“Murder! help! help!” he wailed2. “Oh, Clif, some one is down there. I heard a voice singing. Oh, let’s go away.”
“What is the matter?” demanded Joy, striving hard to conceal4 a laugh. “What in thunder did you see?”
“N-nothing, but I heard a cracked kind of a voice,” whimpered the little lad, almost in tears. “It—it seemed to come from the roof. Oh, the old tub is haunted! Let’s leave.”
“Never mind, youngster,” said Clif, kindly5. “We heard the voice, too. There’s some mystery about it, but it isn’t ghosts. That’s silly. Did you get the matches?”
Nanny shook his head vigorously. Trolley6 went forward and presently returned with a box he found in the captain’s cabin. Five minutes later a dense7 smoke was pouring from the after funnel8.
“I am afraid it is too late,” remarked Clif, watching the distant speck9 on the horizon. “That craft is bound south, and we are way to the eastward10 of her.”
“There is one thing we forgot when we were down aft,” suddenly observed Joy, placing one hand in the region of his fifth button. “We clean forgot the grub.”
“That’s true,” agreed Trolley.
“I won’t go down there if I starve,” came from Nanny, his face paling.
“We will have to do something,” said Clif, decisively. “There must be food on board, and water, too. I saw several boxes and tanks below. I don’t like the shades of departed Frenchmen, but I’ll do a great deal to keep from starving.”
“Suppose we go down and make plenty noise,” suggested Trolley. “We take clubs and—wait a bit.”
He hurried forward, and presently reappeared from the officers’ quarters with one hand clutching a pistol and the other a long, wicked-looking sword. Flourishing the latter, he cried:
“I cut the neck of any ghost now. Come! we march down right away.”
“He! he!” laughed Nanny; “Trolley, you have a different class of ghosts in Japan than those in other countries, I guess. Swords and guns are no good.”
“Who go first?” was Trolley’s next question.
“You, confound your thick head!” retorted Joy. “Haven’t you got the weapons?”
Seeing no loophole, the Jap gingerly approached the door of the conning tower. Clif, who was close behind, suddenly uttered a deep groan13.
Trolley dropped the sword and made a wild leap backward. A series of weird14 Japanese expletives came from his lips, then his jaw15 dropped when he caught sight of Clif’s laughing face.
“Oh, you fool me, eh?” he said, slowly. “Well, I go down and fool ghost.”
With that he vanished through the open door of the conning tower.
“We can’t let him have all the fun,” declared Clif. “Come on.”
When the three—Nanny accompanied them—reached the lower deck they found Trolley seated upon a chest, calmly surveying the field. He held the revolver in one hand, and the sword at a parry in the other.
“No hear anything yet,” he said, grinning. “I guess——”
“Jose! Jose!”
“Gosh! there it is again,” ejaculated Nanny. “Let’s go back. I don’t want——”
The words ended in a wail3 that sent cold chills through the cadets. For a moment it was in the minds of all to beat a hasty retreat, but Clif set his teeth, and said, determinedly18:
“I won’t be frightened away from here again. Some one is playing us a scurvy19 trick. That wasn’t French; it was Spanish. If any chump——”
“Ach, du lieber!”
Clif sat down upon a pile of hammocks and held up both hands in disgust.
“And German, too!” he exclaimed. “Now what on earth does it mean? Where is the fellow, anyway?”
“Don’t ask any foolish questions,” he said. “Here’s potted meats and jams and ship biscuit. Nanny, you half-sized idiot, get some water out of that breaker, and be durned quick about it.”
It was well on toward noon, and the boys were beginning to feel the gnawing23 of their naturally healthy appetites. They were also growing accustomed to the mysterious voice, so without more ado they joined Joy in his onslaught on the contents of the locker.
They were not disturbed while they attended to the pleasant business before them, so they made out fairly well.
“For this make us truly thankful,” said Joy, with a satisfied sigh as he polished off the last morsel24 before him.
“I say,” spoke25 up Nanny, “we’re better off than that cad, Judson Greene, even if we have a polyglot26 ghost in our midst.”
“Judson is bound to return,” said Clif, grimly. “When he does we’ll have a reckoning.”
Trolley lazily threw himself back upon a bench and observed:
“What we do now, fellows? We no can stay out here. Maybe ship no come.”
“What do you propose, your highness?” asked Joy, with fine sarcasm27. “Shall we walk or take a cake of soap and wash ourselves ashore28?”
“It’s a pity we can’t carry Le Destructeur into some port,” said Clif, musingly29. “She seems to be seaworthy, and I guess the coal supply is all right.”
“We do it; we do it,” he cried, excitedly. “I know how to run marine31 engine. I learn a little in Japan. Hurray! you be captain, and I be engineer. Hurray!”
Clif stared at him for a moment, then his face brightened.
“By George, Trolley, that’s the very ticket,” he exclaimed. “If you can run an engine we’ll take the old tank into the nearest port. There are charts and [Pg 196]instruments in the captain’s cabin. And there are four of us—five if that chump comes back—and we ought to do it.”
Clif began to pace up and down the narrow room. That he was greatly taken with the idea was plainly evident. Suddenly while he chanced to be near the extreme after end, the mysterious voice wailed:
“Ach, du lieber! Carramba! Dame agua pronto!”
With a bound Clif reached the spot whence the sound seemed to come. He grasped the knob of a small trap-door in the wooden lining32 of the hull33, and gave a quick wrench34.
Something fluttered out and fell to the floor with a flapping of wings.
It was a parrot!
“Ha! ha! ha!”
“Ho! ho! This is rich!”
“Ha! ha! If I d-don’t stop laughing I’ll die!” gasped35 Clif. “Fancy being—ha! ha!—fooled by a pet parrot.”
The four boys were rolling upon the floor in an ecstasy36 of mirth. And over in the corner, eying them solemnly, was the parrot.
The poor bird was thin and its feathers hung down in a bedraggled manner. It looked as if it had undergone a siege with a cage full of monkeys.
“He! he!” it suddenly cackled. “Povre Juanito! Tengo sed. Ach, du lieber! Sacre!”
Clif moistened several sea biscuit in water and fed the starved bird. Then the boys enjoyed another fit of laughing and went on deck.
Their relief was manifest. The discovery of the parrot, which had evidently been shut in by accident, explained a great deal, and it drove away all uncanny suspicions.
After a brief consultation37 it was decided38 that Clif should act as captain and steersman, Trolley as engineer, and Joy and Nanny as firemen.
“If Judson turns up,” said Clif, glancing at the distant speck which represented the launch, “we’ll make him shovel39 coal all night.”
Trolley hurried below into the after engine-room to overhaul21 the machinery40, while the three others prepared to start fires.
Blouses were stripped off and the trio fell to work with a will. The oily waste lighted before had died out, but another fire was soon ignited, and within half an hour the furnace was roaring.
“I find everything shipshape,” he said. “The engine in fine condition.”
“Hurray! we soon be ready to start. You better look up charts and things, Clif.”
Faraday thought the advice good, so he hurried to the conning tower. He found the compass in its usual place; and stowed away in a little locker were two sextants and a chronometer43.
The latter had stopped, however, and it was useless to him. A log-book written in French, bore as the last date the tenth of June. The observation for that noon was a degree of longitude44 near the coast of France.
“The boat has been driven to sea by some severe gale,” he reasoned. “That’s plain enough. But why did the crew leave her so abruptly45, and what killed that man in the conning tower?”
These thoughts occupied his mind as he rummaged46 about the little apartment. He was in search of a chart. Finding none, he descended47 to the room used as the officers’ mess. Forward of this was the captain’s cabin, and directly aft the stateroom occupied by the other officer, who, on vessels48 of the Le Destructeur class, does duty both on deck and in the engine-room.
Noticing a heap of débris in the center consisting of clothing, bedding and riffraff of every description, Clif raked it aside.
To his surprise, he saw undeniable traces of fire. The flooring was eaten away or charred50, and a hole gaped51 beneath his feet. Upon part of a wooden hatch was stamped a word which sent a flood of light through the lad. It was:
“Magasin.”
“The magazine!” Clif exclaimed, aloud. “It is where they kept the torpedo52 charges. And it has been on fire! Gorry! no wonder they fled.”
It was plain enough now. The boat had caught fire while at sea. An attempt had been made to extinguish the flames, but without success.
The dread53 belief that the flames would reach the powder and gun cotton had sent the crew away in a panic.
And the dead man?
“There is only one explanation,” muttered Clif. “He was caught in the conning tower by the jamming of the door, and the fright killed him. Gorry! no wonder. Waiting for a ton of gun cotton to explode under one’s feet is enough to kill anybody.”
That the fire did not reach the explosives was evident. The rolling and pitching of the boat had probably tossed a lot of dunnage upon the flames and extinguished them.
Clif hastened forward to acquaint his companions with the discovery. He found the steam whistling merrily from the exhaust pipes. Trolley was trying the engine, and the other two were still feeding the furnace.
Clif’s explanations were received with wonder. Nanny anxiously inquired if the fire was really out and, on being assured that it was, he returned to his task of shoveling.
Twenty minutes later the Japanese youth announced with a triumphant54 blast of the whistle that all was in readiness for a start.
Clif had succeeded in finding a book of charts. After careful figuring, he decided on a course. It was more or less guesswork, but he believed that he could at least take Le Destructeur into the path of vessels bound to the Mediterranean55.
Taking his place at the wheel, the young captain signaled the engine-room. Trolley responded gallantly56, and the torpedo boat’s screw began to revolve16.
An enthusiastic cheer came from the fire-room force which had hastened to the upper deck to see the start.
Clif found the steering57 rather difficult at first, but he soon learned the wheel and brought the bow around toward the speck on the distant horizon which represented the launch.
“We can’t leave Judson out here even if he is a double-dyed-in-the-wool traitor,” he announced.
When the launch was brought within plain view it was seen that Greene had tacked58, and it was evident he wished to regain59 the torpedo boat.
It did not take long to bring him alongside. He glanced sheepishly at the occupants of the deck when he finally crawled aboard.
The engines had been stopped and the four cadets were prepared to meet him.
Clif had his blouse off and his sleeves rolled up. Stepping forward, he said, peremptorily60:
“Shed that blouse of yours, Greene.”
“What for?” demanded Judson, in evident alarm.
“You’ve got to whip me or take the worst hiding you ever received. Off with it. I’ll sail in, in about five seconds.”
“But——”
“Off with it.”
Judson sullenly61 obeyed, and stood on the defensive62. Clif proceeded to business at once, and the two were soon dealing63 blows right and left. The other cadets looked on with grins of delight.
Clif had not only might but right on his side, and in a very short period Judson was crying “enough.” Then Trolley whacked64 him several times, and Joy added his share. To wind up the punishment, little Nanny administered a few well-directed kicks.
“Now, sir,” said Clif, sternly, “just thank your lucky stars that we didn’t leave you to the sharks. Go below and get something to eat.”
The engine was kept going until midnight, then as the boys were tired out, the fires were banked and watches arranged.
He aroused the others, and steam was started at once. In time it became apparent to the excited boys that there was something familiar about the outlines of the ship.
“Hurray! hurray! it is the old Monongahela,” shouted Trolley, at last. “She come to look for us. Hurray!”
“I don’t think it is anything to cheer about,” sighed Joy, gloomily. “Ain’t we all right aboard here? Huh! now we’ll be plebes again, when we’ve been captains, and engineers, and—and coal heavers. I think it’s a shame.”
The rest rather agreed with him, nevertheless they were glad to see the practice ship.
When it became known on board the Monongahela who the occupants of the torpedo boat were the wildest excitement ensued.
A boat was lowered and the castaways—not forgetting the parrot—were carried back in triumph.
Clif and his companions were the heroes of the hour, and they were received with special distinction on the quarter-deck. They were delighted to learn that the other boats had been picked up and no lives lost in the catastrophe66.
The torpedo boat was manned by a picked crew from the Monongahela and convoyed by that vessel49 to the mouth of the Tagus River.
The French Government was advised at once and word presently came that Le Destructeur’s former crew had been long since rescued.
By the time the Monongahela was ready to proceed up the Tagus to Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, a French gunboat was on hand to tow the torpedo boat back to Havre.
And so ended Clif’s first command.
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收听单词发音
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1
conning
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| v.诈骗，哄骗( con的现在分词 )；指挥操舵( conn的现在分词 ) | |
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wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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4
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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5
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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6
trolley
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| n.手推车，台车；无轨电车；有轨电车 | |
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7
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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funnel
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| n.漏斗；烟囱；v.汇集 | |
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speck
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| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
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10
eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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placidly
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| adv.平稳地，平静地 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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13
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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14
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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15
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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16
revolve
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| vi.(使)旋转；循环出现 | |
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17
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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18
determinedly
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| adv.决意地；坚决地，坚定地 | |
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19
scurvy
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| adj.下流的，卑鄙的，无礼的；n.坏血病 | |
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20
overhauling
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| n.大修；拆修；卸修；翻修v.彻底检查( overhaul的现在分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
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21
overhaul
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| v./n.大修，仔细检查 | |
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22
locker
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| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
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23
gnawing
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| a.痛苦的，折磨人的 | |
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24
morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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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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polyglot
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| adj.通晓数种语言的；n.通晓多种语言的人 | |
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27
sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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28
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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musingly
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| adv.沉思地，冥想地 | |
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emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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31
marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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lining
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| n.衬里，衬料 | |
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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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wrench
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| v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受 | |
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35
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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36
ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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37
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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38
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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39
shovel
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| n.铁锨，铲子，一铲之量；v.铲，铲出 | |
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40
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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41
greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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42
gauge
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| v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器 | |
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43
chronometer
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| n.精密的计时器 | |
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44
longitude
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| n.经线，经度 | |
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45
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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46
rummaged
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| 翻找，搜寻( rummage的过去式和过去分词 )； 已经海关检查 | |
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47
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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48
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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49
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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50
charred
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| v.把…烧成炭( char的过去式)；烧焦 | |
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51
gaped
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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52
torpedo
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| n.水雷，地雷；v.用鱼雷破坏 | |
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53
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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54
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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55
Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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56
gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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57
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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58
tacked
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| 用平头钉钉( tack的过去式和过去分词 )； 附加，增补； 帆船抢风行驶，用粗线脚缝 | |
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59
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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peremptorily
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| adv.紧急地，不容分说地，专横地 | |
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61
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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62
defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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63
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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64
whacked
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| a.精疲力尽的 | |
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65
espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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