Colonel Heneage Finch6 Murphy and Major Sir John Temple Oliphant stood, grave and prim7, formally awaiting the arrival of their visitors. Captain Servadac, with the uncontrolled vivacity8 natural to a Frenchman, was the first to speak.
“A joyful9 sight, gentlemen!” he exclaimed. “It will give us unbounded pleasure to shake hands again with some of our fellow-creatures. You, no doubt, have escaped the same disaster as ourselves.”
But the English officers, neither by word nor gesture, made the slightest acknowledgment of this familiar greeting.
“What news can you give us of France, England, or Russia?” continued Servadac, perfectly10 unconscious of the stolid11 rigidity12 with which his advances were received. “We are anxious to hear anything you can tell us. Have you had communications with Europe? Have you —”
“To whom have we the honor of speaking?” at last interposed Colonel Murphy, in the coldest and most measured tone, and drawing himself up to his full height.
“Ah! how stupid! I forgot,” said Servadac, with the slightest possible shrug13 of the shoulders; “we have not been introduced.”
Then, with a wave of his hand towards his companion, who meanwhile had exhibited a reserve hardly less than that of the British officers, he said:
“Allow me to introduce you to Count Wassili Timascheff.”
“ Major Sir John Temple Oliphant,” replied the colonel.
The Russian and the Englishman mutually exchanged the stiffest of bows.
“I have the pleasure of introducing Captain Servadac,” said the count in his turn.
“And this is Colonel Heneage Finch Murphy,” was the major’s grave rejoinder.
More bows were interchanged and the ceremony brought to its due conclusion. It need hardly be said that the conversation had been carried on in French, a language which is generally known both by Russians and Englishmen — a circumstance that is probably in some measure to be accounted for by the refusal of Frenchmen to learn either Russian or English.
The formal preliminaries of etiquette15 being thus complete, there was no longer any obstacle to a freer intercourse16. The colonel, signing to his guests to follow, led the way to the apartment occupied jointly17 by himself and the major, which, although only a kind of casemate hollowed in the rock, nevertheless wore a general air of comfort. Major Oliphant accompanied them, and all four having taken their seats, the conversation was commenced.
Irritated and disgusted at all the cold formalities, Hector Servadac resolved to leave all the talking to the count; and he, quite aware that the Englishmen would adhere to the fiction that they could be supposed to know nothing that had transpired18 previous to the introduction felt himself obliged to recapitulate19 matters from the very beginning.
“You must be aware, gentlemen,” began the count, “that a most singular catastrophe20 occurred on the 1st of January last. Its cause, its limits we have utterly21 failed to discover, but from the appearance of the island on which we find you here, you have evidently experienced its devastating22 consequences.”
The Englishmen, in silence, bowed assent23.
“Captain Servadac, who accompanies me,” continued the count, “has been most severely24 tried by the disaster. Engaged as he was in an important mission as a staff-officer in Algeria —”
“A French colony, I believe,” interposed Major Oliphant, half shutting his eyes with an expression of supreme25 indifference26.
Servadac was on the point of making some cutting retort, but Count Timascheff, without allowing the interruption to be noticed, calmly continued his narrative27:
“It was near the mouth of the Shelif that a portion of Africa, on that eventful night, was transformed into an island which alone survived; the rest of the vast continent disappeared as completely as if it had never been.”
The announcement seemed by no means startling to the phlegmatic28 colonel.
“Indeed!” was all he said.
“And where were you?” asked Major Oliphant.
“I was out at sea, cruising in my yacht; hard by; and I look upon it as a miracle, and nothing less, that I and my crew escaped with our lives.”
“I congratulate you on your luck,” replied the major.
The count resumed: “It was about a month after the great disruption that I was sailing — my engine having sustained some damage in the shock — along the Algerian coast, and had the pleasure of meeting with my previous acquaintance, Captain Servadac, who was resident upon the island with his orderly, Ben Zoof.”
“Ben who?” inquired the major.
“Zoof! Ben Zoof!” ejaculated Servadac, who could scarcely shout loud enough to relieve his pent-up feelings.
Ignoring this ebullition of the captain’s spleen, the count went on to say: “Captain Servadac was naturally most anxious to get what news he could. Accordingly, he left his servant on the island in charge of his horses, and came on board the Dobryna with me. We were quite at a loss to know where we should steer29, but decided30 to direct our course to what previously31 had been the east, in order that we might, if possible, discover the colony of Algeria; but of Algeria not a trace remained.”
