“Ice!” commented Moran. “Guess we’ve got here too soon.”
“It seemed to be banked up north of the point,” Bethune remarked. “I imagine we’ll be pretty safe in the bight unless some of that thin, cutting stuff is drifting about.”
Jimmy hove the boat to and lighted his pipe.
“The matter needs thinking over, and we’ll wait a bit for a better view,” he said. “It doesn’t look as if we could get to work just yet, and if any big floes drove across the banks at high-water, we’d be awkwardly placed in the bight. On the other hand, the ice will probably hang about until a strong breeze breaks it up, and I don’t want to keep the sea in wild weather while it’s in the neighborhood. The fog comes down thick and the nights are still dark.”
The others agreed to this and were afterward7 moodily8 silent. Whichever course they took there would be delay. It had been a relief to find that they had reached the island first, but they had no doubt that Clay was not far behind them. All they had gained by an earlier start might be sacrificed unless they could finish their task before he arrived.
The fog held all day and grew thicker when darkness fell; but the red dawn brought a clearer air with signs of a change, and Jimmy steered9 shoreward, sweeping10 the beach with his glasses as they approached the channel through the sands. That end of the island was free of ice, and after consulting together they decided11 to enter the bight. They thought they would be safer there, and they wanted to feel that the voyage was finished and they were ready to get to work. During the afternoon it began to blow strongly off the shore. The sloop12 lay in smooth water close to the beach, but when night fell the surf was roaring on the sands and they could hear the crash of rending13 ice. At times the din14 was awe-striking, but it died away again, and although they kept anchor watch in turns no floe6 appeared to trouble them. At dawn the greater part of the ice had gone, and they could see white patches shining far out at sea, but it was blowing much too hard for them to think of leaving shelter.
They waited two days, anxiously watching for a trail of smoke, but nothing broke the skyline, and at last the breeze fell. It was a flat calm when they towed the Cetacea out on a gray morning, but the swell15 ran steep and a thin drizzle16 obscured the sea. The sloop plunged17 wildly over the long undulations, jerking back the dory in spite of her crew’s toil18 at the oars19, and it was nearly noon when they picked up their cross-bearings and anchored by the wreck. Nobody suggested getting dinner and Jimmy went down as soon as he could put on the diving dress. He found the wreck, which freed him of a keen anxiety, but he had to come up without entering the hold. She had moved a short distance since he last saw her, and now lay almost on her beam-ends with her upper works badly shattered. The gap they had previously20 crept through was closed by broken beams. Jimmy supposed that heavy ice, floating deep in the water, had ground across her higher part as it drove out to sea.
Moran went down next, and reported on his return that an entrance might be made, with some trouble. Bethune went armed with a crowbar. By nightfall they had wrenched21 away several obstructing22 timbers and discovered that there was a good deal of sand to be moved. They ate a hearty23 supper and went to sleep. The work was the same the next day, but although they began as soon as it was light they realized by noon that the most they could hope for was to clear the way for an entrance on the morrow. All felt the effects of their labors24 and of breathing the compressed air, and when it was Jimmy’s turn to go down toward evening, he leaned on the coaming, reluctant to put on the dress.
“I’ll be ready when I’ve finished this pipe,” he said. “You’d better screw up that pump-gland in the meanwhile. I didn’t get as much air as I wanted last time.”
Moran set about it, and, though time was precious, Jimmy did not try to hurry him, but stood listlessly looking out to sea. A fine rain was falling, there was very little wind, and belts of fog streaked25 the dim gray water between him and the horizon. He was watching one belt when it seemed to open and a blurred26 shape crept out. Jimmy dropped his pipe and scrambled27 to the cabin top. He could distinguish a patch of white hull28 and a tall mast. As he called to the others a short funnel29 appeared, and a trail of smoke lay dark along the edge of the fog.
“We don’t need the glasses to tell whose boat that is,” he said harshly.
They knew her at the first glance and their faces hardened.
“Clay’s lost no time,” Bethune remarked. “Well, I suppose it means a fight, and we’ll gain nothing by running away now, but we may as well stop diving until we find out whether it’s worth while to go on.”
After securing the pumps and gear they waited, watching the yacht’s approach. She came straight on at moderate speed, and stopped three or four hundred yards away. They saw the anchor splash and heard a rattle30 of chain, but after that there was no sign of activity on board the vessel31.
“It’s my opinion Clay knows who we are,” Moran said.
“You can take that for granted,” Bethune replied. “We’ll hear from him before long, but he doesn’t mean to show any eagerness in sending a boat off. As time’s getting on, I think we’ll have supper.”
As they finished the meal a smart gig, pulled by uniformed seamen32, approached the sloop, and when she stopped alongside the helmsman handed Jimmy two notes.
Opening them in the cabin, he showed his companions two sheets of fine paper bearing an embossed flag and the vessel’s name. One note stated that Mr. Clay requested their company at supper on board his yacht, and the other, which was longer, was from Aynsley. He said that although he was not sure they had much cause to remember him with gratitude33, he would be glad to see them, and hoped they would not refuse his father’s invitation.
“Do you think Clay made him write this?” Jimmy asked.
“No,” said Bethune. “On the whole, I imagine it was sent without Clay’s knowledge. Of course, Aynsley had some reason for writing, but while I can’t tell what it is, he’s not in the plot.”
“Anyway, I’m not going; I’ve no wish to sit at that man’s table.”
Bethune grinned as he indicated his pilot jacket, which was shrunk and stained by salt-water, and his old sea-boots.
“Our get-up’s hardly smart enough for a yacht’s saloon; and I’ve a notion that it might be wiser to stay where we are. Still, we’ll have to see him before long, and you’d better write a civil refusal; though I’m afraid we can’t match his decorative34 stationery35.”
Jimmy tore a leaf out of his notebook and scribbled36 a few moments with a pencil. Then he read to his comrades:
“Mr. Farquhar and his friends regret their inability to leave their boat, but would esteem37 Mr. Clay’s company if he cares to visit them.”
“Bully!” exclaimed Bethune. “You’ve sealed it with a thumb-mark, and—well, we haven’t an envelope.”
When the gig’s crew rowed away with the note the three men gathered together in the little cabin.
“Will he come, do you think?” Moran asked.
“Oh, yes; but he’ll take his time, and get his supper first comfortably,” Bethune replied. “I’m rather anxious about the thing, because if he doesn’t come we can look out for trouble.”
Jimmy sat smoking in thoughtful silence. He had learned that Clay was cunning and unscrupulous; and, if worse came to worse, they were cut off from any outside help by leagues of lonely sea. Their enemy had a strong crew who were, no doubt, well paid and ready to do his bidding; for Jimmy knew that Clay would not have sailed on such an errand with men he could not trust. The sloop’s party would be hopelessly outmatched if he used force; and it would be difficult to obtain redress39 afterward, because they were only three in number, and all interested in the undertaking40, while Clay would have many witnesses, who could claim to be independent. The situation needed careful handling, and Jimmy was glad that Bethune was on board. For all that, if things came to the worst, Clay should not find them easy victims.
Presently he went out to look at the weather. The rain had stopped and low mist hung about, but a half-moon was rising in a patch of clear sky. The swell heaved, long and smooth, about the sloop, which swung up and down with a regular motion. Jimmy could see the yacht’s anchor light not far away and the yellow blink from her saloon windows, but he could hear nothing that suggested preparations for sending off a boat. As it was cold in the cockpit, he returned to the cabin, where the others had lighted the lamp, and none of them said much for the next hour. They could hear the loose halyards slap the mast and the water splash about beneath the floorings, and the soft lapping of the tide along the planking.
Moran suddenly raised his hand, and, after their long wait in suspense41, it was a relief to hear the measured splash of oars.
“That means he’s willing to make terms,” Bethune said.
Five minutes later the yacht’s boat ran alongside and Clay climbed on board.
“You can take a run ashore42, boys, and come off when we signal,” he said to his crew, and then turned to Jimmy. “I’ve come for a talk.”
“Will you come below,” said Jimmy, moving back the scuttle-slide. “Be careful how you get down: there’s not much room.”
Clay bumped his head before he found a place on a locker, where he sat silent for a moment, looking about. The light of the bulkhead lamp revealed the rough discomfort43 of the narrow cabin. Condensed moisture glistened44 on the low roof-beams; the floorings were damp and littered with coils of rope. The end of a torn sail projected from the forecastle door, and damp blankets were loosely spread on the lockers45 to dry in the warmth of the rusty46 stove. All this indicated stern, utilitarian47 economy, and the men’s ragged48, work-stained clothes were in keeping with it; but Clay noticed that their expression was resolute49.
In the meanwhile they were studying him, and it struck them that he looked ill. His face was flabby and there were heavy pouches50 under his eyes.
“So my invitation didn’t bring you off!” he said. “Were you afraid I might carry you out to sea?”
“Not exactly,” Bethune replied. “One would not suspect you of so crude a plan. Can’t you take it that we were afraid of a change of wind? You see, it’s a rather exposed position.”
“That’s so,” Clay agreed; “you have no steam to help you ride out a breeze. But we’ll get down to business. I made you an offer of five thousand dollars to give me the first chance of cleaning up this wreck. I’ll now go a thousand dollars better.”
“Is that your limit?”
“It is; you’ll save time by realizing it. I’ve bid up to the last cent I think worth while.”
“Suppose we decline?”
“You would be foolish. You have no claim on the wreck; in a sense, I have, and if we can’t come to some understanding I begin work at once. My yacht can hang on through a gale51 of wind and with our outfit52 we can get something done in pretty bad weather. You have a small sailing-boat and poor, cheap gear. As soon as a breeze gets up you’ll have to quit.”
“I imagine you haven’t yet mentioned all your advantages over us,” Bethune suggested.
Clay looked at him keenly and then smiled. “That’s so. I’m trying to be polite.”
“In fact, you’re keeping your strongest arguments in reserve. Unless we agree to your proposition, there’s not much chance of our recovering anything from the wreck?”
“You’re pretty near the mark,” Clay answered, smiling confidently.
“The odds53 seem against us. Perhaps I’d better be candid54. The truth is, we have already recovered something of importance.”
Clay’s expression became intent.
“Then you’re smarter than I thought and you played your hand well the last time I met you. However, it will probably save us all trouble if we put our cards on the table. What have you got?”
Bethune took out his notebook.
“To begin with, two bags of gold; the weight and marks, so far as we could make the latter out—”
“Shucks!” interrupted Clay. “They don’t count. You can keep your share of their salvage55. Come to the point.”
“One iron-clamped, sealed case. The stencil56 marks, although partly obliterated57, appear to be D.O.C. in a circle; the impress on the seals to attached tracing. Contents”—Bethune paused and looked steadily58 at Clay—“I dare say you know what these are?”
“Do you?” Clay asked sharply.
“We opened the case.”
There was silence for a few moments and all were very still. Clay’s voice was not so steady when he spoke59 again.
“Where is the case?”
“Not here,” said Bethune dryly. “If we don’t turn up to claim it within a fixed60 time, or if any attempt is made to obtain possession of it in our absence it will be handed to the underwriters.”
“You seem to have taken precautions,” Clay remarked.
“We did the best we could,” Bethune admitted with a modest air.
“Imagining that you might sell the box to me?”
“No!” Jimmy interposed sternly. “That was not our plan. When my partner first let you make an offer for the wreck—”
Clay stopped him with a gesture.
“It was to lead me on—you needn’t explain. Very well; I suggested putting our cards down, and now I’ll tell you something you don’t suspect. There’s a duplicate of that box on board and it contains the gold.”
Jimmy started, Moran gazed at Clay with knitted brows, and Bethune looked frankly61 puzzled. Clay seemed quietly amused at their surprise.
“You don’t understand?” he said. “After all, there’s no reason why you should do so; but the truth of my statement is easily tested. Now I’ll ask you a question to which I want a straight answer. What are you going to do with the gold you get?”
“That’s all? You have no other plans?”
“That is all.”
“Then I’ll exchange the case which holds the gold for the one you have. You can’t recover it without my help.”
For a time no one spoke. The three partners looked at one another in perplexed63 indecision, while Clay sat quietly still. There was a mystery behind the matter to which they could find no clue, and Clay would obviously not supply it. They did not know what to think.
“Do you know where to find this case?” Bethune asked.
“I believe so. I suggest that one of you come down to help me; Mr. Farquhar for preference.”
“Then you think of going down!” Jimmy exclaimed.
“I am going down the first thing to-morrow, whether you come or not. But what about my offer?”
“We can’t answer yet,” said Bethune. “It needs some thought.”
“Very well,” Clay agreed. “For all that, I must make a start in the morning. If you prefer, we can let the matter stand over until we find the case.” He paused and smiled at Jimmy. “You don’t look a nervous man and you needn’t hesitate. I’ve never put on a diving dress and you have had some experience; and I’m willing to use your boat and let your friends control the pumps.”
“I’m not afraid,” retorted Jimmy. “The difficulty is that the way into the strong-room is not yet open. It will take at least a day to remove the sand that has banked up against the opening.”
“Then I suppose I must wait, but I’ll send my diver across to help you at daybreak,” said Clay. “When everything is ready you can let me know. Now, if you have no suggestion to make, I think I’ll get back.”
Moran signaled to the boat’s crew, and when Clay had gone they sat down again in the cabin with thoughtful faces.
“I’ll admit that things have taken an unexpected turn,” Bethune remarked. “It’s obvious that we’re on the track of a secret of some importance which might explain a cunning fraud, but the matter’s complicated by the shipping64 of the genuine box of gold, and I can’t determine yet how far it’s our business to investigate it.”
“You don’t seem so ready at forming theories as usual,” Jimmy commented.
“I’ve made one or two and they look rather plausible65 until you test them. However, as it might be dangerous to jump to conclusions about the course we ought to take, I think we’d better wait. And now, as we’re to start at daybreak, it might be wise to go to sleep.”
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收听单词发音
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1
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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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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indigo
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| n.靛青，靛蓝 | |
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floe
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| n.大片浮冰 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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moodily
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| adv.喜怒无常地；情绪多变地；心情不稳地；易生气地 | |
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steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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sloop
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| n.单桅帆船 | |
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rending
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| v.撕碎( rend的现在分词 )；分裂；（因愤怒、痛苦等而）揪扯（衣服或头发等）；（声音等）刺破 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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drizzle
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| v.下毛毛雨；n.毛毛雨，蒙蒙细雨 | |
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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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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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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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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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obstructing
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| 阻塞( obstruct的现在分词 )； 堵塞； 阻碍； 阻止 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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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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26
blurred
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| v.（使）变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）难以区分；模模糊糊；迷离 | |
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scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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funnel
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| n.漏斗；烟囱；v.汇集 | |
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rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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decorative
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| adj.装饰的，可作装饰的 | |
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stationery
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| n.文具；(配套的)信笺信封 | |
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scribbled
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| v.潦草的书写( scribble的过去式和过去分词 )；乱画；草草地写；匆匆记下 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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locker
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| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
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redress
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| n.赔偿，救济，矫正；v.纠正，匡正，革除 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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42
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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43
discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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44
glistened
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| v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
lockers
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| n.寄物柜( locker的名词复数 ) | |
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46
rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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utilitarian
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| adj.实用的，功利的 | |
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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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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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50
pouches
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| n.（放在衣袋里或连在腰带上的）小袋( pouch的名词复数 )；（袋鼠等的）育儿袋；邮袋；（某些动物贮存食物的）颊袋 | |
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51
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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54
candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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salvage
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| v.救助，营救，援救；n.救助，营救 | |
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56
stencil
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| v.用模版印刷；n.模版；复写纸，蜡纸 | |
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57
obliterated
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| v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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58
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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59
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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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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61
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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62
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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63
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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64
shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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65
plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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