Engineer Serko does not display the least anxiety or impatience2. He continues to greet me with his accustomed ironical3 cordiality, and with a kindly4 air that I distrust—with good reason. He affects to be solicitous5 as to my health, urges me to make the best of a bad job, calls me Ali Baba, assures me that there is not, in the whole world, such an enchanting6 spot as this Arabian Nights cavern7, observes that I am fed, warmed, lodged8, and clothed, that I have no taxes to pay, and that even the inhabitants of the favored principality of Monaco do not enjoy an existence more free from care.
Sometimes this ironical verbiage9 brings the blood to my face, and I am tempted10 to seize this cynical11 banterer12 by the throat and choke the life out of him. They would kill me afterwards. Still, what would that matter! Would it not be better to end in this way than to spend years and years amid these infernal and infamous13 surroundings? However, while there is life there is hope, I reflect, and this thought restrains me.
I have scarcely set eyes upon Thomas Roch since the Ebba went away. He shuts himself up in his laboratory and works unceasingly. If he utilizes15 all the substances placed at his disposition16 there will be enough to blow up Back Cup and the whole Bermudan archipelago with it!
I cling to the hope that he will never consent to give up the secret of his deflagrator, and that Engineer Serko’s efforts to acquire it will remain futile17.
September 3.—To-day I have been able to witness with my own eyes the power of Roch’s explosive, and also the manner in which the fulgurator is employed.
During the morning the men began to pierce the passage through the wall of the cavern at the spot fixed18 upon by Engineer Serko, who superintended the work in person. The work began at the base, where the rock is as hard as granite19. To have continued it with pickaxes would have entailed20 long and arduous21 labor14, inasmuch as the wall at this place is not less than from twenty to thirty yards in thickness, but thanks to Roch’s fulgurator the passage will be completed easily and rapidly.
I may well be astonished at what I have seen. The pickaxes hardly made any impression on the rock, but its disaggregation was effected with really remarkable22 facility by means of the fulgurator.
A few grains of this explosive shattered the rocky mass and reduced it to almost impalpable powder that one’s breath could disperse23 as easily as vapor24. The explosion produced an excavation25 measuring fully26 a cubic yard. It was accompanied by a sharp detonation27 that may be compared to the report of a cannon28.
The first charge used, although a very small one, a mere29 pinch, blew the men in every direction, and two of them were seriously injured. Engineer Serko himself was projected several yards, and sustained some rather severe contusions.
Here is how this substance, whose bursting force surpasses anything hitherto conceived, is employed.
A small hole about an inch and a half in length is pierced obliquely30 in the rock. A few grains of the explosive are then inserted, but no wad is used.
Then Thomas Roch steps forward. In his hand is a little glass phial containing a bluish, oily liquid that congeals31 almost as soon as it comes in contact with the air. He pours one drop on the entrance of the hole, and draws back, but not with undue32 haste. It takes a certain time—about thirty-five seconds, I reckon—before the combination of the fulgurator and deflagrator is effected. But when the explosion does take place its power of disaggregation is such—I repeat—that it may be regarded as unlimited33. It is at any rate a thousand times superior to that of any known explosive.
Under these circumstances it will probably not take more than a week to complete the tunnel.
September 19.—For some time past I have observed that the tide rises and falls twice every twenty-four hours, and that the ebb1 and flow produce a rather swift current through the submarine tunnel. It is pretty certain therefore that a floating object thrown into the lagoon34 when the top of the orifice is uncovered would be carried out by the receding35 tide. It is just possible that during the lowest equinoctial tides the top of the orifice is uncovered. This I shall be able to ascertain36, as this is precisely37 the time they occur. To-day, September 19, I could almost distinguish the summit of the hole under the water. The day after to-morrow, if ever, it will be uncovered.
Very well then, if I cannot myself attempt to get through, may be a bottle thrown into the lagoon might be carried out during the last few minutes of the ebb. And might not this bottle by chance—an ultra-providential chance, I must avow—be picked up by a ship passing near Back Cup? Perhaps even it might be borne away by a friendly current and cast upon one of the Bermudan beaches. What if that bottle contained a letter?
