The accident had thrown the Ramblers into such consternation1 that for an instant all seemed incapable2 of action.
But the seriousness of their situation demanded immediate3 attention. The "Speedy" had already passed the passageway, and each moment the current of Canyon4 River and the wind were dragging it nearer the dreaded5 gorge6.
Bob Somers was the first to arouse himself. The yell of Tommy Clifton seemed to be still ringing in his ears. He grasped the tiller.
"Ease over the sheet, Dave," he shouted. "We're coming about on the starboard tack—quick!"
But the instant's delay had been fatal. Before the boat could respond to her helm, another furious blast sent her heeling over. This time, the tapering7 mast met the water; the boys shot out in all directions; then the "Speedy" turned bottom up, and, as if rejoicing at another victim, the current raced her swiftly along.
When they rose to the surface, the Ramblers, with one accord, struck out for the boat; each felt that to stem the force of wind and water was impossible. Numerous rocks studded the channel a bit further down, and their only hope seemed to lie in reaching one of these. At any rate, they had already gone so far that no effort at swimming could have saved them from the turbulent water below.
Clinging to the hull8, they could only glance at each other with white faces—faces which reflected the terror that gripped their hearts.
By this time, dark, rolling clouds had blotted9 out the mountain tops, and seemed to be on the point of pouring earthward a flood of rain. Nature was, indeed, in a wild and threatening mood.
And now an ominous10 roar rose above the sound of wind and waves. Already the upturned boat was sweeping11 past the lower end of Promontory12 Island.
Like one in a dream, Sam Randall saw flashing into view the white rocks upon which he had stood only a short time before. Then, almost instantly, torn like the others from their hold on the "Speedy," he was battling for life in a seething15 vortex.
Exhausted16 by the pounding and almost blinded, he struggled desperately17 to keep his head above water and reach one of the rocks. But a short distance separated him from a haven18 of safety. He kept his eye fixed19 on a form over which the water pounded and lashed. A few feet more, and his hand would reach it.
At last, with the agony of despair, Sam Randall grasped hold of the projecting point. His fingers closed tightly around it, and for an instant it looked as if success would crown his effort.
Then he was torn away.
A deafening20 roar rang in his ears; he seemed to be fairly lifted above the madly swirling21 water, then forced beneath, and when, gasping22 and choking, he rose to the surface, it was within the gloomy gorge, with nothing but rocky walls on either hand.
Yes, Bob and Dave were there, too.
The current was now smooth and even, and the three, notwithstanding their exhausted condition, found little difficulty in keeping to the surface. The "Speedy" could be seen not far ahead.
Bob Somers felt a strange calmness steal over him; the first crushing shock had gone, and even when, a few minutes later, a steady murmur23 rose above the gurgle of the lapping water, it did not seem to increase his agitation24.
The sound rapidly increased in volume, a steady droning, musical and solemn.
The swimmers shot around a jutting26 crag; then Bob Somers felt like uttering a shout. Hope swept away the unnatural27 calmness, and renewed his strength.
The river widened out; on the left side a green field, dotted with trees, sloped gently to the water's edge.
"Let's try to land there," cried Bob, and the boys struck out in that direction. The current was swift, and they realized that an instant's delay would result in their being swept down to the falls. Already more than half the green shore was behind them, when Bob Somers won his battle. He grasped an overhanging tree and pulled himself up on the bank. Then, a bit further along, Dave Brandon crawled up on a shelving rock, and lastly, Sam Randall.
Exhausted, the three lay perfectly28 still, their hearts filled with thankfulness at their wonderful escape. Bob Somers was the first to rise, and, in a moment, the others joined him. They were three strange-looking boys, pale-faced, with wet, bedraggled clothing that stuck tightly to their forms.
"We had a narrow escape, fellows," exclaimed Sam Randall, with a shiver. "I never expected to get out of it."
"One adventure like this would last a fellow a lifetime," murmured Dave. "We ought to thank our stars. I'll never forget how I felt when we were in that gorge," and Dave shuddered29.
"Nor I," said Bob. "If we only knew what happened to poor Tommy and Dick."
"Travers is a good swimmer; the current doesn't run very strong there, and they were close to Hemlock30 Island."
Dave's cheering words brightened the others considerably31.
"Listen to the roar of that cataract," put in Sam. "It can't be far off—sounds like a whopper."
"Suppose this valley had been on the other side of the falls, instead of this," said Dave, reflectively.
"Don't, Chubby," and Bob shivered. "Poor old 'Speedy,' she's smashed to bits, now—nice news for Uncle Barton. Maybe he won't have a few things to say to Dugan."
"Fellows," said Sam, suddenly, "how are we going to get out of this place? We may be in a fine pickle32 after all—let's explore a bit."
The valley seemed circular, and less than a quarter of a mile across. Trees and all sorts of vegetation grew in the richest profusion33. Above, the cliffs were enveloped34 in the low, scudding35 clouds, and occasionally big drops of rain spattered about them.
The three came to a halt at the end of the valley. The rocky walls rose sheer from the water again, and all hope of escape in that direction was cut off. A little below them, on the other side of the river, they could see another green shore, but its extent could not be determined36 on account of the cliff which jutted37 in front.
"Might have been better if we'd landed there," said Dave, reflectively. "Look at that spur extending out into the stream."
"Maybe," admitted Bob. "Suppose we explore the rest of the valley."
At the end of half an hour, the boys looked at each other in dismay. Every nook and corner of the border line had been inspected, and a disheartening fact was forced upon them—the valley had no outlet38.
"Bob, we're bottled up," said Sam, gloomily.
"An awful fix," murmured the captain, with sinking heart.
Dave glanced upward.
"Might as well think of trying to climb the sides of a house, Chubby," said Sam, despairingly. "Hang it—what's to be done?"
"Have lunch," answered the "poet." He pointed39 toward a mass of blackberry bushes. "Better than nothing," he added.
The others thought so, too, and began an onslaught which lasted until their hunger was considerably appeased40. Then, despite a drizzly41 rain, they wandered back to the river, and ran up and down the banks to keep warm. The top of Promontory Island could be faintly seen between the canyon walls.
"If we only had some matches, it might be worth while to build a fire," remarked Sam. "Old Neil Prescott would be sure to see it."
"And no one's coming the way we did. What can be done, Dave?"
"Eat blackberries, and hope," counseled the "poet," and, as Sam made an impatient gesture, he added, "Until to-morrow, at least."
"And to-morrow?" said Sam.
But his question remained unanswered.
"Seems a pity that such a beautiful little place should be hidden," remarked the "poet," thoughtfully. "Remember the poem,
"'Full many a flower is born to blush unseen
And waste its sweetness on the desert air'?"
But neither Bob nor Sam could view the situation as cheerfully as their companion, and remained moodily44 silent.
Never could the boys remember so tiresome45 a wait as they had beneath the trees that afternoon. The minutes seemed to drag out interminably. It was late when the rain stopped, and they continued their exploration, in a vain hope that some way out of their dilemma46 might be discovered.
"No use," said Sam, wearily. "We are in an awful pickle."
Dave Brandon and his chums nodded.
Toward dusk the clouds began to clear away, and when night came, twinkling stars peeped between the flying masses. But it was a black, gloomy night; the wind rustled47 the tree-tops mournfully, and the monotonous48 roar of the cataract sounded louder than ever.
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1
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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canyon
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| n.峡谷，溪谷 | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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6
gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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7
tapering
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| adj.尖端细的 | |
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8
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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9
blotted
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| 涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 )； （用吸墨纸）吸干 | |
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10
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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13
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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14
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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haven
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| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
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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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20
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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21
swirling
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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cataract
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| n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障 | |
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jutting
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| v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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27
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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28
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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29
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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30
hemlock
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| n.毒胡萝卜，铁杉 | |
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31
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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32
pickle
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| n.腌汁，泡菜；v.腌，泡 | |
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33
profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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34
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
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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36
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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jutted
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| v.（使）突出( jut的过去式和过去分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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38
outlet
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| n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄 | |
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39
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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40
appeased
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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41
drizzly
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| a.毛毛雨的(a drizzly day) | |
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42
ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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43
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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44
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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45
tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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46
dilemma
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| n.困境，进退两难的局面 | |
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47
rustled
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| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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