Back and forth1 marched the officer in charge of the ship. He had paced the stretch between rail and rail of the slender bridge fully2 fifty times. He was thinking longingly3 of the approaching hour when his relief would report, and he would be free to forget the monotony of ship life in the seclusion4 of sleep.
Suddenly, as he neared the ladder leading to the quarter-deck, he almost collided with a dark figure.
There was a brief interchange of words, then the lieutenant6 leaned over the railing and called, softly:
“Messenger boy!”
“Ay, ay, sir.”
The lieutenant gave him a whispered order, and the messenger hastily descended9 the ladder and disappeared forward. A few moments later the oppressive stillness of the night gave way with startling abruptness10 to a most prodigious11 clatter12.
R-r-rat-a-tat! R-r-rat-a-tat!
The sharp roll of the drum awoke the echoes of the old frigate13, sending an infernal din5 of noise through decks and rigging and hull14. It was caught up and hurled15 about from sail to sail; it burst upon the ears of the watch below, sending men from their hammocks in alarm. And it changed the scene from one of peaceful quiet into a pandemonium16 of hurrying figures and excited voices.
“Silence fore8 and aft!” came the stern command from the bridge. There were three figures there now. And one was the captain.
The noise ceased as if by magic. Several lights flashed fore and aft, and revealed in the faint light were a number of grim black cannon17, each surrounded by motionless sailors, every group being as rigid18 as the iron itself.
An officer, half clad, but girdled with belt and sword scabbard, leaves one of the groups and hurries to the space in front of the bridge. His sword flashes as he salutes19.
“First division ready, sir.”
The words came crisp and sharp. He had scarcely finished when another officer hastens up and makes a similar report, then another and another.
This scene just described, which to an inexperienced eye would have seemed strange and warlike, was a drill, pure and simple.
It was general quarters—a ceremony where the ship is ready to fight, when the crew is ready to work the guns, and battle to the death with the foes20 of their country. It was a night alarm, too, entirely21 unexpected by the crew, and therefore a fine practical test of the resources of the frigate in moments of hasty peril22 and attack.
The captain smiled grimly as he glanced at his watch by the light of the hand lantern. Turning to the first lieutenant, he said, in a low voice:
“Fair time, pretty fair. Ship ready for action in seven minutes. Could be better, though,” was the reply. Then the officer added, questioningly:
“Shall I order retreat from quarters, sir?”
Captain Brookes gave a quick glance into the darkness enshrouding the frigate, and replied:
“No. It’s a good night for further drill. We’ll try ‘abandon ship.’”
“Man the boats only, sir?”
“No; lower them. The sea is rather quiet. It might be a good idea to send the boats out half a mile. It will give the cadets a taste of actual experience.”
Lieutenant Watson, the executive officer of the Monongahela, was too well trained to offer an objection, or even advice, but he glanced askance at the black wall surrounding them, as he called out:
“Bugler, sound abandon ship.”
There was a quick, lively blast of a bugle23, then the men and cadets melted away from their stations and swarmed24 about the boats secured in the davits.
The frigate was hove to, and when her way was checked the small boats were lowered and brought alongside the sea gangway.
It was ticklish25 work descending26 into the frail27 crafts as they pitched and rolled under the lee of the towering hull, but the various crews were embarked28 without mishap29.
“Ay, ay, sir,” came faintly through the darkness.
“Officers of boats will examine stores and equipments,” was the next order. “Also ascertain31 proficiency32 of crews.”
Again came the obedient replies, then the captain, first lieutenant and the men kept on board as a precaution, settled down to wait.
“We will give them ten minutes,” said the former, presently. “They can’t pull far in that time. Nothing like actual experience to——”
He paused abruptly34 and glanced out to windward. A chill blast had suddenly come from that direction. The old Monongahela gave an uneasy roll.
“That means wind and plenty of it, sir,” exclaimed Lieutenant Watson. “Shall I——”
“Hoist the recall at once,” broke in Captain Brookes.
A moment later a cluster of lights swung aloft from the main truck of the frigate.
And leaning out over the lee railing of the bridge were the two officers, both watching for answering signals, but neither confessing to the other the anxiety caused by that threatening puff35 of wind.
On vessels36 of war each separate boat, from the sailing launch to the dingy37, has its own crew, and coxswain. In certain drills and ceremonies, such as abandon ship, every man on board ship is ticketed to a certain boat. To that craft he promptly38 repairs when the signal is given. Constant practice makes every member of the crew familiar with his duties, and drill, or the real action, passes without confusion.
The sailing launch of the Monongahela was a large seaworthy boat, capable of safely carrying twenty men. When it was rowed away from the frigate on this dark night it contained that number in its crew.
The officer in charge was a lieutenant, and he had under his command five seamen39, a coxswain and thirteen cadets.
“I say, Trolley, isn’t this nice work for Christians41 to be laboring42 at?” asked Joy. “Didn’t I tell you that war causes all the trouble in this world? Here we are out in the bosom43 of the mighty44 deep, working away like a lot of slaves when we might be comfortable starving at home. I tell you peace is the thing.”
The Japanese youth laughed softly.
“You fool me one time, my Joy,” he replied. “I think when I first know you that you great boy for peace. But——”
“You no like to eat more than you like fight. You whip three upper class boys, and not half try. When Clif Faraday say we do more things to third class fellows you roll your eyes and you lick your chop. You what American boys call one big bluff48.”
The object of this arraignment49 laughed and gave an added spurt50 with his long ashen51 oar33. The launch pitched and rolled in the seas, and steadily52 forced its way through the blackness.
