"Twenty-eight point four five—a drop of one point five, two inches in fifteen hours," observed Dr. Conolly. "It certainly looks as if something is in the air, though everything appears favourable2 at present."
"We'll be on the safe side and take every possible precaution," rejoined my father. "We are protected by the reef, so it will be as well to remain here, rather than get to sea and meet a cyclone3 in the open."
This conversation occurred about a fortnight after the arrival of the figurehead of the "San Philipo." The figurehead, or idol4, we found too large conveniently to stow away on board, so it was cut through just below the shoulders, and, relieved of its accumulated coats of paint, the art of the Spanish wood-carver stood revealed once more to the light of day.
The actual head and bust5 of the great figurehead we took on board, lashing6 it securely in the main saloon, although even its present bulk, being four feet in height and three feet across the widest part, seriously interfered7 with the space we had at our disposal. As for the natives, they were now quiet enough. The heavy losses they had sustained had for the time being, at least, crushed their spirits, and we were able, with due precautions, to land whenever we wished.
Although on this particular morning everything seemed peaceful and quiet, the erratic8 behaviour of the mercury gave us ample warning that some great atmospheric9 disturbance10 was about to take place. Work on the wreck11 was in consequence suspended, the boats were hoisted12 in and secured all deck fittings lashed13 down, and an additional anchor with the longest possible scope was laid out.
About eight bells (4 p.m.) a heavy swell14 set in from seaward, although there was no wind to cause it, and all along the reef the dull round waves broke into great masses of foam15 with a noise like thunder, while the "Fortuna" rolled sluggishly16 in the undulations within the lagoon17.
The sun, surrounded by a misty18 halo, sank behind a cluster of high-banked clouds, giving out strange copper-coloured rays, while from seaward came a constant string of birds, intent upon gaining the shelter of the land; and all the while a strange brooding silence appeared to have taken possession of the air, save for the roar of the breakers on the reef and the lesser19 noise of the water tumbling on the beach.
Hardly had the sun set than a heavy rain beat straight down, rattling20 on the decks (for we had taken in the awnings) and making a strange phosphorescent light on the water; but still there was no sign of wind.
"When the rain's before the wind,
Halliards, sheets, and braces23 bind24."
"I wonder if that rhyme applies to this part of the globe?" remarked my uncle, as, clad in oilskins and sou'-westers, we stood' on deck, glad of the opportunity of being cooled by the downpour after weeks of tropic heat.
"We'll have it before long," said my father, looking towards the reef and trying to pierce the inky blackness. "And, in spite of the reef, we are on a lee shore.
"But not entirely25 open to the sea."
"No, but there'll be trouble if the anchors come home. By the by, did you stow away those blasting charges carefully?"
"I had them sent ashore27 and buried near the cave."
"That's good. I don't like the idea of having highly charged explosives on board in heavy electrical storms."
"Neither did I. Ha! What's that?"
Looking up, we saw a pale blue light flickering28 on our main-mast head, and for the moment I thought the vessel29 had taken fire.
"The air is full of electricity," said my father. "St. Elmo's Fires I think the sailors term the phenomenon. Reggie, run below out of the way. If you turn in before I see you again, turn in all standing30, for you might be wanted on deck in a hurry."
I turned to obey, but just as I gained the companion the whole sky seemed one blaze of bluish light pierced by vivid flashes of lightning, which was immediately succeeded by a deafening31 peal32 of thunder that shook the yacht like a dried leaf in an October gale33.
Even as I gained the cabin a furious blast struck the ship broadside on, and, staggering and pitching, she slewed34 round head to wind. The storm had broken.
Rolling, heaving, jumping short to her tautened cables, the "Fortuna" was fairly caught, and, down below, the sensation of being thrown about like a cork35 was almost worse than taking one's chances on deck. Reading was an utter impossibility, and all I could do was to wedge myself into my bunk36, holding on when an extra heavy lurch37 threatened to hurl38 me across the cabin.
