The two lads were given a large, comfortable cabin together, where they found the baggage from their amphibian2 had been stowed. They had just taken a shower in the luxuriously3 appointed bathroom off their cabin, when there came a knock at the door.
134
“The Captain’s compliments, sir,” said the steward4 when Bill opened to him, “and will you gentlemen dine with him and his officers at eight thirty in the Palm Garden? He asks me to inform you, sir, that you will find uniforms in your closet. He begs that you will not wear civilian5 clothes while aboard.”
“Thank Baron6 von Hiemskirk on behalf of Chief Osceola and myself. We shall be glad to join the officers’ mess at half past eight. We shall also put on the uniforms he has provided, although I must say that nothing looks worse than a uniform one hasn’t been fitted for!”
“Beg pardon, sir, but the tailor has already altered the uniforms. He took measurements from the suits in your bags. He and his men are working on more of them tonight. He tells me that they will all be finished soon.”
“Thank you,” said Bill. “That will be fine. By the way, where is the Palm Garden?”
“Off A deck, sir. Thank you, sir.” He was gone.
“Well,” grinned Bill, “some system they have aboard this packet!”
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“You said it. Too much system to suit me, Bill. We’re likely to come a bad cropper when we buck8 it.”
“You know the adage9 about crossing bridges before you have to, Osceola. Let’s get into these uniforms. It’s nearly time for mess and I’m hungry enough to chew rubber.”
The uniforms proved to be made of white duck, and the lads found their names stitched inside the blouses. An officer’s cap and pair of white canvas shoes went with each suit. To their further surprise, they found that all these articles fitted them exactly.
“Gee10!” exclaimed Bill, as he saw the two gold stripes on his black shoulder straps11. “This is promotion12 with a vengeance13! When I woke up this morning, I was only a midshipman. Tonight I’m a full lieutenant14! What’s the Baron made you, big boy?”
“I’ve got a broad stripe like yours, Bill, and a narrow one. I suppose that rates me something—but what, I don’t know!”
136
“That’s the insignia of a lieutenant j.g.”
“And what’s the j.g. mean?”
“Junior grade. A j.g. ranks with a first lieutenant in the army.”
“And you, with your two broad stripes rank with an army captain, I suppose, and you’re my superior officer on board here, I take it?”
“Right. Only we say full stripes, not broad stripes. In Navy parlance15, I’m a two-striper, and you are a one-and-a-half striper.”
“Sounds to me like a convict gang,” laughed the Seminole, as he buttoned up his blouse. “Well, if you’re ready, I am.”
“Don’t forget your cap,” Bill reminded him. “Strictly speaking, no naval16 officer is in uniform without it.”
“Pirate officer, you mean,” grunted17 Osceola as they entered the corridor. “Last time we were kidnapped and lacked all this luxury, but at least what clothes we wore were comfortable. I feel as if somebody had laced me into a tight corset.”
137
“You’ll feel better after dinner.”
“Maybe. If the buttons hold!”
Together they mounted the stairs to A deck. A few of the Amtonia’s passengers were lounging about on deck. They paid not the slightest attention to them, in fact, Bill noticed that their indifference18 was so marked that it could not be other than studied.
Then a voice spoke19 behind them. “Hello, men!” As they turned, Charlie joined them. “I wanted Father to meet you,” he said, rather breathlessly, “but he says you’ve joined the pirates, and— But you haven’t, have you?”
“Gee, what does that mean? I wish you’d talk American.”
“If I spoke my own language, which is real American, youngster, you wouldn’t understand me any better.”
138
Bill grinned. “Pro tem means for the time being,” he said. “But I’d better tell you, Charlie, that the Chief is feeling low tonight, so don’t get fresh. He’ll tomahawk you one of these days if you don’t look out!”
“Oh, yeah?” Charlie seemed unimpressed by this dire20 threat. Then his tone changed suddenly. “Please, Bill,” he whispered eagerly, “let me be a pirate, too. Gee, it would be such fun. Can’t I?”
Both Bill and Osceola burst into a shout of laughter. “But how about your Dad?” asked the Seminole.
“Well, what about him?”
Bill shook his head. “Talk like that to him, and he’ll be offering you the choice of back or bristles21!”
“Aw, cut it out! I’m serious, Bill. Please let me be a pirate!”
139
“I’ll think about it, Charlie.” Bill took him by the arm and moved over to the rail. “But I do want you to do something for me,” he said in lowered tones. “You must keep it entirely22 to yourself, though. If you mention it to a single soul, you’ll get us all into a heap of trouble.”
“All right then, I’ll trust you. I want you to make friends with the wireless24 operators. There are two of them. Find out when they relieve each other, whether the door is kept locked—in fact, find out everything you can—without making them suspicious. Got that?”
“You bet. Take it from me, they’ll never guess what I’m after!”
“Attaboy! Do you know where our cabin is?”
“No.”
“Well, it’s number 126 on the deck below, starboard side.”
“I can find it.”
“Good. Come there at eleven tonight, and report what you’ve found out.”
“I’ll be there with bells on.”
140
“Now be careful that nobody sees you come to our door. It won’t be locked—we’ll be there. Just open it and come in.”
“All right, Bill. You can trust me.”
“That’s all, so cut along now, and remember, eleven sharp. We’ve got a date for dinner, and I’m afraid we’re going to be late as it is. So long, Charlie.”
“So long, Bill. So long, Chief.”
Charlie raced away, intent on the importance of his trust and his two friends hurried toward the Palm Garden.
They found the Baron and his officers awaiting them in the foyer of the restaurant. The Baron beamed approval on their uniforms and introduced them to the members of the group they had not already met. These gentlemen each bowed from the waist and shook hands with continental25 formality upon being presented. The Baron spoke a few words, and then as the single stroke of the ship’s bell clanged, the chief steward appeared in the doorway26.
141
“Dinner is served, Herr Captain.”
The Baron leading, they went into the restaurant. The meal which they sat down to proved to be a long, sumptuous27 affair of many courses. Every delicacy28, in and out of season, was served. Evidently the Baron believed in living well—on other people. Both lads did full justice to the banquet. Muffled29 strains of the ship’s orchestra, hidden behind palms, lent gaiety to the atmosphere, but could not cut through the rigid30 formality of their companions’ demeanor31.
It was after ten thirty by the time they left the table and went out on deck. The stars were like jewels flashing in the great inverted32 bowl of night. The dark water gleamed quiet as a mill-pond, reflecting the slender crescent of a new moon that had just appeared above the horizon.
142
“This voyage,” he remarked complacently35, watching the red ash glow on the end of his cigar, “is becoming quite a successful undertaking36. A few more months and we can well afford to retire, and go our own ways.”
“But surely, Herr Baron, you are not contemplating37 ending this splendid venture?” It was the Chief Engineer who spoke.
“We must not try providence38 too far, Bauer. To date, this ship is a mystery to the world at large, it is true. But we have already created some stir. Personally, I consider it a positive compliment that the navies of the world are seeking us out to destroy us!”
“It must,” Bill remarked, “afford you a good deal of satisfaction, as well as profit, Baron.”
He was becoming restive39. It was nearing eleven o’clock. The cabin door was locked and Charlie could not get in. But how to break away without arousing the Baron’s suspicions, he could not see.
That gentleman puffed contemplatively for a moment or two.
143
“Yes, you have it right, Mr. Bolton,” he observed at last. “Pleasure and profit. Outside of the vast sums in money and jewels we have taken from captured liners, you perhaps do not realize that we have more than two hundred very wealthy people as passengers. Their ransoms40, at the lowest estimate will run well over a million dollars apiece. Yes, this is a most profitable business, Mr. Bolton. But of course, a most dangerous one. We must not practice it for too long a time.”
“Herr Baron,” Bill leaned forward in his seat, and smiled his most engaging smile, “neither Chief Osceola nor I have had the opportunity this evening to thank you for your consideration in the matter of our cabin and the uniforms you have provided us.”
“Yes, indeed, Baron,” Osceola seconded him and threw the stub of his cigarette over the rail. “Very kind of you, I must say.”
“Oh, do not mention it, my dear fellows.” The Baron was joviality41 itself. “Those are small matters and easily attended to.”
144
“But we appreciate your wish to make us comfortable.” Bill rose, and Osceola followed his example. “And now, sir, we will say good night. It has been a long day and a busy one.”
“Good night, my young friends,” beamed von Hiemskirk. “Pleasant dreams, and auf wiedersehn until tomorrow.”
Everyone stood up and saluted42 and the lads marched off toward their cabin. Osceola was unlocking the door, when a stealthy figure appeared from out the shadows of a cross passage, and Charlie slipped into the room with them.
“Gee, I thought you were never coming,” he said, as Bill switched on the light.
“Sorry, Charles, so did we! Have you got any news?”
“Plenty, Bill. I—”
His words were cut short by a crash of gunfire from above. For an instant they stood listening to the thunder of the gun, then Bill broke their constrained43 silence.
145
“We’ll have to postpone44 our talk, Charlie, worse luck. There’s something doing out there, all right, and it’s up to the Chief and me to hustle45 up on deck pronto.”
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收听单词发音
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1
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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2
amphibian
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| n.两栖动物；水陆两用飞机和车辆 | |
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luxuriously
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| adv.奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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4
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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civilian
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| adj.平民的，民用的，民众的 | |
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baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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pro
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| n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者 | |
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8
buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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adage
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| n.格言，古训 | |
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gee
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| n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转 | |
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11
straps
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| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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14
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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15
parlance
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| n.说法；语调 | |
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16
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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17
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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18
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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19
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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20
dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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21
bristles
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| 短而硬的毛发，刷子毛( bristle的名词复数 ) | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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clam
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| n.蛤，蛤肉 | |
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24
wireless
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| adj.无线的；n.无线电 | |
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25
continental
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| adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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sumptuous
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| adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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29
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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30
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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demeanor
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| n.行为；风度 | |
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32
inverted
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| adj.反向的，倒转的v.使倒置，使反转( invert的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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34
conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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35
complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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37
contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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38
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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39
restive
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| adj.不安宁的，不安静的 | |
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40
ransoms
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| 付赎金救人，赎金( ransom的名词复数 ) | |
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41
joviality
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| n.快活 | |
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42
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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43
constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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44
postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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45
hustle
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| v.推搡；竭力兜售或获取；催促；n.奔忙(碌) | |
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46
parley
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| n.谈判 | |
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