The prize was lost. What then? He had been robbed of it, not by any failure of the machine he had created, but by the caprice of nature, against which he was powerless. Those who criticised him would be compelled to admit as much. And, all said and done, he had been the first man to cross Mont Blanc in an aeroplane, and no tongue could rob him of the credit.
These were early impressions, and not a little vague. He was bitterly cold and so cramped1 in every limb that when he rolled out of his seat at last he could not stand upright. Utterly2 exhausted3 in mind and body, he held as well as he could to the shell of the ship, and tried to drag himself to his feet. Then he remembered that there was a flask4 of brandy among his "stores," and finding it with maladroit5 hand, he took a heavy draught6. The potent7 liquor revived him immediately. Circulation came back at last. He stood upright and looked about him.
He was on a steep slope of the snow, and there were woods above him. When he had searched them a little while with patient eyes, he began to think that they were not unfamiliar9. A further scrutiny10 showed him a gabled building above the woods, and he could have sworn that it was the well-known hotel at Vermala. Turning to the valley below, he perceived a clump11 of pines emerging from the mists, and they fitted into the picture he had imagined. Yes, they would be the woods standing12 between Vermala and the plateau of Andana, and if they were, his chalet lay below them. But at that thought he shrugged13 his shoulders and laughed in an odd way. He would not think about a chance so preposterous14.
His machine had escaped all damage in the swift descent, and lay across the bank; one wing just tipping the froth of the snow, the other poised15 high above the white ground. His difficulty was to reach solid ground, for the drifts were deep hereabouts, and he sank up to his knees at every step he took. It occurred to him that he must carry skis with him in future against such a mishap16 as this; and resolving to make a note of it, he began to examine the engine and propellers17 to see if all were well with them. This scrutiny still occupied him when he heard a loud shouting from the woods below, and picked up his ears as a hare that is warned.
There were cries in the wood, incoherent salvos as of a mob whose hearts might be in unison18, but whose lungs were out of tune19. Listening intently, Benny thought that he could distinguish the raucous20 voices of boys, the shrill21 piping of girls, and the deep baying of men excited abnormally. A moment later and a man emerged from the wood, and set out to cross the snow toward him, and this man was up to his waist in the drift immediately, while strong arms were thrust out to help him, and a roar of laughter proffered22 as his reward.
"Good God!" cried Benny, "it's the little priest!" And, in truth, it was.
The Abbé Villari, with his cassock tucked up to his waist, his arms waving wildly, hatless and with tousled hair, he had been first before them all. No runner at Stamford Bridge could have had much the better of him in that mad striving for the first prize in the race. And, worthy23 soul, the snow engulfed24 him immediately, and it remained for the parson, Harry25 Clavering, to drag him out and set him, sobered, upon his feet. Meanwhile, others had snatched the prize from him, and before them all the Admirable Crichton of Andana, Dr. Orange, the immaculate.
Benny steadied himself by the shell of his ship while he watched this advance; nor could his wit make anything of it. Why were all these people in such a hurry to thrash a dead horse? Had they come to tell what he knew so well, that his endeavour had failed, and that the prize must go to another? He could make nothing of it, and he stood and stared while men and women on skis debouched from the woods by twenty paths and came racing26 over the snow toward him.
Dr. Orange was quite out of breath when he reached the place, and he stood for a little while holding to the ship and trying to find words. Before he had recovered, Bob Otway, Dick Fenton, and Keith Rivers had joined him, and these were eloquent27 enough, though they spoke28 a strange tongue to Benny. In truth, their greeting was an incoherent salvo of wild words among which he distinguished29 such homely30 phrases as, "You've got them stiff"; "Bravo old Benny!" and "Perinder pays, by thunder!" An instant later and Bob had suggested that it was a case for "chairing"; and there being no chair handy, he and Rivers laid violent hands upon the astonished victor and lifted him bodily to their shoulders.
His protest went for nothing. He cried out that it was "damned nonsense!" but no one seemed to hear him. Perchance a man has never been carried shoulder-high by other men on skis before. They would establish a precedent31, as Bob declared, and calling the parson and Dick Fenton to his aid, set off bravely for the Palace.
"Where is my brother?" Benny asked them in an interlude. The doctor answered that he had fainted when the gun announced the victory; but that was an enigma32 to the engineer, and kept him quiet awhile. "When the gun announced his victory. Good God! What victory?"
"I lost it," he stammered33 presently, "because the mist took me. It seems I was nearer than I thought. Another ten minutes and I would have done it."
Nobody listened to this. They were in the woods now, and went on in a triumph characteristic of Andana. If the music were chiefly of horns and bugles34, it mattered little. Major Boodle, among others, had devoted35 a master intellect to the acquisition of the "yoodle" in various keys, and he practised it relentlessly36. There was one fellow who had borrowed a drum in the village, and beat a tattoo37 with real cleverness. A few mild youths, who always carried revolvers when "on the Continent," produced those far from formidable weapons and shot down the branches from the trees. But, in the main, the voice was the instrument, and was to be heard in a stentorian38 cheer, or the less musical and more joyous39 chant of victory.
