So the captain lamented5, standing6 in the cockpit and surveying the ruin with wet eyes. Even Joe, who bore him great dislike, felt sorry for him at this moment. A heavier blast of the wind caught the jagged crest7 of a wave and hurled8 it upon the helpless craft.
"Can't we save her?" Joe spluttered.
'Frisco Kid shook his head.
"Nor the safe?"
"Impossible," he answered. "Could n't lay another boat alongside for a United States mint. As it is, it 'll keep us guessing to save ourselves."
Another sea swept over them, and the skiff, which had long since been swamped, dashed itself to pieces against the stern. Then the Reindeer9 towered above them on a mountain of water. Joe caught himself half shrinking back, for it seemed she would fall down squarely on top of them; but the next instant she dropped into the gaping10 trough, and they were looking down upon her far below. It was a striking picture—one Joe was destined11 never to forget. The Reindeer was wallowing in the snow-white smother12, her rails flush with the sea, the water scudding13 across her deck in foaming14 cataracts15. The air was filled with flying spray, which made the scene appear hazy16 and unreal. One of the men was clinging to the perilous17 after-deck and striving to cast off the water-logged skiff. The boy, leaning far over the cockpit-rail and holding on for dear life, was passing him a knife. The second man stood at the wheel, putting it up with flying hands and forcing the sloop to pay off. Beside him, his injured arm in a sling18, was Red Nelson, his sou'wester gone and his fair hair plastered in wet, wind-blown ringlets about his face. His whole attitude breathed indomitability, courage, strength. It seemed almost as though the divine were blazing forth19 from him. Joe looked upon him in sudden awe20, and, realizing the enormous possibilities of the man, felt sorrow for the way in which they had been wasted. A thief and a robber! In that flashing moment Joe caught a glimpse of human truth, grasped at the mystery of success and failure. Life threw back its curtains that he might read it and understand. Of such stuff as Red Nelson were heroes made; but they possessed21 wherein he lacked—the power of choice, the careful poise22 of mind, the sober control of soul: in short, the very things his father had so often "preached" to him about.
These were the thoughts which came to Joe in the flight of a second. Then the Reindeer swept skyward and hurtled across their bow to leeward23 on the breast of a mighty24 billow.
"Ze wild man! ze wild man!" French Pete shrieked25, watching her in amazement26. "He t'inks he can jibe27! He will die! We will all die! He must come about. Oh, ze fool, ze fool!"
But time was precious, and Red Nelson ventured the chance. At the right moment he jibed28 the mainsail over and hauled back on the wind.
"Here she comes! Make ready to jump for it," 'Frisco Kid cried to Joe.
The Reindeer dashed by their stern, heeling over till the cabin windows were buried, and so close that it appeared she must run them down. But a freak of the waters lurched the two crafts apart. Red Nelson, seeing that the manoeuver had miscarried, instantly instituted another. Throwing the helm hard up, the Reindeer whirled on her heel, thus swinging her overhanging main-boom closer to the Dazzler. French Pete was the nearest, and the opportunity could last no longer than a second. Like a cat he sprang, catching29 the foot-rope with both hands. Then the Reindeer forged ahead, dipping him into the sea at every plunge30. But he clung on, working inboard every time he emerged, till he dropped into the cockpit as Red Nelson squared off to run down to leeward and repeat the manoeuver.
"Your turn next," 'Frisco Kid said.
"No; yours," Joe replied.
"But I know more about the water," 'Frisco Kid insisted.
"And I can swim as well as you," the other retorted.
It would have been hard to forecast the outcome of this dispute; but, as it was, the swift rush of events made any settlement needless. The Reindeer had jibed over and was plowing31 back at breakneck speed, careening at such an angle that it seemed she must surely capsize. It was a gallant32 sight. Just then the storm burst in all its fury, the shouting wind flattening33 the ragged34 crests35 till they boiled. The Reindeer dipped from view behind an immense wave. The wave rolled on, but the next moment, where the sloop had been, the boys noted36 with startled eyes only the angry waters! Doubting, they looked a second time. There was no Reindeer. They were alone on the torn crest of the ocean!
"God have mercy on their souls!" 'Frisco Kid said solemnly.
"Sailed her clean under, and, with the ballast she carried, went straight to bottom," 'Frisco Kid gasped39. Then, turning to their own pressing need, he said: "Now we 've got to look out for ourselves. The back of the storm broke in that puff40, but the sea 'll kick up worse yet as the wind eases down. Lend a hand and hang on with the other. We 've got to get her head-on."
Together, knives in hand, they crawled forward to where the pounding wreckage hampered41 the boat sorely. 'Frisco Kid took the lead in the ticklish42 work, but Joe obeyed orders like a veteran. Every minute or two the bow was swept by the sea, and they were pounded and buffeted43 about like a pair of shuttlecocks. First the main portion of the wreckage was securely fastened to the forward bitts; then, breathless and gasping44, more often under the water than out, they cut and hacked45 at the tangle46 of halyards, sheets, stays, and tackles. The cockpit was taking water rapidly, and it was a race between swamping and completing the task. At last, however, everything stood clear save the lee rigging. 'Frisco Kid slashed47 the lanyards. The storm did the rest. The Dazzler drifted swiftly to leeward of the wreckage till the strain on the line fast to the forward bitts jerked her bow into place and she ducked dead into the eye of the wind and sea.
