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CHAPTER IX THE MUTINY
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 Mark was awakened1 that night by feeling some one trying to turn him over. At first he thought it was Jack2, and sleepily muttered that he wanted to be let alone.
 
“Sorry I can’t oblige ye, my hearty3!” exclaimed a rough voice in his ear, “but I got particular orders t’ tie you up!”
 
At that Mark tried to sit up, but he found he could not. He discovered that he was closely bound with many turns of a rope, while in front of his bunk4 stood one of the rescued sailors.
 
“There,” said the man, with a final tightening5 of the ropes. “I guess you’re safe.”
 
“What’s the matter? What does it all mean?” asked Mark, much bewildered.
 
“It means that we have possession of the ship,” the sailor answered, “and, if you’re wise you’ll not make a fuss. It wouldn’t do any good, anyhow, as all your friends are in the same condition.”
 
Then, picking Mark up, as if he was a baby, the man slung6 him over his shoulder and carried him to the living room. There Mark saw Jack, the professor, Washington, and the others similarly bound.
 
“Do you realize what you are doing?” asked the professor angrily of his captors. “You are mutinying, and are liable to severe punishment.”
 
“If they ever get us,” added one of the men. “We’ve got the ship now, and we mean to keep her. You’ll have to run her or show us how.”
 
“Never!” cried the professor.
 
“I guess he will when he feels this,” said one of the men, as he dragged from a recess7 two wires. “I happen to know something of electricity, and when he feels these perhaps he’ll change his mind. I’ll start the dynamo.”
 
The sailor showed that he was acquainted with machinery8, for soon the hum of the electric apparatus9 was heard.
 
“Now to make him tell!” the man with the wires exclaimed, advancing toward the professor, who turned pale.
 
“Stop! You must not torture the old man!” cried a voice, and the mate of the Good Hope stepped in front of the sailor with the electrified10 wires.
 
“Who’s going to stop me?” asked the man.
 
“I will. It’s not necessary,” the mate went on quickly. “If we make him weak we may kill him, and he can not tell us what we want to know. One of the boys can tell us how to run the ship.”
 
The mate came quickly over to where Mark lay, and whispered:
 
“Consent to tell. It is the only way of saving his life. Tell ’em how to raise the craft. Then leave all to me. I will save you all and the ship, too, if I can. But consent.”
 
Mark nodded his head, and the mate cried:
 
“I knew I could fetch ’em. I have hypnotic power. This boy will raise the ship for us. Loosen his bonds, some of you.”
 
Satisfied that they were now on the way to experiencing a new sensation, the sailors took the ropes off Mark’s arms and legs, and he was allowed to rise. With a reassuring11 nod toward the professor he led the way to the engine room, followed by half the men. He resolved to start the gas machine slowly, so as to make the upward trip last longer, thinking before it had gone far, some way of escape from the mutineers might be found.
 
While a crowd of the sailors stood near him, Mark operated the machinery in the engine room that started the gas generating, and set the negative gravity apparatus working.
 
“You’d better not try any tricks on us,” said one of the men in an ugly tone of voice.
 
“I’m not going to,” replied Mark. “If you go out on deck you will soon see the ship leaving the water and mounting into the air.”
 
“Some of you go,” ordered a man with a big bushy red beard. “See if the ship rises. When she begins to go up sing out. I’m going to stay here and see how the young cub12 does it so I can work it myself.”
 
Obeying the red-bearded man, who seemed to be a leader, several of the sailors went out on the deck. It was quite dark, but there was a phosphorous glow to the water which made the rolling waves visible.
 
The gas was being generated, as could be told by the hissing13 sound. Mark watched the machinery anxiously, for he knew much depended on him, and the professor was not at hand to guide and instruct him. He watched the dial of the gage14 which registered the gas pressure and saw it slowly moving. In a little while it would be at the point at which the ship ought to rise.
 
Presently a quiver seemed to run through the Mermaid15. Now a shout came from the watchers on deck.
 
“She’s going up!”
 
The ship was indeed rising. The red-bearded man, who was addressed as Tony, ran from the engine room to the deck. He saw that the ship was now ten feet above the water. Back he came to where Mark stood by the gas machine.
 
“Lucky for you that you didn’t fool us, lad,” he said with a leer. “See that you mind me hereafter. Now show me how the shebang works.”
 
When the ship had risen as far as Tony desired he made Mark send it straight ahead. The boy adjusted the air tube to carry the craft toward the south, but Tony, seeing by a compass in which direction they were headed, ordered Mark to steer16 due east.
 
“Fix things so they will stay so, too,” added Tony. “I don’t want to stop until I get a thousand miles away. Then we’ll come down, sail to some sunny island, and enjoy life.”
 
Mark locked the steering17 apparatus so as to keep the Mermaid headed due east.
 
“Now you can go back to your friends,” Tony said. “When I want you I’ll send for you.”
 
With a heavy heart Mark rejoined the professor and others. He found them with their bonds removed. But to guard against their escape several men were on watch outside the door.
 
“What are they doing?” asked the professor eagerly as Mark entered, and the boy told him what had taken place.
 
“They will ruin my ship and spoil the whole trip,” cried the old scientist. “Oh, why did I ever go to the rescue of the scoundrels?”
 
“Never mind,” said Jack. “Perhaps we may yet outwit them.”
 
Morning came at last. The ship was still shooting forward at fast speed, in an easterly direction. The sailors had learned, in their short stay aboard, where the food and stores were kept, and they lost little time in getting breakfast. They sent some in to their captives, including a big pot of hot coffee, and, after partaking of this the professor and his friends felt better.
 
The mate of the Good Hope came in to help clear away the dishes. As he passed Mark he slipped into the boy’s hand a note.
 
“Don’t read it until you are alone,” he said in a low voice, as he hurried from the room.
 
As soon as the other sailors had left, Mark glanced at the slip of paper. It bore these words:
 
“Open when you hear three raps, then two, then three, and keep silent.”
 
“What is it?” asked Mr. Henderson.
 
Mark showed him the paper.
 
“I wonder what it means,” the boy said.
 
“Do you think he is a friend of ours?” the professor asked.
 
Mark told him of the mate’s conversation the night previous.
 
“I think we can trust him,” the scientist went on. “He must intend to pay us a visit when the others are asleep. When we hear the knocks as he specifies18 we must open the door and let him in.”
 
All that day the captives were kept in the living room. Once or twice Mark was sent for to make some adjustment to the machinery, but the apparatus, for the most part, was automatic, and needed little attention. The professor, as well as the others, were all impatience19 for the promised visit of the mate. Still they felt he would not come until night.
 
In fact it was long past midnight before Mark, Jack and the professor, who were anxiously listening, heard the three raps, then two, then three more. Mark quickly opened the door, and the mate stepped inside, holding his finger to his lips as a sign of caution. Old Andy, Washington, Bill and Tom had fallen asleep.
 
“I have only time for a few words,” the mate said. “I am closely watched. Tony mistrusts me. I will save you if I can.”
 
“Why have they repaid my kindness with such actions?” asked Mr. Henderson.
 
“Because they are desperate men,” replied the mate. “They are nothing more than pirates. They mutinied on the other ship, killed the captain and those of the crew who would not join them, and started off to seek their fortunes. I pretended to join them to save my life, but I have only been watching for a chance to escape.
 
“Because of lax discipline the ship was sent on fire. We tried to put it out but could not. The rest you know.
 
“I heard them plan to capture this airship, but could do nothing to stop them. Then I resolved to pretend to act with them. They fear pursuit for their other mutiny, and are anxious to get as far away as possible.”
 
“Do you think they will abandon the ship in a little while?” asked the professor hopefully.
 
“I’m afraid not,” answered the mate. “I think they want to get rid of all of you, so they can sail about as they please. Tony is a smart man. He could soon learn to run this ship, he thinks.”
 
“I doubt it,” Mr. Henderson answered. “But how are you going to help us?”
 
“I have not fully20 made up my plans,” the mate answered. “However I wanted you to know I would do my best to save you. Now I must go. Be on the watch and when I can I will let you know what I have decided21 on. I will hand Mark a note when I bring your meals, just as I did to-day. I think——”
 
“Hark! What was that?” asked the professor.
 
There was a noise outside the door, as if some one was listening.
 
“Put out the lights!” whispered the mate, and Jack switched off the electric incandescents.
 
A knock sounded on the door and the voice of Tony called:
 
“Mark! Come here! I want you to look at the gas machine. It has stopped working, and we are falling!”

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 awakened de71059d0b3cd8a1de21151c9166f9f0     
v.(使)醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到
参考例句:
  • She awakened to the sound of birds singing. 她醒来听到鸟的叫声。
  • The public has been awakened to the full horror of the situation. 公众完全意识到了这一状况的可怕程度。 来自《简明英汉词典》
2 jack 53Hxp     
n.插座,千斤顶,男人;v.抬起,提醒,扛举;n.(Jake)杰克
参考例句:
  • I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
  • He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。
3 hearty Od1zn     
adj.热情友好的;衷心的;尽情的,纵情的
参考例句:
  • After work they made a hearty meal in the worker's canteen.工作完了,他们在工人食堂饱餐了一顿。
  • We accorded him a hearty welcome.我们给他热忱的欢迎。
4 bunk zWyzS     
n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位;废话
参考例句:
  • He left his bunk and went up on deck again.他离开自己的铺位再次走到甲板上。
  • Most economists think his theories are sheer bunk.大多数经济学家认为他的理论纯属胡说。
5 tightening 19aa014b47fbdfbc013e5abf18b64642     
上紧,固定,紧密
参考例句:
  • Make sure the washer is firmly seated before tightening the pipe. 旋紧水管之前,检查一下洗衣机是否已牢牢地固定在底座上了。
  • It needs tightening up a little. 它还需要再收紧些。
6 slung slung     
抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 ); 吊挂; 遣送; 押往
参考例句:
  • He slung the bag over his shoulder. 他把包一甩,挎在肩上。
  • He stood up and slung his gun over his shoulder. 他站起来把枪往肩上一背。
7 recess pAxzC     
n.短期休息,壁凹(墙上装架子,柜子等凹处)
参考例句:
  • The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
  • Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。
8 machinery CAdxb     
n.(总称)机械,机器;机构
参考例句:
  • Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗?
  • Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。
9 apparatus ivTzx     
n.装置,器械;器具,设备
参考例句:
  • The school's audio apparatus includes films and records.学校的视听设备包括放映机和录音机。
  • They had a very refined apparatus.他们有一套非常精良的设备。
10 electrified 00d93691727e26ff4104e0c16b9bb258     
v.使电气化( electrify的过去式和过去分词 );使兴奋
参考例句:
  • The railway line was electrified in the 1950s. 这条铁路线在20世纪50年代就实现了电气化。
  • The national railway system has nearly all been electrified. 全国的铁路系统几乎全部实现了电气化。 来自《简明英汉词典》
11 reassuring vkbzHi     
a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的,使人放心的
参考例句:
  • He gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. 他轻拍了一下她的肩膀让她放心。
  • With a reassuring pat on her arm, he left. 他鼓励地拍了拍她的手臂就离开了。
12 cub ny5xt     
n.幼兽,年轻无经验的人
参考例句:
  • The lion cub's mother was hunting for what she needs. 这只幼师的母亲正在捕猎。
  • The cub licked the milk from its mother's breast. 这头幼兽吸吮着它妈妈的奶水。
13 hissing hissing     
n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式
参考例句:
  • The steam escaped with a loud hissing noise. 蒸汽大声地嘶嘶冒了出来。
  • His ears were still hissing with the rustle of the leaves. 他耳朵里还听得萨萨萨的声音和屑索屑索的怪声。 来自汉英文学 - 春蚕
14 gage YsAz0j     
n.标准尺寸,规格;量规,量表 [=gauge]
参考例句:
  • Can you gage what her reaction is likely to be?你能揣测她的反应可能是什么吗?
  • It's difficult to gage one's character.要判断一个人的品格是很困难的。
15 mermaid pCbxH     
n.美人鱼
参考例句:
  • How popular would that girl be with the only mermaid mom!和人鱼妈妈在一起,那个女孩会有多受欢迎!
  • The little mermaid wasn't happy because she didn't want to wait.小美人鱼不太高兴,因为她等不及了。
16 steer 5u5w3     
vt.驾驶,为…操舵;引导;vi.驾驶
参考例句:
  • If you push the car, I'll steer it.如果你来推车,我就来驾车。
  • It's no use trying to steer the boy into a course of action that suits you.想说服这孩子按你的方式行事是徒劳的。
17 steering 3hRzbi     
n.操舵装置
参考例句:
  • He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration. 他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。
  • Steering according to the wind, he also framed his words more amicably. 他真会看风使舵,口吻也马上变得温和了。
18 specifies 65fd0845f2dc2c4c95f87401e025e974     
v.指定( specify的第三人称单数 );详述;提出…的条件;使具有特性
参考例句:
  • The third clause of the contract specifies steel sashes for the windows. 合同的第三款指定使用钢窗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The contract specifies red tiles, not slates, for the roof. 合同规定屋顶用红瓦,并非石板瓦。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
19 impatience OaOxC     
n.不耐烦,急躁
参考例句:
  • He expressed impatience at the slow rate of progress.进展缓慢,他显得不耐烦。
  • He gave a stamp of impatience.他不耐烦地跺脚。
20 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地
参考例句:
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
21 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。


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