"How much of the stuff have we?" asked my father.
"Mr. Herbert had over fifty pounds of it carried ashore2 before the gale," replied the bos'n. "It's all in air-tight cases, so it won't be damaged by being buried."
"It's a wonder the whole lot hadn't exploded during the storm! There's enough rock brought down from the cliff to show that the shock was exceptionally severe, to say nothing of the chance of it being struck by lightning."
"But it hasn't, sir, so that is something to be thankful for. However, it would be well to finish unloading the ballast from the yacht, but not to take the silver aboard till we have blown up the rock and made a clear passage through."
"For what reason, Mr. Wilkins?"
"Simply because we don't know what depth the new cutting will be. It might be twelve feet, it might be only six; so the lighter3 we can make the vessel4 the less draught5 she'll draw, and the greater chance she'll have of slipping through."
"But there will be greater difficulty in loading up outside the reef."
"Granted, sir; but we must take the risk, unless, of course, the blasting-powder cuts a deep and unobstructed channel."
So, directly we returned to the "Fortuna," message was sent to the wreck6 to defer7 the removal of the pigs of silver for the present.
On my uncle's return he reported that the twenty sows were correct in number, but only ten chests full of pieces-of-eight were to be found, so it was assumed that the remaining five chests had been broken open and their contents shared out by Humphrey Trevena immediately after the capture of the "San Philipo" by the "Anne."
Nearly five tons of ballast had been removed from the "Fortuna," more than sufficient to compensate8 for the additional weight of the specie; but, in view of the probable difficulty of taking the yacht between the reefs to the open sea, it was decided9 to proceed with the unloading of the iron ballast, till the "Fortuna's" draught would be reduced to the least margin10 of safety.
"We've done very well this forenoon," remarked my father, "so we can reasonably take a spell off till the sun is low down."
"As you like, but, personally speaking, I have a perfect craving11 for hard work," replied Uncle Herbert, "so I'll beat up volunteers and recover the blasting powder."
"You won't bring it aboard?"
"No, I will take it off to the reef, close to the channel you mentioned."
"I'll go, too," I exclaimed, "for I want very much to have a look at the great cave that we can see from here."
"I don't think so," objected my uncle. "A boatload of explosives, powerful enough to blow, us to infinitesimal particles, is hardly a safe cargo12, so you will be safer on board the 'Fortuna.'"
"I know, but you can take the stuff off to the reef and come back for me. It's only a ten minutes' pull, you know. Don't be hard on a fellow, uncle. It's the first time I've had a chance to go ashore in that part of the bay, and I want to explore the cave."
"Very well, then," replied my uncle ungraciously. "But mind, no monkey-tricks, and don't run into mischief13."
I ran below to the bos'n's locker14, where I abstracted a ball of seaming-twine15 and a couple of candles, and, putting these articles into my coat pocket in company with a box of matches, I went on deck and clambered into the gig.
The spot where the explosives had been buried was in a grove16, a short distance from a little bay, which was enclosed on either hand by tall cliffs, and inaccessible17 from the rest of the lagoon18 except by means of a boat, unless a path was cut inland through the dense19 scrub, which apparently20 had never yet been penetrated21 by human beings.
The taller of the two cliffs was almost divided from base to summit by the curiously shaped cave which Old Humphrey had laid particular stress upon in his log, and directly the boat touched the sandy beach I bounded off towards it on my trip of exploration, a final warning from my uncle falling lightly upon my ears.
A heap of loose boulders22, which had fallen during the shock, encumbered23 the mouth of the cave; but these I easily surmounted24, and advanced cautiously over the smooth floor, my eyes dim by the sudden change from the brilliant sunshine to the subdued25 light of the cavern26.
The walls were composed of blocks of basalt, the general regularity27 of the vertical28 shafts30 broken here and there by gaping31 horizontal and diagonal fissures32, while at intervals33 a thin stream of water fell from the roof with a cool and pleasing sound.
As I proceeded the roof gradually became lower, till, just as the daylight failed, its height was less than twenty feet. Taking the ball of twine out of my pocket, I made fast one end to a projecting ledge34. The candles, I found, had united into a soft bent35 stick of wax by reason of the heat of the sun, but, straightening them out and cooling them in a pool of water, I had a double-wicked torch in place of the two candles.
As I went on, making a careful survey of the ground for fear of pitfalls36, I noticed that on either hand numerous side passages branched out, some large, some small; but, keeping as straight a direction as I could, I advanced slowly, paying out the twine as I went.
At length the smooth floor gave place to a ridge37 of rock, about four feet in height, leaving an opening of barely three feet between it and the roof. Here I stopped, debating with myself whether it would be wiser to retrace38 my way, but a feeling of uncontrollable curiosity urged me to continue my investigations39.
Having unrolled a length of twine, I threw the ball over the barrier. Having one hand free, I began to clamber over the ridge, holding the lighted candle carefully in my left hand. Beyond I could see that the floor was even, though higher than on the side which I had left, so I unhesitatingly slipped down the opposite slope of the rock and gained the interior of the inner cave.
The light flickered40 on innumerable stalactites, which glittered like pinnacles41 and pendants of dazzling gems42, while, for the first time, I became aware of the dismal43 silence and tomb-like solitude44 of the cave. I tried to whistle, but no sound came from my parched45 lips; then I called in a low tone, and to my surprise the echoes surpassed my voice in the volume of sound and then gradually died away, till it seemed as if, from the remote recesses46 of the cavern, came a mocking laugh.
I repeated the call, and again yet louder, when suddenly there was a rush and a roar, and I found myself lying on my back in utter darkness.
For some considerable time I lay helpless, the utter blackness and the terrifying solitude almost depriving me of my senses. Something heavy was gripping my left foot, and I found that I was held by a mass of fallen stone. The candle had been thrown from my hand, and was extinguished by the fall; but with feverish47 haste I drew the box of matches from my pocket and struck a light. Close at hand was the candle, and by its renewed light I saw, to my horror, that a fall had occurred from the roof, and my retreat was cut off by a tightly wedged mass of stone.
By a supreme48 effort I wrenched49 my foot free and staggered upright, stifling50 a desire to shout for fear that a further fall might occur. Hastily I tried to find a communication through the barrier, but there was no hope in that direction. Even the twine was held as firmly, as if tied to a post, and, on attempting to pull it, the thread broke off close to the rock.
I broke into a cold sweat, but after a few minutes I recovered my senses to a certain extent, arguing with myself that I should be missed before long, and that plenty of willing hands could remove that mass of rubble51 which held me prisoner.
The light, however, gave me grave misgivings52, for the double-wicked candle was burning away rapidly, so, by the aid of my knife, I split the wax cylinder53 lengthways, thus giving me two candles, as I had originally. One I blew out and put in my pocket, with the feeling of satisfaction of having a light for six hours at the least.
Slowly the time passed. Surely, I thought, my uncle must have taken the explosives to the reef long before now; why had he not come to look for me? Fearful thoughts flashed through my bewildered brain. Supposing the blasting powder had exploded, blowing my uncle and the boat's crew to atoms. My father would naturally conclude that I had shared their fate, and I would be left to perish miserably54 in the awful darkness of this lonely cavern. Probably it was the detonation55 of the explosion and not the vibration56 of the sound of my voice that had dislodged the roof of the cave.
At length, after hours, as it seemed, of weary waiting, I heard a dull rumble57 in the direction of the mouth of the cavern, and gradually the sound came nearer and nearer.
"Can't go no 'igher, sir," came a faint voice. "The string stops 'ere, an' the whole place is broken up."
"Reggie! Reggie! Are you there?"
"I'm here, uncle. Don't shout, or you will bring some more rock on your head. I'm shut up and can't get out."
"Are you hurt?
"No."
"Wait a little longer and we'll fetch more help. We can't shift these stones alone."
"Stay with me, uncle!" I cried despairingly. "It's so horrible alone in this place."
"I'll stop here," replied my uncle reassuringly58, and I heard the footsteps of the men as they went off to procure59 help.
"Have you a light?" asked my uncle.
"Yes—have you?"
"No—we had only one box of matches between us; but never mind, it's only a question of an hour or so."
"How long have I been here?"
"Less than an hour."
Less than an hour! It seemed six times that length of time. However, I had a kind of empty satisfaction in knowing that Uncle Herbert was in the darkness, while I, although penned in, had the benefit of a feeble light.
Notwithstanding that my uncle kept up a desultory60 conversation, the time passed very slowly; but before the rescue party returned I learnt that the explosives had been safely transported to the reef, and that, on my failing to return, the boat's crew had explored the cave, finding the clue of seaming-twine and following it till it disappeared between the debris61. I then told him of my adventure, relating the cause of the roof caving-in, and cautioning him to prevent the others making too much noise.
At length the rescuers arrived, and, without delay, they attacked the rocks with crowbars, trying to dislodge and remove the huge boulders. For a long time they worked incessantly62 and energetically, but finally they desisted, and I could hear a consultation63 taking place, though the words were inaudible.
"I've sent for some blasting powder, Reggie," said my father. "The rocks are too large and too tightly wedged together to shift otherwise."
"Won't the explosion bring down more of the roof?" I cried out in my anxiety.
"We must take the chance. Wait a little longer and I'll tell you what to do."
There was a lull64 in the conversation, and I heard a dull, grinding sound, as if some steel instrument was being bored into the rock. Then, after a considerable time, my father spoke65 again.
"How far does the cave extend?"
"A long way, with passages on each side."
"Very well. Go about a hundred yards from this heap of rock and hide in one of the side-tunnels. Take your coat off, and place it over your head to deaden the sound. I am going to set fire to the fuse, and the explosion will take place in five minutes."
I immediately set off to a place of safety, and walking as rapidly as I could by the dim light of the candle, the floor, fortunately, being even, I counted a hundred and twenty paces; then, turning abruptly66 to the right, I set the candle on the ground, wrapped my head in my coat, and waited.
Presently came the short sharp crack of the explosion and a dull rumble of falling stones. A sudden rush of air, an appalling67 echo, and the noise of a shower of rock falling from the roof, instantly followed the detonation, and an acrid68 smell filled the cave.
Tearing away my coat from my head, I found that the air current had extinguished the candle, and with considerable haste I struck a match. Stones still fell at intervals from the roof, but my range of vision was limited by the feeble glimmer69 of the light and the thick haze70 of the smoke and dust caused by the explosion.
Then I heard the sound of returning footsteps, and my name was called. Hastening back to the barrier that held me captive, I saw a shaft29 of light from the men's lanterns glancing through a narrow hole close to the roof. The aperture71 was less than eighteen inches in height and slightly more in width, while its upper portion was overhung by a sharp wedge-shaped piece of rock, that reminded me forcibly of the knife of a guillotine.
"Tell him to hurry up, sir," I heard the bos'n exclaim anxiously. "A fall may take place at any moment."
"Reggie," exclaimed my father, "climb up and squeeze through that hole."
"But I can't, father!" I replied, regarding the opening with dismay.
"You must!" he repeated sternly—even harshly, it seemed. "Get up, instantly!"
Carefully I negotiated the ascent72 of a bank of shattered rock, till I was on a level with the hole, and, looking through, I could see the heads and shoulders of the rescue party on the other side of the barrier. But the sight of that fearful-looking piece of jagged rock overhanging the way to safety caused my courage to ebb73, for in my imagination I saw it slowly, yet surely, descending74 to crush the life out of my body.
"Now, then, hurry up!" repeated my father, in a voice that was sterner than before.
With a despairing effort I tried to creep through the aperture, but, being unable to use my arms or legs, the attempt was useless.
"Look here, Mr. Reginald," exclaimed the bos'n, "we are going to pass a rope through to you. Put both your feet in the bowline, grip the rope like grim death with your right hand as high above your head as you can reach, and keep your left down close to your side. Give the word when you are ready, and we'll haul you through in a jiffy."
The rope was thrust through the hole by means of a long pole, and I did as I was directed, although, I am afraid, I gave the word to haul away in a very undecided tone. A steady strain on the rope, and I began to slide towards the narrow path that led to safety. Grazed by the sharp edges of the jagged rock, my knuckles75, hips76, and knees bleeding, and my feet jammed together by the strain on the bow-line, I felt that the perilous77 journey would never end.
With wide-open eyes I stared blankly at the rock above me, at one time less than six inches from my face. The confinement78 of the narrow passage produced a feeling of suffocation79, and with it the impression that the walls of the tunnel were contracting; but at length willing hands seized my outstretched arm, then my shoulders, and I was free.
"Back, all of you!" shouted the bos'n, and in the rush for safety I was boldly carried off by one of the sailors. There was another rumbling80 sound, and the place through which I had just emerged was choked by a still greater fall of rock. I—nay, the whole party—had escaped by the very skin of our teeth.
No time was lost in gaining the open air. It was night, but by the glimmer of the lanterns I saw that my father's eyes were filled with tears as he kissed me—even in front of all the men.
As we were rowed back to the "Fortuna," and I sat in the stern-sheets with my father and uncle, I whispered, "What made you speak so crossly to me, pater?"
"Necessity, my boy—stern necessity. Had I not compelled you to do what I told you, your hesitation81 would doubtless have proved fatal, though, believe me, Reggie, you will never be able to realize your father's agony of mind when he spoke thus."
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1
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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2
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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3
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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4
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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5
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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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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7
defer
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| vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从 | |
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8
compensate
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| vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消 | |
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9
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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10
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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11
craving
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| n.渴望,热望 | |
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12
cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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13
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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14
locker
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| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
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15
twine
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| v.搓，织，编饰；（使）缠绕 | |
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16
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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17
inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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18
lagoon
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| n.泻湖，咸水湖 | |
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19
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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20
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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21
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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22
boulders
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| n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾 | |
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23
encumbered
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| v.妨碍，阻碍，拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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25
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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26
cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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27
regularity
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| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
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28
vertical
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| adj.垂直的，顶点的，纵向的；n.垂直物，垂直的位置 | |
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29
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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30
shafts
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| n.轴( shaft的名词复数 )；（箭、高尔夫球棒等的）杆；通风井；一阵（疼痛、害怕等） | |
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31
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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32
fissures
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| n.狭长裂缝或裂隙( fissure的名词复数 )；裂伤；分歧；分裂v.裂开( fissure的第三人称单数 ) | |
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33
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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34
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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35
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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36
pitfalls
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| （捕猎野兽用的）陷阱( pitfall的名词复数 )； 意想不到的困难，易犯的错误 | |
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37
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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38
retrace
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| v.折回；追溯，探源 | |
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39
investigations
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| （正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究 | |
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40
flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
pinnacles
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| 顶峰( pinnacle的名词复数 )； 顶点； 尖顶； 小尖塔 | |
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42
gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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43
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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44
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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45
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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46
recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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47
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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48
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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49
wrenched
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| 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 | |
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50
stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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51
rubble
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| n.（一堆）碎石，瓦砾 | |
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52
misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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53
cylinder
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| n.圆筒，柱(面)，汽缸 | |
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54
miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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55
detonation
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| n.爆炸；巨响 | |
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56
vibration
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| n.颤动，振动；摆动 | |
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57
rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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58
reassuringly
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| ad.安心，可靠 | |
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59
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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60
desultory
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| adj.散漫的，无方法的 | |
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61
debris
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| n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片 | |
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62
incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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64
lull
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| v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇 | |
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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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66
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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acrid
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| adj.辛辣的，尖刻的，刻薄的 | |
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glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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71
aperture
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| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
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ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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ebb
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| vi.衰退，减退；n.处于低潮，处于衰退状态 | |
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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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knuckles
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| n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
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hips
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| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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suffocation
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| n.窒息 | |
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rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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