Presently he shouted:
"Place all the luggage on the ground."
The "luggage" for the most part consisted of handkerchiefs containing the men's scanty4 and hurriedly-collected kit5. Two or three of the officers had brought small handbags, while the purser had taken the precaution of landing a portable medicine-chest.
"You have been searched for arms?" inquired the pirate lieutenant, addressing Branscombe, and without waiting for that worthy's reply he continued: "Goot; we will now the luggage search."
It was not a lengthy6 business. One of the guards undertook the examination of the kit, while Strogoff watched the proceedings7. Since there was little of value, nothing was taken with the exception of shaving- and looking-glasses, razors, and scissors.
The prisoners, preceded and followed by armed guards, were then marched off. For a hundred yards or so they kept to the sandy beach until they arrived at a cleft8 in the precipitous cliffs, that had been invisible when viewed from the deck of the Donibristle. It was more than a cleft, it was a narrow, steeply ascending9 defile10, and the only means of gaining the interior of the island from the harbour. Enclosed by bare walls of rock, never more than twelve feet apart, the path ascended11 by a series of zigzags12, until at a distance of a furlong from the seaward entrance a natural barrier of granite13 terminated the gorge14. Here, piercing the cliffs at right angles to the path, was a tunnel, the work of man's hands, driven through the solid rock. Defended by machine-guns, the gateway15 to the island could defy an army corps16.
During German occupation the tunnel had been electrically lighted. The bayonet-sockets of the long-destroyed bulbs were still in position, while here and there broken insulated wire protruded17 from the rusted18 iron castings.
By the aid of torches made of resinous19 wood the guards illuminated20 the tunnel, through which a strong in-draught of warm air caused the lights to flicker21 and smoke.
On the principle that "you never know your luck", Burgoyne kept his eyes well open, studying the nature of the approach to the interior. One of the first objects that attracted his attention was a metal portcullis. It was already drawn22 up, and only a foot or so of the lower portion projected below the roof of the tunnel. Since no winding23 mechanism24 was visible, he concluded that above the tunnel was a large hall or cave, from which control of the portcullis and observation of the approach through the gorge could be made.
When about one-third of the inclined subterranean25 passage had been traversed, Burgoyne noticed that the wall on one side was running with moisture, and presently he saw an iron plate, about two feet in diameter, set in a metal frame and secured by six butterfly-nuts. It was obviously a valve, the seating of which was by no means water-tight, for two or three fine sprays were spurting26 diagonally across the tunnel, and forming miniature rainbows in the glare of the torches. As it was an inaccessible27 spot for a hydrant, Burgoyne formed the idea that the water formed part of the defences of the tunnel, and, if necessary, could either inundate28 the lowermost part or else set up an irresistible29 torrent30 against which no human being could stand.
Presently daylight showed ahead. The guards extinguished their torches by dashing them on the ground, and stacked the still-smoking wood in a niche31 in the wall of the tunnel. Passing under another portcullis, and turning sharp to the right through an inclined gulley, the prisoners arrived in the open air on the high land of the secret base.
Here they were halted. A pirate with the air of one having authority—he was equivalent to a barrack-master—carefully counted the prisoners, and began picking out a few at haphazard32. Those he chose were subjected to a minute search, but luckily there was nothing found on them in the nature of arms or ammunition33. Presently he stood still with his horny hand raised as if about to bring it down upon Hilda Vivian's shoulder.
The officers of the Donibristle were bringing up the rear of the column of prisoners, but behind were six of the pirates. Consequently Burgoyne was close to the girl, only the purser being between them. Alwyn saw Hilda shrink back. It was only a slight movement but nevertheless perceptible.
"That's done it!" muttered the Third Officer, striving in vain to think of a hurried plan whereby he might be able to save the girl without arousing instant and fatal suspicion.
But a deus ex machina had turned up at the critical moment. Black Strogoff, who had not accompanied the prisoners, had just emerged from the tunnel, and his imperious harsh voice was shouting for one Fernando. The barrack-master turned on hearing his name called and hastened to his superior.
When at length Strogoff dismissed the fellow the immediate34 danger was over. There was no further attempt to search the prisoners, but once more Burgoyne realized that there were limits even to the vagaries35 of fate, and that the presence of Hilda Vivian was causing complications that indicated more trouble at no distant date.
His anxiety was shared by the rest of his comrades. Up to the present, apart from the gruelling they had received during the one-sided engagement resulting in the capture of the Donibristle, they hadn't much to complain about. In fact it was rather amusing and exciting, this adventure, were it not that they were saddled with the responsibility of concealing36 the sex and identity of a young and pretty girl.
