little novels-第52节
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same place。 On the fourth day； fatal Destiny favored him。 He discovered the nymph of the island。
Standing alone upon the cape on which he had already seen her father； she was feeding some tame birds which looked like turtle…doves。 The glass showed the Captain her white robe； fluttering in the sea…breeze； her long black hair falling to her feet； her slim and supple young figure； her simple grace of attitude； as she turned this way and that； attending to the wants of her birds。 Before her was the blue ocean； behind her rose the lustrous green of the island forest。 He looked and looked until his eyes and arms ached。 When she disappeared among the trees； followed by her favorite birds； the Captain shut up his telescope with a sigh； and said to himself： 〃I have seen an angel！〃
From that hour he became an altered man； he was languid； silent； interested in nothing。 General opinion； on board his ship； decided that he was going to be taken ill。
A week more elapsed； and the officers and crew began to talk of the voyage to their market in China。 The Captain refused to fix a day for sailing。 He even took offense at being asked to decide。 Instead of sleeping in his cabin； he went ashore for the night。
Not many hours afterward （just before daybreak）； Mr。 Duncalf； snoring in his cabin on deck； was aroused by a hand laid on his shoulder。 The swinging lamp； still alight； showed him the dusky face of the chief's son； convulsed with terror。 By wild signs； by disconnected words in the little English which he had learned； the lad tried to make the mate understand him。 Dense Mr。 Duncalf； understanding nothing； hailed the second officer； on the opposite side of the deck。 The second officer was young and intelligent； he rightly interpreted the terrible news that had come to the ship。
The Captain had broken his own rules。 Watching his opportunity； under cover of the night； he had taken a canoe； and had secretly crossed the channel to the Holy Island。 No one had been near him at the time but the chief's son。 The lad had vainly tried to induce him to abandon his desperate enterprise； and had vainly waited on the shore in the hope of hearing the sound of the paddle announcing his return。 Beyond all reasonable doubt； the infatuated man had set foot on the shores of the tabooed island。
The one chance for his life was to conceal what he had done； until the ship could be got out of the harbor； and then （if no harm had come to him in the interval） to rescue him after nightfall。 It was decided to spread the report that he had really been taken ill； and that he was confined to his cabin。 The chief's son； whose heart the Captain's kindness had won； could be trusted to do this； and to keep the secret faithfully for his good friend's sake。
Toward noon； the next day； they attempted to take the ship to sea； and failed for want of wind。 Hour by hour； the heat grew more oppressive。 As the day declined； there were ominous appearances in the western heaven。 The natives； who had given some trouble during the day by their anxiety to see the Captain； and by their curiosity to know the cause of the sudden preparations for the ship's departure； all went ashore together； looking suspiciously at the sky； and reappeared no more。 Just at midnight； the ship （still in her snug berth inside the reef） suddenly trembled from her keel to her uppermost masts。 Mr。 Duncalf； surrounded by the startled crew； shook his knotty fist at the island as if he could see it in the dark。 〃My lads； what did I tell you？ That was a shock of earthquake。〃
With the morning the threatening aspect of the weather unexpectedly disappeared。 A faint hot breeze from the land； just enough to give the ship steerage…way； offered Mr。 Duncalf a chance of getting to sea。 Slowly the _Fortuna_； with the mate himself at the wheel； half sailed； half drifted into the open ocean。 At a distance of barely two miles from the island the breeze was felt no more； and the vessel lay becalmed for the rest of the day。
At night the men waited their orders； expecting to be sent after their Captain in one of the boats。 The intense darkness； the airless heat； and a second shock of earthquake （faintly felt in the ship at her present distance from the land） warned the mate to be cautious。 〃I smell mischief in the air；〃 said Mr。 Duncalf。 〃The Captain must wait till I am surer of the weather。〃
