the story of a bad boy(顽童故事)-第26节
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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
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
fell to crying； the three of us； 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。
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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 suddenly； 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 seen…it 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 length； clutching my hand； 〃don't
you see things…out there…in the dark？' 20
〃Yes； yes…Binny 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 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 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 light…house on Mackerel Reef； which lay directly in
the course the boat bad taken； when it disappeared。 If the Dolphin had
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caught on this reef； perhaps Binny Wallace was safe。 Perhaps his cries had
been heard by the keeper of the light。 The man owned a lifeboat； and had
rescued several people。 Who could tell？
Such were the questions we asked ourselves again and again； as we lay
in each other's arms waiting for daybreak。 What an endless night it was！ I
have known months that did not seem so long。
Our position was irksome rather than perilous； for the day was certain
to bring us relief from the town； where our prolonged absence； together
with the storm； had no doubt excited the liveliest alarm for our safety。 But
the cold； the darkness； and the suspense were hard to bear。
Our soaked jackets bad chilled us to the bone。 To keep warm； we lay
huddled together so closely that we could bear our hearts beat above the
tumult of sea and sky。
After a while we grew very hungry； not having broken our fast since
early in the day。 The rain had turned the hard…tack into a sort of dough； but
it was better than nothing。
We used to laugh at Fred Langdon for always carrying in his pocket a
small vial of essence of peppermint or sassafras； a few drops of which；
sprinkled on a lump of loaf…sugar； he seemed to consider a great luxury。 I
don't know what would have become of us at this crisis； if it hadn't been
for that omnipresent bottle of hot stuff。 We poured the stinging liquid over
our sugar； which bad kept dry in a sardine…box； and warmed ourselves
with frequent doses。
After four or five hours the rain ceased； the wind died away to a moan；
and the sea…no longer raging like a maniac…sobbed and sobbed with a
piteous human voice all along the coast。 And well it might； after that
night's work。 Twelve sail of the Gloucester fishing fleet had gone down
with every soul on board； just outside of Whale's…back Light。 Think of the
wide grief that follows in the wake of one wreck； then think of the
despairing women who wrung their hands and wept； the next morning； in
the streets of Gloucester； Marblehead； and Newcastle！
Though our strength was nearly spent； we were too cold to sleep。 Once
I sunk into a troubled doze； when I seemed to bear Charley Marden's
parting words； only it was the Sea that said them。 After that I threw off the
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drowsiness whenever it threatened to overcome me。
Fred Langdon was the earliest to discover a filmy； luminous streak in
the sky； the first glimmering of sunrise。
〃Look； it is nearly daybreak！〃
While we were following the direction of his finger； a sound of distant
oars fell on our ears。
We listened breathlessly； and as the dip of the blades became more
audible； we discerned two foggy lights； like will…o'the…wisps； floating on
the river。
Running down to the water's edge； we hailed the boats with all our
might。 The call was heard； for the oars rested a moment in the row…locks；
and then pulled in towards the island。
It was two boats from the town； in the foremost of which we could
now make out the figures of Captain Nutter and Binny Wallace's father。
We shrunk back on seeing him。
'Thank God！〃 cried Mr。 Wallace； fervently； as he leaped from the
wherry without waiting for the bow to touch the beach。
But when he saw only three boys standing on the sands； his eye
wandered restlessly about in quest of the fourth； then a deadly pallor
overspread his features。
Our story was soon told。 A solemn silence fell upon the crowd of
rough boatmen gathered round； interrupted only by a stifled sob from one
poor old man； who stood apart from the rest。
The sea was still running too high for any small boat to venture out； so
it was arranged that the wherry should take us back to town； leaving the
yawl； with a picked crew； to hug the island until daybreak； and then set
forth in search of the Dolphin。
Though it was barely sunrise when we reached town； there were a
great many people assembled at the landing eager for intelligence from
missing boats。 Two picnic parties had started down river the day before；
just previous to the gale； and nothing had been beard of them。 It turned out
that the pleasure…seekers saw their danger in time； and ran ashore on one
of the least exposed islands； where they passed the night。 Shortly after our
own arrival they appeared off Rivermouth； much to the joy of their f
