59, or, as they had come to call it, the wreck-cave. For some time the two stood on the giddy edge, looking in silence on the tremendous depths below, and the sublime60 spectacle of illimitable sea beyond, with its myriad61 facets62 gleaming in the sunshine.
Then they bethought them of their comrade, and turned back to look for him; hallooing now and then as they went, and expecting every moment to see him emerge from one of the gorges63 that led to the ridge. But there was no answering shout or any sign of his having been there. Soon, becoming anxious and then alarmed, the two men set to work in earnest to search for their lost comrade, but they sought in vain. Returning to the spot where they had last heard his voice, they continued the search in that direction, and made the rocks echo with their shouting. Still no John Mitford was to be found, and the curious thing was that there seemed to be no very rugged or precipitous formation of land where he could easily have met with an accident. At last, evening approached.
“We must go back at wance,” said O’Connor, with anxious looks, “an’ rouse all the men out to seek for him wi’ torches.”
Without another word they turned and made for the camp as fast as they could go.
Meanwhile, Dr Hayward and his party had been successful in their exploration, for they not only discovered a rabbit-warren, but had observed seals basking64 on the rocks, and found the tracks of goats, or some animal of that kind with divided hoofs65. They had even succeeded in getting between a young seal and the water and speared it, so that there was something like jubilation66 in the camp on their return at the prospect of a fresh meal and better fare in future.
But this was abruptly67 put an end to by the arrival of Slag and his comrade with the news of Mitford’s disappearance68. Poor Mrs Mitford was thrown into a state of terrible alarm, and at first insisted on accompanying the search party, but under the united entreaties69 of Eva and Nelly she was prevailed on to remain behind.
With torches made of resinous70 wood which burnt admirably they searched all that night, and, taking only a few hours’ rest, continued the search all the following day, but without success. Day after day the search was continued, even after all hope of ever again seeing their comrade alive had died out, but at last they were compelled to give it up and devote themselves to the urgent duty of procuring better shelter and food.
As for poor Mrs Mitford, she sank into a state of helpless and hopeless despair.
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1
alteration
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| n.变更，改变；蚀变 | |
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2
gulls
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| n.鸥( gull的名词复数 )v.欺骗某人( gull的第三人称单数 ) | |
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3
inquisitively
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| 过分好奇地； 好问地 | |
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4
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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slag
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| n.熔渣，铁屑，矿渣；v.使变成熔渣，变熔渣 | |
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7
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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8
frugal
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| adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的 | |
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9
perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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10
pelting
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| 微不足道的，无价值的，盛怒的 | |
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11
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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12
wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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13
baste
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| v.殴打，公开责骂 | |
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14
bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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15
malediction
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| n.诅咒 | |
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16
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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17
victuals
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| n.食物；食品 | |
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18
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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19
procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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20
defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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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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22
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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23
boulder
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| n.巨砾；卵石，圆石 | |
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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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25
isthmus
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| n.地峡 | |
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steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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27
beacon
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| n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔 | |
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28
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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29
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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30
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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31
javelin
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| n.标枪，投枪 | |
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32
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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33
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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34
burrowed
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| v.挖掘（洞穴），挖洞( burrow的过去式和过去分词 )；翻寻 | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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37
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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38
boulders
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| n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾 | |
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39
chasms
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| 裂缝( chasm的名词复数 )； 裂口； 分歧； 差别 | |
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40
volcanic
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| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
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41
detours
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| 绕行的路( detour的名词复数 )； 绕道，兜圈子 | |
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42
gossamer
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| n.薄纱，游丝 | |
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43
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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44
fabulous
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| adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的 | |
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45
sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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46
spinal
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| adj.针的，尖刺的，尖刺状突起的；adj.脊骨的，脊髓的 | |
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47
marrow
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| n.骨髓；精华；活力 | |
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48
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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49
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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50
superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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51
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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52
reticent
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| adj.沉默寡言的；言不如意的 | |
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53
demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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54
straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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55
knoll
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| n.小山，小丘 | |
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56
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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57
lugubrious
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| adj.悲哀的，忧郁的 | |
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58
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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59
cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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60
sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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61
myriad
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| adj.无数的；n.无数，极大数量 | |
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62
facets
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| n.（宝石或首饰的）小平面( facet的名词复数 )；（事物的）面；方面 | |
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63
gorges
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| n.山峡，峡谷( gorge的名词复数 )；咽喉v.（用食物把自己）塞饱，填饱( gorge的第三人称单数 )；作呕 | |
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64
basking
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| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的现在分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
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65
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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66
jubilation
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| n.欢庆，喜悦 | |
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67
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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68
disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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69
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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70
resinous
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| adj.树脂的，树脂质的，树脂制的 | |
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