Far astern twinkled the lights of the practice ship, seeming no larger than star points in the distance.
Overhead the darkness increased, the expanse of sea being banked in by gathering53 clouds. A breeze, cool and moist with a salty dampness, sprang up, giving a fleeting54 spray to the edge of the waves.
It was a strange experience to the young naval55 cadets, this tossing about in an open boat upon a heaving sea whose broad bosom sparkled and glowed with the sheen of phosphorescent lights.
There was something fascinating in it all, something so peculiarly attractive that all wished the signal of recall would be long in coming.
They had been aroused from slumber56, the majority of them, and had plunged57 from the peacefulness of their hammocks into the midst of bustle58 and wild excitement. They had worked the guns in imitation of battle attack, then, as a fitting climax59 to all, here they were launched away from the ship with only a few frail planks60 between them and the remorseless ocean.
There was no thought of danger in their minds, however. It was all play—a jolly good game in which the boats, and the sea, and the freshening wind were the toys.
So they laid to the oars61 and forced the boats over the waves farther and still farther from the ship. And the breeze came in stronger puffs62 and the clouds gathered overhead in the darkness, and at last there came a time when the experienced officers in charge of the little flotilla received the same sudden shock as did Captain Brookes and his first lieutenant.
The shock was the icy blast. It sent the light crafts rolling, and called forth muttered exclamations63 of consternation64 from those who were experienced in the treachery of old ocean.
Then came the recall. A cluster of lanterns swung aloft bidding the boats return. They had barely started on the back track when a deep, sullen65 boom echoed across the water.
“By George! it’s time,” muttered the lieutenant in charge of the sailing launch. “The old man sees his mistake and he’s hurrying us up.” He added, aloud:
“Pull away, men. Bend to it. That’s the recall gun.”
“We know that all right,” said Clif to his seatmate. “It’s the recall gun, and it is not a minute too soon.”
Twelve oars dipped and rose in steady cadence66, the dripping blades flashing with phosphorescent fire. Twelve sturdy backs were bent67 and twelve pairs of arms labored68 lustily, sending the launch from wave crest69 to wave crest like a thing of life.
Twinkling here and there were the lanterns of other boats, but the launch’s light had blown out.
The blackness of the night was appalling70. It rested upon the water like a thick blanket. The men in the boats could hardly see the backs of those in front of them. The coxswains faced an impenetrable wall.
“Pull away!” again called out the lieutenant of the launch. “See if you can’t get more speed out of her, boys.”
His words were not needed. The launch’s crew understood the peril as well as he. One old sailor exclaimed to his mates:
“It’s the ship in five minutes or Davy Jones’ locker73 forever, boys. There’ll be a living gale74 down on us in a jiffy. If ye love life break your backs.”
A fresh spurt—made against an increasing sea—followed this admonition. One of the oars cracked ominously75 and it was speedily cast aside. There were spare ones, and the progress of the boat suffered little.
Clif, Joy and Trolley labored like heroes. They were inexperienced in the ways of the weather, but they realized that their position was one of great danger. All three were cool, however.
“It make good incident for book I am going to write on navy,” said the Japanese youth. “I like this. It plenty fun.”
“You would laugh in a cyclone76 or dance in a burning crater,” remarked Joy, with a grim chuckle46. “If all Japs are as brave as——”
“Back oars!” suddenly interrupted the lieutenant. “Back for your——”
Crash!
High above the whistling of the wind came the grinding of shattered timbers and the startled cries of a score of excited men. Then came a series of quick splashes, more shouts, and finally one long appealing cry for help.
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收听单词发音
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1
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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longingly
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| adv. 渴望地 热望地 | |
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seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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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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7
knuckled
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| v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的过去式和过去分词 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
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8
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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10
abruptness
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| n. 突然，唐突 | |
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prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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12
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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13
frigate
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| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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15
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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16
pandemonium
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| n.喧嚣，大混乱 | |
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17
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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18
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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19
salutes
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| n.致敬，欢迎，敬礼( salute的名词复数 )v.欢迎，致敬( salute的第三人称单数 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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20
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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21
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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22
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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bugle
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| n.军号，号角，喇叭；v.吹号，吹号召集 | |
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24
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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25
ticklish
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| adj.怕痒的；问题棘手的；adv.怕痒地；n.怕痒，小心处理 | |
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26
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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27
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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28
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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29
mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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30
bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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31
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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32
proficiency
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| n.精通，熟练，精练 | |
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33
oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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34
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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35
puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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36
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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37
dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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38
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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40
trolley
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| n.手推车，台车；无轨电车；有轨电车 | |
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41
Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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42
laboring
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| n.劳动，操劳v.努力争取(for)( labor的现在分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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43
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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44
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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45
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
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47
zest
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| n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣 | |
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48
bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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49
arraignment
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| n.提问，传讯，责难 | |
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50
spurt
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| v.喷出；突然进发；突然兴隆 | |
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51
ashen
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| adj.灰的 | |
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52
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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53
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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54
fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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55
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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56
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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57
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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58
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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59
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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60
planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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61
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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62
puffs
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| n.吸( puff的名词复数 )；（烟斗或香烟的）一吸；一缕（烟、蒸汽等）；（呼吸或风的）呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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63
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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64
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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cadence
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| n.（说话声调的）抑扬顿挫 | |
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67
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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68
labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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69
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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70
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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71
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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72
coaxingly
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| adv. 以巧言诱哄，以甘言哄骗 | |
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73
locker
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| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
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74
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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75
ominously
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| adv.恶兆地，不吉利地；预示地 | |
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76
cyclone
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| n.旋风，龙卷风 | |
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