Still no change came with the new day。 The dead calm continued； and the airless heat。 As the day declined； another ominous appearance became visible。 A thin line of smoke was discovered through the telescope； ascending from the topmost peak of the mountain on the main island。 Was the volcano threatening an eruption？ The mate； for one； entertained no doubt of it。 〃By the Lord； the place is going to burst up！〃 said Mr。 Duncalf。 〃Come what may of it； we must find the Captain to…night！〃
V。
WHAT was the Captain doing？ and what chance had the crew of finding him that night？
He had committed himself to his desperate adventure； without forming any plan for the preservation of his own safety； without giving even a momentary consideration to the consequences which might follow the risk that he had run。 The charming figure that he had seen haunted him night and day。 The image of the innocent creature； secluded from humanity in her island solitude； was the one image that filled his mind。 A man； passing a woman in the street； acts on the impulse to turn and follow her； and in that one thoughtless moment shapes the destiny of his future life。 The Captain had acted on a similar impulse； when he took the first canoe he had found on the beach； and shaped his reckless course for the tabooed island。
Reaching the shore while it was still dark； he did one sensible thinghe hid the canoe so that it might not betray him when the daylight came。 That done； he waited for the morning on the outskirts of the forest。
The trembling light of dawn revealed the mysterious solitude around him。 Following the outer limits of the trees； first in one direction； then in another； and finding no trace of any living creature； he decided on penetrating to the interior of the island。 He entered the forest。
An hour of walking brought him to rising ground。 Continuing the ascent； he got clear of the trees； and stood on the grassy top of a broad cliff which overlooked the sea。 An open hut was on the cliff。 He cautiously looked in； and discovered that it was empty。 The few household utensils left about； and the simple bed of leaves in a corner； were covered with fine sandy dust。 Night…birds flew blundering out of the inner cavities of the roof； and took refuge in the shadows of the forest below。 It was plain that the hut had not been inhabited for some time past。
Standing at the open doorway and considering what he should do next； the Captain saw a bird flying toward him out of the forest。 It was a turtle…dove； so tame that it fluttered close up to him。 At the same moment the sound of sweet laughter became audible among the trees。 His heart beat fast； he advanced a few steps and stopped。 In a moment more the nymph of the island appeared； in her white robe； ascending the cliff in pursuit of her truant bird。 She saw the strange man； and suddenly stood still； struck motionless by the amazing discovery that had burst upon her。 The Captain approached； smiling and holding out his hand。 She never moved； she stood before him in helpless wondermenther lovely black eyes fixed spellbound on his face； her dusky bosom palpitating above the fallen folds of her robe； her rich red lips parted in mute astonishment。 Feasting his eyes on her beauty in silence； the Captain after a while ventured to speak to her in the language of the main island。 The sound of his voice； addressing her in the words that she understood； roused the lovely creature to action。 She started； stepped close up to him； and dropped on her knees at his feet。
〃My father worships invisible deities；〃 she said； softly。 〃Are you a visible deity？ Has my mother sent you？〃 She pointed as she spoke to the deserted hut behind them。 〃You appear；〃 she went on； 〃in the place where my mother died。 Is it for her sake that you show yourself to her child？ Beautiful deity； come to the Templecome to my father！〃
The Captain gently raised her from the ground。 If her father saw him； he was a doomed man。
Infatuated as he was； he had sense enough left to announce himself plainly in his own character； as a mortal creature arriving from a distant land。 The girl instantly drew back from him with a look of terror。
〃He is not like my father；〃 she said to herself； 〃he is not like me。 Is he the lying demon of the prophecy？ Is he the predestined destroyer of our island？〃
The Captain's experience of the sex showed him the only sure way out of the awkward position in which he was now placed。 He appealed to his personal appearance。
〃Do I look like a demon？〃 he asked。
Her eyes met his eyes； a faint smile trembled on her lips。 He ventured on asking what she meant by the predestined destruction of the island。 She held up her hand solemnly； and repeated the prophecy。
The Holy Island was threatened with destruction by an evil being； who would one day appear on its shores。 To avert the fatality the place had been sanctified