Some hundreds of the spectators had gone up to Vermala, but many thousands remained on the plateau and were discovered suddenly as the odd procession emerged from the woods. The drift of cloud, which had tricked the aviator40 into the belief that he had failed, was now but a wall of vapour flanking the precipices41 across the valley, all the scene stood out, revealed in magic glory.
Heaven knew whence all the flags had come. It was said that the bunting erected42 by the Daily Recorder had been pulled down by excited hands and distributed among the people. Certainly, every other man carried a flag and waved it perpetually. In their turn, the women waved handkerchiefs while the children ran to and fro hardly understanding what it was all about, and caring very little. Meanwhile, the band blared incessantly43, and down at the village the church bell tolled44 as gaily45 as an ancient bell-ringer could persuade it to do.
The crowd had waited patiently for its hero to come down from the heights, and directly it perceived the outposts of the procession, all bonds were broken and a wild tumult46 ensued. A hundred hands fought for the burden, and were repulsed47 with difficulty. A frenzy48 of cheers succeeded the intermittent49 salvos. Men, and women too, fell in the snow and were rolled over and over by the heedless feet of other runners. The one desire was to see the man who had done this thing, and, if it might be, to touch his hand. He, in turn, implored50 those who carried him to make an end of it.
"Take me to the chalet," he said. And the doctor commanding, they carried him there in triumph, and shut and barred the door against the multitude.
* * * * * * *
Brother Jack51 had been sitting before the fire in their little sitting-room52 when Benny came tumbling in. His face was very pale and his eyes wide open. It was true that he had fainted when the signal-gun announced his brother's victory, and the reaction of joy could be detected in the quiver of his lips and his restless hands. Had he been a Frenchman he would have kissed Benny on both cheeks prior to a flourish of words in which platitudes53 of sentiment abounded54. But as it was, he just stood up and cried, "Hallo, Benny!" while Benny said, "Hallo, Jack!" and came and slapped him on the shoulder. The others in the room at this time were at the Abbé Villari, Harry Clavering and the doctor, and these three stood apart that the brothers might talk.
"I thought you were done, Benny, old boy. I heard the engine down the valley, and thought you'd miss us. How did you manage it? How did you do it, old fellow?"
"That's what I'm asking myself, Jack. I must have done it, or these people wouldn't be making such a noise. Luck, I suppose. I thought I was a good ten miles from the place when I came down. Well, I suppose I wasn't, and that's all."
Jack laughed. The colour was returning to his cheeks.
"It's not all by a long way, Benny. You flew right over our heads just as though you were making a bee line. Not that it mattered. What you had to do was to get back to the starting-point, and here you are. Come and warm yourself, old boy. You're stiff with the cold."
Benny agreed to that.
"Never was so cold in all my life, Jack. You could cut me up in lengths, if you liked! I've had a hard time, old boy—a d——d hard time! And now it's over, eh? Well, that's something; and if none of you mind, I think I'll go to bed for a spell. Dr. Orange would prescribe that, I know. Just a snooze, doctor, eh, and a drop of something warm!"
He turned and went up the little staircase to his bedroom. Jack and the doctor following. The crowd was still gathered about the house, and from time to time it cheered lustily; but when Dr. Orange went out and said the aviator was resting, the people drew back respectfully, while the gendarmes56 posted sentries57 before the chalet, and forbade anyone to approach it. Among them was the little gendarme55, Philip, waiting impatiently for his chief's permission to go into Italy.
* * * * * * *
It had been arranged that the cheque for ten thousand pounds should be handed over by Sir John Perinder, the proprietor58 of the Daily Recorder, at a banquet to be given at the Palace Hotel at seven o'clock that night. Lavish59 according to his habit, Sir John invited all the residents at the hotel to be his guests, and prepared also a high table at which the victor might meet his intimates.
Aided by the staff of the Palace, the great dining-room was quickly prepared for this novel function. The flags of many nations adorned60 its whitewashed61 walls; there were ridiculous streamers and words of welcome both in French and English. Bizarre ornaments62 from the bazaar63 decorated the long tables, but the high table itself carried the monster silver cup with which the Aero Club of Switzerland commemorated64 the achievement, and this was a veritable work of art.
Benny found this dinner one of the most uncomfortable entertainments at which he had yet assisted. It is true that he was received by a round of cheers when he entered the room, but he could not but remember that many who now applauded had derided65 him but a week ago.
For himself, he would have been hard put to it to say just what he did feel. That the whole world would tell the story of the flight to-morrow, he knew full well. It would have been absurd to have put aside so self-evident a fact. The nations would honour him, and his own people welcome a British victory. Looking further afield, he perceived that his social position had changed in a flash, and that he, who had called himself a beggar that morning, was now a rich man, with every prospect66 of adding enormously to his riches in the immediate8 future. Already the cable had brought offers which dazed him by their generosity67. He was to fly at this meeting, to fly at that. A firm in London offered him two thousand pounds just to show his machine. Surely, this implied a permanence of fortune. And he had but begun to use those amazing brains which God had given him.
