He found some trouble in explaining to Moran what had happened, for he felt limp and shaky yet. And he shuddered3 at the thought of going down again.
“When we once get the box out of the hold,” he said, “there should be no trouble in swinging it on board.”
Moran smoked out a pipe before he took his turn. When the copper4 helmet disappeared, Jimmy got a firm grip on the signal line; and while he waited he looked about.
The days were rapidly shortening, and the light was growing dim. The horizon seemed to be creeping in on them, obscured by smoky fog, which stirred and wreathed about as the wind sprang up. Small ripples5 were splashing round the sloop, and the swell6 was steeper.
“I hope Hank will manage to sling7 that box,” Jimmy said to Bethune, who nodded as he steadily8 turned the pump.
“We may get another turn or two, but that will be all. There’s a breeze behind the heave that’s working in.”
Neither of them said anything further, but waited with what patience they could summon until Moran came up.
“I got the box out of the hold before I was beat; the next man shouldn’t have much trouble in hitching9 a sling round it,” he said, and glanced out to sea as he added significantly: “He’d better get through mighty10 quick.”
A gust11 of wind rent the fog, and a long, low mass, shining a dead, cold white, appeared in the gap. Then, while the haze12 streamed back, another pale streak13 showed up on the opposite bow.
The men were not easily daunted16, and they had borne enough in the North to harden them, but the sight was strangely impressive, and their courage sank. This was a peril17 with which none of them except Moran had grappled; and he had no cause for thinking light of it. The pack-ice was gathering18 round the island, hemming19 them in, and the sloop would be crushed like an eggshell unless she could avoid its grip. Then, to make things worse, a blast of bitter air whipped the men’s anxious faces, and the sea broke into short, angry ripples.
“We have got to quit,” said Moran despondently20. “But I surely want that box.”
“You shall have it, if I can get the sling on,” Bethune replied. “Help me on with the dress as quick as you can.”
He flung a hasty glance about. A long raft of ice with ragged21 edges was drifting nearer, and the fog, disturbed by the rising breeze, rolled across the sea in woolly streamers.
“It looks as if I had to finish the job this time,” he said with a harsh laugh. “I no longer have the cheap hotel to fall back on.”
When he had been down for some time, Jimmy, turning the pump in obedience22 to the plucking of the signal line, began to wonder when he would come up. Bethune seemed particular about his air supply, and Jimmy surmised23 that he found it needful to move the case along the bottom to get a clear lead for the lifting line because the Cetacea had altered her position. Moran put his hand on the crank when required, but at other times he stood motionless, watching the ice with an imperturbable24 brown face. Indeed, Jimmy, as a relief from the tension, began to speculate about his comrade and wonder what he thought. Though they had toiled25 hard and faced many perils27 together with mutual28 respect and confidence, he felt that he knew very little about the man. Moran’s reserve and stolid29 serenity30 were baffling. When strenuous31 action was required he could be relied upon, but even then he was seldom hurried, and his movements somehow suggested that his splendid frame was endowed with unreasoning, automatic powers. For all that, Jimmy knew that such a conception of his friend was wrong. He had seen the cool judgment32 and indomitable courage that controlled the man’s strength in time of heavy stress.
All this, however, was not of much consequence. Jimmy fixed33 his eyes upon the frothing patch of bubbles that broke the troubled surface of the swell. It was stationary34, and Bethune had already stayed below an unusual time. He was not in difficulties, because when Jimmy jerked the line he got a reassuring35 signal in reply. It looked as if the man expected to bring up the case.
In the meanwhile the ice was driving nearer, propelled by wind and tide, and its low height suggested that it had formed in some shallow bight. If this were so, it might not ground before reaching the sloop. Still, its progress was not rapid, and Jimmy did not think there was any urgent need to recall Bethune, particularly as he must finish his task or abandon it.
