Davies scorned them, and I had felt only a faint curiosity in these insignificant15 hamlets, influenced, I am afraid, chiefly by a hankering after terra firma which the pitiless rigour of his training had been unable to cure.
But it was imprudent to neglect the slightest chance. It was three o’clock, and I think both our brains were beginning to be addled16 with thinking in close confinement17. I suggested that we should finish our council of war in the open, and we both donned oilskins and turned out. The sky had hardened and banked into an even canopy18 of lead, and the wind drove before it a fine cold rain. You could hear the murmur19 of the rising flood on the sands outside, but the harbour was high above it still, and the Dulcibella and the other boats squatted20 low in a bed of black slime. Native interest seemed to be at last assuaged21, for not a soul was visible on the bank (I cannot call it a quay22); but the top of a black sou’wester with a feather of smoke curling round it showed above the forehatch of the Kormoran.
We gazed at Bensersiel in silence.
“There can’t be anything here?” I said.
“What can there be?” said Davies.
From the bank we could see all along the coast-line, which is dyked continuously, as I have already said. The dyke was here a substantial brick-faced embankment, very similar, though on a smaller scale, to that which had bordered the Elbe near Cuxhaven, and over whose summit we had seen the snouts of guns.
“I say, Davies,” I said, “do you think this coast could be invaded? Along here, I mean, behind these islands?”
Davies shook his head. “I’ve thought of that,” he said. “There’s nothing in it. It’s just the very last place on earth where a landing would be possible. No transport could get nearer than where the Blitz is lying, four miles out.”
“Well, you say every inch of this coast is important?”
“Yes, but it’s the water I mean.”
“Well, I want to see that dyke. Let’s walk along it.”
My mushroom theory died directly I set foot on it. It was the most innocent structure in the world—like a thousand others in Essex and Holland—topped by a narrow path, where we walked in single file with arms akimbo to keep our balance in the gusts25 of wind. Below us lay the sands on one side and rank fens26 on the other, interspersed27 with squares of pasture ringed in with ditches. After half a mile we dropped down and came back by a short circuit inland, following a mazy path—which was mostly right angles and minute plank28 bridges, till we came to the Esens road. We crossed this and soon after found our way barred by the stream I spoke29 of. This involved a détour to the bridge in the village, and a stealthy avoidance of the post-office, for dread30 of its garrulous31 occupant. Then we followed the dyke in the other direction, and ended by a circuit over the sands, which were fast being covered by the tide, and so back to the yacht.
Nobody appeared to have taken the slightest notice of our movements.
As we walked we had tackled the last question, “What are we to do?” and found very little to say on it. We were to leave to-night (unless the Esens police appeared on the scene), and were committed to sailing direct to Norderney, as the only alternative to duck-shooting under the espionage32 of a “trustworthy” nominee33 of von Brüning’s. Beyond that—vagueness and difficulty of every sort.
At Norderney I should be fettered34 by my letter. If it seemed to have been opened and it ordered my return, I was limited to a week, or must risk suspicion by staying. Dollmann was away (according to von Brüning), “would probably be back soon”; but how soon? Beyond Norderney lay Memmert. How to probe its secret? The ardour it had roused in me was giving way to a mortifying35 sense of impotence. The sight of the Kormoran, with her crew preparing for sea, was a pointed36 comment on my diplomacy37, and most of all on my ridiculous survey of the dykes38. When all was said and done we were protégés of von Brüning, and dogged by Grimm. Was it likely they would let us succeed?
The tide was swirling39 into the harbour in whorls of chocolate froth, and as it rose all Bensersiel, dominated as before by Herr Schenkel, straggled down to the quay to watch the movements of shipping40 during the transient but momentous41 hour when the mud-hole was a seaport42. The captain’s steam-cutter was already afloat, and her sailors busy with sidelights and engines. When it became known that we, too, were to sail, and under such distinguished43 escort, the excitement intensified44.
Again our friend of the Customs was spreading out papers to sign, while a throng45 of helpful Frisians, headed by the twin giants of the post-boat, thronged46 our decks and made us ready for sea in their own confused fashion. Again we were carried up to the inn and overwhelmed with advice, and warnings, and farewell toasts. Then back again to find the Dulcibella afloat, and von Brüning just arrived, cursing the weather and the mud, chaffing Davies, genial47 and débonnaire as ever.
“Stow that mainsail, you won’t want it,” he said. “I’ll tow you right out to Spiekeroog. It’s your only anchorage for the night in this wind—under the island, near the Blitz, and that would mean a dead beat for you in the dark.”
The fact was so true, and the offer so timely, that Davies’s faint protests were swept aside in a torrent48 of ridicule49.
“And now I think of it,” the Commander ended, “I’ll make the trip with you, if I may. It’ll be pleasanter and drier.”
We all three boarded the Dulcibella, and then the end came. Our tow-rope was attached, and at half-past six the little launch jumped into the collar, and amidst a demonstration50 that could not have been more hearty51 if we had been ambassadors on a visit to a friendly power, we sidled out through the jetties.