Just before midnight my father came below to swallow a hasty meal. The direction of the storm was, he told me, rapidly veering39, for in these regions north of the Equator the gyration40 of these cyclones41 invariably takes place in one direction—from right to left, against the hands of a watch; while in the Southern Hemisphere the direction is reversed.
"We are on a weather shore at present," he added; "but before long we shall find ourselves on a lee shore, and the motion will be worse."
It was rather cold comfort, for already the pitching was more than I cared about.
At sunrise the wind was blowing dead on shore, and the mountainous breakers, sweeping42 over the reef, rolled with but slightly diminished force towards the land. The "Fortuna" was naturally head to wind, and riding in a totally opposite direction from that of the previous night, though, thanks to a massive swivel, she was free from the disadvantage of a "foul43 hawse."
To ease the strain on the cables the motor was started, and, alternately racing44 and biting as the propeller45 was lifted clear of the water or else submerged feet below the normal depth, the powerful little engine added its quota46 of noise to the howling of the elements.
For'ard everything was battened down, but the main companion hatch was left slightly open to admit fresh air to the cabin, and as sea after sea swept over our decks I could hear the ponderous47 blows of the masses of solid water as they flung themselves against the stout48 framework of the hatchway, on the lee side of which the watch on deck sheltered themselves as much as possible from the fury of the storm.
Slowly the hours passed; yet, although long after sunrise, the thick black clouds made the atmosphere so dark that it was impossible to see much farther than the length of the yacht, while flash after flash of lightning momentarily pierced the sombre gloom.
At the height of the storm the dreadful cry arose, "The anchors are coming home!" And this proved only too true, for our ground tackle was slowly dragging over the sandy bottom of the lagoon, and four hundred yards astern was the coral beach, on which the breakers would smash the "Fortuna" into matchwood in less than five minutes.
At the first alarm I rushed on deck, and, holding on like grim death to a belaying pin, I remained, washed by several successive seas, most of the crew doing likewise and grimly awaiting the end.
Suddenly there was a tremendous shock, as if the vessel had struck, and in the glare of a vivid flash we perceived that bearing down on us was a huge wave the like of which I had never seen before, and want never to see again. Fifty feet in height, the steep, unbroken mass rushed towards the "Fortuna," and, expecting her to be wrenched49 from her cables and buried beneath tons of green seas, we tightened50 our grip and gazed with feelings akin21 to panic on the approaching wave.
Above the roar of the oncoming water I heard my father shout, "Down below, all of you! It's our only chance!" and I was conscious of being dragged to the shelter of the companion, down which a scurrying51 stampede took place to gain a doubtful shelter.
The next instant the "Fortuna" seemed to literally52 stand upon end; we were all hurled53, a struggling mass of humanity, against the after bulkhead, which to all intents and purposes became the floor. Then, after hours, as it seemed, of sickening suspense54, during which we were in doubt as to whether the vessel still floated or was being borne down to the bottom of the lagoon, the "Fortuna" pitched forward till we were in danger of being thrown to the other end of the saloon, while on deck we could hear the ominous55 crash of broken wood and the sound of water pouring through the scuppers. Then, except for a slight roll, the yacht became as steady as if at anchor in a landlocked harbour.
With an exclamation56 of astonishment57 the bos'n dashed up the companion, and, without waiting to slide back the hatch, eeled himself through the narrow opening and gained the deck, the rest of us following closely.
A scene of confusion met our eyes. The mizzen-mast, broken off close to the deck, lay over our starboard quarter; part of the rail on the port bow was torn away, and the gig, wrenched from its strong lashings, was wedged against the fore22 side of the companion, with several of its planks58 stove in. But the cause of the bos'n's astonishment was the fact that right ahead of the "Fortuna," and less than two hundred yards away, was an enormous ledge59 of rock, some twenty to forty feet in height, stretching in front of us like a stone wall, its extremities60 lost in the semi-gloom, forming a natural breakwater.
Although the storm still raged furiously, and the showers of spray rose beyond the rock and fell like hissing61 rain right over us, the yacht lay under the lee of the newly formed barrier, fretting62 at her cables, which were now rubbing under her fore-foot.
"Stop the engine and have that wreckage63 cleared away," said my father. "We are safe enough for the present" and, with a sailor's instinct, the work of making things ship-shape was first taken in hand, before attempting to find out what act of Providence64 was responsible for our marvellous escape from being dashed to pieces on a lee shore.
The men set to work with a will. The broken mizzen-mast was cut clear and allowed to float at the end of a strong rope at a safe distance from our counter; the gig was secured, and things made ship-shape between decks, where the damage, though the confusion was indescribable, was confined to a few breakages of glass and china ware65. Barely had the work of clearing up been completed than the storm ceased, almost as suddenly as it had begun, and the sun shone forth66 in a cloudless sky. We could now form some idea of what had occurred to turn the heaving waters of the lagoon into a sheltered harbour. Where but a few hours before had been a low coral reef, a long, irregular ledge of rock had been thrown up from the bed of the sea, and although its upper surface was composed of weed-covered stone and fragments of corals, its landward face was as fresh and clear as if cut by a gigantic chisel67, and the highest part was where the entrance to the lagoon had been.
But the greatest surprise of all was that, wedged in an almost upright position, the weed-covered wreck of the "San Philipo" lay exposed to the light of day, after resting for nearly two centuries at the bottom of the sea. In spite of the clinging masses of weed the line of her double row of ports could be distinctly traced, while, owing to her slight list, we could see her sloping decks, built like a succession of broad steps rising from her waist. Her lofty stern, with its projecting galleries, was practically intact, and the only part that destroyed the graceful68 symmetry of her hull69 was for'ard, where the bows, torn by a long-standing injury, terminated in a tangle70 of broken planks and jagged timbers.
The crew looked with awestruck astonishment at this relic71 of the deep. It was as if they had been transported back to the beginning of the eighteenth century to see this antiquated72 object of naval73 architecture suddenly placed before their eyes; but my father looked upon the spectacle from a practical point of view. "It's saved us an awkward task," he remarked.
"What has?" I inquired.
"Reggie, my boy, you have seen what few of the inhabitants of the globe have seen before—the birth of an island. There has been a violent volcanic74 disturbance, and a portion of the submarine bed has been forced upwards75, forming the mass of rock that you can see before you. Such instances are rare, but by no means unknown. That huge wave that all but overwhelmed the 'Fortuna' was caused by the sudden distortion of the earth's crust, which, generally speaking, is weakest along the western shore of the Pacific Ocean, though 'tis evident that the island is situated76 immediately above a centre of volcanic activity. It has been extremely fortunate for us, although, had the upheaval77 occurred but a few yards this way, it would have meant the death of us all."
"Do you think we shall have another shock?
"More than likely, though hardly so powerful. These seismic78 disturbances79 often occur in series, and it may be that the island will disappear as quickly as it came. However, we must take our chance, explore the wreck, and remove the treasure if it is to be found. Well, Mr. Wilkins?"
"Would you mind stepping for'ard, sir?"
The bos'n led the way to the fo'c'sle, and, looking over the bow, he showed us the cable, to which the yacht was riding easily.
"Well, what's wrong?" asked my father.
"Can you see below the swivel, sir?"
A further examination showed that one of the cables, composed of 3/4-in. galvanized chain, had parted just below the swivel, while the yacht now only rode to the second anchor.
"We'll send a diver after it directly the swell has gone down," said the bos'n. "And look astern, sir; it's been touch and go."
Within a cable's length a ridge80 of jagged, teeth-like rocks showed in the trough of each gentle undulation. A mass of rock had been recently fired up from the bed of the lagoon, for previously81 its floor was remarkably82 free from obstructions83, so that, had the remaining cable parted, the "Fortuna" would have been dashed to pieces on this new danger, and her crew, even had they escaped from this peril84, would have teen ground by the remorseless breakers against the shore of the island.
Some idea of the violence of the cyclone could be gathered from the fact that the huge tidal wave had swept the beach and broken against the grove85 of coco-nut palms, for the trunks of the trees, some of which had been uprooted86, were covered with trailing masses of seaweed and the remains87 of the islanders' canoes.
As I looked on the scene of desolation, the strewn beach and the rocky pinnacles88 astern of us, and thence on the protecting masses of our newly formed island, I realized more fully26 to what extent we owed our safety to Providence, arid89, like the bos'n, I could express the situation in no other words than that "it's been touch and go with all of us."
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
barometer
|
|
| n.气压表，睛雨表，反应指标 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
favourable
|
|
| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
cyclone
|
|
| n.旋风，龙卷风 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
idol
|
|
| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
bust
|
|
| vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
lashing
|
|
| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
interfered
|
|
| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
erratic
|
|
| adj.古怪的，反复无常的，不稳定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
atmospheric
|
|
| adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
disturbance
|
|
| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
wreck
|
|
| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
hoisted
|
|
| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
lashed
|
|
| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
swell
|
|
| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
foam
|
|
| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
sluggishly
|
|
| adv.懒惰地；缓慢地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
lagoon
|
|
| n.泻湖，咸水湖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
misty
|
|
| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
lesser
|
|
| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
rattling
|
|
| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
akin
|
|
| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
fore
|
|
| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
braces
|
|
| n.吊带，背带；托架( brace的名词复数 )；箍子；括弧；（儿童）牙箍v.支住( brace的第三人称单数 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
bind
|
|
| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
ashore
|
|
| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
flickering
|
|
| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
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： |
|
|
|
|
32
peal
|
|
| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
gale
|
|
| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
slewed
|
|
| adj.喝醉的v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去式 )( slew的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
cork
|
|
| n.软木，软木塞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
bunk
|
|
| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
lurch
|
|
| n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
hurl
|
|
| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
veering
|
|
| n.改变的；犹豫的；顺时针方向转向；特指使船尾转向上风来改变航向v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的现在分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
gyration
|
|
| n.旋转 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
cyclones
|
|
| n.气旋( cyclone的名词复数 )；旋风；飓风；暴风 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
sweeping
|
|
| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
foul
|
|
| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
racing
|
|
| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
propeller
|
|
| n.螺旋桨，推进器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
quota
|
|
| n.（生产、进出口等的）配额，（移民的）限额 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
ponderous
|
|
| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
wrenched
|
|
| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
tightened
|
|
| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
scurrying
|
|
| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
literally
|
|
| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
hurled
|
|
| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
suspense
|
|
| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
ominous
|
|
| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
planks
|
|
| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
ledge
|
|
| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
extremities
|
|
| n.端点( extremity的名词复数 )；尽头；手和足；极窘迫的境地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
hissing
|
|
| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
fretting
|
|
| n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
wreckage
|
|
| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
providence
|
|
| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
ware
|
|
| n.(常用复数)商品，货物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
chisel
|
|
| n.凿子；v.用凿子刻，雕，凿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
graceful
|
|
| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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
tangle
|
|
| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
relic
|
|
| n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
antiquated
|
|
| adj.陈旧的，过时的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
naval
|
|
| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
volcanic
|
|
| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
upwards
|
|
| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
situated
|
|
| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
upheaval
|
|
| n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
seismic
|
|
| a.地震的，地震强度的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
disturbances
|
|
| n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
ridge
|
|
| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
previously
|
|
| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
remarkably
|
|
| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
obstructions
|
|
| n.障碍物( obstruction的名词复数 )；阻碍物；阻碍；阻挠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
peril
|
|
| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
grove
|
|
| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
uprooted
|
|
| v.把（某物）连根拔起( uproot的过去式和过去分词 )；根除；赶走；把…赶出家园 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
pinnacles
|
|
| 顶峰( pinnacle的名词复数 )； 顶点； 尖顶； 小尖塔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
arid
|
|
| adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |