The rain let up as we shook hands and wished each other luck, but by the time the Curlew was chugging down the Golden Horn it had set in again with tripled violence, lashed4 on by a northeast gale5. At intervals6 broad splotches of lightning bathed the city to our right in a ghastly greenish glow. And when we emerged into the Bosphorus we found a fairly high sea running, but the launch sturdily thrust her bow into the waves and rode buoyantly over them. We cautiously felt our way along, lights out, motor running at half-speed, taking bearings whenever the jagged lightning streaks7 illuminated8 the waters.
I was worried by the frequency of the lightning displays, but fortunately, as we sighted the round tower on the walls, which was our first landmark9 for Tokalji's house, there was a lull10 in the storm. We were also favored in having the old sea-walls act as a lee for us as we worked in closer to shore. The waves moderated, and the fish-hook curve of the ruined jetty broke their remaining force. When Watkins had made fast bow and stern lines to a couple of masses of battered12 masonry13 the Curlew floated almost as easily as at her moorings by the Man-o-war Dock. But the difficulties of navigation in the darkness and the necessity for extreme care had slowed our progress, and we were some minutes behind our schedule.
The rocks of the jetty, too, were awash, and it was as much as your life was worth to slip, for a fall might mean a broken head or limb. At one point, indeed, several of us lost the jetty altogether and were obliged to swim half-a-dozen strokes to the beach. Watkins, who insisted on arming himself with a crowbar, would have drowned if Hugh had not hauled him in by the scuff14 of the neck. It was impossible to see anything, except once when a lightning flash streaked15 the sky and struck with a stunning16 report in Scutari across the Straits. And then we were so afraid of being discovered that we froze stiff as close to the rocks as possible.
The beach, like the jetty, was under water. The waves lapped up to the foot of the walls, and we stumbled desperately17 over submerged rocks and bowlders. Watkins, just ahead of me in line, tripped, and very nearly knocked my brains out with his infernal crowbar. I begged him to drop it, but he doggedly18 refused.
"I'm no knife-fighter, Mister Jack19, sir," he said, "and I'm intending to give the persons that 'it me a taste of their own stew20 like."
We identified the opening of the sewer21 by the hollow, booming sound with which, every now and then, an unusually high wave would roll over its lip. It sounded like the beating of a watery22 bass-drum. The rain was driving down again, and the wind blew overhead with a shrill23 vehemence24 that was deafening25.
"We'll never be able to get through that 'ell-'ole tonight, Mister Jack, sir," screamed Watkins in my ear. "We'll be drowned along with the rats."
I was somewhat of Watty's opinion, myself, but managed to placate26 him. Hugh, without any hesitation27, yelled: "One at a time!" and slipped into the sewer mouth between two waves. King followed him, and Watty and I brought up the rear. We were cheered to find the place less terrifying than we had imagined it. The water was thigh-deep, instead of knee-deep, as it had been when we escaped from the dungeon28, but once you had fumbled29 your way by torch-light over the jagged moraine that blocked the first thirty feet, the footing became safer and the water shallowed.
Just the same, I never think of the place without shuddering30. It was deathly silent, except for the ceaseless seepage31 of moisture, the occasional muffled32 boom of a wave spattering over its mouth and the squeaking33 of the gigantic black rats that swam ahead of us or wriggled34 into cracks in the serried35 courses of the masonry. Our electric torches shone feebly on the mossy walls, with their sickening fungus36 growths, their bright green, pendent weeds. Amorphous37 plants hung from the roof. The atmosphere was slimy, noisome38, unclean. And always there was the "drip-drip-drip" of water.
We breathed more comfortably when our torches revealed overhead the bars of the stone grating in the floor of the dungeon.
"All quiet above," whispered Hugh, after listening intently. "Dark as hell, too. I say, how much farther do you suppose this drain goes?"
He trained his torch into the thick murk of the immense tube which extended beyond the grating as far as our eyes could penetrate39.
"I'm inclined to believe it continues into the city, ably as far as the site of the Forum40 of Theodosius," King replied, his scholar's interest awake. "That was a region of palaces which would have required such a work of engineering. It should be well worth exploring."
"Never mind that now," urged Hugh. "We have another task on hand."
He pried41 up the grating with Watty's crowbar, the butt42 of which we rested on the ledge43 in which the grating fitted. This secured a space sufficiently44 wide for us to squeeze through, and after all of us had climbed up we eased the grating back into its bed, so that there was no trace remaining of our entrance.
The dungeon was the same barren cube of dusty stone that we had left by virtue45 of Watkins's aid. The ropes that had bound us were still on the floor where we had cast them. The door we had broken leaned against the wall. Obviously, Tokalji and his people had never even suspected how we had escaped, apparently46, did not even know of the existence of the sewer.[1]
[1] Tokalji expressed great surprise when we told him about the sewer. He refused to enter it, and seemed to regard it as a danger to his house. Nikka thought that he would try to fill it in, but I believe Kara, who feared nothing, pointed47 out to him its usefulness for illicit48 purposes, and he changed his mind. J.N.
It is strange, and I fancy the only answer is Nikka's: that the modern non-Christian inhabitants of Constantinople look with superstitious49 fear upon the vast underground structures—baths, cisterns50, conduits and sewers—left by the ancient Roumis, as the builders are usually called, do not want to see them or hear of them, never enter it if by chance one is discovered, and cover them up whenever they can.
It was five minutes to eleven when we gained the dungeon, and we knew that Nikka must be at a loss to account for our failure to signal him. He might suppose us to be casualties of the storm, and in desperation, attack alone on his own account. So we wasted no time, beyond shaking the water from our clothes.
The lower passage and cellars were deserted, but as we climbed the stairs leading to the central hall opening on the little atrium between the Garden of the Cedars52 and the large chamber53 which Tokalji occupied we heard a distant murmur54 of voices in disagreement. Investigation55 proved the hall to be unoccupied, and we were presently grouped on its uneven56 floor, with only a curtain separating us from the drama going on in the atrium. The rain was drumming down overhead; the wind howled with undiminished force; and at intervals the thunder boomed like a barrage57 of 155s.
"No, you are wrong, Toutou, it is everybody's business," said Hilyer in French.
"You may be chief, but you have no right to risk common property," protested Sandra's resonant58 voice.
"—like her, and that's enough," it concluded. "I'm tired of the rest of you. Bunglers, every one."
"Have it your own way," said Serge, "but it's not business. She's worth so much to us.'
"One might suppose you a green youth," cut in Maude Hilyer's frigid60 tones. "Why should you endanger our coup11 for a colorless chit like—"
"I say there is no risk," snapped Toutou. "What do I care for them? What does it matter what they—"
"Yes, yes," interrupted Hilyer, "but you Continentals61 don't appreciate the Anglo-Saxons' feeling about their women. You—"
"Have done," bellowed62 Toutou with a sudden flame of temper. "Urrr-rr-rrhhh! Am I not the master? I want her, and I shall have her! Go! Go! I say, or you shall behold63 Toutou's knife."
They evidently went, for we could hear the shuffling64 of feet, with an undercurrent of muttered curses and objurgations. Hugh started forward, pistol in hand, but I checked him. This was no time for unpremeditated action. There was a moment of silence—and a woman's cry of hatred65.
It was Betty's voice, and Hugh shook me off and was at the curtain with his hand on the folds before I could reach him. But reach him I did, and another interruption helped me to restrain him. King, his face white and his hands shaking, joined us. Watkins lurked67 behind us.
I was going to say that somebody might come back, and the somebody cut my sentence in the middle. A door opened, and the voice of Hélène de Cespedes spoke70.
"What is this I hear, mon ami?" she asked. "Are you mad? This girl is the spoil of the band. She belongs to all of us. We are holding her for a bigger stake. Shall we let you have her for your own satisfaction? You take too—"
"You are jealous," snarled Toutou. "I say I want her, and I am going to have her. I am tired of women like you."
Hugh, his nerves under control, gently parted the folds of the curtain with his pistol-muzzle. The atrium was brilliantly lighted. He and I could see perfectly71. On a divan72 heaped with cushions lay Betty. Her hands were bound behind her, and her feet were tied loosely. Her hair was rumpled73, and her blouse ripped off at the shoulder. But her eyes sparked fire as she stared fearlessly at the monster who stood beside her.
Toutou was in a different mood from any I knew, or, rather, I should say, from the one I knew. His sinisterly74 beautiful face revealed the latent ferocity that was the salient feature of his character, but with it there was something else, something difficult to define. The tigerish glare in his eyes was replaced by a softer light; the pupils were expanded. His mouth was slack. His movements were uncertain. He hovered75 over Betty, looking almost fearfully at Hélène.
She stood just inside the door that communicated with the large outer chamber. She was dressed in a sport suit and high boots. Her hat was off, and her face showed pinched and wan51. There were shadows under her eyes.
"Say I am jealous," she answered steadily76. "I have a right to be. You have never had a woman who did more for you than I. Do you think Miss Innocence77 here would do what I have done?"
"That is why I want her," returned Toutou, his voice singularly hoarse78. "I am tired of you. I am tired of all of you. I hunger for innocence. I wish to forget crime and evil. When we finish this job I am going to take this petite and go away where Toutou will be unknown."
"Toutou LaFitte a reformed character!" Hélène laughed sarcastically79. "You don't know what you are talking about. You have nothing in common with innocence."
"Who knows?"
"I know, mon ami. The girl would kill herself first. Sooner than see you do this, I will kill you."
Toutou frowned at her.
"Stand back!" he warned. "If you touch her—"
Hélène stepped forward boldly, one hand inside her jacket.
"There are many things you can do, Toutou," she said. "And you are chief. Nobody questions that. But remember that if the others are afraid of you, I am not. And I say that you shall not do this. Something you owe to the band. More, still, you owe to me. You know me well enough to appreciate that I intend to secure what I consider due me."
"It is time you feared me," he snarled. "Go away, I am through with you. I never wish to see you again. You shall have your share of this coup, then you shall leave the band."
"But I thought there was to be no more band," sneered81 Hélène. "I thought Toutou was to become an honest bourgeois82, with a dove-cot—"
"You shall feel my knife," he barked at her.
"Why should I fear your knife?" she retorted. "The last time a woman threatened you, you fled from her knife."
Her face was white with rage, and Toutou's whole frame seemed to draw together as an animal does when it prepares to spring. His long arms curved before him, his right hand at the level of his belt.
"You do not know when a man tires of you, it seems," he exclaimed. "Can you not see we wish to be by ourselves?"
"For the last time," she said quietly, "will you heed84 the opinion of your colleagues and leave this girl alone?"
"Look out," cried Betty, who alone of us all could see clearly what Toutou was doing with his right hand. "His knife!"
Hélène snatched a pistol from her blouse; but he was too quick for her. As the flame spurted86 from the barrel he leaped aside, and his immensely long arm curled out and slashed87 down. The blood frothed over the hilt of his knife as it clicked on her collar-bone, and she dropped, choking, to the floor.
In the same instant Hugh fired, but one of us jostled him and the bullet missed. Toutou turned, saw the curtain swaying as we charged, and ran for the door. I fired once, and the bullet chipped between his arm and side, but he was out before we could shoot again.
From the courtyard came a crash and a ripple88 of shots that vied with the thunder. A chorus of yells pierced thinly the howling of the gale.
Nikka, hearing Hélène's pistol, had accepted it as the long over-due signal for his attack.
"Take care of Betty, Professor!" Hugh called to King. "See if you can help this poor girl. Come on, Jack, Watty!"
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收听单词发音
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1
peals
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| n.（声音大而持续或重复的）洪亮的响声( peal的名词复数 )；隆隆声；洪亮的钟声；钟乐v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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embark
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| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
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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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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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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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7
streaks
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| n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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landmark
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| n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标 | |
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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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coup
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| n.政变；突然而成功的行动 | |
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battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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masonry
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| n.砖土建筑；砖石 | |
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scuff
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| v. 拖着脚走；磨损 | |
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streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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stunning
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| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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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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stew
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| n.炖汤，焖，烦恼；v.炖汤，焖，忧虑 | |
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sewer
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| n.排水沟，下水道 | |
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watery
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| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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placate
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| v.抚慰，平息(愤怒) | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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seepage
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| n.泄漏 | |
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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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squeaking
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| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的现在分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
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wriggled
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
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serried
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| adj.拥挤的；密集的 | |
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fungus
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| n.真菌，真菌类植物 | |
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amorphous
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| adj.无定形的 | |
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noisome
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| adj.有害的，可厌的 | |
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penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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forum
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| n.论坛，讨论会 | |
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41
pried
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| v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的过去式和过去分词 )；撬开 | |
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butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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illicit
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| adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的 | |
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superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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50
cisterns
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| n.蓄水池，储水箱( cistern的名词复数 )；地下储水池 | |
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51
wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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52
cedars
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| 雪松，西洋杉( cedar的名词复数 ) | |
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53
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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55
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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uneven
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| adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的 | |
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barrage
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| n.火力网，弹幕 | |
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resonant
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| adj.(声音)洪亮的，共鸣的 | |
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59
snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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frigid
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| adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的 | |
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continentals
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| n.（欧洲）大陆人( continental的名词复数 ) | |
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62
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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66
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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67
lurked
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| vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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68
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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69
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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70
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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71
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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72
divan
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| n.长沙发；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
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73
rumpled
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| v.弄皱，使凌乱( rumple的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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74
sinisterly
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| 不吉祥地，邪恶地 | |
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75
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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76
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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77
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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78
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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79
sarcastically
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| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
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80
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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81
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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82
bourgeois
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| adj./n.追求物质享受的(人)；中产阶级分子 | |
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83
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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84
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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85
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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86
spurted
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| （液体，火焰等）喷出，（使）涌出( spurt的过去式和过去分词 )； （短暂地）加速前进，冲刺 | |
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87
slashed
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| v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
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88
ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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