the pursuit of the house-boat-第20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！



〃Hurrah！〃　cried　Elizabeth；　clapping　her　hands　with　glee；　〃we　are　off！〃

〃I　will　repair　to　the　deck　and　get　our　bearings；〃　said　Mrs。　Noah；　putting　her　shawl　over　her　shoulders。　　〃Meantime；　Cleopatra；　I　appoint　you　first　mate。　　See　that　things　are　tidied　up　a　bit　here　before　I　return。　　Have　the　windows　washed；　and　to…morrow　I　want　all　the　rugs　and　carpets　taken　up　and　shaken。〃

Portia　meanwhile　had　discovered　the　naphtha　engine；　and；　after　experimenting　several　times　with　the　various　levers　and　stop…cocks；　had　finally　managed　to　move　one　of　them　in　such　a　way　as　to　set　the　engine　going；　and　the　wheel　began　to　revolve。

〃Are　we　going　all　right？〃　she　cried；　from　below。

〃I　am　afraid　not；〃　said　the　gallant　commander。　　〃The　wheel　is　roiling　up　the　water　at　a　great　rate；　but　we　don't　seem　to　be　going　ahead　very　fastin　fact；　we're　simply　moving　round　and　round　as　though　we　were　on　a　pivot。〃

〃I'm　afraid　we're　aground　amidships；〃　said　Xanthippe；　gazing　over　the　side　of　the　House…boat　anxiously。　　〃She　certainly　acts　that　waylike　a　merry…go…round。〃

〃Well；　there's　something　wrong；〃　said　Mrs。　Noah；　〃and　we've　got　to　hurry　and　find　out　what　it　is；　or　those　men　will　be　back　and　we　shall　be　as　badly　off　as　ever。〃

〃Maybe　this　has　something　to　do　with　it；〃　observed　Mrs。　Lot；　pointing　to　the　anchor　rope。　　〃It　looks　to　me　as　if　those　horrid　men　had　tied　us　fast。〃

〃That's　just　what　it　is；〃　snapped　Mrs。　Noah。　　〃They　guessed　our　plan；　and　have　fastened　us　to　a　pole　or　something；　but　I　imagine　we　can　untie　it。〃

Portia；　who　had　come　on　deck；　gave　a　short　little　laugh。

〃Why；　of　course　we　don't　move；〃　she　said〃we　are　anchored！〃

〃What's　that？〃　queried　Mrs。　Noah。　　〃We　never　had　an　experience　like　that　on　the　Ark。〃

Portia　explained　the　science　of　the　anchor。

〃What　nonsense！〃　ejaculated　Mrs。　Noah。　　〃How　can　we　get　away　from　it？〃

〃We've　got　to　pull　it　up；〃　said　Portia。　　〃Order　all　hands　on　deck　and　have　it　pulled　up。〃

〃It　can't　be　done；　and；　if　it　could；　I　wouldn't　have　it！〃　said　Mrs。　Noah；　indignantly。　　〃The　idea！　　Lifting　heavy　pieces　of　iron；　my　dear　Portia；　is　not　a　woman's　work。　　Send　for　Delilah；　and　let　her　cut　the　rope　with　her　scissors。〃

〃It　would　take　her　a　week　to　cut　a　hawser　like　that；〃　said　Elizabeth；　who　had　been　investigating。　　〃It　would　be　more　to　the　purpose；　I　think；　to　chop　it　in　two　with　an　axe。〃

〃Very　well；〃　replied　Mrs。　Noah；　satisfied。　　〃I　don't　care　how　it　is　done　as　long　as　it　is　done　quickly。　　It　would　never　do　for　us　to　be　recaptured　now。〃

The　suggestion　of　Elizabeth　was　carried　out；　and　the　queen　herself　cut　the　hawser　with　six　well…directed　strokes　of　the　axe。

〃You　ARE　an　expert　with　it；　aren't　you？〃　smiled　Cleopatra。

〃I　am；　indeed；〃　replied　Elizabeth；　grimly。　　〃I　had　it　suspended　over　my　head　for　so　long　a　time　before　I　got　to　the　throne　that　I　couldn't　help　familiarizing　myself　with　some　of　its　possibilities。〃