The colonel curled his lip, insinuating32 only too plainly that to him it was by no means surprising that a French colony should be wanting in the element of stability. Servadac observed the supercilious33 look, and half rose to his feet, but, smothering34 his resentment35, took his seat again without speaking.
“The devastation36, gentlemen,” said the count, who persistently37 refused to recognize the Frenchman’s irritation38, “everywhere was terrible and complete. Not only was Algeria lost, but there was no trace of Tunis, except one solitary39 rock, which was crowned by an ancient tomb of one of the kings of France —”
“Louis the Ninth, I presume,” observed the colonel.
“Saint Louis,” blurted40 out Servadac, savagely41.
Colonel Murphy slightly smiled.
Proof against all interruption, Count Timascheff, as if he had not heard it, went on without pausing. He related how the schooner had pushed her way onwards to the south, and had reached the Gulf42 of Cabes; and how she had ascertained43 for certain that the Sahara Sea had no longer an existence.
The smile of disdain44 again crossed the colonel’s face; he could not conceal45 his opinion that such a destiny for the work of a Frenchman could be no matter of surprise.
“Our next discovery,” continued the count, “was that a new coast had been upheaved right along in front of the coast of Tripoli, the geological formation of which was altogether strange, and which extended to the north as far as the proper place of Malta.”
“And Malta,” cried Servadac, unable to control himself any longer; “Malta — town, forts, soldiers, governor, and all — has vanished just like Algeria.”
For a moment a cloud rested upon the colonel’s brow, only to give place to an expression of decided incredulity.
“The statement seems highly incredible,” he said.
“Incredible?” repeated Servadac. “Why is it that you doubt my word?”
The captain’s rising wrath46 did not prevent the colonel from replying coolly, “Because Malta belongs to England.”
“I can’t help that,” answered Servadac, sharply; “it has gone just as utterly as if it had belonged to China.”
Colonel Murphy turned deliberately47 away from Servadac, and appealed to the count: “Do you not think you may have made some error, count, in reckoning the bearings of your yacht?”
“No, colonel, I am quite certain of my reckonings; and not only can I testify that Malta has disappeared, but I can affirm that a large section of the Mediterranean48 has been closed in by a new continent. After the most anxious investigation49, we could discover only one narrow opening in all the coast, and it is by following that little channel that we have made our way hither. England, I fear, has suffered grievously by the late catastrophe. Not only has Malta been entirely50 lost, but of the Ionian Islands that were under England’s protection, there seems to be but little left.”
“Ay, you may depend upon it,” said Servadac, breaking in upon the conversation petulantly51, “your grand resident lord high commissioner52 has not much to congratulate himself about in the condition of Corfu.”
The Englishmen were mystified.
“Corfu, did you say?” asked Major Oliphant.
“Yes, Corfu; I said Corfu,” replied Servadac, with a sort of malicious53 triumph.
The officers were speechless with astonishment54.
The silence of bewilderment was broken at length by Count Timascheff making inquiry55 whether nothing had been heard from England, either by telegraph or by any passing ship.
“No,” said the colonel; “not a ship has passed; and the cable is broken.”
“But do not the Italian telegraphs assist you?” continued the count.
“Italian! I do not comprehend you. You must mean the Spanish, surely.”
“How?” demanded Timascheff.
“Confound it!” cried the impatient Servadac. “What matters whether it be Spanish or Italian? Tell us, have you had no communication at all from Europe? — no news of any sort from London?”
“Hitherto, none whatever,” replied the colonel; adding with a stately emphasis, “but we shall be sure to have tidings from England before long.”
“Whether England is still in existence or not, I suppose,” said Servadac, in a tone of irony56.
The Englishmen started simultaneously57 to their feet.
“England in existence?” the colonel cried. “England! Ten times more probable that France —”
“France!” shouted Servadac in a passion. “France is not an island that can be submerged; France is an integral portion of a solid continent. France, at least, is safe.”
A scene appeared inevitable58, and Count Timascheff’s efforts to conciliate the excited parties were of small avail.
“You are at home here,” said Servadac, with as much calmness as he could command; “it will be advisable, I think, for this discussion to be carried on in the open air.” And hurriedly he left the room. Followed immediately by the others, he led the way to a level piece of ground, which he considered he might fairly claim as neutral territory.
“Now, gentlemen,” he began haughtily59, “permit me to represent that, in spite of any loss France may have sustained in the fate of Algeria, France is ready to answer any provocation60 that affects her honor. Here I am the representative of my country, and here, on neutral ground —”
“Neutral ground?” objected Colonel Murphy; “I beg your pardon. This, Captain Servadac, is English territory. Do you not see the English flag?” and, as he spoke61, he pointed62 with national pride to the British standard floating over the top of the island.