The march was resumed, the prisoners moving in fours with their guards on either flank and in front and rear of the column. The route lay over fairly regular grassland37 that for nearly half a mile rose gradually. Well on their left was a grove38 of coco-palms, otherwise the island seemed devoid39 of growing timber. Ahead lay a rounded hill, towering about two hundred feet above the general level of the plateau, while to the right were a number of wooden huts where the pirates lived when not required to be afloat.
There were other buildings that served as workshops. The pulsations of petrol motors, the rasp of circular saws, and the rapid beat of a pneumatic riveting-tool, clearly indicated the purpose to which these buildings were put. And Burgoyne had good reason to believe that the workmen were prisoners, since there were armed guards lolling about outside the doors.
As the Donibristle's men continued their enforced march, they passed patches of cultivated land and enclosed portions of pasture on which cattle and sheep browsed40. There were men working in the fields, scantily-clad, bronzed and bearded fellows, who waved their hands to the new-comers. Some of them shouted greetings, but the distance was too far for the words to be audible.
"They're from the Alvarado and Kittiwake, I guess," remarked Phil Branscombe. "So it looks as if we shall be on the same lay before long. Did you notice they've all grown magnificent whiskers?"
"Aye," replied Burgoyne. "Couldn't help noticing that. 'Bearded like a pard' as Will Shakespeare wrote."
"And we'll be in the same boat if we're here long enough," continued Branscombe drily. "The blighters have collared our shaving-tackle. I've reason to believe my beard's red. What colour is yours, old man?"
He paused, deep in thought. Burgoyne made no reply. He, too, was thinking.
"By Jove!" continued the Fourth Officer. "I said 'we'll all be growing beards'. What about Miss Vivian? Won't that give the show away?"
"Yes," agreed Alwyn gravely. "We aren't having amateur theatricals41. The false beard stunt42 wouldn't work. They'd twig43 it."
"We'll think of some wheeze44, old man," rejoined Branscombe. "There's time yet, although I'm not one to shelve a proposition until it's too late."
He caressed45 his chin, already showing four days' growth of soft reddish down.
"An' they collared our shaving-mirrors," he continued. "Wonder what I look like now? What was the idea?"
"'Spose they thought we'd use them as heliographs," conjectured46 Burgoyne. "As for the razors, perhaps they've seen a nigger run amok with one. I did once. It was in New Orleans, and the fellow raised Cain till he was scuppered."
"But why safety-razors?" persisted Branscombe. Then, pointing to a fence, he changed the subject by exclaiming: "And there's home sweet home, my festive47!"
The prisoners had now breasted the low ridge48 that, without taking into consideration the isolated49 hill, formed the dividing ridge of the island. Right ahead they could see the north-western part of the sea-girt base, terminated on three sides of an irregular quadri-lateral by tall cliffs. The fourth or landward side was enclosed by a lofty metal fence, made of pointed50 steel bars painted with the familiar "dazzle" affected51 by ships and fortifications during the Great War. In the fence was a large gate, on either side of which was a blockhouse on a slight artificial mound52, with a pair of machine-guns so mounted as to command the whole of the enclosed space. Within the barrier was a conglomeration53 of huts, tents, and rough shelters, the whole forming the compound where the Malfilio's captives spent their scanty hours of rest and slumber54.
Between the two blockhouses a halt was called, and the prisoners were again counted. Although no attempt was made to search any of them, they were evidently meant to be kept under strict surveillance, since the pirates had taken the precaution of counting them in spite of the fact that they had been under an armed guard during their journey across the island. That boded55 ill for any adventurous56 individual who felt tempted57 to escape.
Through the gateway the new arrivals were herded58. Then they were told to halt and kept waiting until Strogoff appeared, riding on a motor-cycle of American manufacture and recent make. He had unbuckled his sword and lashed59 it to the frame, and the fact that in dismounting he had forgotten it and had got considerably60 mixed up with the scabbard did not improve his temper.
"Listen!" he shouted to the prisoners, who were concealing their hilarity61 under a wooden-faced demeanour. "In two hours you will be ready for work. Four men will be cookers—I mean, cooks. Twelve used to engines will go to the smiths-shop. The rest to the fields. The officers responsible will be for the good work and behaviour of the men. At six o'clock—not one minute in advance—you knock off and return to compound. No use to give trouble."
He pointed meaningly in the direction of the machine-guns.
"We have wounded officers and men with us," protested Burgoyne.
Black Strogoff waved his hand deprecatingly.
"The cookers—no, cooks—they can look to the sick men," he replied. "Do you not think you will have so much to eat that four men take all their time to get it ready? If you want to know more ask the Kittiwake captain. You waste time," he added meaningly. "Only one hour fifty minutes more."
The pirate lieutenant signed to two of his men to bring along the recumbent motor-cycle; then, followed by the guards, he strode to the gate, conscious of a rapidly swelling62 bump on both of his shins.
"Let's get a move on, lads!" exclaimed Burgoyne cheerfully. "We've got to find a place to sling63 our hammocks and get ourselves sorted out. We'll have to lie low for a bit until we find our feet, I'm thinking."
At first sight it seemed as if the huts were untenanted, but presently in one corner of the compound Burgoyne noticed smoke arising in a thin cloud in the still air.
"Stand easy!" he ordered. "Mr. Holmes, you might come with me and interview the people tending that fire."
As Burgoyne and the purser approached they found that the fire was burning in the centre of a roofless, three-sided canvas screen. Voices raised in heated argument could be heard above the crackling of the burning logs. The men were evidently unaware64 that there were new-comers to the compound.
"D'ye call that the proper way?" demanded a deep voice. "You aren't in a land of plenty, sonny, and don't you forget it."
"I've allus cut one up like this afore, sir," replied a rather subdued65 voice.
"Then you waste half of it," continued the first speaker with asperity66. "Seeing we only get one sheep a week 'tween the lot of us, it'll have to go a jolly sight further, Sammy, or you'll be looking for another job."
Warned by a look on the face of the culprit, the deep-voiced man wheeled abruptly and saw Burgoyne and the purser standing67 by the open side of the screen.
"What, more of them?" he exclaimed, glancing at the marks of rank on the Third Officer's torn and dirty drill uniform. "Glad to meet you, present circumstances notwithstanding. My name's Davis, Cap'n Davis, master of the S.S. Kittiwake. What's your tally68?"
Burgoyne told him and introduced the purser.
"Come along to my cabin," continued Captain Davis. "Sorry I can't offer you a drink 'cept water. I'm on the sick list or you wouldn't have found me. I'm usually killing69 time in these black-bearded rogues70' smithy."
"That's where I shall probably be soon," rejoined Burgoyne. "In an hour and three-quarters, I expect. So I'm in a bit of a hurry. I thought you could put me up to a tip as to how to billet my men."
"How many?"
Alwyn told him.
"H'm. Yours was a lump of a ship. But there's plenty of room here. We were practically the first-comers, so we had the pick, so to speak. The Alvarado's people took the next best in the matter of site. We don't mix much, 'cause they're Yankees who don't cotton on to Britishers much. So we keep ourselves to ourselves. Now, how will this little lot suit you?"
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收听单词发音
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1
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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scrutinizing
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的现在分词 ) | |
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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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kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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defile
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| v.弄污，弄脏；n.(山间)小道 | |
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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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zigzags
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| n.锯齿形的线条、小径等( zigzag的名词复数 )v.弯弯曲曲地走路，曲折地前进( zigzag的第三人称单数 ) | |
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granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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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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rusted
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| v.（使）生锈( rust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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resinous
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| adj.树脂的，树脂质的，树脂制的 | |
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20
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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22
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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spurting
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| （液体，火焰等）喷出，（使）涌出( spurt的现在分词 )； （短暂地）加速前进，冲刺； 溅射 | |
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27
inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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inundate
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| vt.淹没，泛滥，压倒 | |
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irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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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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niche
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| n.壁龛；合适的职务(环境、位置等) | |
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haphazard
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| adj.无计划的，随意的，杂乱无章的 | |
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ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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vagaries
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| n.奇想( vagary的名词复数 )；异想天开；异常行为；难以预测的情况 | |
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concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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grassland
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| n.牧场，草地，草原 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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browsed
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| v.吃草( browse的过去式和过去分词 )；随意翻阅；（在商店里）随便看看；（在计算机上）浏览信息 | |
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41
theatricals
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| n.（业余性的）戏剧演出，舞台表演艺术；职业演员；戏剧的( theatrical的名词复数 )；剧场的；炫耀的；戏剧性的 | |
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42
stunt
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| n.惊人表演，绝技，特技；vt.阻碍...发育，妨碍...生长 | |
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43
twig
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| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
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44
wheeze
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| n.喘息声，气喘声；v.喘息着说 | |
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45
caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
conjectured
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| 推测，猜测，猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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festive
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| adj.欢宴的，节日的 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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50
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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51
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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52
mound
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| n.土墩，堤，小山；v.筑堤，用土堆防卫 | |
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53
conglomeration
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| n.团块，聚集，混合物 | |
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54
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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55
boded
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| v.预示，预告，预言( bode的过去式和过去分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
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56
adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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57
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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58
herded
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| 群集，纠结( herd的过去式和过去分词 )； 放牧； （使）向…移动 | |
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59
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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60
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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61
hilarity
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| n.欢乐；热闹 | |
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62
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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sling
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| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
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64
unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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65
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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66
asperity
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| n.粗鲁，艰苦 | |
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67
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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68
tally
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| n.计数器，记分，一致，测量；vt.计算，记录，使一致；vi.计算，记分，一致 | |
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69
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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70
rogues
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| n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽 | |
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