At last the bubbles began to move back. It was difficult to follow them because the swell was streaked36 with foam37, but although they were occasionally lost for a few moments, they reappeared. Then the top of the ladder swung against the rail and soon the copper helmet rose out of the sea. Bethune flung an arm on deck and grasped a cleat, but he seemed to have some difficulty in getting any farther, and they dragged him on board. His face was livid when they released him, and he lay back on the skylight without speaking for some moments. Then he gasped38 painfully:
They sprang to the line he had brought and hauled it in; Jimmy trying to control his fierce impatience40. Care was needed lest the sling get loose in dragging along the sand. At last the line ran perpendicularly41 down, and they were encouraged by the weight they had to lift. Even Moran showed excitement as a corner of the box broke the surface. Throwing himself down, he swung it on board with a powerful heave. Then he and Jimmy dropped down limply on the deck and gazed at their treasure. The box was thick and bound with heavy iron, the wood waterlogged; but, making allowances for that, it obviously contained a large quantity of gold. Jimmy felt exultant42, but after a time Bethune disturbed his pleasant reflections.
“Look at the ice!” he exclaimed.
The floe43 was bearing down on them, and in the distance, half hidden by the fog, a taller mass seemed to have stranded44 on the reef, for the spray was leaping about it and there was a great splash as a heavy block fell off. Moran glanced at the floe and ran forward. Jimmy joined him and they hurriedly got the chain cable in; then, with Bethune’s help, they reefed the mainsail and stowed the folding ladder and pumps below, but they had a struggle to lift the kedge anchor. It seemed to have fouled45 some waterlogged timber below; but they would not sacrifice it by slipping the warp46, because they knew it might be a long time before they could come back. When they finally broke it out Bethune had already hoisted47 the mainsail. There was no time to lose, for the fog was getting thicker in spite of the rising wind, and a glimmering48 mass of ice had crept up threateningly close. Moreover, the light was going and the sea getting up. Hurriedly setting a small jib, they stood out for open sea.
“Make the best offing you can,” directed Jimmy, leaving Moran at the helm. “I’ll get the stove lighted, and after supper we’ll open the case.”
It was nearly twenty-four hours since he had eaten anything and he was beginning to feel faint from want of food. Indeed, he had some difficulty in getting the fire to burn and was conscious of an annoying, slack clumsiness. When the meal was ready he called Bethune down and handed out Moran’s share.
They ate hungrily while the water splashed beneath the floorings and the lamp swung at erratic51 angles as the Cetacea rolled; and Bethune made no objection when Jimmy afterward52 lighted his pipe. The case lay against the centerboard trunk, but they did not feel impatient to open it. This was a pleasure that would lose nothing by being deferred53; they were satisfied to sit still in the warm cabin and gloat over their success.
“Strictly speaking, we have no right to break into the thing,” Bethune said; “and it might perhaps lay us open to suspicion; but I’m afraid I can’t keep my hands off until we get home. Get out the tools, Jimmy.”
“We’re going to look inside the box. Is it safe for you to come down?”
Moran seemed to make a negative sign, though Jimmy could hardly see him. It had grown dark, and thick fog was driving past the boat, while the spray that beat in through the weather shrouds55 indicated that she was sailing hard. Dropping back below, Jimmy closed the scuttle and took up a hammer. His fingers shook and he felt his nerves tingle56 as he drove a wedge under the first band.
“I wish we’d cleaned out the strong-room; but we can come back, and we have got enough to wipe off our debt and give us a luxurious57 winter,” he said happily. “It will be a change to put up at a good hotel—we might even make a trip to California; and if Jaques can get somebody to run the store we will bring him and his wife to town.”
“It’s not a very ambitious program,” Bethune laughed. “I dare say we can carry it out; though we don’t know yet what our share will come to.”
“I’ll stand out for half,” declared Jimmy with a determined58 air. “In fact, we’ll make a bargain before we deliver up the stuff.”
Working eagerly, he soon started the band and inserted a chisel59 under a board. In a few moments he prized it loose, and thick folds of rotten canvas were exposed.
“There seems to be a lot of packing,” Bethune remarked. “There’s a seal here we’ll have to break; but we have smashed one already. Don’t waste time. Rip it open!”
Jimmy used his knife, and plunged60 his hand into the case. He was surprised by the feel of its contents.
“It seems to be in small ingots,” he said.
“That’s curious, because there’s no smelter in the country. Slash61 the wrapping to bits and let’s see it!”
Jimmy did so and then uttered an exclamation62 as he dropped the object he took out. It was dark-colored, and fell with a dull thud.
“It’s lead!” he cried.
Tilting63 the case in savage64 anger, Jimmy shook out a number of small gray lumps. They scattered65 about the floorings, and when he gashed66 one with his knife the metal cut soft and showed a silvery luster67. He dropped the knife and his face grew hard and white. There was tense silence for a moment, and then Jimmy, rousing himself with an effort, flung the scuttle back.
It seemed that Moran recognized the urgent tone, for they felt by the change of motion that he was altering the boat’s course, but with characteristic coolness he neglected no seamanlike68 precaution. Jimmy heard the jib being hauled aback and the mainsheet got in, and she was hove to, rising and falling with an easy lurch69, when Moran dropped through the scuttle. He stooped over the box, and after a time looked up with a heavy frown.
“On the underwriters first, but that’s no matter,” replied Bethune, who was struggling against the shock. “Slit one of the bags, Jimmy, and let’s see if it’s all the same.”
Jimmy took the bag he had found in the wreck71, and when he cut it open a few coarse, yellow grains ran out.
“That looks all right, but there’s not very much of it; and the bag Hank brought up isn’t large,” he said gloomily.
“You want to sew it up before you lose the stuff,” advised Moran, sitting down on the box. “Now, if there’s anything to be fixed, we had better get it settled. She’s carrying all the sail she wants and I can’t leave her long.”
“Are we to go back?” Bethune asked. “We haven’t emptied the strong-room, and what we have left behind may be genuine.”
“Can’t do it,” Moran said grimly. “The way the wind is, the drift ice will be packed solid along the shore to-morrow.”
They sat silent for a while. There was only one thing to be done, but they shrank from indicating it and owning their defeat. At last Jimmy made a gesture of resignation.
“Square away; our course is south,” he said.
Moran nodded silently and went up through the scuttle, and Jimmy threw himself down on the locker72 while Bethune lighted his pipe. Neither of them spoke73 until they heard a rattle74 of blocks and the rush of water along the lee side showed that the Cetacea had swung round.
“Our plans for the winter won’t materialize,” Bethune said; “we’ll be glad to put up at a dollar hotel if we’re lucky enough to get taken on at a mill. However, we can talk about this to-morrow; I don’t feel quite up to it now.”
After a curt75 sign of agreement, Jimmy pulled a damp sail over him and, although he had not expected to do so, presently went to sleep.
When Moran wakened him to take his turn at the helm it was blowing hard and bitterly cold. Settling himself as far as he could in the shelter of the coaming, he began his dreary76 watch. Long, white-topped seas raced after the sloop, ranging upon her weather quarter, while the spray she flung aloft beat in heavy showers on Jimmy’s slicker. He could scarcely see her length ahead, and knew that he was running a serious risk if there was ice about; but he thought she would not be much safer if he hove her to, and, fixing his eyes on the compass, he let her go.
After exhausting toil26 and many hardships, their search had failed, and he was too jaded77 and depressed78 to wonder whether it would ever be resumed. They were going back bankrupt; he could not see how they were even to retain possession of the sloop. At the best, they could make no use of her until the spring. The outlook was black, and what intensified79 the gloom was that Jimmy now recognized that since Bethune had first broached80 the scheme he had been buoyed81 up by a faint but strongly alluring82 hope. He had not allowed his mind to dwell on it, but it had hovered83 in the background, beckoning84 him on. After all, there had been a certain chance that their project would succeed, and in that case his share of the salvage85 should have been sufficient to set him on his feet. There were many openings in western Canada for a man with energy and means enough to give him a start, and Jimmy did not see why he should not prosper86. Then when he had begun to make progress he might renew his acquaintance with Ruth Osborne.