“Pshaw!” cried Servadac, with a contemptuous sneer63; “that flag, you know, has been hoisted64 but a few short weeks.”
“That flag has floated where it is for ages,” asserted the colonel.
“An imposture65!” shouted Servadac, as he stamped with rage.
Recovering his composure in a degree, he continued: “Can you suppose that I am not aware that this island on which we find you is what remains66 of the Ionian representative republic, over which you English exercise the right of protection, but have no claim of government?”
The colonel and the major looked at each other in amazement67.
Although Count Timascheff secretly sympathized with Servadac, he had carefully refrained from taking part in the dispute; but he was on the point of interfering68, when the colonel, in a greatly subdued69 tone, begged to be allowed to speak.
“I begin to apprehend,” he said, “that you must be la-boring under some strange mistake. There is no room for questioning that the territory here is England’s — England’s by right of conquest; ceded70 to England by the Treaty of Utrecht. Three times, indeed — in 1727, 1779, and 1792 — France and Spain have disputed our title, but always to no purpose. You are, I assure you, at the present moment, as much on English soil as if you were in London, in the middle of Trafalgar Square.”
It was now the turn of the captain and the count to look surprised. “Are we not, then, in Corfu?” they asked.
“You are at Gibraltar,” replied the colonel.
Gibraltar! The word fell like a thunderclap upon their ears. Gibraltar! the western extremity71 of the Mediterranean! Why, had they not been sailing persistently to the east? Could they be wrong in imagining that they had reached the Ionian Islands? What new mystery was this?
Count Timascheff was about to proceed with a more rigorous investigation, when the attention of all was arrested by a loud outcry. Turning round, they saw that the crew of the Dobryna was in hot dispute with the English soldiers. A general altercation72 had arisen from a disagreement between the sailor Panofka and Corporal Pim. It had transpired that the cannon73-ball fired in experiment from the island had not only damaged one of the spars of the schooner, but had broken Panofka’s pipe, and, moreover, had just grazed his nose, which, for a Russian’s, was unusually long. The discussion over this mishap74 led to mutual14 recriminations, till the sailors had almost come to blows with the garrison75.
Servadac was just in the mood to take Panofka’s part, which drew from Major Oliphant the remark that England could not be held responsible for any accidental injury done by her cannon, and if the Russian’s long nose came in the way of the ball, the Russian must submit to the mischance.
This was too much for Count Timascheff, and having poured out a torrent76 of angry invective77 against the English officers, he ordered his crew to embark78 immediately.
“We shall meet again,” said Servadac, as they pushed off from shore.
“Whenever you please,” was the cool reply.
The geographical79 mystery haunted the minds of both the count and the captain, and they felt they could never rest till they had ascertained what had become of their respective countries. They were glad to be on board again, that they might résumé their voyage of investigation, and in two hours were out of sight of the sole remaining fragment of Gibraltar.
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1
schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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sinuous
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| adj.蜿蜒的，迂回的 | |
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cove
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| n.小海湾，小峡谷 | |
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spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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finch
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| n.雀科鸣禽(如燕雀，金丝雀等) | |
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prim
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| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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vivacity
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| n.快活，活泼，精神充沛 | |
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joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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stolid
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| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
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rigidity
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| adj.钢性，坚硬 | |
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shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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jointly
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| ad.联合地，共同地 | |
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transpired
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| （事实，秘密等）被人知道( transpire的过去式和过去分词 )； 泄露； 显露； 发生 | |
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recapitulate
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| v.节述要旨，择要说明 | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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devastating
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| adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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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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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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phlegmatic
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| adj.冷静的，冷淡的，冷漠的，无活力的 | |
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steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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insinuating
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| adj.曲意巴结的，暗示的v.暗示( insinuate的现在分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入 | |
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supercilious
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| adj.目中无人的，高傲的；adv.高傲地；n.高傲 | |
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smothering
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的现在分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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devastation
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| n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤 | |
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persistently
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| ad.坚持地；固执地 | |
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irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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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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disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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50
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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51
petulantly
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52
commissioner
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| n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员 | |
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53
malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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56
irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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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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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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imposture
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| n.冒名顶替，欺骗 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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interfering
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| adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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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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ceded
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| v.让给，割让，放弃( cede的过去式 ) | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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altercation
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| n.争吵，争论 | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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invective
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| n.痛骂，恶意抨击 | |
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embark
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| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
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79
geographical
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| adj.地理的；地区(性)的 | |
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