It grew dark. To the gloom of the storm had been added the blackness of the night. Literally5, no man could see his hand before his face; even the white foam6 that broke upon the decks or against the sides passed invisibly.
Still, the ship drove on, held relentlessly7 to her course. For it was necessary to pass the western line of the weed-bound[26] sea before turning to the north; and, until this was done, the Queen could not turn tail to the storm.
Toward morning Captain Bostwick struggled to the chart-house and, for the twentieth time, bent8 over the sheet, figuring and measuring. Then, with careful precision, he punched a dot in the surface and drew a long breath.
“We are all right now,” he announced. “We can bear away north with safety. Nothing can harm us, unless——”
He opened the last chart of the Hydrographic Office and noted9 some lines drawn10 in red. His brow grew anxious again and he drew his breath.
“Confound that derelict!” he muttered. “Allowing for drift, she should be close to this very spot. If we should strike her——”
The sentence was never finished. With a shivering shock like that of a railroad train in a head-on collision, the Queen stopped dead, hurling11 the captain violently over the rail to the deck below.
[27]The first officer was clutching the rope of the siren when the crash came. The slight support it afforded before it gave way saved him from following his commander, and at the same time sent a raucous12 warning through the ship to close the collision bulkheads.
As he clung desperately13 to the rail, the Queen rose in the air and came down with another crash; then went forward over something that grated and tore at her hull14 as she passed. But her bows were buried in the waves, while her screw lashed15 the air madly.
Had not the involuntary warning of the siren sounded, and had it not been obeyed instantly, the Queen would have plunged16 in that heart-breaking moment to the bottom. As it was, her shrift seemed short.
The force of her impact on the lumber-laden, water-logged derelict had shattered her bows, and only the forward bulkhead, strained, split, gaping17 in a hundred seams where the rivets18 had been[28] wrenched20 loose, kept out the sea. A hurried inspection21 showed that even that frail22 protection would probably not long suffice.
She lasted, but dawn showed a desperate state of affairs. The Queen had swung round, until her submerged bow pointed24 to windward and her high stern, catching25 the gale, plunged dully northward26. The seas, rushing up from the southeast, broke on the shelving deck like rollers on a beach, and sent the salt spume writhing27 up the planks28 and into the deck state-rooms.
The engine and all the forward part of the ship were drowned, but the great dining-saloon and the staircase leading to the social hall above were still comparatively dry. In the latter and on the deck just outside of it the passengers were huddled29. The captain had disappeared,[29] licked away by the first tongue of sea that had followed the collision.
With the earliest streak30 of light the first officer decided31 to take to the boats. Only three remained, and these had already been fitted out with provisions.
As the crew and passengers filed into the first, Officer Jackson, who had several times come on deck, only to wander restlessly below again, once more plunged down into the darkness.
Rapidly yet cautiously he lowered himself down the sloping passageway, clutching at the jambs of empty state-rooms to keep himself from sliding down against the bulkhead, on the other side of which the sea muttered angrily. At last he gained the door he sought, and clung to it while he fitted a key into the lock.
The electric lights had gone out when the engine stopped, and not a thing could be seen in the blackness, but a stir within told that the room was tenanted. Some one was there, staring toward the door.
[30]Jackson lost no time.
“Here you!” he blustered32, in a voice into which there crept a quiver in spite of him. “Last call! The ship’s sinking and they’re taking to the boats. You gotter decide mighty33 quick if you’re going to come. Just gimme your parole and I’ll turn you loose to fight for your life.”
“I’ll give no parole. I’d a deal sooner drown here than hang on shore. You can do just as you please about releasing me. It’s a matter of indifference35 to me.”
The officer tried to protest.
“I don’t want your death on my shoulders, Mr. Howard,” he muttered. “Don’t put me to it.”
Howard laughed sardonically36.
“What the devil do I care about your shoulders?” he demanded. “Turn me loose, quick, or get out. Your company isn’t exhilarating, my good Jackson.”
Both men had raised their voices so as to be heard above the boom of the storm. As Howard ceased, there came an impact[31] heavier than before, followed by faint, despairing shrieks37.
With an oath, Jackson felt his way to the voice and bent over the berth38 in which his prisoner was lying. “Curse you!” he snarled39. “For two cents I’d take you at your word and let you drown. But I can’t. Here!”
“You’re loose now,” continued the officer. “But, by Heaven, if you try to escape, I’ll see that you don’t miss the death you say is welcome. Come on.”
Howard swung his legs over the edge of the berth.
“That’s fair,” he said. “Go ahead. I’ll follow.”
Hastily, Jackson led the way up the slanting41 passage to the topsy-turvy stairway, and so to the deck. A single glance about him and he turned on the other in fury. “Curse you,” he roared, “you’ve drowned us both with your infernal palavering!”
[32]The decks were deserted42; not a human being remained on them. Tossing on the waves, just visible in the glowing light, were two of the ship’s boats, crowded with passengers. The nearest was already a hundred yards away, and rapidly increasing its distance. The guard stared at it hungrily.
“There goes our last chance!” he muttered.
Howard eyed the tiny craft dispassionately.
“Oh! I don’t know,” he said. “If that boat was your best chance, it was a slim one. Never mind, Jackson; take comfort from me. Nobody doomed43 to hang was ever drowned. I’ll send you home to your wife and babies yet—I suppose you have a wife and babies; people like you always do.”
“Here! Don’t you take my wife’s name on your lips!”
“Look! I thought so.”
The boat, poised44 for an instant on the[33] crest45 of a great wave, suddenly lunged forward, raced madly down a watery46 slope, and thrust its nose deep into an opposite swelling47 wave. It did not come up. Long did the two men on the steamer watch, but nothing, living or dead, appeared amid the heaving waves.
At last Howard’s tense features relaxed.
“Well,” he remarked, carelessly. “That’s a mark to my credit, anyhow. I’ve saved your life, Jackson. Please see that you do me no discredit48 in the ten minutes that you will retain it.”
The other glared at him stupidly.
Howard looked at the man, and his lip curled contemptuously. He said nothing, however, but turned in silence toward where the boat had sunk.
[34]The next instant he started and glanced swiftly around him. His eyes fell on a life-preserver lodged51 in the broken doorway52 by the last wave that had retreated from his feet. He snatched it up and buckled53 it round him; then fastened one end of a rope beneath his arms and thrust the other into the hands of the stupefied officer.
“There! Wake up, man!” he ordered. “Wake up and stand by!”
Jackson stared at him. “Where? What? How?” he mumbled.
“Wake up, man! Don’t you see it’s a woman?”
As he saw the returning intelligence dawn in Jackson’s eyes, Howard slipped to the toppling brink54 of the bulwarks55 and stood watching for the next heave of the sea. As it came, with a white rag sopping56 foolishly on its crest, he waved his hand to the other.
“Give my love to Susan!” he cried, and plunged downward.
[35]Chaos! The sea into which he dived was without form and void. Like a grain of corn in a popper, he was tossed hither and thither57, twisted, wrenched at—all sense of direction stripped from him.
There was not one chance in a thousand that he would reach the woman; not one in a million that he could give her the least help if he did reach her; the very attempt became preposterous58 the moment he touched the water. Only blind chance could avail.
The incredible happened. His arm, striking out, caught the girl fairly round the waist and fastened there. He did not try to get back to the ship; he made no reasoned effort at all; reason was impossible in that turmoil59.
He struggled, no doubt, but the struggle was unconscious—a mere2 automatic battle for life. But he clung to the woman, gasping60, with oblivion pressing hard upon his reeling brain.
Something seemed to grasp him around[36] the waist and drag him backward, and unconsciously he tightened61 his arm on the waist he held, meeting the wrench19 as the sea withdrew its support.
Crash! Something had struck him cruelly, but struck realization62 back into his brain. Before he could act, the sea swelled63 around him again; but when it withdrew once more, he knew what had happened. Jackson was dragging him back to the wreck64, and he had struck against its side or on its submerged deck.
It was the deck! By favor of Providence65 it was the deck! Aided by the drag of the rope, the last wave washed Howard and his prize almost to the feet of the police officer, who braced66 himself to withstand the backtow as the water retreated; then reached down and dragged both up to momentary67 safety.
Howard opened his eyes for one instant.
“Didn’t I tell you I would have a drier death on shore?” he gasped before unconsciousness claimed him.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
torrent
|
|
| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
hooted
|
|
| （使）作汽笛声响，作汽车喇叭声( hoot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
gale
|
|
| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
literally
|
|
| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
foam
|
|
| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
relentlessly
|
|
| adv.不屈不挠地；残酷地；不间断 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
hurling
|
|
| n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
raucous
|
|
| adj.(声音)沙哑的，粗糙的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
desperately
|
|
| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
hull
|
|
| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
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： |
|
|
|
|
16
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
gaping
|
|
| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
rivets
|
|
| 铆钉( rivet的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
wrench
|
|
| v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
wrenched
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
inspection
|
|
| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
frail
|
|
| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
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： |
|
|
|
|
24
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
catching
|
|
| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
northward
|
|
| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
writhing
|
|
| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
planks
|
|
| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
huddled
|
|
| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
streak
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
blustered
|
|
| v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
indifference
|
|
| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
sardonically
|
|
| adv.讽刺地，冷嘲地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
shrieks
|
|
| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
berth
|
|
| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
snarled
|
|
| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
rattle
|
|
| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
slanting
|
|
| 倾斜的，歪斜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
doomed
|
|
| 命定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
poised
|
|
| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
crest
|
|
| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
watery
|
|
| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
swelling
|
|
| n.肿胀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
discredit
|
|
| vt.使不可置信；n.丧失信义；不信，怀疑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
mumbled
|
|
| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
murmurs
|
|
| n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
lodged
|
|
| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
buckled
|
|
| a. 有带扣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
brink
|
|
| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
bulwarks
|
|
| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
sopping
|
|
| adj. 浑身湿透的 动词sop的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
thither
|
|
| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
preposterous
|
|
| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
turmoil
|
|
| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
gasping
|
|
| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
tightened
|
|
| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
realization
|
|
| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
swelled
|
|
| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
wreck
|
|
| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
providence
|
|
| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
braced
|
|
| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
momentary
|
|
| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |