malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第33节
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agreed that it would be foolish for any boat to attempt it； till the wind had
blown itself out； which might be within half an hour。 After that； some
predicted a calm； some a fog； some a renewal of the storm； there was the
usual variety of opinions。 At any rate； there might perhaps be an interval
during which they could go out； if the gentlemen did not mind a wet
jacket。
Within the half…hour came indeed an interval of calm； and a light
shone behind the clouds from the west。 It faded soon into a gray fog；
with puffs of wind from the southwest again。 When the young men went
out with the boatmen； the water had grown more quiet； save where angry
little gusts ruffled it。 But these gusts made it necessary to carry a double
reef； and they made but little progress against wind and tide。
A dark…gray fog； broken by frequent wind…flaws； makes the ugliest of
all days on the water。 A still； pale fog is soothing； it lulls nature to a kind
of repose。 But a windy fog with occasional sunbeams and sudden films
of metallic blue breaking the leaden water；this carries an impression of
something weird and treacherous in the universe； and suggests caution。
As the boat floated on； every sight and sound appeared strange。 The
music from the fort came sudden and startling through the vaporous eddies。
A tall white schooner rose instantaneously near them； like a light…house。
They could see the steam of the factory floating low； seeking some outlet
between cloud and water。 As they drifted past a wharf； the great black
piles of coal hung high and gloomy； then a stray sunbeam brought out
their peacock colors； then came the fog again； driving hurriedly by； as if
impatient to go somewhere and enraged at the obstacle。 It seemed to
have a vast inorganic life of its own； a volition and a whim。 It drew itself
across the horizon like a curtain； then advanced in trampling armies up the
bay； then marched in masses northward； then suddenly grew thin； and
showed great spaces of sunlight； then drifted across the low islands； like
long tufts of wool； then rolled itself away toward the horizon； then closed
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in again； pitiless and gray。
Suddenly something vast towered amid the mist above them。 It was
the French war…ship returned to her anchorage once more； and seeming in
that dim atmosphere to be something spectral and strange that had taken
form out of the elements。 The muzzles of great guns rose tier above tier；
along her side； great boats hung one above another； on successive pairs of
davits； at her stern。 So high was her hull； that the topmost boat and the
topmost gun appeared to be suspended in middle air； and yet this was but
the beginning of her altitude。 Above these were the heavy masts； seen
dimly through the mist； between these were spread eight dark lines of
sailors' clothes； which； with the massive yards above； looked like part of
some ponderous framework built to reach the sky。 This prolongation of the
whole dark mass toward the heavens had a portentous look to those who
gazed from below； and when the denser fog sometimes furled itself away
from the topgallant masts； hitherto invisible； and showed them rising
loftier yet； and the tricolor at the mizzen…mast…head looking down as if
from the zenith； then they all seemed to appertain to something of more
than human workmanship； a hundred wild tales of phantom vessels came
up to the imagination； and it was as if that one gigantic structure were
expanding to fill all space from sky to sea。
They were swept past it； the fog closed in； it was necessary to land
near the Fort； and proceed on foot。 They walked across the rough
peninsula； while the mist began to disperse again； and they were buoyant
with expectation。 As they toiled onward； the fog suddenly met them at the
turn of a lane where it had awaited them； like an enemy。 As they passed
into those gray and impalpable arms； the whole world changed again。
They walked toward the sound of the sea。 As they approached it； the
dull hue that lay upon it resembled that of the leaden sky。 The two
elements could hardly be distinguished except as the white outlines of the
successive breakers were lifted through the fog。 The lines of surf appeared
constantly to multiply upon the beach； and yet； on counting them； there
were never any more。 Sometimes； in the distance； masses of foam rose up
like a wall where the horizon ought to be； and； as the coming waves took
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form out of the unseen； it seemed as if no phantom were too vast or
shapeless to come rolling in upon their dusky shoulders。
Presently a frail gleam of something like the ghost of dead sunshine
made them look toward the west。 Above the dim roofs of Castle Hill
mansion…house； the sinking sun showed luridly through two rifts of cloud；
and then the swift motion of the nearer vapor veiled both sun and cloud；
and banished them into almost equal remoteness。
Leaving the beach on their right； and passing the high rocks of the
Pirate's Cave； they presently descended to the water's edge once more。 The
cliffs rose to a distorted height in the dimness； sprays of withered grass
nodded along the edge； like Ossian's spectres。 Light seemed to be
vanishing from the universe； leaving them alone with the sea。 And when a
solitary loon uttered his wild cry； and rising； sped away into the distance； it
was as if life were following light into an equal annihilation。 That sense
of vague terror； with which the ocean sometimes controls the fancy； began
to lay its grasp on them。 They remembered that Emilia； in speaking once
of her intense shrinking from death； had said that the sea was the only
thing from which she would not fear to meet it。
Fog exaggerates both for eye and ear； it is always a sounding…board for
the billows； and in this case； as often happens； the roar did not appear to
proceed from the waves themselves； but from some source in the unseen
horizon； as if the spectators were shut within a beleaguered fortress； and
this thundering noise came from an impetuous enemy outside。 Ever and
anon there was a distinct crash of heavier sound； as if some special
barricade had at length been beaten in； and the garrison must look to their
inner defences。
The tide was unusually high； and scarcely receded with the ebb；
though the surf increased； the waves came in with constant rush and wail；
and with an ominous rattle of pebbles on the little beaches； beneath the
powerful suction of the undertow； and there were more and more of those
muffled throbs along the shore which tell of coming danger as plainly as
minute…guns。 With these came mingled that yet more inexplicable
humming which one hears at intervals in such times； like strains of music
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caught and tangled in the currents of stormy air；strains which were
perhaps the filmy thread on which tales of sirens and mermaids were first
strung； and in which； at this time； they would fain recognize the voice of
Emilia。
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
CHAPTER XXII。
OUT OF THE DEPTHS。
AS the night closed in； the wind rose steadily； still blowing from the
southwest。 In Brenton's kitchen they found a group round a great fire of
driftwood； some of these were fishermen who had with difficulty made a
landing on the beach； and who confirmed the accounts already given。 The
boat had been seen sailing for the Narragansett shore； and when the squall
came； the boatman had lowered and reefed the sail； and stood for the light…
ship。 They must be on board of her； if anywhere。
〃There are safe there？〃 a