He had thought of her often, and looking back on their voyage, he ventured to believe that he had to some extent won her favor. He recollected87 trivial incidents, odd words and glances, which could not have been altogether without their significance. Could he lift himself nearer her social level, it was not impossible that he should gain her love. The thought of this had driven him stubbornly on.
Now he had failed disastrously88. He was going back a ruined man. The best he could hope for was that by stern self-denial and rough work on the wharves89 or in the sawmills, he might earn enough to discharge his debt to the storekeeper who had trusted him. Beyond that there was nothing to look forward to. He must try to forget Ruth.
Jimmy’s heart sank as he sat shivering at the helm while the bitter spray whirled about him and the sloop lurched on through the darkness, chased by foaming90 seas.
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1
sloop
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| n.单桅帆船 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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ripples
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| 逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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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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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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hitching
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| 搭乘； （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的现在分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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daunted
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| 使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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hemming
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| 卷边 | |
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despondently
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| adv.沮丧地，意志消沉地 | |
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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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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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imperturbable
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| adj.镇静的 | |
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toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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stolid
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| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
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serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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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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stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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reassuring
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| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
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streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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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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slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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perpendicularly
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| adv. 垂直地, 笔直地, 纵向地 | |
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exultant
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| adj.欢腾的，狂欢的，大喜的 | |
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floe
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| n.大片浮冰 | |
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stranded
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| a.搁浅的，进退两难的 | |
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45
fouled
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| v.使污秽( foul的过去式和过去分词 )；弄脏；击球出界；（通常用废物）弄脏 | |
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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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47
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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exultantly
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| adv.狂欢地，欢欣鼓舞地 | |
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51
erratic
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| adj.古怪的，反复无常的，不稳定的 | |
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52
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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deferred
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| adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从 | |
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54
scuttle
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| v.急赶，疾走，逃避；n.天窗；舷窗 | |
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shrouds
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| n.裹尸布( shroud的名词复数 )；寿衣；遮蔽物；覆盖物v.隐瞒( shroud的第三人称单数 )；保密 | |
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56
tingle
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| vi.感到刺痛，感到激动；n.刺痛，激动 | |
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luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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chisel
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| n.凿子；v.用凿子刻，雕，凿 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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61
slash
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| vi.大幅度削减；vt.猛砍，尖锐抨击，大幅减少；n.猛砍，斜线，长切口，衣衩 | |
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62
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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63
tilting
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| 倾斜，倾卸 | |
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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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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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66
gashed
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| v.划伤，割破( gash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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luster
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| n.光辉；光泽，光亮；荣誉 | |
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seamanlike
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| 海员般的，熟练水手似的 | |
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lurch
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| n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行 | |
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70
crook
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| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
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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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72
locker
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| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
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73
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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74
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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75
curt
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| adj.简短的，草率的 | |
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76
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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jaded
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| adj.精疲力竭的；厌倦的；（因过饱或过多而）腻烦的；迟钝的 | |
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78
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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79
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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80
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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81
buoyed
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| v.使浮起( buoy的过去式和过去分词 )；支持；为…设浮标；振奋…的精神 | |
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82
alluring
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| adj.吸引人的，迷人的 | |
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83
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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84
beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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85
salvage
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| v.救助，营救，援救；n.救助，营救 | |
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86
prosper
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| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
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87
recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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88
disastrously
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| ad.灾难性地 | |
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89
wharves
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| n.码头，停泊处( wharf的名词复数 ) | |
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90
foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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