the cruise of the dolphin(海豚的游弋)-第2章
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The Cruise of the Dolphin
to fish。 It was early for cunners； but we were lucky enough to catch as nice
a mess as ever you saw。 A cod for the chowder was not so easily secured。
At last Binny Wallace hauled in a plump little fellow clustered all over
with flaky silver。
To skin the fish； build our fireplace； and cook the chowder kept us
busy the next two hours。
The fresh air and the exercise had given us the appetites of wolves；
and we were about famished by the time the savory mixture was ready for
our clam…shell saucers。
I shall not insult the rising generation on the seaboard by telling them
how delectable is a chowder compounded and eaten in this Robinson
Crusoe fashion。 As for the boys who live inland； and know not of such
marine feasts； my heart is full of pity for them。 What wasted lives！ Not to
know the delights of a clambake； not to love chowder； to be ignorant of
lobscouse！
How happy we were； we four； sitting cross…legged in the crisp salt
grass； with the invigorating seabreeze blowing gratefully through our hair！
What a joyous thing was life； and how far off seemed deathdeath； that
lurks in all pleasant places； and was so near！
The banquet finished； Phil Adams drew from his pocket a handful of
sweet…fern cigars； but as none of the party could indulge without imminent
risk of becoming ill； we all； on one pretext or another； declined； and Phil
smoked by himself。
The wind had freshened by this； and we found it comfortable to put on
the jackets which had been thrown aside in the heat of the day。 We strolled
along the beach and gathered large quantities of the fairy…woven Iceland
moss； which at certain seasons is washed to these shores； then we played
at ducks and drakes； and then； the sun being sufficiently low； we went in
bathing。
Before our bath was ended a slight change had come over the sky and
sea； fleecy…white clouds scudded here and there； and a muffled moan from
the breakers caught our ears from time to time。 While we were dressing； a
few hurried drops of rain came lisping down； and we adjourned to the tent
to wait the passing of the squall。
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The Cruise of the Dolphin
〃We're all right； anyhow；〃 said Phil Adams。 〃It won't be much of a
blow； and we'll be as snug as a bug in a rug； here in the tent； particularly if
we have that lemonade which some of you fellows were going to make。
By an oversight； the lemons had been left in the boat。 Binny Wallace
volunteered to go for them。
〃Put an extra stone on the painter； Binny；〃 said Adams； calling after
him； 〃it would be awkward to have the Dolphin give us the slip and return
to port minus her passengers。〃
〃That it would；〃 answered Binny； scrambling down the rocks。
Sandpeep Island is diamond…shapedone point running out into the sea；
and the other looking towards the town。 Our tent was on the river…side。
Though the Dolphin was also on the same side； she lay out of sight by the
beach at the farther extremity of the island。
Binny Wallace had been absent five or six minutes when we heard him
calling our several names in tones that indicated distress or surprise； we
could not tell which。 Our first thought was； 〃The boat has broken adrift！〃
We sprung to our feet and hastened down to the beach。 On turning the
bluff which hid the mooring…place from our view； we found the conjecture
correct。 Not only was the Dolphin afloat； but poor little Binny Wallace
was standing in the bows with his arms stretched helplessly towards us
drifting out to sea！
〃Head the boat inshore！〃 shouted Phil Adams。
Wallace ran to the tiller； but the slight cockle…shell merely swung
round and drifted broadside on。 Oh； if we had but left a single scull in the
Dolphin！
〃Can you swim it？〃 cried Adams desperately； using his hand as a
speaking…trumpet； for the distance between the boat and the island
widened momently。
Binny Wallace looked down at the sea； which was covered with white
caps； and made a despairing gesture。 He knew； and we knew； that the
stoutest swimmer could not live forty seconds in those angry waters。
A wild； insane light came into Phil Adam's eyes； as he stood knee…
deep in the boiling surf； and for an instant I think he meditated plunging
into the ocean after the receding boat。
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The Cruise of the Dolphin
The sky darkened； and an ugly look stole rapidly over the broken
surface of the sea。
Binny Wallace half rose from his seat in the stern； and waved his hand
to us in token of farewell。 In spite of the distance； increasing every
moment； we could see his face plainly。 The anxious expression it wore at
first had passed。 It was pale and meek now； and I love to think there was a
kind of halo about it； like that which painters place around the forehead of
a saint。 So he drifted away。
The sky grew darker and darker。 It was only by straining our eyes
through the unnatural twilight that we could keep the Dolphin in sight。
The figure of Binny Wallace was no longer visible； for the boat itself had
dwindled to a mere white dot on the black water。 Now we lost it； and our
hearts stopped throbbing； and now the speck appeared again； for an instant；
on the crest of a high wave。
Finally it went out like a spark； and we saw it no more。 Then we gazed
at one another； and dared not speak。
Absorbed in following the course of the boat； we had scarcely noticed
the huddled inky clouds that sagged heavily all around us。 From these
threatening masses； seamed at intervals with pale lightning； there now
burst a heavy peal of thunder that shook the ground under our feet。 A
sudden squall struck the sea； ploughing deep white furrows into it； and at
the same instant a single piercing shriek rose above the tempestthe
frightened cry of a gull swooping over the island。 How it startled us！
It was impossible any longer to keep our footing on the beach。 The
wind and the breakers would have swept us into the ocean if we had not
clung to one another with the desperation of drowning men。 Taking
advantage of a momentary lull； we crawled up the sands on our hands and
knees； and； pausing in the lee of the granite ledge to gain breath； returned
to the camp； where we found that the gale had snapped all the fastenings
of the tent but one。 Held by this； the puffed…out canvas swayed in the wind
like a balloon。 It was a task of some difficulty to secure it； which we did
by beating down the canvas with the oars。
After several trials； we succeeded in setting up the tent on the leeward
side of the ledge。 Blinded by the vivid flashes of lightning； and drenched
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The Cruise of the Dolphin
by the rain； which fell in torrents； we crept； half dead with fear and
anguish； under our flimsy shelter。 Neither the anguish nor the fear was on
our own account； for we were comparatively safe； but for poor little Binny
Wallace； driven out to sea in the merciless gale。 We shuddered to think of
him in that frail shell； drifting on and on to his grave； the sky rent with
lightning over his head； and the green abysses yawning beneath him。 We
suddenly fell to crying； and cried I know not how long。
Meanwhile the storm raged with augmented fury。 We were obliged to
hold on to the ropes of the tent to prevent it blowing away。 The spray from
the river leaped several yards up the rocks and clutched at us malignantly。
The very island trembled with the concussions of the sea beating upon it；
and at times I fancied that it had broken loose from its foundation and was
floating off with us。 The breakers； streaked with angry phosphorus； were
fearful to look at。
The wind rose higher and higher； cutting long slits in the tent； through
which the rain poured incessantly。 To complete the sum of our miseries；
the night was at hand。 It came down abruptly； at last； like a curtain；
shutting in Sandpeep Island from all the world。
It was a dirty night； as the sailors say。 The darkness was something
that could be felt as well as seenit pressed down upon one with a cold；
clammy touch。 Gazing into the hollow blackness； all sorts of imaginable
shapes seemed to start forth from vacancy brilliant colors； stars； prisms；
and dancing lights。 What boy； lying awake at night； has not amused or
terrified himself by peopling the spaces around his bed with these
phenomena of his own eyes？
〃I say；〃 whispered Fred Langdon； at last； clutching my hand； 〃don't
you see thingsout therein the dark？〃
〃Yes； yesBinny Wallace's face！〃
I added to my own nervousness by making this avowal； though for the
last ten minutes I had seen little besides that star…pale face with its angelic
hair and brows。 First a slim yellow circle； like the nimbus round the dark
moon； took shape and grew sharp against the darkness； then this faded
gradually； and there was the Face； wearing the same sad； sweet look it
wore when he waved his hand to us across the awful water。 This optical
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The Cruise of the Dolphin
illusion kept repeating itself。
〃And I too；〃 said Adams。〃 I see it every now and then； outside there。
What wouldn't I give if it really was poor little Wallace looking in at us！ O
boys； how shall we dare to go back to the town without him？ I've wished a
hundred times； since we've been sitting here； that I was in his place； alive
or dead！〃
We dreaded the approach of morning as much as we longed for it。 The
morning would tell us all。 Was it possible for the Dolphin to outride such a
storm？ There was a lighthouse on Mackerel Reef； which lay directly in the
course t