I cannot get this thought out of my mind, and it works me up into a great state of excitement. Then objections crop up—this one among others: the bottle might be swept against the rocks and smashed ere ever it could get out of the tunnel. Very true, but what if, instead of a bottle a diminutive38, tightly closed keg were used? It would not run any danger of being smashed and would besides stand a much better chance of reaching the open sea.
September 20.—This evening, I, unperceived, entered one of the store houses containing the booty pillaged39 from various ships and procured40 a keg very suitable for my experiment.
I hid the keg under my coat, and returned to the Beehive and my cell. Then without losing an instant I set to work. Paper, pen, ink, nothing was wanting, as will be supposed from the fact that for three months I have been making notes and dotting down my impressions daily.
“On June 15 last Thomas Roch and his keeper Gaydon, or rather Simon Hart, the French engineer who occupied Pavilion No. 17, at Healthful House, near New-Berne, North Carolina, United States of America, were kidnapped and carried on board the schooner42 Ebba, belonging to the Count d’Artigas. Both are now confined in the interior of a cavern which serves as a lair43 for the said Count d’Artigas—who is really Ker Karraje, the pirate who some time ago carried on his depredations44 in the West Pacific—and for about a hundred men of which his band is composed.
“When he has obtained possession of Roch’s fulgurator whose power is, so to speak, without limit, Ker Karraje will be in a position to carry on his crimes with complete impunity45.
“It is therefore urgent that the states interested should destroy his lair without delay.
“The cavern in which the pirate Ker Karraje has taken refuge is in the interior of the islet of Back Cup, which is wrongly regarded as an active volcano. It is situated46 at the western extremity47 of the archipelago of Bermuda, and on the east is bounded by a range of reefs, but on the north, south, and west is open.
“Communication with the inside of the mountain is only possible through a tunnel a few yards under water in a narrow pass on the west. A submarine apparatus48 therefore is necessary to effect an entrance, at any rate until a tunnel they are boring through the northwestern wall of the cavern is completed.
“The pirate Ker Karraje employs an apparatus of this kind—the submarine boat that the Count d’Artigas ordered of the Cramps49 and which was supposed to have been lost during the public experiment with it in Charleston Bay. This boat is used not only for the purpose of entering and issuing from Back Cup, but also to tow the schooner and attack merchant vessels50 in Bermudan waters.
“This schooner Ebba, so well known on the American coast, is kept in a small creek51 on the western side of the island, behind a mass of rocks, and is invisible from the sea.
“The best place to land is on the west coast formerly52 occupied by the colony of Bermudan fishers; but it would first be advisable to effect a breach53 in the side of the cavern by means of the most powerful melinite shells.
“The fact that Ker Karraje may be in the position to use Roch’s fulgurator for the defence of the island must also be taken into consideration. Let it be well borne in mind that if its destructive power surpasses anything ever conceived or dreamed of, it extends over a zone not exceeding a mile in extent. The distance of this dangerous zone is variable, but once the engines have been set, the modification54 of the distance occupies some time, and a warship55 that succeeds in passing the zone has nothing further to fear.
“This document is written on the twentieth day of September at eight o’clock in the evening and is signed with my name
“THOMAS HART, Engineer.”
The above is the text of the statement I have just drawn56 up. It says all that is necessary about the island, whose exact situation is marked on all modern charts and maps, and points out the expediency57 of acting58 without delay, and what to do in case Ker Karraje is in the position to employ Roch’s fulgurator.
I add a plan of the cavern showing its internal configuration59, the situation of the lagoon, the lay of the Beehive, Ker Karraje’s habitation, my cell, and Thomas Roch’s laboratory.
I wrap the document in a piece of tarpaulin60 and insert the package in the little keg, which measures six inches by three and a half. It is perfectly61 watertight and will stand any amount of knocking about against the rocks.
There is one danger, however, and that is, that it may be swept back by the returning tide, cast up on the island, and fall into the hands of the crew of the Ebba when the schooner is hauled into her creek. If Ker Karraje ever gets hold of it, it will be all up with me.
It will be readily conceived with what anxiety I have awaited the moment to make the attempt: I am in a perfect fever of excitement, for it is a matter of life or death to me. I calculate from previous observations that the tide will be very low at about a quarter to nine. The top of the tunnel ought then to be a foot and a half above water, which is more than enough to permit of the keg passing through it. It will be another half hour at least before the flow sets in again, and by that time the keg may be far enough away to escape being thrown back on the coast.
I peer out of my cell. There is no one about, and I advance to the side of the lagoon, where by the light of a nearby lamp, I perceive the arch of the tunnel, towards which the current seems to be setting pretty swiftly.
I go down to the very edge, and cast in the keg which contains the precious document and all my hopes.
For a minute or two the little barrel remains63 stationary64, and then floats back to the side again. I throw it out once more with all my strength.
This time it is in the track of the current, which to my great joy sweeps it along and in twenty seconds, it has disappeared in the tunnel.
Yes, God be with it! May Heaven guide thee, little barrel! May it protect all those whom Ker Karraje menaces and grant that this band of pirates may not escape from the justice of man!
该作者的其它作品
《Around the World In 80 Days八十天环游地球》
《海底两万里 Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea》
《神秘岛 The Mysterious Island》
该作者的其它作品
《Around the World In 80 Days八十天环游地球》
《海底两万里 Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea》
《神秘岛 The Mysterious Island》
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1
ebb
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| vi.衰退，减退；n.处于低潮，处于衰退状态 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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ironical
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| adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的 | |
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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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solicitous
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| adj.热切的，挂念的 | |
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enchanting
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| a.讨人喜欢的 | |
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7
cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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8
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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9
verbiage
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| n.冗词；冗长 | |
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10
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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11
cynical
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| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
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12
banterer
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| 开玩笑，说笑，逗乐( banter的过去式和过去分词 )； （善意地）取笑，逗弄 | |
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infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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14
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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15
utilizes
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| v.利用，使用( utilize的第三人称单数 ) | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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17
futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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18
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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19
granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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20
entailed
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| 使…成为必要( entail的过去式和过去分词 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需 | |
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21
arduous
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| adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的 | |
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22
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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23
disperse
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| vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散 | |
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24
vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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25
excavation
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| n.挖掘，发掘；被挖掘之地 | |
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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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27
detonation
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| n.爆炸；巨响 | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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obliquely
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| adv.斜； 倾斜； 间接； 不光明正大 | |
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congeals
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| v.使凝结，冻结( congeal的第三人称单数 )；（指血）凝结 | |
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32
undue
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| adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的 | |
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unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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34
lagoon
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| n.泻湖，咸水湖 | |
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35
receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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36
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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38
diminutive
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| adj.小巧可爱的，小的 | |
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39
pillaged
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| v.抢劫，掠夺( pillage的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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41
indite
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| v.写（文章，信等）创作 | |
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42
schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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43
lair
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| n.野兽的巢穴；躲藏处 | |
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44
depredations
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| n.劫掠，毁坏( depredation的名词复数 ) | |
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45
impunity
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| n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除 | |
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46
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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47
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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48
apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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49
cramps
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| n. 抽筋, 腹部绞痛, 铁箍 adj. 狭窄的, 难解的 v. 使...抽筋, 以铁箍扣紧, 束缚 | |
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50
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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51
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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52
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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53
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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54
modification
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| n.修改，改进，缓和，减轻 | |
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55
warship
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| n.军舰，战舰 | |
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56
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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57
expediency
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| n.适宜；方便；合算；利己 | |
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58
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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59
configuration
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| n.结构，布局，形态，(计算机)配置 | |
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60
tarpaulin
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| n.涂油防水布，防水衣，防水帽 | |
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61
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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62
fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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63
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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64
stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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