登陆注册
5241400000031

第31章 CHAPTER XXIII

AN ATTEMPT AT MUTINY

DECEMBER 2 and 3. -- For four hours we have succeeded in keeping the water in the hold to one level; now, however, it is very evident that the time cannot be far distant when the pumps will be quite unequal to their task.

Yesterday Curtis, who does not allow himself a minute's rest, made a personal inspection of the hold. I, with the boatswain and carpenter, accompanied him. After dislodg- ing some of the bales of cotton we could hear a splashing, or rather gurgling sound; but whether the water was enter- ing at the original aperture, or whether it found its way in through a general dislocation of the seams, we were unable to discover. But, whichever might be the case, Curtis de- termined to try a plan which, by cutting off communication between the interior and exterior of the vessel, might, if only for a few hours, render her hull more water-tight. For this purpose he had some strong, well tarred sails drawn upward by ropes from below the keel, as high as the previous leak- ing place, and then fastened closely and securely to the side of the hull. The scheme was dubious, and the operation difficult, but for a time it was effectual, and at the close of the day the level of the water had actually been reduced by several inches. The diminution was small enough, but the consciousness that more water was escaping through the scupper-holes than was finding its way into the hold gave us fresh courage to persevere with our work.

The night was dark, but the captain carried all the sail he could, eager to take every possible advantage of the wind, which was freshening considerably. If he could have sighted a ship he would have made signals of distress, and would not have hesitated to transfer the passengers, and even have allowed the crew to follow, if they were ready to forsake him; for himself his mind was made up -- he should remain on board the Chancellor until she foundered beneath his feet. No sail, however, hove in sight; consequently escape by such means was out of our power.

During the night the canvas covering yielded to the pres- sure of the waves, and this morning, after taking the sound- ing, the boatswain could not suppress an oath when he an- nounced, "Six feet of water in the hold!"

The ship, then, was filling once again, and already had sunk considerably below her previous water-line. With aching arms and bleeding hands we worked harder than ever at the pumps, and Curtis makes those who are not pumping form a line and pass buckets, with all the speed they can, from hand to hand.

But all in vain! At half-past eight more water is re- ported in the hold, and some of the sailors, overcome by de- spair, refuse to work one minute longer.

The first to abandon his post was Owen, a man whom I have mentioned before as exhibiting something of a mu- tinous spirit. He is about forty years of age, and altogether unprepossessing in appearance; his face is bare, with the exception of a reddish beard, which terminates in a point; his forehead is furrowed with sinister looking wrinkles, his lips curl inward, and his ears protrude, while his bleared and bloodshot eyes are encircled with thick red rings.

Among the five or six other men who had struck work I noticed Jynxstrop, the cook, who evidently shared all Owen's ill-feelings.

Twice did Curtis order the men back to the pumps, and twice did Owen, acting as spokesman for the rest, refuse; and when Curtis made a step forward as though to approach him, he said savagely:

"I advise you not to touch me," and walked away to the forecastle.

Curtis descended to his cabin, and almost immediately re- turned with a loaded revolver in his hand.

For a moment Owen surveyed the captain with a frown of defiance; but at a sign from Jynxstrop he seemed to recollect himself, and, with the remainder of the men, he returned to his work.

同类推荐
  • 黄檗无念禅师复问

    黄檗无念禅师复问

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 甲申朝事小纪

    甲申朝事小纪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 中国哲学史

    中国哲学史

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Way to Peace

    The Way to Peace

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 广东新语

    广东新语

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 中国人的管理智慧

    中国人的管理智慧

    本书分为“中国传统文化中的管理智慧”、“中国人的管理模式”、“中国式修身、识人及用人”、“《贞观政要》中的管理艺术”等五章。书中指出了学习中国文化要注意文化差异的存在,处理了高雅与通俗、理论与实践、政治与学术的关系问题等内容。
  • 千代的桔梗花嫁

    千代的桔梗花嫁

    孤儿蔚千代可真是倒霉到家了!好不容易被收养,却又得知养父母找到了自己的亲生女儿,无奈之下,她只好住进了破旧的神社。不过,上帝爷爷似乎还没有睡着,一个恰巧来祈福的阿姨竟然是妈妈失散多年的朋友,还将她接到豪华别墅居住,这会不会是做梦啊?而阿姨的儿子竟然是学校的超级花美男,冷若冰霜不说,还有一个惊天大秘密!只要身体虚弱,或者被女生拥抱,就会变成小正太。天啊,发现了花美男的秘密,她不会被灭口吧?与花美男“同居”的生活,真是一波三折又心动甜蜜呀!
  • 庶女有毒:坏蛋王爷请滚开

    庶女有毒:坏蛋王爷请滚开

    竹林深处,片片衣衫零落,她亲眼目睹深爱出墙。他适时出现,“女人,嫁给我吧。”她被迫成为他的妃子他的玩物,他宠她入骨,夜夜欢好,却从不许她怀上他的孩子。后来她才知,再强势霸道的男人都有一段无法言说的殇。谁爱你,就在心间……
  • 韶酒无华

    韶酒无华

    山城别离,放眼大洲,无处寄身。湘城云涌,山雨欲来,无奈离身。京都繁华,楼阁染冬,此情可寄。尹家长少,山城野子,性别,女。老母无金,老父无官。为活命而离开山城的她,今后漫道,必定命途多舛,毕路坎坷,且看她一介小人,如何以己之戟,破天之云。
  • 最漫长的抵抗:从日方史料解读东北抗战14年

    最漫长的抵抗:从日方史料解读东北抗战14年

    这是一部军事历史类的纪实作品。本书以作者首次在日本搜集到的四百多张日方照片和地图为线索,通过对这些照片中的历史信息进行中日史料对照分析和考证,揭示了东北正规军、东北抗日义勇军和东北抗日联军在东北地区于1931年至1945年那段艰苦不屈的抵抗经过,具有一定的阅读和研究价值。
  • 万界之移动商铺

    万界之移动商铺

    (新书:《真的,我很厉害》)【毒奶,不喜勿入,脱坑勿骂】诸天万界,商铺当立,这是有钱人改变命运的殊途,这是穷人发愤图强的坚持,全因为有钱才可以为所欲为。(同人小说,轻松文)
  • 记游

    记游

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 废都

    废都

    当代文坛最受争议的作品,一部毁誉参半的奇书。1993年该书问世时,季羡林先生曾预言:20年后,《废都》会大放光芒。1997年获法国费米娜文学奖,是亚洲作家首次获此殊荣。2003年获法兰西共和国文学艺术荣誉奖。这是一部1980年代的中国社会风俗史,描写当代知识分子生活的世情小说。小说以历史文化悠久的古都西安当代生活为背景,记叙“闲散文人”作家庄之蝶、书法家龚靖元、画家汪希眠及艺术家阮知非“四大名人”的起居生活,展现了浓缩的西京城形形色色“废都”景观。作者以庄之蝶与几位女性情感的纠葛为主线,以阮知非等诸名士穿插叙述为辅线,笔墨浓淡相宜。在诸多女性中,唐宛儿、柳月、牛月清为他塑造最为成功也最倾心的鲜明人物。在这些充满灵性、情感聪慧而富有古典悲剧色彩的人物身上,体现出作者至高的美学理想。
  • 雷动八荒之元武大陆

    雷动八荒之元武大陆

    元武大陆,以武为尊,又化武道等级,武者、武师、武君、武宗、武王、武皇、武尊、武圣、武帝,前有雷祖傲视元武,后有雷祖之后搅动乾坤。
  • 重生之十福晋

    重生之十福晋

    一朝梦醒,来到九龙夺嫡的时代,作为蒙古女人,成为“草包”福晋!