Pausing only for a cheer at the success of their undertaking48, the two lads raced aft, where the cockpit was half full and the dunnage of the cabin all afloat. With a couple of buckets procured49 from the stern lockers50, they proceeded to fling the water overboard. It was heartbreaking work, for many a barrelful was flung back upon them again; but they persevered51, and when night fell the Dazzler, bobbing merrily at her sea-anchor, could boast that her pumps sucked once more. As 'Frisco Kid had said, the backbone52 of the storm was broken, though the wind had veered53 to the west, where it still blew stiffly.
"If she holds," 'Frisco Kid said, referring to the breeze, "we 'll drift to the California coast sometime to-morrow. Nothing to do now but wait."
They said little, oppressed by the loss of their comrades and overcome with exhaustion54, preferring to huddle55 against each other for the sake of warmth and companionship. It was a miserable56 night, and they shivered constantly from the cold. Nothing dry was to be obtained aboard, food, blankets, everything being soaked with the salt water. Sometimes they dozed57; but these intervals58 were short and harassing59, for it seemed each took turn in waking with such sudden starts as to rouse the other.
At last day broke, and they looked about. Wind and sea had dropped considerably60, and there was no question as to the safety of the Dazzler. The coast was nearer than they had expected, its cliffs showing dark and forbidding in the gray of dawn. But with the rising of the sun they could see the yellow beaches, flanked by the white surf, and beyond—it seemed too good to be true—the clustering houses and smoking chimneys of a town.
"Safe! I should say so. It ain't much of a sheltered harbor for large vessels63, but with this breeze we 'll run right up the mouth of the San Lorenzo River. Then there 's a little lake like, and a boat-house. Water smooth as glass and hardly over your head. You see, I was down here once before, with Red Nelson. Come on. We 'll be in in time for breakfast."
Bringing to light some spare coils of rope from the lockers, he put a clove-hitch on the standing part of the sea-anchor hawser64, and carried the new running-line aft, making it fast to the stern bitts. Then he cast off from the forward bitts. The Dazzler swung off into the trough, completed the evolution, and pointed65 her nose toward shore. A couple of spare oars66 from below, and as many water-soaked blankets, sufficed to make a jury-mast and sail. When this was in place, Joe cast loose from the wreckage, which was now towing astern, while 'Frisco Kid took the tiller.
《The Sea-Wolf海狼》
《Martin Eden马丁·伊登》
《野性的呼唤 The Call of the Wild》
《The Sea-Wolf海狼》
《Martin Eden马丁·伊登》
《野性的呼唤 The Call of the Wild》
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1
wreckage
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| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
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thumping
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| adj.重大的，巨大的；重击的；尺码大的；极好的adv.极端地；非常地v.重击(thump的现在分词)；狠打；怦怦地跳；全力支持 | |
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sloop
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| n.单桅帆船 | |
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slant
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| v.倾斜，倾向性地编写或报道；n.斜面，倾向 | |
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lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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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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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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reindeer
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| n.驯鹿 | |
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gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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smother
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| vt./vi.使窒息；抑制；闷死；n.浓烟；窒息 | |
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scudding
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| n.刮面v.（尤指船、舰或云彩）笔直、高速而平稳地移动( scud的现在分词 ) | |
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14
foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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cataracts
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| n.大瀑布( cataract的名词复数 )；白内障 | |
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hazy
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| adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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sling
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| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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poise
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| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
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leeward
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| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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jibe
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| v.嘲笑，与...一致，使转向；n.嘲笑，嘲弄 | |
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28
jibed
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| v.与…一致( jibe的过去式和过去分词 )；（与…）相符；相匹配 | |
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29
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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plowing
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| v.耕( plow的现在分词 )；犁耕；费力穿过 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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flattening
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| n. 修平 动词flatten的现在分词 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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crests
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| v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的第三人称单数 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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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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40
puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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41
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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42
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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43
buffeted
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| 反复敲打( buffet的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续猛击； 打来打去； 推来搡去 | |
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44
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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45
hacked
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| 生气 | |
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46
tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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47
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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48
undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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49
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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50
lockers
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| n.寄物柜( locker的名词复数 ) | |
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51
persevered
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| v.坚忍，坚持( persevere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
backbone
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| n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气 | |
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53
veered
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| v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的过去式和过去分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转 | |
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54
exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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55
huddle
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| vi.挤作一团；蜷缩；vt.聚集；n.挤在一起的人 | |
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56
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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dozed
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| v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
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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59
harassing
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| v.侵扰，骚扰( harass的现在分词 )；不断攻击（敌人） | |
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60
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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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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hawser
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| n.大缆；大索 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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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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