The idol6, with its outstretched sword, doubtless a relic7 from a castaway Spanish warship8, still remained as if to dispel9 any thoughts that the previous night had been but a horrible dream; there was the stone of sacrifice, and two smouldering heaps of charred10 wood still marked the spot where the fires for the interrupted cannibal feast had been lighted.
The stockade had been hastily adapted for purposes of defence. The Maxim11, on its light tripod, commanded the open square without the gate, and around it was a group of seamen12, to whom my father was giving various orders.
Uncle Herbert, with the rest of the men—for the whole of the "Fortuna's" crew save two, who were left on board, had taken part in the brave attempt at rescue—was busily engaged in loopholing the stockade at convenient distances, while Dr. Conolly, who had apparently13 completely recovered from his terrible ordeal14, had regained15 possession of his revolver and was overhauling16 its mechanism17. Yadillah still preserved his impassive demeanour, but into the folds of his voluptuous18 girdle, which he had recovered in a practically unsoiled state, he had thrust a long knife and a heavy Service revolver.
"Hello, Reggie!" exclaimed my father, who, seeing me slowly arise, had left the party with the Maxim and had hastened over to where I was sitting. "Feeling better, eh? Well, pull yourself together, and give a hand, for every man has his work cut out if we want to get out of this fuss with whole skins."
He spoke19 cheerily, but I afterwards learnt he was almost distracted when on the arrival of the rescue party, too late as he feared, we had been found bound to the altar stone.
I staggered to my feet, and, dizzy and faint from the effects of being in a cramped20 position during those terrible hours, I had great difficulty to prevent myself from falling, but a draught21 from a tin pannikin revived me wonderfully. My sporting rifle was hopelessly lost, so, picking up a revolver and a well-filled bandolier, I made my way across the courtyard to where the Maxim was trained ready to open fire.
The natives had gathered in a dense22 and disorderly mob around the chief's house and were making preparations to rush the gateway24 of the stockade. There were, I should think, nearly a thousand of them, against which a little band of Britishers, fifteen in all, had an almost superhuman task to perform, the result of which was to be either victory or a dreadful death.
"Steady, lads! Here they come!"
The two men at the Maxim, cool and collected, worked as calmly as if taking part in a sham25 fight.
"Commence!"
How shall I describe the terrible scene that followed?
Pop-pop-pop! Pop-pop-pop! The cartridge26 belt with its string of 250 rounds of .303 ammunition27 began to run swiftly through the breech-block, and from the water-jackets the steam rose in a thick cloud.
The centre of the dense mass of natives was literally28 crushed and beaten to the earth, but with redoubled shouts the flanks converged29 on the gate. At the critical moment there was a sudden pause in the firing—the Maxim had jammed!
Rapidly the men withdrew the belt, to find that a badly placed cartridge had projected sufficiently30 to prevent its passing through the breech; but even as they were thus engaged the foremost of the savages were almost within striking distance of the gate.
In obedience31 to a hoarse32 order the rest of the men temporarily forsook33 their stations at the loopholes, and, doubling up with fixed34 bayonets, poured in a rapid magazine fire upon the dense mass, while the deeper crack of the Webleys added to the deafening35 noise.
With a reckless disregard of their own safety; the natives, brandishing36 their terrible sharks'-toothed swords and spears, rushed dauntlessly towards the gate. Some, bearing the bodies of their slain37 comrades, strove to cast them upon the bayonets to break down the line of glittering steel; others, trusting to the protection afforded by their shields, found to their cost that fanatical bravery was useless before the weapons of the white man.
In the struggle we did not come of scatheless38. One of the seamen, Barnes, lay on the ground, his leg transfixed with a jagged spear; nevertheless he continued firing, emptying his magazine with undiminished energy. Another, though who it was I was at the time unable to see, was doubled up in a heap by the side of the Maxim, while others received wounds of a less serious nature.
Notwithstanding the hot rifle and revolver fire, the savages kept up the attack with indomitable courage till, the jam having been cleared, the Maxim reopened fire, and under the withering39 blast the attackers melted and dispersed40 in utter disorder23, leaving over a hundred of their number piled in ghastly heaps before the gate. Nor did they cease their headlong flight till well out of range.
The moment the fight was over, the doctor began his work of succouring the wounded. Barnes's case was by far the worst, as the fearful wound caused by the triple-headed spear had severed41 an artery42, while Dr. Conolly had reason to suspect that the weapon was poisoned. Being without medical appliances, all that could be done for the sufferer was to apply a rough tourniquet43, carefully wash the wound, and place a temporary bandage round the limb. The other man, who turned out to be Hinks, the "No. 1" of the Maxim, had been stunned44 by a large stone thrown at close range; but by a liberal application of cold water, of which there was fortunately a good supply, he was revived.
"We must get back to the ship as soon as possible," said my father. "The ammunition will run short if we stay here much longer."
"Let's hope they won't attack us on the way," replied the bos'n. "With two badly wounded men it would be hard for us."
"Yes, two men as stretcher-bearers to carry each of them, and two for the Maxim. That leaves but seven able to bear arms."
"Do you propose to burn the village? It would serve to impress the lesson more deeply."
"No; I think the poor fellows have suffered enough. Look upon the case from their point of view. Suppose, for instance, a party of niggers interfered45 with us at home—committed sacrilege, and otherwise trod on the corns of our feelings—wouldn't you cut up rough? Yet Conolly, by potting their sacred water-god, or whatever they call it, set the whole swarm46 of them buzzing round our heads. It's natural, after all. But there is one thing I'll burn, however."
"And that is——?"
"The idol."
Two stout47 levers were placed under the base of the grinning image, and with a hearty48 cheer the men bent49 to their work, and the ponderous50 mass of painted wood trembled, swayed for a few moments, then pitched headlong on the ground.
My father bent over it to more closely examine the painted and befeathered object. Suddenly he gave an exclamation51 of surprise.
"Herbert," he called to his brother, "come here and tell us what you think of this."
"Why," replied my uncle, "it's a figure-head."
"It is, or rather was. But it is more than that. See, the pedestal is carved with long staves, each surmounted52 by a cross."
"Well?"
"A cross-surmounted pole is the symbol of St. Philip the Apostle; consequently, unless I am much mistaken, the idol was at one time the figurehead of the 'San Philipo.' Of course, we cannot take it with us now; but, should an opportunity occur, I mean to have this relic on board the 'Fortuna.' Is everything ready, Mr. Wilkins?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very well; we'll try and make our way back to the ship."
A final examination showed that there were no signs of the natives in the vicinity of the village; so, taking the two wounded men on stretchers roughly improvised53 from bamboo poles and belts, we began our retreat.
It was a nerve-racking ordeal. From the pitiless glare of the sun the narrow path looked black and forbidding under the trees, and with the possibility that every thicket54 concealed55 a bloodthirsty enemy, every man was keenly on the alert. The snapping of a twig56 or the passage of a bird amongst the treetops caused the men to halt, with rifle at the ready, in anticipation57 of a fierce onslaught from an unseen foe58; while, to add to our difficulties, Hinks began to show symptoms of lightheadedness, shouting and struggling so violently that he had to be strapped59 to the litter, while Barnes groaned60 loudly at each jolt61 of the stretcher.
But nothing of a hostile nature occurred, and at length, after a tedious two hours' march, we emerged from the wood and reached the beach; and it is doubtful whether Xenophon's Ten Thousand hailed the sight of the sea with greater delight than we did. For there lay the "Fortuna," riding easily to her anchor.
In obedience to a signal the two men who had been left on board manned the whaler and pulled for the beach, and ten minutes later the boat, heavily laden62, was making its way back to the yacht.
Worn out with the effects of our terrible experience, we spent the rest of the day in idleness. For my part, after a good lunch, I turned in and slept till next morning, although once or twice I woke up in a bath of perspiration63, the outcome of that horrible night.
Half an hour later we were over the scene of operations, and the divers64 immediately descended65. It was a slow, tedious task, the clearing away of the weed and silt66 over the deck of the wreck67, but before we could use a blasting charge it was necessary to thoroughly68 explore the hull69, in order to make sure that the wreck was not too rotten to withstand the explosion.