〃Ah！〃　cried　Mrs。　Noah；　as　the　vessel　began　to　move。　　〃I　begin　to　feel　easier。　　It　looks　now　as　if　we　were　really　off。〃

〃It　seems　to　me；　though；〃　said　Cleopatra；　gazing　forward；　〃that　we　are　going　backward。〃

〃Oh；　well；　what　if　we　are！〃　said　Mrs。　Noah。　　〃We　did　that　on　the　Ark　half　the　time。　　It　doesn't　make　any　difference　which　way　we　are　going　as　long　as　we　go；　does　it？〃

〃Why；　of　course　it　does！〃　cried　Elizabeth。　　〃What　can　you　be　thinking　of？　　People　who　walk　backward　are　in　great　danger　of　running　into　other　people。　　Why　not　the　same　with　ships？　　It　seems　to　me；　it's　a　very　dangerous　piece　of　business；　sailing　backward。〃

〃Oh；　nonsense；〃　snapped　Mrs。　Noah。　　〃You　are　as　timid　as　a　zebra。　During　the　Flood；　we　sailed　days　and　days　and　days；　going　backward。　It　didn't　make　a　particle　of　difference　how　we　wentit　was　as　safe　one　way　as　another；　and　we　got　just　as　far　away　in　the　end。　　Our　main　object　now　is　to　get　away　from　the　pirates；　and　that's　what　we　are　doing。　　Don't　get　emotional；　Lizzie；　and　remember；　too；　that　I　am　in　charge。　　If　I　think　the　boat　ought　to　go　sideways；　sideways　she　shall　go。　　If　you　don't　like　it；　it　is　still　not　too　late　to　put　you　ashore。〃

The　threat　calmed　Elizabeth　somewhat；　and　she　was　satisfied；　and　all　went　well　with　them；　even　if　Portia　had　started　the　propeller　revolving　reverse　fashion；　so　that　the　House…boat　was；　as　Elizabeth　had　said；　backing　her　way　through　the　ocean。

The　day　passed；　and　by　slow　degrees　the　island　and　the　marooned　pirates　faded　from　view；　and　the　night　came　on；　and　with　it　a　dense　fog。

〃We're　going　to　have　a　nasty　night；　I　am　afraid；〃　said　Xanthippe；　looking　anxiously　out　of　the　port。

〃No　doubt；〃　said　Mrs。　Noah；　pleasantly。　　〃I'm　sorry　for　those　who　have　to　be　out　in　it。〃

〃That's　what　I　was　thinking　about；〃　observed　Xanthippe。　　〃It's　going　to　be　very　hard　on　us　keeping　watch。〃

〃Watch　for　what？〃　demanded　Mrs。　Noah；　looking　over　the　tops　of　her　glasses　at　Xanthippe。

〃Why；　surely　you　are　going　to　have　lookouts　stationed　on　deck？〃　said　Elizabeth。

〃Not　at　all；〃　said　Mrs。　Noah。　　〃Perfectly　absurd。　　We　never　did　it　on　the　Ark；　and　it　isn't　necessary　now。　　I　want　you　all　to　go　to　bed　at　ten　o'clock。　　I　don't　think　the　night　air　is　good　for　you。　　Besides；　it　isn't　proper　for　a　woman　to　be　out　after　dark；　whether　she's　new　or　not。〃

〃But；　my　dear　Mrs。　Noah；〃　expostulated　Cleopatra；　〃what　will　become　of　the　ship？〃

〃I　guess　she'll　float　through　the　night　whether　we　are　on　deck　or　not；〃　said　the　commander。　　〃The　Ark　did；　why　not　this？　　Now；　girls；　these　new…fangled　yachting　notions　are　all　nonsense。　　It's　night；　and　there's　a　fog　as　thick　as　a　stone…wall　all　about　us。　　If　there　were　a　hundred　of　you　upon　deck　with　ten　eyes　apiece；　you　couldn't　see　anything。　　You　might　much　better　be　in　bed。　　As　your　captain；　chaperon；　and　grandmother；　I　command　you　to　stay　below。〃

〃Butwho　is　to　steer？〃　queried　Xanthippe。

〃What's　the　use　of　steering　until　we　can　see　where　to　steer　to？〃　demanded　Mrs。　Noah。　　〃I　certainly　don't　intend　to　bother　with　that　tiller　until　some　reason　for　doing　it　arises。　　We　haven't　any　place　to　steer　to　yet；　we　don't　know　where　we　are　going。　　Now；　my　dear　children；　be　reasonable；　and　don't　worry　me。　　I've　had　a　very　hard　day　of　it；　and　I　feel　my　responsibilities　keenly。　　Just　let　me　manage；　and　we'll　come　out　all　right。　　I've　had　more　experience　than　any　of　you；　and　if〃

A　terrible　crash　interrupted　the　old　lady's　remarks。　　The　House…boat　shivered　and　shook；　careened　way　to　one　side；　and　as　quickly　righted　and　stood　still。　　A　mad　rush　up　the　gangway　followed；　and　in　a　moment　a　hundred　and　eighty…three　pale…faced；　trembling　women　stood　upon　the　deck；　gazing　with　horror　at　a　great　helpless　hulk　ten　feet　to　the　rear；　fastened　by　broken　ropes　and　odd　pieces　of　rigging　to　the　stern…posts　of　the　House…boat；　sinking　slowly　but　surely　into　the　sea。

It　was　the　Gehenna！

The　House…boat　had　run　her　down　and　her　last　hour　had　come；　but；　thanks　to　the　stanchness　of　her　build　and　wonderful　beam；　the　floating　club…house　had　withstood　the　shock　of　the　impact　and　now　rode　the　waters　as　gracefully　as　ever。

Portia　was　the　first　to　realize　the　extent　of　the　catastrophe；　and　in　a　short　while　chairs　and　life…preservers　and　tableseverything　that　could　floathad　been　tossed　into　the　sea　to　the　struggling　immortals　therein。　　On　board　the　Gehenna；　those　who　had　not　cast　themselves　into　the　waters；　under　the　cool　direction　of　Holmes　and　Bonaparte；　calmly　lowered　the　boats；　and　in　a　short　while　were　not　only　able　to　felicitate　themselves　upon　their　safety；　but　had　likewise　the　good　fortune　to　rescue　their　more　impetuous　brethren　who　had　preferred　to　swim　for　it。　　Ultimately；　all　were　brought　aboard　the　House…boat　in　safety；　and　the　men　in　Hades　were　once　more　reunited　to　their　wives；　daughters；　sisters；　and　fiancees；　and　Elizabeth　had　the　satisfaction　of　once　more　saving　the　life　of　Raleigh　by　throwing　him　her　ruff　as　she　had　done　a　year　or　so　previously；　when　she　and　her　brother　had　been　upset　in　the　swift　current　of　the　river　Styx。

Order　and　happiness　being　restored；　Holmes　took　command　of　the　House…　boat　and　soon　navigated　her　safely　back　into　her　old…time　berth。　　The　Gehenna　went　to　the　bottom　and　was　never　seen　again；　and　when　the　roll　was　called　it　was　found　that　all　who　had　set　out　upon　her　had　returned　in　safety　save　Shylock；　Kidd；　Sir　Henry　Morgan；　and　Abeuchapeta；　but　even　they　were　not　lost；　for；　five　weeks　later；　these　four　worthies　were　found　early　one　morning　drifting　slowly　up　the　river　Styx；　gazing　anxiously　out　from　the　top　of　a　water…cask　and　yelling　lustily　for　help。

And　here　endeth　the　chronicle　of　the　pursuit　of　the　good　old　House…　boat。　　Back　to　her　moorings；　the　even　tenor　of　her　ways　was　once　more　resumed；　but　with　one　slight　difference。

The　ladies　became　eligible　for　membership；　and；　availing　themselves　of　the　privilege；　began　to　think　less　and　less　of　the　advantages　of　being　men　and　to　rejoice　that；　after　all；　they　were　women；　and　even　Xanthippe　and　Socrates；　after　that　night　of　peril；　reconciled　their　differences；　and　no　longer　quarrel　as　to　which　is　the　more　entitled　to　wear　the　toga　of　authority。　　It　has　become　for　them　a　divided　skirt。

As　for　Kidd　and　his　fellows；　they　have　never　recovered　from　the　effects　of　their　fearful；　though　short；　exile　upon　Holmes　Islan