hard cash-第49节
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aptain； you saw the rate we passed the revenue cutter。 That vessel was nearly stationary； so what we passed her at was our own rate of drifting； and our least rate。 Putting all this together； we can't be many miles from the French coast； and； unless we look sharp and beat to windward； I pronounce the ship in danger。〃
A horselaugh greeted this conclusion。
〃We are nearer Yarmouth sands than France； I promise you； and nothing under our lee nearer than Rotterdam。〃
A loud cry from the deck above； 〃A LIGHT ON THE LEE BOW！〃
〃There！〃 cried Robarts with an oath： 〃foul of _her_ next！ through me listening to your nonsense。 He ran upon deck； and shouted through his trumpet； 〃All hands wear ship！〃
The crew； who had heard the previous cry； obeyed orders in the presence of an immediate danger； and perhaps their growl had really relieved their ill…humour。 Robarts with delight saw them come tumbling up； and gave his orders lustily： 〃Brail up the trysel！ up with the helm！ in with the weather main brace！ square the after yards！〃
The ship's bow turned from the wind； and； as soon as she got way on her； Robarts ran below again； and entered the cabin triumphant
〃That is all right： and now； Captain Dodd； a word with you。 You will either retire at once to your cabin； or will cease to breed disaffection in my crew； and groundless alarm in my passengers； by instilling your own childish； ignorant fears。 The ship has been underlogged a hundred miles； sir； and but for my caution in lying to for clear weather we should be groping among the Fern Isl〃
CRASH！
An unheard…of shock threw the speaker and all the rest in a mass on the floor； smashed every lamp； put out every light； and； with a fierce grating noise； the ship was hard and fast on the French coast； with her stern to the sea。
One awful moment of silence； then； amidst shrieks of agony； the sea struck her like a rolling rock； solid to crush； liquid to drown； and the comb of a wave smashed the cabin windows and rushed in among them as they floundered on the floor； and wetted and chilled them to the marrow。 A voice in the dark cried； 〃O God！ we are dead men。〃
CHAPTER XIV
〃ON deck for your lives！〃 cried Dodd； forgetting in that awful moment he was not the captain； and drove them all up； Robarts included； and caught hold of Mrs。 Beresford and Freddy at their cabin door and half carried them with him。 Just as they got on deck the third wave； a high one； struck the ship and lifted her bodily up； canted her round； and dashed her down again some yards to leeward； throwing them down on the hard and streaming deck。
At this tremendous shock the ship seemed a live thing； shrieking and wailing； as well as quivering with the blow。
But one voice dissented loudly from the general dismay。 〃All right men；〃 cried Dodd； firm and trumpet…like。 〃She is broadside on now。 Captain Robarts； look alive； sir； speak to the men！ don't go to sleep！〃
Robarts was in a lethargy of fear。 At this appeal he started into a fury of ephemeral courage。 〃Stick to the ship；〃 he yelled； 〃there is no danger if you stick to the ship；〃 and with this snatched a life…buoy； and hurled himself into the sea。
Dodd caught up the trumpet that fell from his hand and roared； 〃I command this ship。 Officers come round me！ Men to your quarters！ Come； bear a hand here and fire a gun。 That will show us where we are； and let the Frenchmen know。〃
The carronade was fired； and its momentary flash revealed that the ship was ashore in a little bay； the land abeam was low and some eighty yards off； but there was something black and rugged nearer the ship's stern。
Their situation was awful。 To windward huge black waves rose like tremendous ruins； and came rolling； fringed with devouring fire； and each wave as it charged them； curled up to an incredible height and dashed down on the doomed shipsolid to crush； liquid to drown with a ponderous stroke that made the poor souls stagger； and sent a sheet of water so clean over her that part fell to leeward； and only part came down on deck； foretaste of a watery death； and each of these fearful blows drove the groaning； trembling vessel farther on the sand； bumping her along as if she had been but a skiff。
Now it was men showed their inner selves。
Seeing Death so near on one hand； and a chance of escape on the other； seven men proved unable to resist the two great passions of Fear and Hope on a scale so gigantic and side by side。 Bayliss； a midshipman； and five sailors stole the only available boat and lowered her。
She was swamped in a moment
Many of the crew got to the rum； and stupefied themselves to their destruction。
Others rallied round their old captain； and recovered their native courage at the brave and hopeful bearing he wore over a heart full of anguish。 He worked like a horse； encouraging； commanding； doing； he loaded a carronade with a pound of powder and a coil of rope； with an iron bar attached to a cable； and shot the rope and bar ashore。
A gun was now fired from the guard…house； whose light Robarts had taken for a ship。 But no light being shown any nearer on the coast； and the ship expected every minute to go to pieces； Dodd asked if any one would try to swim ashore with a line made fast to a hawser on board。
A sailor offered to go if any other man would risk his life along with him。 Instantly Fullalove stripped； and Vespasian next
〃Two is enough on such a desperate errand；〃 said Dodd with a groan。
But now emulation was up； and neither Briton； Yankee； nor negro would give way。 A line was made fast to the sailor's waist； and he was lowered to leeward； his venturesome rivals followed。 The sea swallowed those three heroes like crumbs； and small was the hope of life for them。
The three heroes being first…rate swimmers and divers； and going with the tide； soon neared the shore on the ship's lee quarter； but a sight of it was enough： to attempt to land on that rock with such a sea on was to get their skulls smashed like eggshells in a moment。 They had to coast it； looking out for a soft place。
They found one； and tried to land； but so irresistible was the suction of the retiring wave； that； whenever they got foot on the sand； and tried to run； they were wrenched out to sea again； and pounded black and blue and breathless by the curling breaker they met coming in。
After a score of vain efforts； the negro； throwing himself on his back； went in with a high wave； and； on touching the sand； turned； dug all his ten claws into it clenched his teeth； and scrambled like a cat at a wall。 Having more power in his toes than the Europeans； and luckily getting one hand on a firm stone； his prodigious strength just enabled him to stick first while the wave went back； and then； seizing the moment； he tore himself ashore； but bleeding and bruised all over； and with a tooth actually broken by clenching in the convulsive struggle。
He found some natives dancing about in violent agitation with a rope； but afraid to go in and help him； and no wonder； not being seagulls。 By the light of their lanterns； he saw Fullalove washing in and out like a log。 He seized one end of the rope； and dashed in and grabbed his friend； and they were hauled ashore together； both breathless； and Fullalove speechless
The negro looked round for the sailor； but could not see him。 Soon； however； there was a cry from some more natives about fifty yards off and laterns held up； away he dashed with the rope just in time to see Jack make a last gallant attempt to land。 It ended in his being flung up like a straw into the air on the very crest of a wave fifteen feet high； and out to sea with his arms whirling； and a death shriek which was echoed by every woman within hearing。
In dashed Vespasian with the rope； and gripped the drowning man's long hair with his teeth： then jerked the rope； and they were both pulled ashore with infinite difficulty。 The good…natured Frenchmen gave them all three lots of _vivats_ and brandy and pats on the back； and carried the line for them to a flagstaff on the rocks nearer the stern of the ship。
The ship began to show the first signs of breaking up： hammered to death by the sea； she discharged the oakum from her opening seams； and her decks began to gape and grin fore and aft。 Corpses of drunken sailors drowned between decks now floated up amidships； and washed and rolled about among the survivors' feet These； seeing no hope； went about making up all quarrels； and shaking hands in token of a Christian end。 One or two came to Dodd with their hands out。
〃Avast ye lubbers！〃 said he angrily； 〃do you think I have time for nonsense？ Foksel ahoy！ axes； and cut the weather shrouds！〃
It was done； the foremast went by the board directly； and fell to leeward： a few blows of the axe from Dodd's own hand sent the mainmast after it。
The _Agra_ rose a streak； and the next wave carried her a little farther on shore。
And now the man in charge of the hawser reported with joy that there was a strain on it。
This gave those on board a hope of life。 Dodd bustled and had the hawser carefully payed out by two men； while he himself secured the other end in the mizen top： he had left that mast standing on purpose。
There was no fog here； but great heavy blac