It took us more than an hour to cover the five miles to Spiekeroog, for the Dulcibella was a heavy load in the stiff head wind, and Davies, though he said nothing, showed undisguised distrust of our tug’s capacities. He at once left the helm to me and flung himself on the gear, not resting till every rope was ready to hand, the mainsail reefed, the binnacle lighted, and all ready for setting sail or anchoring at a moment’s notice. Our guest watched these precautions with infinite amusement. He was in the highest and most mischievous52 humour, raining banter53 on Davies and mock sympathy on me, laughing at our huge compass, heaving the lead himself, startling us with imaginary soundings, and doubting if his men were sober. I offered entertainment and warmth below, but he declined on the ground that Davies would be tempted54 to cut the tow-rope and make us pass the night on a safe sandbank. Davies took the raillery unmoved. His work done, he took the tiller and sat bareheaded, intent on the launch, the course, the details, and chances of the present. I brought up cigars and we settled ourselves facing him, our backs to the wind and spray. And so we made the rest of the passage, von Brüning cuddled against me and the cabin-hatch, alternately shouting a jest to Davies and talking to me in a light and charming vein55, with just that shade of patronage56 that the disparity in our ages warranted, about my time in Germany, places, people, and books I knew, and about life, especially young men’s life, in England, a country he had never visited, but hoped to; I responding as well as I could, striving to meet his mood, acquit57 myself like a man, draw zest58 instead of humiliation59 from the irony60 of our position, but scarcely able to make headway against a numbing61 sense of defeat and incapacity. A queer thought was haunting me, too, that such skill and judgement as I possessed62 was slipping from me as we left the land and faced again the rigours of this exacting63 sea. Davies, I very well knew, was under exactly the opposite spell—a spell which even the reproach of the tow-rope could not annul64. His face, in the glow of the binnacle, was beginning to wear that same look of contentment and resolve that I had seen on it that night we had sailed to Kiel from Schlei Fiord. Heaven knows he had more cause for worry than I—a casual comrade in an adventure which was peculiarly his, which meant everything on earth to him; but there he was, washing away perplexity in the salt wind, drawing counsel and confidence from the unfailing source of all his inspirations—the sea.
“Looks happy, doesn’t he?” said the captain once. I grunted65 that he did, ashamed to find how irritated the remark made me.
“You’ll remember what I said,” he added in my ear.
“Yes,” I said. “But I should like to see her. What is she like?”
“Dangerous.” I could well believe it.
The hull66 of the Blitz loomed67 up, and a minute later our kedge was splashing overboard and the launch was backing alongside.
“Good-night, gentlemen,” said our passenger. “You’re safe enough here, and you can run across in ten minutes in the morning and pick up your anchor, if it’s there still. Then you’ve a fair wind west—to England if you like. If you decide to stay a little longer in these parts, and I’m in reach, count on me to help you, to sport or anything else.”
We thanked him, shook hands, and he was gone.
The narrow vigilant69 life began again at once. We were “safe enough” in a sense, but a warp70 and a twenty-pound anchor were poor security if the wind backed or increased. Plans for contingencies71 had to be made, and deck-watches kept till midnight, when the weather seemed to improve, and stars appeared. The glass was rising, so we turned in and slept under the very wing, so to speak, of the Imperial Government.
“Davies,” I said, when we were settled in our bunks72, “it’s only a day’s sail to Norderney, isn’t it?”
“With a fair wind, less, if we go outside the islands direct.”
“Well, it’s settled that we do that to-morrow?”
“I suppose so. We’ve got to get the anchor first. Good-night.”
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1
exclusion
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| n.拒绝，排除，排斥，远足，远途旅行 | |
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reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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veracity
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| n.诚实 | |
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lulling
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| vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的现在分词形式） | |
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recurred
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| 再发生，复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 )； 治愈 | |
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hampered
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| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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8
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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10
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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entente
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| n.协定；有协定关系的各国 | |
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smelt
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| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
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ruse
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| n.诡计，计策；诡计 | |
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captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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16
addled
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| adj.（头脑）糊涂的，愚蠢的；（指蛋类）变坏v.使糊涂( addle的过去式和过去分词 )；使混乱；使腐臭；使变质 | |
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17
confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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18
canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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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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20
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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21
assuaged
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| v.减轻( assuage的过去式和过去分词 )；缓和；平息；使安静 | |
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quay
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| n.码头，靠岸处 | |
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cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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dyke
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| n.堤，水坝，排水沟 | |
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25
gusts
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| 一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作 | |
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26
fens
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| n.（尤指英格兰东部的）沼泽地带( fen的名词复数 ) | |
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27
interspersed
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| adj.[医]散开的；点缀的v.intersperse的过去式和过去分词 | |
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28
plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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29
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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30
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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31
garrulous
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| adj.唠叨的，多话的 | |
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espionage
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| n.间谍行为，谍报活动 | |
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nominee
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| n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者 | |
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34
fettered
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| v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
mortifying
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| adj.抑制的，苦修的v.使受辱( mortify的现在分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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36
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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38
dykes
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| abbr.diagonal wire cutters 斜线切割机n.堤( dyke的名词复数 )；坝；堰；沟 | |
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39
swirling
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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41
momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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42
seaport
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| n.海港，港口，港市 | |
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43
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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44
intensified
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| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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46
thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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48
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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49
ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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50
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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51
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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52
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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53
banter
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| n.嘲弄，戏谑；v.取笑，逗弄，开玩笑 | |
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54
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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55
vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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56
patronage
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| n.赞助，支援，援助；光顾，捧场 | |
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57
acquit
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| vt.宣判无罪；(oneself)使(自己)表现出 | |
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58
zest
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| n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣 | |
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59
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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60
irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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61
numbing
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| adj.使麻木的，使失去感觉的v.使麻木，使麻痹( numb的现在分词 ) | |
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62
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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63
exacting
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| adj.苛求的，要求严格的 | |
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64
annul
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| v.宣告…无效，取消，废止 | |
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65
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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66
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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67
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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68
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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69
vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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70
warp
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| vt.弄歪，使翘曲，使不正常，歪曲，使有偏见 | |
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71
contingencies
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| n.偶然发生的事故，意外事故( contingency的名词复数 )；以备万一 | |
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72
bunks
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| n.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的名词复数 )；空话，废话v.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的第三人称单数 )；空话，废话 | |
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