When Tom Dennis wakened, the morning after the Pelican1 tacked2 out of the Unalaska channel, he found that she had, with the audacity3 of all whaling ships, run through Unimak Pass in the dark and was now tearing across the North Pacific at an eight-knot clip, with a stiff south-easter rolling her along bravely.
Dennis realized full well that he must avoid all appearance of suspicions having been awakened4 in him. When at breakfast Mrs. Pontifex remarked upon the blessed relief of having the cook aboard, Dennis quite ignored the subject therefore, conscious that Ericksen was watching him with keen and predatory gaze.
"And when shall we make that position, Skipper?" he asked.
Pontifex shrugged6. "If this breeze holds, it's a three-day run for us. Barring a dead calm, we'll be on the spot—let's see, this is Saturday; we'll be on the spot Tuesday morning without fail. Eh, Mr. Leman?"
"Yes. Break it out to-day. Bo'sun Joe, rig up a derrick for'ard to-day; chances are we'll be able to lay close enough to the wreck8 to swing the stuff directly aboard, and we'll not want to waste time. A south-easter might lay us up on those islands. Ever been diving, Mr. Dennis?"
Dennis nodded. "Twice. Never at sea, but in Lake Michigan."
"Then we'll have a new sensation for you, if you like." Pontifex smiled cruelly.
"Bo'sun Joe and I are the only ones aboard with any experience, and if you care to take a shift with us, we'll be glad."
"I'm in for anything that'll make me useful," said Dennis. "You think the wreck is still on the rocks where we can reach it, then?"
The wind held, and the old whaler blew down the miles of westering with every stitch of canvas taut11 as a drumhead. That afternoon Tom Dennis got a good straight look at the new cook—a most disreputable little man, dirty and slouchy in the extreme. Gone were the trim mustachios, gone was all the natty12 air; but the man was the same who had spilled a vial of chloroform in the Chicago room of Tom Dennis. There was no doubt about it.
Dennis, however, said nothing; later, when Corny introduced the cook as Frenchy, he shook hands and was very pleasant, and if Dumont suspected anything, his suspicions were set at rest by Dennis' air of careless non-interest.
Upon the following day the brigantine was still tearing along with a swirl13 of water hissing14 under her counter. Off to the north the islands showed their mountain-tips against the sky, blue and continuous as some distant mainland. Talking with the mates and boat-steerers and Kanakas, Tom Dennis was entertained with many stories of those islands: how fox- and seal-farmers were scattered15 through the group; how small launches cruised the entire length of the island chain with impunity16; how in time to come there would be a thriving island population where now were empty stretches of land or scattered communities of miserable17 natives.
And there were other and more ominous18 tales: tales of Boguslav and Katmai, of islands that came and went overnight, of oil-soaked whalers caught under descending19 showers of hot ash and burned to the water's edge. There were tales of seal-poaching, of poachers who fought each other, of Yankees who fought Japs; and these tales verged20 upon the personal. Nods and winks21 were interchanged when Bo'sun Joe told about "men he had known", or when black Manuel Mendez related exploits of which "he had heard". Tom Dennis gained some fine material for feature-stories—but it worried him. He began to realize that these men among whom he had fallen were, so far as their natures were concerned, no better than pirates.
Then, upon the evening of the second day, came the affair which proved that all restraint was now loosed.
Darkness was falling, and having no particular longing22 for the society of the Missus and Pontifex, in the stern cabin, Dennis was in the waist near the try-works, listening while Corny spun23 a whaling yarn24 to the watch. The yarn was broken into by a sudden choking cry, followed by an excited call in Portuguese25. The voice was that of Manuel Mendez who would take the deck from Mr. Leman in a few moments.
At sound of the cry, Corny whipped out his knife and was gone like a shadow. Dennis was the first to follow, darting26 after the black boat-steerer toward the windward side of the deck, whence the voice had come.
An instant later, Dennis had turned the corner of the try-works. What had happened he could not tell; but he saw the huge figure of Manuel Mendez hanging to the mizzen-shrouds, groaning27 faintly. Close by, the insignificant28 little cook was facing the glittering knife of Corny—facing it with bare hands.
Corny, growling29 savage31 Cape32 Verde oaths, leaped. Swift as light was Frenchy, darting in and out again, sweeping33 the knife aside, striking catlike. Corny staggered back.
At that instant Mr. Leman swept upon the scene, his grey wisps of hair flying, his long arms flailing34. Frenchy, not hearing him, was knocked headlong into the galley35 and fell with a tremendous crashing of pots and pans.
"He keel Manuel!" cried out Corny, retreating from the second mate and putting up his knife. "He mos' get my eyes—ah, de poor Manuel!"
The giant figure of the bearded black fell limply. Dennis retreated, feeling sick; for Manuel Mendez had been stabbed with his own knife—after his eyes had been gouged36 away. Even for sea-fighting, there was something horrible about it.
Later, Dennis came upon the steward37 and two of the miserable white sailors talking near the forecastle scuttle38. The steward was describing what had happened.
"Joked 'im, the mate did; chaffed 'im abaht some woman. Bli' me! Frenchy was hup and at 'im like this." And the Cockney held the two first fingers of his right hand forked and aloft. "Tried to jerk at 'is knife, 'e did, but Frenchy hup an' took if first—ugh! 'Orrible it was. And now the Capting, 'e'll 'ang Frenchy."
"Hang Frenchy? Not him! Frenchy an' the Skipper have sailed together for years, they tell me. Hey, mates?"
"You bet," came a response. "Skipper don' dast hang him, I guess."
To Dennis it was rankly incredible; but it was true. In the morning Manuel Mendez, who would smile no more his white-toothed hungry smile, was sent overside with a chunk40 of coal sewed at his feet; and as the body was committed to the deep, Frenchy leaped to the rail and sent a bucket of slush over the canvas. An old whaling custom, this, to keep the dead man's ghost from following the ship. But Frenchy remained untouched for his crime. If there were any inquiry41 or punishment, Dennis never heard of it. The ship's routine pursued its usual course, Ericksen being advanced to the position of second mate, Leman to that of first mate.
One man aboard, however, did not forget the happening; and this was Corny, the compatriot of the murdered mate. More than once, Dennis saw Corny's eyes follow Frenchy about the deck with a black, murderous look.
These things, however, swiftly were forgotten in the rumoured42 vicinity of the wreck; and since everyone aboard either knew, or had guessed, the import of this strange cruise, the ship hummed like a beehive with speculation43 and gossip. At noon, with the remarkable44 keenness which distinguishes whaling skippers, Captain Pontifex completed his observations and then laid out a new course, stating that it would bring them under the lee of the island at four bells in the morning watch, at which time the brigantine was to be hove to and await daylight.
Tom Dennis was the only one aboard, except Captain Pontifex and the Missus who did not sleep by watches. At dinner that night the skipper broached45 a bottle of wine, and sent forward a tot of grog for all hands; suppressed excitement ruled the ship, even the gentle Kanakas breaking into wild native songs until suppressed by the Skipper's order. After an evening of much talk, mainly about the various methods of raising sunken treasure, Dennis turned in.
With the morning came disenchantment. Dennis had dreamed of gold-mad sailors, of wild haste, of everything forgotten save the proximity46 of sudden riches. But once on deck he found things very different. The Pelican was standing47 across the end of a barren rocky island; just beyond and ahead of her was a long scooped-out depression in the rocky shore, and in the centre of this depression lay the wreck of the Simpson. The seamen48 were attending strictly49 to their positions and duties; there was no hilarious50 ring of voices, and everything was about as romantic as a visit to a coaling-station.
But the John Simpson was there—no doubt about it!
Her stern, apparently51 wedged in among a nest of rocks, stood up at a sharp angle, the deck not quite awash but running down into the water swiftly. The aftermast stood a broken stump52. At some distance showed the foremast, likewise broken. Dennis turned to Pontifex and the Missus who stood beside him.
