adventure(冒险)-第6节
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it was very simple。 All he had to do was close his eyes and let go； for he
had reached the stage where he lived by will alone。 His weary body
seemed torn by the oncoming pangs of dissolution。 He was a fool to
hang on。 He had died a score of deaths already； and what was the use of
prolonging it to two…score deaths before he really died。 Not only was he
not afraid to die； but he desired to die。 His weary flesh and weary spirit
desired it； and why should the flame of him not go utterly out？
But his mind that could will life or death； still pulsed on。 He saw the
two whale…boats land on the beach； and the sick； on stretchers or pick…a…
back； groaning and wailing； go by in lugubrious procession。 He saw the
wind making on the clouded horizon； and thought of the sick in the
hospital。 Here was something waiting his hand to be done； and it was not
in his nature to lie down and sleep； or die； when any task remained
undone。
The boss…boys were called and given their orders to rope down the
hospital with its two additions。 He remembered the spare anchor… chain；
new and black…painted； that hung under the house suspended from the
floor…beams； and ordered it to be used on the hospital as well。 Other
boys brought the coffin； a grotesque patchwork of packing…cases； and
under his directions they laid Hughie Drummond in it。 Half a dozen boys
carried it down the beach； while he rode on the back of another； his arms
around the black's neck； one hand clutching a prayer…book。
While he read the service； the blacks gazed apprehensively at the dark
line on the water； above which rolled and tumbled the racing clouds。 The
first breath of the wind； faint and silken； tonic with life； fanned through his
dry…baked body as he finished reading。 Then came the second breath of
the wind； an angry gust； as the shovels worked rapidly； filling in the sand。
So heavy was the gust that Sheldon； still on his feet； seized hold of his
man…horse to escape being blown away。 The Jessie was blotted out； and
a strange ominous sound arose as multitudinous wavelets struck foaming
on the beach。 It was like the bubbling of some colossal cauldron。 From
all about could be heard the dull thudding of falling cocoanuts。 The tall；
delicate…trunked trees twisted and snapped about like whip…lashes。 The
air seemed filled with their flying leaves； any one of which； stem…on could
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brain a man。 Then came the rain； a deluge； a straight； horizontal sheet
that poured along like a river； defying gravitation。 The black； with
Sheldon mounted on him； plunged ahead into the thick of it； stooping far
forward and low to the ground to avoid being toppled over backward。
〃'He's sleeping out and far to…night；'〃 Sheldon quoted； as he thought of
the dead man in the sand and the rainwater trickling down upon the cold
clay。
So they fought their way back up the beach。 The other blacks caught
hold of the man…horse and pulled and tugged。 There were among them
those whose fondest desire was to drag the rider in the sand and spring
upon him and mash him into repulsive nothingness。 But the automatic
pistol in his belt with its rattling； quick… dealing death； and the automatic；
death…defying spirit in the man himself； made them refrain and buckle
down to the task of hauling him to safety through the storm。
Wet through and exhausted； he was nevertheless surprised at the ease
with which he got into a change of clothing。 Though he was fearfully
weak； he found himself actually feeling better。 The disease had spent
itself； and the mend had begun。
〃Now if I don't get the fever；〃 he said aloud； and at the same moment
resolved to go to taking quinine as soon as he was strong enough to dare。
He crawled out on the veranda。 The rain had ceased； but the wind；
which had dwindled to a half…gale； was increasing。 A big sea had sprung
up； and the mile…long breakers； curling up to the over…fall two hundred
yards from shore； were crashing on the beach。 The Jessie was plunging
madly to two anchors； and every second or third sea broke clear over her
bow。 Two flags were stiffly undulating from the halyards like squares of
flexible sheet…iron。 One was blue； the other red。 He knew their
meaning in the Berande private code〃What are your instructions？ Shall
I attempt to land boat？〃 Tacked on the wall； between the signal locker and
the billiard rules； was the code itself； by which he verified the signal
before making answer。 On the flagstaff gaff a boy hoisted a white flag
over a red； which stood for〃Run to Neal Island for shelter。〃
That Captain Oleson had been expecting this signal was apparent by
the celerity with which the shackles were knocked out of both anchor…
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chains。 He slipped his anchors； leaving them buoyed to be picked up in
better weather。 The Jessie swung off under her full staysail； then the
foresail； double…reefed； was run up。 She was away like a racehorse；
clearing Balesuna Shoal with half a cable… length to spare。 Just before
she rounded the point she was swallowed up in a terrific squall that far
out…blew the first。
All that night； while squall after squall smote Berande； uprooting trees；
overthrowing copra…sheds； and rocking the house on its tall piles； Sheldon
slept。 He was unaware of the commotion。 He never wakened。 Nor
did he change his position or dream。 He awoke； a new man。
Furthermore； he was hungry。 It was over a week since food had passed
his lips。 He drank a glass of condensed cream； thinned with water； and
by ten o'clock he dared to take a cup of beef…tea。 He was cheered； also； by
the situation in the hospital。 Despite the storm there had been but one
death； and there was only one fresh case； while half a dozen boys crawled
weakly away to the barracks。 He wondered if it was the wind that was
blowing the disease away and cleansing the pestilential land。
By eleven a messenger arrived from Balesuna village； dispatched by
Seelee。 The Jessie had gone ashore half…way between the village and
Neal Island。 It was not till nightfall that two of the crew arrived；
reporting the drowning of Captain Oleson and of the one remaining boy。
As for the Jessie； from what they told him Sheldon could not but conclude
that she was a total loss。 Further to hearten him； he was taken by a
shivering fit。 In half an hour he was burning up。 And he knew that at
least another day must pass before he could undertake even the smallest
dose of quinine。 He crawled under a heap of blankets； and a little later
found himself laughing aloud。 He had surely reached the limit of disaster。
Barring earthquake or tidal…wave； the worst had already befallen him。
The Flibberty…Gibbet was certainly safe in Mboli Pass。 Since nothing
worse could happen； things simply had to mend。 So it was； shivering
under his blankets； that he laughed； until the house… boys； with heads
together； marvelled at the devils that were in him。
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CHAPTER IVJOAN
LACKLAND
By the second day of the northwester； Sheldon was in collapse from
his fever。 It had taken an unfair advantage of his weak state； and though
it was only ordinary malarial fever； in forty…eight hours it had run him as
low as ten days of fever would have done when he was