Two hours elapsed, and the divers ascended70, reporting good progress, but a lot of work lay before them, the tendrils of seaweed proving stubborn guardians71 of the hidden treasure; still, already they had made a passage to within a few feet of where the main hatch should be. After the midday meal down went the divers again for another two hours, and to me, sitting in the whaler, the monotony was most trying. Seeking for rich cargoes72 is all very well when one is taking an active part in the search, but when it comes to sitting in an open boat all day, literally with arms folded, and not knowing what is taking place beneath you, the enforced idleness soon palls73 even on the most sanguine74 spirits.
Next day came the same round of comparative idleness, save for the divers, who laboured incessantly75, and the men at the pumps.
Another trying day came, and then, just before sunset, we were startled by hearing a terrific shouting on the beach. Bringing glasses to bear on the spot, we found that the natives had rejected their idol, which was indeed the figurehead of the "San Philipo," and had dragged it down to the sea shore, believing it to belong to the white men. However that may be, there it lay in the sand. The pater there and then determined76 that he would carry it home with him. As with the treasure of the sunken ship, he felt he had a certain proprietary77 right in the "San Philipo" and all belonging to her.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
stockade
|
|
| n.栅栏，围栏；v.用栅栏防护 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
savages
|
|
| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
shrill
|
|
| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
defiance
|
|
| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
superstitious
|
|
| adj.迷信的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
idol
|
|
| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
relic
|
|
| n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
warship
|
|
| n.军舰，战舰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
dispel
|
|
| vt.驱走，驱散，消除 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
charred
|
|
| v.把…烧成炭( char的过去式)；烧焦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
maxim
|
|
| n.格言，箴言 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
seamen
|
|
| n.海员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
ordeal
|
|
| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
regained
|
|
| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
overhauling
|
|
| n.大修；拆修；卸修；翻修v.彻底检查( overhaul的现在分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
mechanism
|
|
| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
voluptuous
|
|
| adj.肉欲的，骄奢淫逸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
cramped
|
|
| a.狭窄的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
draught
|
|
| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
dense
|
|
| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
disorder
|
|
| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
gateway
|
|
| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
sham
|
|
| n./adj.假冒(的)，虚伪(的) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
cartridge
|
|
| n.弹壳，弹药筒；(装磁带等的)盒子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
ammunition
|
|
| n.军火，弹药 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
literally
|
|
| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
converged
|
|
| v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的过去式 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
sufficiently
|
|
| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
obedience
|
|
| n.服从，顺从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
hoarse
|
|
| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
forsook
|
|
| forsake的过去式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
deafening
|
|
| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
brandishing
|
|
| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
slain
|
|
| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
scatheless
|
|
| adj.无损伤的，平安的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
39
withering
|
|
| 使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
dispersed
|
|
| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
severed
|
|
| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
artery
|
|
| n.干线，要道；动脉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
tourniquet
|
|
| n.止血器，绞压器，驱血带 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
stunned
|
|
| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
interfered
|
|
| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
swarm
|
|
| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
hearty
|
|
| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
ponderous
|
|
| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
surmounted
|
|
| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
improvised
|
|
| a.即席而作的,即兴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
thicket
|
|
| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
concealed
|
|
| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
twig
|
|
| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
anticipation
|
|
| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
foe
|
|
| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
strapped
|
|
| adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
groaned
|
|
| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
jolt
|
|
| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
laden
|
|
| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
perspiration
|
|
| n.汗水；出汗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
divers
|
|
| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
silt
|
|
| n.淤泥，淤沙，粉砂层，泥沙层；vt.使淤塞；vi.被淤塞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
wreck
|
|
| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
hull
|
|
| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
ascended
|
|
| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
guardians
|
|
| 监护人( guardian的名词复数 )； 保护者，维护者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
cargoes
|
|
| n.（船或飞机装载的）货物( cargo的名词复数 )；大量，重负 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
palls
|
|
| n.柩衣( pall的名词复数 )；墓衣；棺罩；深色或厚重的覆盖物v.（因过多或过久而）生厌，感到乏味，厌烦( pall的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
sanguine
|
|
| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
incessantly
|
|
| ad.不停地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
proprietary
|
|
| n.所有权，所有的；独占的；业主 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |