malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第34节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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？〃 asked Philip； eagerly。
〃Only place where they would be safe； then；〃 said the spokesman。
〃Unless the light…ship parts；〃 said an old fellow。
〃Parts！〃 said the other。 〃Sixty fathom of two…inch chain； and old Joe
talks about parting。〃
〃Foolish； of course；〃 said Philip； 〃but it's a dangerous shore。〃
〃That's so；〃 was the answer。 〃Never saw so many lines of reef show
outside； neither。〃
〃There's an old saying on this shore；〃 said Joe：
〃When Price's Neck goes to Brenton's Reef； Body
and soul will come to grief。 But when Brenton's Reef comes to
Price's Neck； Soul and body are both a wreck。〃
〃What does it mean？〃 asked Harry。
〃It only means；〃 said somebody； 〃that when you see it white all the
way out from the Neck to the Reef； you can't take the inside passage。〃
〃But what does the last half mean？〃 persisted Harry。
〃Don't know as I know；〃 said the veteran； and relapsed into silence； in
which all joined him； while the wind howled and whistled outside； and the
barred windows shook。
Weary and restless with vain waiting； they looked from the doorway at
127
… Page 128…
MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
the weather。 The door went back with a slam； and the gust swooped
down on them with that special blast that always seems to linger just
outside on such nights； ready for the first head that shows itself。 They
closed the door upon the flickering fire and the uncouth shadows within；
and went forth into the night。 At first the solid blackness seemed to lay a
weight on their foreheads。 There was absolutely nothing to be seen but the
two lights of the light…ship； glaring from the dark sea like a wolf's eyes
from a cavern。 They looked nearer and brighter than in ordinary nights；
and appeared to the excited senses of the young men to dance strangely on
the waves； and to be always opposite to them； as they moved along the
shore with the wind almost at their backs。
〃What did that old fellow mean？〃 said Malbone in Harry's ear； as they
came to a protected place and could hear each other； 〃by talking of
Brenton's Reef coming to Price's Neck。〃
〃Some sailor's doggerel；〃 said Harry； indifferently。 〃Here is Price's
Neck before us； and yonder is Brenton's Reef。〃
〃Where？〃 said Philip； looking round bewildered。
The lights had gone； as if the wolf； weary of watching； had suddenly
closed his eyes； and slumbered in his cave。
Harry trembled and shivered。 In Heaven's name； what could this
disappearance mean？
Suddenly a sheet of lightning came； so white and intense； it sent its
light all the way out to the horizon and exhibited far…off vessels； that
reeled and tossed and looked as if wandering without a guide。 But this was
not so startling as what it showed in the foreground。
There drifted heavily upon the waves； within full view from the shore；
moving parallel to it； yet gradually approaching； an uncouth shape that
seemed a vessel and yet not a vessel； two stunted masts projected above；
and below there could be read； in dark letters that apparently swayed and
trembled in the wan lightning； as the thing moved on；
BRENTON'S REEF。
Philip； leaning against a rock； gazed into the darkness where the
apparition had been； even Harry felt a thrill of half…superstitious wonder；
128
… Page 129…
MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
and listened half mechanically to a rough sailor's voice at his ear：
〃God！ old Joe was right。 There's one wreck that is bound to make
many。 The light…ship has parted。〃
〃Drifting ashore；〃 said Harry； his accustomed clearness of head
coming back at a flash。 〃Where will she strike？〃
〃Price's Neck；〃 said the sailor。
Harry turned to Philip and spoke to him； shouting in his ear the
explanation。 Malbone's lips moved mechanically； but he said nothing。
Passively； he let Harry take him by the arm； and lead him on。
Following the sailor； they rounded a projecting point； and found
themselves a little sheltered from the wind。 Not knowing the region； they
stumbled about among the rocks； and scarcely knew when they neared the
surf； except when a wave came swashing round their very feet。 Pausing at
the end of a cove； they stood beside their conductor； and their eyes； now
grown accustomed； could make out vaguely the outlines of the waves。
The throat of the cove was so shoal and narrow； and the mass of the
waves so great； that they reared their heads enormously； just outside； and
spending their strength there； left a lower level within the cove。 Yet
sometimes a series of great billows would come straight on； heading
directly for the entrance； and then the surface of the water within was seen
to swell suddenly upward as if by a terrible inward magic of its own； it
rose and rose； as if it would ingulf everything； then as rapidly sank； and
again presented a mere quiet vestibule before the excluded waves。
They saw in glimpses； as the lightning flashed； the shingly beach；
covered with a mass of creamy foam； all tremulous and fluctuating in the
wind； and this foam was constantly torn away by the gale in great shreds；
that whirled by them as if the very fragments of the ocean were fleeing
from it in terror； to take refuge in the less frightful element of air。
Still the wild waves reared their heads； like savage； crested animals；
now white； now black； looking in from the entrance of the cove。 And now
there silently drifted upon them something higher； vaster； darker than
themselves；the doomed vessel。 It was strange how slowly and steadily
she swept in；for her broken chain…cable dragged； as it afterwards proved；
129
… Page 130…
MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
and kept her stern…on to the shore；and they could sometimes hear amid
the tumult a groan that seemed to come from the very heart of the earth； as
she painfully drew her keel over hidden reefs。 Over five of these （as was
afterwards found） she had already drifted； and she rose and fell more than
once on the high waves at the very mouth of the cove； like a wild bird
hovering ere it pounces。
Then there came one of those great confluences of waves described
already； which； lifting her bodily upward； higher and higher and higher；
suddenly rushed with her into the basin； filling it like an opened dry…dock；
crashing and roaring round the vessel and upon the rocks； then sweeping
out again and leaving her lodged； still stately and steady； at the centre of
the cove。
They could hear from the crew a mingled sound； that came as a shout
of excitement from some and a shriek of despair from others。 The vivid
lightning revealed for a moment those on shipboard to those on shore； and
blinding as it was； it lasted long enough to show figures gesticulating and
pointing。 The old sailor； Mitchell； tried to build a fire among the rocks
nearest the vessel； but it was impossible； because of the wind。 This was a
disappointment； for the light would have taken away half the danger； and
more than half the terror。 Though the cove was more quiet than the
ocean； yet it was fearful enough； even there。 The vessel might hold
together till morning； but who could tell？ It was almost certain that those
on board would try to land； and there was nothing to do but to await the
effort。 The men from the farmhouse had meanwhile come down with
ropes。
It was simply impossible to judge with any accuracy of the distance of
the ship。 One of these new…comers； who declared that she was lodged
very near； went to a point of rocks； and shouted to those on board to heave
him a rope。 The tempest suppressed his voice； as it had put out the fire。
Bu
