The country in which they found themselves was sparsely-inhabited marsh2 land. The last village, occupying a high plateau, lay two days’ journey to the rear. Since leaving it they had failed to encounter any local tribesmen. Only by luck had they found knolls3 of dry firm ground projecting above the jungle growth of the marsh on which to pitch camp the two nights spent in this district.
Mr. Hampton, fearing the effects of the miasmatic4 surroundings on the health of all, was resolved that this day should see them cross the river and into the hills rolling up in the background on the other side. Therefore, he kept the bearers plodding5 through the thick jungle growth of reeds and trees along the bank in search of a ford. For, although of human habitation there seemed little evidence, yet of animals there were many signs. And undoubtedly6 some of the latter were accustomed to cross the river at some point or other in the vicinity.
None being discovered, however, toward noon, Mr. Hampton decided7 they would build a raft. Rope a-plenty was in their equipment. When the raft was ready, a bearer would swim the river with the end of a rope to be attached to a tree on the other side. By fastening the rope similarly on the near side of the river, they would obtain a ferry, along which the raft could be pulled back and forth8 until everybody and all the supplies and articles of equipment could be sent across.
The work of building the raft out of felled logs bound together with tough vines and creepers went on apace, and by the middle of afternoon everything was in readiness for the attempt. All three of the boys were expert swimmers and volunteered to make the crossing with the rope. But Mr. Hampton would not give his consent.
“As to your ability to swim several times the distance, there can be no question,” he said. “But one can never tell when crocodiles will appear in these African rivers. Wimba tells me there are several men amongst our bearers who have a reputation for fighting crocodiles. I’ll see whether either or both want to swim across.”
The two men mentioned by Wimba readily consented to make the crossing, being eager to receive the extra pay for the hazard promised by Mr. Hampton. And with knives clutched between their teeth, they plunged9 into the river, the rope paying out behind them. However, although through his glasses, Jack10, who was maintaining a lookout11, could discern three of the long sinister12 beasts sunning themselves on a sandy shelf along the opposite shore but considerably13 below the point at which the swimmers planned to land, yet none appeared in midstream to attack the two Kikuyus. And the latter swimming strongly, presently were seen to clamber out of the water. Then they disappeared into the luxuriant undergrowth, to reappear a few minutes later shouting that the rope had been made fast to a tree.
“First, Dad,” cried Jack. “You wouldn’t let us swim the river, so now you must let us be first to cross on the raft.”
Mr. Hampton smiled indulgently. “You’re as big as I, Jack,” he said, “but you’re only a kid still, aren’t you? All right. Let it be as you say. You three and six of the bearers can make the first crossing with the major portion of our stores. Then send the raft back, and Niellsen and I will cross over with our photographic equipment and whatever supplies you haven’t taken. Then Wimba can follow with the rest of the bearers.”
“But, Mr. Hampton,” Frank objected, “do you believe we ought to put all our supplies, or even the major portion, in one load? What if the raft upsets?”
“You’re right, Frank,” said the older man, approvingly. “We would be out of luck in a case like that. No, we’ll split our provisions, and send over only half at a time.”
“The same idea can be applied14 to our radio equipment, too,” said Jack. “We’ll take several of the portable receiving sets with us, as well as that emergency sending set. You can bring the one we’ve been using, when you come, together with the remaining portable receivers.”
The good sense of both these suggestions being readily apparent, they were adopted and, carrying half the provisions and half the radio equipment, the three boys with six bearers sent out to negotiate the crossing.
Long poles had been cut and with these half the number on the raft essayed to pole, while the balance pulled on the rope stretching now from bank to bank and tied about trees at either end.
But almost immediately it became apparent the force of the river current had been underestimated. So strong was the downstream drag that all soon found themselves working as if for their very lives to make headway. Moreover, the rope drawn15 as taut16 as a violin string by the force of their weight upon it began to screech17 with a dry sound.
“We better turn back, Jack,” panted Frank, from his position at the rear end of the raft where he was battling valiantly18 with a pole. “In a minute we won’t be able to touch bottom any longer, and then our unsupported weight is going to be too much for that rope.”
Hardly had the words been uttered than there came a sudden sharp report. The rope had parted at a weak spot. The two ends fell into the water, out of reach. And at once, seized in the hungry clutch of the swift current, the raft was whirled into midstream and started down river.
Fortunately, Matse was of the number aboard. And when Jack shouted an order to the bearers not to use their poles lest they be snatched from their grasp, as the river was running too strongly at this point, Matse translated his command. At that, however, Jack’s forethought came a moment too late to prevent one of the blacks from losing his pole. It was sucked from his grasp as the raft whirled along, when he attempted to strike bottom with it to arrest their progress. Only through the fact that Bob throwing an arm about his waist at the crucial moment tugged20 him inward did the black escape following his pole.
“Tell the men to sit down and pull in their poles,” Jack ordered Matse. “Pretty soon the current will swing in toward one shore or another as we round a bend, and then we may stand a chance to strike bottom and pole ashore22. Try to make them see that it is necessary to save the raft and equipment, Matse, so that they won’t jump off and swim ashore.”
The intelligent young Kikuyu nodded his comprehension and then began to lay down the law to his comrades in their own tongue.
In the meantime, Mr. Hampton could be seen starting the bearers on shore down stream. And Jack knew his father’s thought was his, namely that some turn of the current might throw the raft toward the river bank and thus afford those on land a chance to be of aid.
“What’s that your father is shouting, Jack? Can you understand him?” asked Bob.
Jack shook his head.
“Too far away,” he said. “This river certainly is sweeping24 us along at a great rate. There, I can’t see them any more.”
And standing25 up, Jack waved his handkerchief as the raft swept around a bend and his father and the party ashore were lost to view.
“We’ll have to remember one thing, fellows,” he said, lowering his voice to a whisper. “And that is that these blacks will stick to the raft, perhaps, if we can manage to keep them from becoming excited and apprehensive27. But if they lose their heads, they’ll jump overboard and swim for it. And in that case our chance of saving the raft and all these supplies and equipment will be mighty28 slim. So it is up to us to keep smiling, because they’ll be watching us. In fact, they’re watching us now.”
The blacks were, indeed, casting anxious glances toward the three boys. And the latter, accepting Jack’s outline of the situation, grinned in a way to disarm29 apprehension30. Nevertheless, they could see from the way in which the Kikuyus turned to gaze at the water that they were speculating upon the possibilities of swimming ashore.
“Can the men swim, Matse?” asked Jack of the young interpreter who crouched nearest them, staring with fascinated gaze at the swift water bearing them along.
“All, baas,” replied Matse. “They say they stay long as can, but will swim if no can save raft. They ’fraid crocodile but more ’fraid waterfall.”
“Waterfall?” cried Frank, in alarm.
Matse nodded. “Me no can tell, baas,” he said. “Fella-boys say river um run too fast. Waterfall soon.”
Bob jumped to his feet. “Look here. We can’t sit here idle, waiting to be tossed toward one bank or the other, while all the time we may be skidding31 along toward a falls. I can’t hear any roar indicating one near at hand. Just the same, this river is running mighty fast, and there may be a falls ahead. Let’s get some of these poles together and try to rig up a stern sweep to guide us inshore.”
“That’s the idea,” approved Frank. “It’s about our only chance to save the raft, and if we don’t do it we may soon all be in the water trying to swim to shore.”
Matse called to the bearers who shoved their poles across the raft toward the boys, and watched eagerly while Bob set to work to develop his idea.
What he wanted was a paddle on the end of several poles lashed32 together. The poles were available, and the paddle blade was easily obtained by ripping off several heavy boards from a packing case. But hammer and stout33 nails were none. However, Bob got around that by tearing up many feet of stout creeper binding34 the logs of the raft at one end. Then he placed the boards between the ends of two poles and lashed them in place with the vine.
“Now for it,” he said, surveying his work dubiously35. “It looks strong enough, but whether it will hold together is a question. However, here goes.”
The felled logs comprising the raft were in several layers, criss-crossing each other. In none of these layers had the logs been placed tightly together. Bob poked36 around until he found a succession of openings in the various layers of logs which were in line with each other, and then managed to push the paddle through and into the water. A little pressing apart of the logs and tearing of vines here and there enlarged the opening sufficiently37 to permit slanting38 the poles forward so far that the blade trailing at the rear became a genuinely effective sweep.
“Hurray,” yelled Bob, jubilantly, as the raft began to swing sluggishly39 but steadily40 toward shore. “Get some of those fellows to help hold this steady, Matse.”
Two of the bearers sprang with alacrity41 to positions on the two poles lashed together which constituted the handle of the sweep.
Bob stationed them in position to hold the paddle steady at an angle which swept the raft shoreward, for he was not using it as a sweep for propulsion but as steering42 oar19.
Then he stood back to contemplate43 his work with a look of pride on his face.
“Well, I guess that’ll turn the trick if the paddle doesn’t break,” he said to Jack. “The tug21 of the water is tremendous.”
“Yes,” replied the latter, leaning close and speaking in a whisper, “or if we aren’t swept into the rapids ahead. Take a look but don’t draw the attention of the Kikuyus. They are so interested in watching the result of your labors44 and in playing around with your steering oar that they haven’t seen yet. There. Down stream.”
Bob looked.
Some distance ahead, where the river swept around a big island, scattered45 rocks jutted46 above the water of both channels. And over them foamed47 the river.
Then the first sound of the rapids was borne to their ears.
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1
Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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2
marsh
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| n.沼泽，湿地 | |
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3
knolls
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| n.小圆丘，小土墩( knoll的名词复数 ) | |
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4
miasmatic
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| adj.毒气的，沼气的 | |
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5
plodding
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| a.proceeding in a slow or dull way | |
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6
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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7
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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8
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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9
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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10
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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11
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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12
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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13
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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14
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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15
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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16
taut
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| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
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17
screech
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| n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
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18
valiantly
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| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 | |
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19
oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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20
tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
tug
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| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
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22
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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23
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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24
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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25
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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26
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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28
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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29
disarm
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| v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和 | |
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30
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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31
skidding
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| n.曳出，集材v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的现在分词 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区 | |
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32
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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34
binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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dubiously
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| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
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36
poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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37
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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38
slanting
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| 倾斜的，歪斜的 | |
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39
sluggishly
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| adv.懒惰地；缓慢地 | |
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40
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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41
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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42
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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43
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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44
labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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45
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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46
jutted
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| v.（使）突出( jut的过去式和过去分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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47
foamed
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| 泡沫的 | |
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