the story of a bad boy(顽童故事)-第25节
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'Bosh！〃 muttered Phil Adams； sticking the boat…hook into the string…
piece of the wharf； and sending the Dolphin half a dozen yards towards the
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current。
How calm and lovely the river was！ Not a ripple stirred on the glassy
surface； broken only by the sharp cutwater of our tiny craft。 The sun； as
round and red as an August moon； was by this time peering above the
water…line。
The town had drifted behind us； and we were entering among the
group of islands。 Sometimes we could almost touch with our boat…hook
the shelving banks on either side。 As we neared the mouth of the harbor a
little breeze now and then wrinkled the blue water； shook the spangles
from the foliage； and gently lifted the spiral mist…wreaths that still clung
along shore。 The measured dip of our oars and the drowsy twitterings of
the birds seemed to mingle with； rather than break； the enchanted silence
that reigned about us。
The scent of the new clover comes back to me now； as I recall that
delicious morning when we floated away in a fairy boat down a river like
a dream！
The sun was well up when the nose of the Dolphin nestled against the
snow…white bosom of Sandpeep Island。 This island； as I have said before；
was the last of the cluster； one side of it being washed by the sea。 We
landed on the river…side； the sloping sands and quiet water affording us a
good place to moor the boat。
It took us an hour or two to transport our stores to the spot selected for
the encampment。 Having pitched our tent； using the five oars to support
the canvas； we got out our lines； and went down the rocks seaward 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 crusted 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 clamshell 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
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Crusoe fashion。 As for the boys who live inland； and know naught of such
marine feasts； my heart is full of pity for them。 What wasted lives！ Not to
know the delights of a clam…bake； not to love chowder； to be ignorant of
lob…scouse！
How happy we were； we four； sitting crosslegged in the crisp salt grass；
with the invigorating sea…breeze blowing gratefully through our hair！
What a joyous thing was life； and how far off seemed death…death； 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 sick； 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 await the passing of the squall。
〃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…shaped…one point running out into the sea；
and the other looking towards the town。 Our tent was on the river…side。
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Though the Dolphin was also on the same side； it 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
I〃
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 in shore！〃 shouted Phil Adams。
Wallace ran to the tiller； but the slight cockle…shell merely swung
round and drifted broadside on。 O； if we bad 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 momentarily。
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 Adams'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。
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 stem； and waved his hand
to us in token of farewell。 In spite of the distance； increasing every instant
we could see his face plainly。 The anxious expression it wore at first bad
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。
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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 each other； and dared not speak。
Absorbed in following the course of the boat； we had scarcely noticed
the huddled inky clouds that sagged down 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 tempest…the
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 each other with the desperation of drowning men。 Taking
advantage of a momentary lull； w
