CHAPTER X HOWARD IN DANGER

"It's Howard Fenton!" cried Sam Randall, in terrified tones. "Can't something be done to save him?"

 

"The boat will be carried into the gorge¹, as sure as fate," groaned² Phil Levins. "See—it's moving faster every minute."

 

"Awful!" breathed Tom Clifton. "Awful to stand here and see that!"

 

Into the minds of each flashed the dreadful conviction that Howard Fenton was doomed⁴. Spellbound, they watched the "Dauntless" struggling in the current, tossing about like a chip, now floating broadside, then stern foremost, and each moment nearing the dark, gloomy gorge of Canyon⁵ River.

 

Sam Randall brought out his field-glass.

 

"I see Howard plainly," he gasped⁶. "He's holding on to a rope. The water is rough out there. Great Scott! This is terrible!"

 

"I wonder how it happened," groaned pale-faced Tom Clifton.

 

"It seems like an awful dream," panted Phil. "See how fast the 'Dauntless' is going now. In a few minutes he'll be in the gorge."

 

"Oh, why did we ever ask Howard to come over?"

 

Sam Randall directed his glass toward the base of the cliff, and a shiver ran through him.

 

A ridge⁷ of white foam⁸ shot up against the dark rocks which rose sheer from the water. There was nothing in that glance to inspire hope, and breathlessly they waited.

 

Glittering in the sunshine, the white hull⁹, tossing and pitching violently, shot toward the base of Round Mountain.

 

"Poor Howard," groaned Sam. "No hope now. The 'Dauntless' is in the gorge."

 

 

 

He turned away to hide his feelings, and when he looked again the boat was sweeping¹⁰ rapidly between the cliffs. Silently the boys watched, until the jutting¹¹ crag hid it from view, and then, with heavy hearts, retraced¹² their steps. For some time none could trust themselves to speak.

 

"What an awful difference a few hours has made," said Sam, finally, in an unsteady voice. "Poor Howard, I can't understand how he was ever caught like that."

 

"Looked to me as if the 'Dauntless' had lost its rudder," answered Phil, tremulously. "The wind's pretty strong, too, and if an accident happened near the passageway it would be easy to get carried out."

 

"Never felt so bad in all my life," put in Tom Clifton. "Fenton was such a jolly good chap."

 

"I can't help feeling that Howard will be saved in some way," said Sam.

 

But Phil Levins shook his head gloomily.

 

"You don't know Canyon River, Sam," he exclaimed. "Everybody will tell you that Fenton hasn't a chance."

 

They soon reached the "Spray," and hastily embarked¹³. So eager were they to get ashore¹⁴ that the boat seemed to move at a snail's pace. But once outside the passageway, a good, stiff breeze carried them along at a rattling¹⁵ clip. They were obliged to tack¹⁶ many times, and their patience was sorely tried.

 

At length, however, the hotel wharf¹⁷ was reached, and the boys jumped ashore.

 

They found great excitement at the Resort House. Groups had congregated¹⁸, eagerly discussing the accident.

 

The arrival of Sam, Tom and Phil furnished fresh interest. The three were besieged¹⁹ with questions, and they, in turn, asked many others.

 

"Yes, we saw it," said Philip Brown, the proprietor's son. "A searching party has already gone off to the place where Canyon River comes out of the gorge. Dear knows how long it will take them to get there."

 

"An' when they do, 'twon't be any use, I calc'late," remarked "Big Bill" Dugan, the stage-driver. "I tole Fenton many a time ter look out fur that current. Awful news fur his dad, when he gits back."

 

"Where is Mr. Fenton?" asked Sam.

 

"Went a-ridin' jist afore Howard put off in the boat. It beats me, it does—this business."

 

"Say, Sam, let's go over to White Rocks," suggested Phil Levins. "Coming, Tom? You can get a good idea of the current there."

 

"Like as not yer'll drop in," growled²⁰ Dugan. "Best keep away. It's 'nuff ter have one stranger carried down, without bein' plumb²¹ crazy 'nuff ter run any more chances."

 

But the boys had already started off.

 

The White Rocks were a series of huge boulders²² and flat stones which extended into the lake not far from the base of Round Mountain.

 

Led by Phil Levins, the boys were soon making their way from rock to rock. But Tom Clifton finally balked²³. The distance which separated him from the next was a little more than he cared to cross.

 

"Better not go out any further, fellows," he cautioned.

 

"Wait here, Tom. Your legs ain't quite long enough," replied Sam, as he made a flying leap.

 

Phil Levins, like most of the village boys, had often been out on the Rocks, and knew the easiest way, but Sam Randall drew many a long breath during the time that he was jumping and scrambling²⁴ from one to another.

 

"Christopher! Isn't it terrific!" he cried, when they finally came to a pause on the smooth, flat top of a rock near the outer end.

 

The water foamed²⁵ and boiled against its sides; miniature whirlpools formed here and there, while long, rippling²⁶ swells²⁷ with a glassy surface separated them from the boulders beyond.

 

Above all other sounds was the steady roar of the torrent²⁸ thundering toward the barrier. As if angry at resistance, it lashed³ itself into a fury, beating and splashing against the sullen²⁹ cliff. Hurled³⁰ back, its blue-green waves, patched with foam, paused for an instant before rushing in mad triumph toward the gorge of Canyon River, about fifty yards ahead.

 

Sam Randall was fascinated at the spectacle. From where they stood, it was possible to see down-stream for a considerate distance, and the boys eagerly turned their gaze in that direction, vainly hoping that the "Dauntless" might be somewhere in sight.

 

"Well, what do you think of it now?" asked Phil Levins, at length.

 

"I give up. No one would have the least chance in such a current," said Sam, in a hollow voice.

1 gorge   

n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃

参考例句：

• East of the gorge leveled out.峡谷东面地势变得平坦起来。
• It made my gorge rise to hear the news.这消息令我作呕。

2 groaned   

v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦

参考例句：

• He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
• The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 lashed   

adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥

参考例句：

• The rain lashed at the windows. 雨点猛烈地打在窗户上。
• The cleverly designed speech lashed the audience into a frenzy. 这篇精心设计的演说煽动听众使他们发狂。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 doomed   

命定的

参考例句：

• The court doomed the accused to a long term of imprisonment. 法庭判处被告长期监禁。
• A country ruled by an iron hand is doomed to suffer. 被铁腕人物统治的国家定会遭受不幸的。

5 canyon   

n.峡谷，溪谷

参考例句：

• The Grand Canyon in the USA is 1900 metres deep.美国的大峡谷1900米深。
• The canyon is famous for producing echoes.这个峡谷以回声而闻名。

6 gasped   

v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要

参考例句：

• She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
• People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 ridge   

n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭

参考例句：

• We clambered up the hillside to the ridge above.我们沿着山坡费力地爬上了山脊。
• The infantry were advancing to attack the ridge.步兵部队正在向前挺进攻打山脊。

8 foam   

v./n.泡沫，起泡沫

参考例句：

• The glass of beer was mostly foam.这杯啤酒大部分是泡沫。
• The surface of the water is full of foam.水面都是泡沫。

9 hull   

n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳

参考例句：

• The outer surface of ship's hull is very hard.船体的外表面非常坚硬。
• The boat's hull has been staved in by the tremendous seas.小船壳让巨浪打穿了。

10 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

11 jutting   

v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出

参考例句：

• The climbers rested on a sheltered ledge jutting out from the cliff. 登山者在悬崖的岩棚上休息。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soldier saw a gun jutting out of some bushes. 那士兵看见丛林中有一枝枪伸出来。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

12 retraced   

v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯

参考例句：

• We retraced our steps to where we started. 我们折回我们出发的地方。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• We retraced our route in an attempt to get back on the right path. 我们折返，想回到正确的路上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 embarked   

乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事

参考例句：

• We stood on the pier and watched as they embarked. 我们站在突码头上目送他们登船。
• She embarked on a discourse about the town's origins. 她开始讲本市的起源。

14 ashore   

adv.在(向)岸上，上岸

参考例句：

• The children got ashore before the tide came in.涨潮前，孩子们就上岸了。
• He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore.他抓住绳子拉船靠岸。

15 rattling   

adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词

参考例句：

• This book is a rattling good read. 这是一本非常好的读物。
• At that same instant,a deafening explosion set the windows rattling. 正在这时，一声震耳欲聋的爆炸突然袭来，把窗玻璃震得当当地响。

16 tack   

n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝

参考例句：

• He is hammering a tack into the wall to hang a picture.他正往墙上钉一枚平头钉用来挂画。
• We are going to tack the map on the wall.我们打算把这张地图钉在墙上。

17 wharf   

n.码头，停泊处

参考例句：

• We fetch up at the wharf exactly on time.我们准时到达码头。
• We reached the wharf gasping for breath.我们气喘吁吁地抵达了码头。

18 congregated   

（使）集合，聚集( congregate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The crowds congregated in the town square to hear the mayor speak. 人群聚集到市镇广场上来听市长讲话。
• People quickly congregated round the speaker. 人们迅速围拢在演说者的周围。

19 besieged   

包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Paris was besieged for four months and forced to surrender. 巴黎被围困了四个月后被迫投降。
• The community besieged the newspaper with letters about its recent editorial. 公众纷纷来信对报社新近发表的社论提出诘问，弄得报社应接不暇。

20 growled   

v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说

参考例句：

• \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道：“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》

21 plumb   

adv.精确地，完全地；v.了解意义，测水深

参考例句：

• No one could plumb the mystery.没人能看破这秘密。
• It was unprofitable to plumb that sort of thing.这种事弄个水落石出没有什么好处。

22 boulders   

n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾

参考例句：

• Seals basked on boulders in a flat calm. 海面风平浪静，海豹在巨石上晒太阳。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The river takes a headlong plunge into a maelstrom of rocks and boulders. 河水急流而下，入一个漂砾的漩涡中。 来自《简明英汉词典》

23 balked   

v.畏缩不前，犹豫( balk的过去式和过去分词 )；（指马）不肯跑

参考例句：

• He balked in his speech. 他忽然中断讲演。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• They balked the robber's plan. 他们使强盗的计划受到挫败。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

24 scrambling   

v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞

参考例句：

• Scrambling up her hair, she darted out of the house. 她匆忙扎起头发，冲出房去。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• She is scrambling eggs. 她正在炒蛋。 来自《简明英汉词典》

25 foamed   

泡沫的

参考例句：

• The beer foamed up and overflowed the glass. 啤酒冒着泡沫，溢出了玻璃杯。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The man foamed and stormed. 那人大发脾气，暴跳如雷。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

26 rippling   

起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的

参考例句：

• I could see the dawn breeze rippling the shining water. 我能看见黎明的微风在波光粼粼的水面上吹出道道涟漪。
• The pool rippling was caused by the waving of the reeds. 池塘里的潺潺声是芦苇摇动时引起的。

27 swells   

增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情）

参考例句：

• The waters were heaving up in great swells. 河水正在急剧上升。
• A barrel swells in the middle. 水桶中部隆起。

28 torrent   

n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发

参考例句：

• The torrent scoured a channel down the hillside. 急流沿着山坡冲出了一条沟。
• Her pent-up anger was released in a torrent of words.她压抑的愤怒以滔滔不绝的话爆发了出来。

29 sullen   

adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的

参考例句：

• He looked up at the sullen sky.他抬头看了一眼阴沉的天空。
• Susan was sullen in the morning because she hadn't slept well.苏珊今天早上郁闷不乐，因为昨晚没睡好。

30 hurled   

v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂

参考例句：

• He hurled a brick through the window. 他往窗户里扔了块砖。
• The strong wind hurled down bits of the roof. 大风把屋顶的瓦片刮了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》