Here were things to be remembered subtly as the waiters filled his glass with champagne68, and boisterous69 diners asked to drink wine with him. He found the speeches tedious enough, and thought Sir John a dreadful windbag70. When the great moment came, and the cheque was handed over to him, it seemed such a sorry strip of paper to stand for so much, and he thrust it into his pocket carelessly, as though it were the visiting-card of an acquaintance. None the less, he was conscious of it being there during the rest of the dinner; and despite his desire not to do so, he touched it more than once with his fingers to be quite sure that he had not lost it.
His own speech amazed the company. No one expected an engineer to be also an orator71, and yet his simple words had the stamp of true oratory72. He spoke to the hearts of those who heard him, concealing73 none of his aims and ambitions, and confessing how greatly he had desired success. His honesty was inspiring. He believed that they would be glad to have this news in England. It was natural that he should think of his own country at such a moment. But he could give every credit to France, and the brains of those Frenchmen who had carried this art to such lengths. In conclusion, he hoped that his many friends at Andana would hold some memory of him in their affections.
There were rousing cheers at this—the cheers of those who had grown suddenly conscious of their own littleness, and knew that they had met a man. When the dinner broke up, young and old swarmed74 about Benny again, begging his experiences, proffering75 their books, congratulating him in volatile76 phrases. To all he pleaded that he was dead tired and must get to bed. The supreme77 day of his life had ended! He was about to say "good-bye" to it.
It was eleven o'clock then, and few were abroad. The excursionists had already returned to Sierre and the railway; the keepers of carnival78 had surrendered to the snow and a bitter wind arisen at sundown. What should have been an al fresco79 fête upon the skating rink had become but a collection of shivering impresarios80 gathered about ebbing81 fires. The pathway to the Park Hotel was deserted82, nor could you have counted twenty people on the road to Vermala.
Benny had set out in the company of his brother Jack and the Abbé Villari, and the three pursued their way in silence toward the house. Usually, there would have been a beacon83 light to guide them, a lamp shining from the window of Lily Delayne's chalet; but no such lamp shone out to-night, and the gables shaped amid the snowflakes as the grey and silent towers of some deserted citadel84. When they drew a little nearer they saw that the blinds were drawn85, and that the whole chalet was in darkness: a fact which the abbé explained by saying that the English lady had left for Sierre earlier in the day, and that he did not believe she would return. To this Benny made no other answer than to suggest that she must have found the presence of so many strangers unwelcome, and perhaps had done well to go.
But he rested a moment at the door of the chalet for all that, and when he turned away neither of the others had the courage to mention the matter again.
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1
cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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maladroit
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| adj.笨拙的 | |
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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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potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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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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unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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17
propellers
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| n.螺旋桨，推进器( propeller的名词复数 ) | |
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unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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raucous
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| adj.(声音)沙哑的，粗糙的 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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engulfed
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| v.吞没，包住( engulf的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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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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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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precedent
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| n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的 | |
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enigma
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| n.谜，谜一样的人或事 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
bugles
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| 妙脆角，一种类似薯片但做成尖角或喇叭状的零食； 号角( bugle的名词复数 )； 喇叭； 匍匐筋骨草； （装饰女服用的）柱状玻璃（或塑料）小珠 | |
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35
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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relentlessly
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| adv.不屈不挠地；残酷地；不间断 | |
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tattoo
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| n.纹身，(皮肤上的)刺花纹；vt.刺花纹于 | |
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stentorian
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| adj.大声的，响亮的 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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aviator
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| n.飞行家，飞行员 | |
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41
precipices
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| n.悬崖，峭壁( precipice的名词复数 ) | |
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42
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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43
incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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44
tolled
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| 鸣钟（toll的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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repulsed
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| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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intermittent
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| adj.间歇的，断断续续的 | |
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50
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51
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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52
sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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53
platitudes
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| n.平常的话，老生常谈，陈词滥调( platitude的名词复数 )；滥套子 | |
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54
abounded
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| v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
gendarme
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| n.宪兵 | |
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gendarmes
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| n.宪兵，警官( gendarme的名词复数 ) | |
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57
sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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lavish
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| adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍 | |
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adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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whitewashed
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| 粉饰，美化，掩饰( whitewash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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63
bazaar
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| n.集市，商店集中区 | |
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64
commemorated
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| v.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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derided
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| v.取笑，嘲笑( deride的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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68
champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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70
windbag
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| n.风囊，饶舌之人，好说话的人 | |
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71
orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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72
oratory
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| n.演讲术；词藻华丽的言辞 | |
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73
concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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74
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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75
proffering
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的现在分词 ) | |
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76
volatile
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| adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质 | |
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77
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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78
carnival
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| n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演 | |
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79
fresco
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| n.壁画；vt.作壁画于 | |
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80
impresarios
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| n.（演出的）主办人，经理( impresario的名词复数 ) | |
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81
ebbing
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| （指潮水）退( ebb的现在分词 )； 落； 减少； 衰落 | |
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82
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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83
beacon
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| n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔 | |
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84
citadel
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| n.城堡；堡垒；避难所 | |
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85
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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