little novels-第43章

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　Captain；　and　by　their　curiosity　to　know　the　cause　of　the　sudden　preparations　for　the　ship's　departure；　all　went　ashore　together；　looking　suspiciously　at　the　sky；　and　reappeared　no　more。　Just　at　midnight；　the　ship　（still　in　her　snug　berth　inside　the　reef）　suddenly　trembled　from　her　keel　to　her　uppermost　masts。　Mr。　Duncalf；　surrounded　by　the　startled　crew；　shook　his　knotty　fist　at　the　island　as　if　he　could　see　it　in　the　dark。　〃My　lads；　what　did　I　tell　you？　That　was　a　shock　of　earthquake。〃

With　the　morning　the　threatening　aspect　of　the　weather　unexpectedly　disappeared。　A　faint　hot　breeze　from　the　land；　just　enough　to　give　the　ship　steerage…way；　offered　Mr。　Duncalf　a　chance　of　getting　to　sea。　Slowly　the　_Fortuna_；　with　the　mate　himself　at　the　wheel；　half　sailed；　half　drifted　into　the　open　ocean。　At　a　distance　of　barely　two　miles　from　the　island　the　breeze　was　felt　no　more；　and　the　vessel　lay　becalmed　for　the　rest　of　the　day。

At　night　the　men　waited　their　orders；　expecting　to　be　sent　after　their　Captain　in　one　of　the　boats。　The　intense　darkness；　the　airless　heat；　and　a　second　shock　of　earthquake　（faintly　felt　in　the　ship　at　her　present　distance　from　the　land）　warned　the　mate　to　be　cautious。　〃I　smell　mischief　in　the　air；〃　said　Mr。　Duncalf。　〃The　Captain　must　wait　till　I　am　surer　of　the　weather。〃

Still　no　change　came　with　the　new　day。　The　dead　calm　continued；　and　the　airless　heat。　As　the　day　declined；　another　ominous　appearance　became　visible。　A　thin　line　of　smoke　was　discovered　through　the　telescope；　ascending　from　the　topmost　peak　of　the　mountain　on　the　main　island。　Was　the　volcano　threatening　an　eruption？　The　mate；　for　one；　entertained　no　doubt　of　it。　〃By　the　Lord；　the　place　is　going　to　burst　up！〃　said　Mr。　Duncalf。　〃Come　what　may　of　it；　we　must　find　the　Captain　to…night！〃

V。

WHAT　was　the　Captain　doing？　and　what　chance　had　the　crew　of　finding　him　that　night？

He　had　committed　himself　to　his　desperate　adventure；　without　forming　any　plan　for　the　preservation　of　his　own　safety；　without　giving　even　a　momentary　consideration　to　the　consequences　which　might　follow　the　risk　that　he　had　run。　The　charming　figure　that　he　had　seen　haunted　him　night　and　day。　The　image　of　the　innocent　creature；　secluded　from　humanity　in　her　island　solitude；　was　the　one　image　that　filled　his　mind。　A　man；　passing　a　woman　in　the　street；　acts　on　the　impulse　to　turn　and　follow　her；　and　in　that　one　thoughtless　moment　shapes　the　destiny　of　his　future　life。　The　Captain　had　acted　on　a　similar　impulse；　when　he　took　the　first　canoe　he　had　found　on　the　beach；　and　shaped　his　reckless　course　for　the　tabooed　island。

Reaching　the　shore　while　it　was　still　dark；　he　did　one　sensible　thinghe　hid　the　canoe　so　that　it　might　not　betray　him　when　the　daylight　came。　That　done；　he　waited　for　the　morning　on　the　outskirts　of　the　forest。

The　trembling　light　of　dawn　revealed　the　mysterious　solitude　around　him。　Following　the　outer　limits　of　the　trees；　first　in　one　direction；　then　in　another；　and　finding　no　trace　of　any　living　creature；　he　decided　on　penetrating　to　the　interior　of　the　island。　He　entered　the　forest。

An　hour　of　walking　brought　him　to　rising　ground。　Continuing　the　ascent；　he　got　clear　of　the　trees；　and　stood　on　the　grassy　top　of　a　broad　cliff　which　overlooked　the　sea。　An　open　hut　was　on　the　cliff。　He　cautiously　looked　in；　and　discovered　that　it　was　empty。　The　few　household　utensils　left　about；　and　the　simple　bed　of　leaves　in　a　corner；　were　covered　with　fine　sandy　dust。　Night…birds　flew　blundering　out　of　the　inner　cavities　of　the　roof；　and　took　refuge　in　the　shadows　of　the　forest　below。　It　was　plain　that　the　hut　had　not　been　inhabited　for　some　time　past。

Standing　at　the　open　doorway　and　considering　what　he　should　do　next；　the　Captain　saw　a　bird　flying　toward　him　out　of　the　forest。　It　was　a　turtle…dove；　so　tame　that　it　fluttered　close　up　to　him。　At　the　same　moment　the　sound　of　sweet　laughter　became　audible　among　the　trees。　His　heart　beat　fast；　he　advanced　a　few　steps　and　stopped。　In　a　moment　more　the　nymph　of　the　island　appeared；　in　her　white　robe；　ascending　the　cliff　in　pursuit　of　her　truant　bird。　She　saw　the　strange　man；　and　suddenly　stood　still；　struck　motionless　by　the　amazing　discovery　that　had　burst　upon　her。　The　Captain　approached；　smiling　and　holding　out　his　hand。　She　never　moved；　she　stood　before　him　in　helpless　wondermenther　lovely　black　eyes　fixed　spellbound　on　his　face；　her　dusky　bosom　palpitating　above　the　fallen　folds　of　her　robe；　her　rich　red　lips　parted　in　mute　astonishment。　Feasting　his　eyes　on　her　beauty　in　silence；　the　Captain　after　a　while　ventured　to　speak　to　her　in　the　language　of　the　main　island。　The　sound　　of　his　voice；　addressing　her　in　the　words　that　she　understood；　roused　the　lovely　creature　to　action。　She　started；　stepped　close　up　to　him；　and　dropped　on　her　knees　at　his　feet。

〃My　father　worships　invisible　deities；〃　she　said；　softly。　〃Are　you　a　visible　deity？　Has　my　mother　sent　you？〃　She　pointed　as　she　spoke　to　the　deserted　hut　behind　them。　〃You　appear；〃　she　went　on；　〃in　the　place　where　my　mother　died。　Is　it　for　her　sake　that　you　show　yourself　to　her　child？　Beautiful　deity；　come　to　the　Templecome　to　my　father！〃

The　Captain　gently　raised　her　from　the　ground。　If　her　father　saw　him；　he　was　a　doomed　man。

Infatuated　as　he　was；　he　had　sense　enough　left　to　announce　himself　plainly　in　his　own　character；　as　a　mortal　creature　arriving　from　a　distant　land。　The　girl　instantly　drew　back　from　him　with　a　look　of　terror。

〃He　is　not　like　my　father；〃　she　said　to　herself；　〃he　is　not　like　me。　Is　he　the　lying　demon　of　the　prophecy？　Is　he　the　predestined　destroyer　of　our　island？〃

The　Captain's　experience　of　the　sex　showed　him　the　only　sure　way　out　of　the　awkward　position　in　which　he　was　now　placed。　He　appealed　to　his　personal　appearance。

〃Do　I　look　like　a　demon？〃　he　asked。

Her　eyes　met　his　eyes；　a　faint　smile　trembled　on　her　lips。　He　ventured　on　asking　what　she　meant　by　the　predestined　destruction　of　the　island。　She　held　up　her　hand　solemnly；　and　repeated　the　prophecy。

The　Holy　Island　was　threatened　with　destruction　by　an　evil　being；　who　would　one　day　appear　on　its　shores。　To　avert　the　fatality　the　place　had　been　sanctified　and　set　apart；　under　the　protection　of　the　gods　and　their　priest。　Here　was　the　reason　for　the　taboo；　and　for　the　extraordinary　rigor　with　which　it　was　enforced。　Listening　to　her　with　the　deepest　interest；　the　Captain　took　her　hand　and　pressed　it　gently。

　〃Do　I　feel　like　a　demon？〃　he　whispered。

Her　slim　brown　fingers　closed　frankly　on　his　hand。　〃You　feel　soft　and　friendly；〃　she　said　with　the　fearless　candor　of　a　child。　〃Squeeze　me　again。　I　like　it！〃

The　next　moment　she　snatched　her　hand　away　from　him；　the　sense　of　his　danger　had　suddenly　forced　itself　on　her　mind。　〃If　my　father　sees　you；〃　she　said；　〃he　will　light　the　signal　fire　at　the　Temple；　and　the　people　from　the　other　island　will　come　here　and　put　you　to　death。　Where　is　your　canoe？　No！　It　is　daylight。　My　father　may　see　you　on　the　water。〃　She　considered　a　little；　and；　approaching　him；　laid　her　hands　on　his　shoulders。　〃Stay　here　till　nightfall；〃　she　resumed。　〃My　father　never　comes　this　way。　The　sight　of　the　place　where　my　mother　died　is　horrible　to　him。　You　are　safe　here。　Promise　to　stay　where　you　are　till　night…time。〃

The　Captain　gave　his　promise。

Freed　from　anxiety　so　far；　the　girl's　mobile　temperament　recovered　its　native　cheerfulness；　its　sweet　gayety　and　spirit。　She　admired　the　beautiful　stranger　as　she　might　have　admired　a　new　bird　that　had　flown　to　her　to　be　fondled　with　the　rest。　She　patted　his　fair　white　skin；　and　wished　she　had　a　skin　like　it。　She　lifted　the　great　glossy　folds　of　her　long　black　hair；　and　compared　it　with　the　Captain's　bright　curly　locks；　and　longed　to　change　colors　with　him　from　the　bottom　of　her　heart。　His　dress　was　a　wonder　to　her；　his　watch　was　a　new　revelation。　She　rested　her　head　on　his　shoulder　to　listen　delightedly　to　the　ticking；　as　he　held　the　watch　to　her　ear。　Her　fragrant　breath　played　on　his　face；　her　warm；　supple　figure　rested　against　him　softly。　The　Captain's　arm　stole　round　her　waist；　and　the　Captain's　lips　gently　touched　her　cheek。　She　lifted　her　head　with　a　look　of　pleased　surprise。　〃Thank　you；〃　said　the　child　of　Nature；　simply。　〃Kiss　me　again；　I　like　it。　May　I　kiss　you？〃　The　tame　turtle…dove　perched　on　her　shoulder　as　she　gave　the　Captain　her　first　kiss；　and　diverted　her　thoughts　to　the　pets　that　she　had　left；　in　pursuit　of　the　truant　dove。　〃Come；〃　she　said；　〃and　see　my　birds。　I　keep　them　on　this　side　of　the　forest。　There　is　no　danger；　so　long　as　you　don't　show　yourself　on　the　other　side。　My　name　is　Aimata。　Aimata　will　take　care　of　you。　Oh；　what　a　beautiful　white　neck　you　have！〃　She　put　her　arm　admiringly　round　his　neck。　The　Captain's　arm　held　her　tenderly　to　him。　Slowly　the　two　descended　the　cliff；　and　were　lost　in　the　leafy　solitudes　of　the　forest。　And　the　tame　dove　fluttered　before　them；　a　winged　messenger　of　love；　cooing　to　his　mate。

VI。

THE　night　had　come；　and　the　Captain　had　not　left　the　island。

Aimata's　resolution　to　send　him　away　in　the　darkness　was　a　forgotten　resolution　already。　She　had　let　him　persuade　her　that　he　was　in　no　danger；　so　long　as　he　remained　in　the　hut　on　the　cliff；　and　she　had　promised；　at　parting；　to　return　to　him　while　the　Priest　was　still　sleeping；　at　the　dawn　of　day。

He　was　alone　in　the　hut。　The　thought　of　the　innocent　creature　whom　he　loved　was　sorrowfully　as　well　as　tenderly　present　to　his　mind。　He　almost　regretted　his　rash　visit　to　the　island。　〃I　will　take　her　with　me　to　England；〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃What　does　a　sailor　care　for　the　opinion　of　the　world？　Aimata　shall　be　my　wife。〃

The　intense　heat　oppressed　him。　He　stepped　out　on　the　cliff；　toward　midnight；　in　search　of　a　breath　of　air。

At　that　moment；　the　first　shock　of　earthquake　（felt　in　the　ship　while　she　was　inside　the　reef）　shook　the　ground　he　stood　on。　He　instantly　thought　of　the　volcano　on　the　main　island。　Had　he　been　mistaken　in　supposing　the　crater　to　be　extinct？　Was　the　shock　that　he　had　just　felt　a　warning　from　the　volcano；　communicated　through　a　submarine　connection　between　the　two　islands？　He　waited　and　watched　through　the　hours　of　darkness；　with　a　vague　sense　of　apprehension；　which　was　not　to　be　reasoned　away。　With　the　first　light　of　daybreak　he　descended　into　the　forest；　and　saw　the　lovely　being　whose　safety　was　already　precious　to　him　as　his　own；　hurrying　to　meet　him　through　the　trees。

She　waved　her　hand　distractedly　as　she　approached　him。　〃Go！〃　she　cried；　〃go　away　in　your　canoe　before　our　island　is　destroyed！〃

He　did　his　best　to　quiet　her　alarm。　Was　it　the　shock　of　earthquake　that　had　frightened　her？　No：　it　was　more　than　the　shock　of　earthquakeit　was　something　terrible　which　had　followed　the　shock。　There　was　a　lake　near　the　Temple；　the　waters　of　which　were　supposed　to　be　heated　by　subterranean　fires。　The　lake　had　risen　with　the　earthquake；　had　bubbled　furiously；　and　had　then　melted　away　into　the　earth　and　been　lost。　Her　father；　viewing　the　portent　with　horror；　had　gone　to　the　cape　to　watch　the　volcano　on　the　main　island；　and　to　implore　by　prayers　and　sacrifices　the　protection　of　the　gods。　Hearing　this；　the　Captain　entreated　Aimata　to　let　him　see　the　emptied　lake；　in　the　absence　of　the　Priest。