"That foremast seems a long distance away," he said. "Doesn't look natural."
"Broke in two," vouchsafed53 the Missus curtly. Pontifex nodded.
"That's it," he stated with conviction. "Fore5 part lays in deep water—eight or ten fathom54, probably. Look at her stern. See the water a-drip? She's well covered at high tide: just now the tide's out. No wonder she broke!"
"Looks as if we'd anchor right close to her fore-hatch," said the Missus.
Ericksen, with a whaleboat and hand-line, was engaged in taking soundings of the position. Suddenly a savage exclamation55 escaped Pontifex who had been scrutinizing56 the visible stern of the wreck through a pair of binoculars57.
"Take charge, Mr. Leman," snapped the skipper, then lifted his voice. "Corny! Lower away—four hands will be enough to row us in. Come on, Mr. Dennis!"
As Corny's crew leaped to the falls of a forward boat, Pontifex strode forward, his thin face murderous. Dennis followed him in amazement58.
"What's the trouble, Skipper?"
"Come on," responded Pontifex snarlingly59. "I'm not sure yet—but if it's true——"
Seeing that the Skipper was in no mood for questions, Dennis said nothing further but followed into the whaleboat. Four Kanakas gave way at the long oars60, and the boat began to slide landward. Pontifex studied the wreck through his binoculars a moment, then handed the glasses to Dennis.
"Look at it—on the mainmast!"
Puzzled, Dennis focused on the stump of the mainmast. High up, so high as to be well beyond reach, he discerned a small object; it looked like a bit of board nailed to the mast.
"Is that writing on it?" he exclaimed, lowering the glasses.
Pontifex nodded sourly. "Probably. We'll soon see."
Boatswain Joe's boat, which had finished its survey and was heading for the ship, passed within hail. Pontifex transmitted word to Mr. Leman by Ericksen, ordering the Pelican laid as close alongside the fore-hatch of the wreck as the depth would allow. Bo'sun Joe reported that the fore-part of the Simpson lay in nine fathoms61, with fair holding-ground for the anchors, and that the whaler could crowd alongside her easily.
As their boat drew in, Tom Dennis could see that the stern of the wreck must indeed be completely submerged at low tide; this was attested62 by the barnacles and weedy growths covering the rails and decking. But it was the square bit of plank63 nailed to the mast which drew his gaze and that of the Skipper.
"Ah!" cried Pontifex, with a furious oath. "Look at that, Dennis! A painted sign!"
Taking the glasses, Dennis could indeed make out that the board appeared to bear words or characters—and to his eye they were Japanese. At this query64, the skipper swore again.
"Aye, the yellow scum! They swarm65 around the islands, raiding fox-farms and poaching or trading according as they dare. One of their boats happened along here, blast the luck, and saw the wreck; posted a sign to warn off their own countrymen, and went for help. They came at high water and didn't wait for ebb66 tide. Notice where that sign is, up there? Way enough, Corny; we don't want to board her."
The boat swung around on idle oars, twenty feet from the rocks that held the stern of the Simpson. Dennis scrutinized67 the board carefully, then handed the glasses to Pontifex.
"It's tough luck, Skipper," he said quietly. "To think that she lay here undiscovered for over two years, then was found only a week or so before we came!"
"A week?" Pontifex stared at him with flaming eyes. "How d'ye know that?"
"Focus up on those nail-heads in that board. They're rusty68, of course, but the rust69 hasn't gone into the wood around them—see? And the black paint on the board looks pretty glossy70 when the sunlight catches it right."
"What are you going to do about it?"
"Do about it!" Pontifex looked venomous. "Fight, by the lord Harry71! This is salvage72. Whoever can hold hardest, gets. Let me get the old brig anchored in here, and I'd like to see any dirty yellow poachers pry73 my fingers loose!"
Dennis remembered the big gun-rack in the cabin, and said no more. Rifles can be used for other purposes than killing74 seals and bears.
"We'll be all snug75 by breakfast-time," added Pontifex, watching the Pelican come slowly in as her top canvas fluttered down. "Then we'll set to work pronto. We don't want a gale76 to catch us here, either. More likely to catch fog, anyway."
And the skipper made good his words. Before seven bells were struck at 7.20 that morning* the Pelican was berthed77 alongside the fore half of the Simpson and all was made snug below and aloft. Captain Pontifex called all hands and made an address.
* Usually struck at this time so the relieving watch may breakfast first.
"The Japs have been here, and they'll be back," he said curtly. "There's salvage money ahead of everybody, men, so we're going to pitch in and work day and night, watch and watch. The day watches will devote themselves to getting the stuff aboard, because a diver can't remain down very long in this water: all hands will have a chance at going down. The night watches will stow the stuff below and make a clear deck before morning.
"While we're lying here, we'll redistribute the watches. Mr. Leman and Mr. Ericksen will take the port watch, I'll take the starboard watch with Mr. Dennis and Corny. One man from each watch will be set ashore78—that high point of rock makes a better lookout79 perch80 than the crosstrees—to watch for the approach of any craft whatever. And mark this, men! If you don't report back to the beach when the watches are changed, I'll come ashore and hunt you down with a shotgun! That's all. The starboard watch will keep the deck."
Did the port watch go below? Not yet! Breakfast was a formality, a hurriedly bolted affair; ten minutes later one of the four white seamen was set ashore as lookout, and the Skipper fell to work.
"You'll mind the pumps my watch, my dear," said Pontifex to the Missus. "When I'm down, I'll trust nobody else to watch my air supply. Do you want to go down, Mr. Dennis?"
"You bet," and Dennis laughed. "I'd like nothing better!"
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收听单词发音
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1
pelican
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| n.鹈鹕，伽蓝鸟 | |
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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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audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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overhaul
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| v./n.大修，仔细检查 | |
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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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gambling
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| n.赌博；投机 | |
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curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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taut
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| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
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natty
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| adj.整洁的，漂亮的 | |
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swirl
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| v.(使)打漩，(使)涡卷；n.漩涡，螺旋形 | |
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14
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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15
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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impunity
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| n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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verged
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| 接近，逼近（verge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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21
winks
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| v.使眼色( wink的第三人称单数 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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yarn
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| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
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Portuguese
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| n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语 | |
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darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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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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growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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flailing
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| v.鞭打( flail的现在分词 )；用连枷脱粒；（臂或腿）无法控制地乱动；扫雷坦克 | |
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galley
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| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
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gouged
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| v.凿( gouge的过去式和过去分词 )；乱要价；（在…中）抠出…；挖出… | |
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steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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scuttle
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| v.急赶，疾走，逃避；n.天窗；舷窗 | |
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guffawed
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| v.大笑，狂笑( guffaw的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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chunk
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| n.厚片，大块，相当大的部分（数量） | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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rumoured
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| adj.谣传的；传说的；风 | |
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speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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broached
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| v.谈起( broach的过去式和过去分词 )；打开并开始用；用凿子扩大（或修光）；（在桶上）钻孔取液体 | |
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proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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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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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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50
hilarious
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| adj.充满笑声的，欢闹的；[反]depressed | |
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51
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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52
stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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53
vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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56
scrutinizing
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的现在分词 ) | |
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binoculars
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| n.双筒望远镜 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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snarlingly
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| adv.咆哮着，怒吼着 | |
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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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fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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62
attested
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| adj.经检验证明无病的，经检验证明无菌的v.证明( attest的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；声称…属实；使宣誓 | |
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plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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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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scrutinized
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68
rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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69
rust
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| n.锈；v.生锈；(脑子)衰退 | |
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70
glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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71
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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72
salvage
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| v.救助，营救，援救；n.救助，营救 | |
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73
pry
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| vi.窥(刺)探，打听；vt.撬动(开，起) | |
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74
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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75
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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76
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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77
berthed
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| v.停泊( berth的过去式和过去分词 )；占铺位 | |
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78
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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79
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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80
perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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81
apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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