登陆注册
5241400000032

第32章 CHAPTER XXIV

CURTIS RESOLVES TO ABANDON THE SHIP

DECEMBER 4. -- The first attempt at mutiny being thus happily suppressed, it is to be hoped that Curtis will succeed as well in future. An insubordinate crew would render us powerless indeed.

Throughout the night the pumps were kept, without respite, steadily at work, but without producing the least sensible benefit. The ship became so water-logged and heavy that she hardly rose at all to the waves, which con- sequently often washed over the deck and contributed their part toward aggravating our case. Our situation was rapidly becoming as terrible as it had been when the fire was raging in the midst of us; and the prospect of being swallowed by the devouring billows was no less formidable than that of perishing in the flames.

Curtis kept the men up to the mark, and, willing or unwill- ing, they had no alternative but to work on as best they might; but in spite of all their efforts, the water perpetually rose, till, at length, the men in the hold who were passing the buckets found themselves immersed up to their waists, and were obliged to come on deck.

This morning, after a somewhat protracted consultation with Walter and the boatswain, Curtis resolved to abandon the ship. The only remaining boat was far too small to hold us all, and it would therefore be necessary to construct a raft that should carry those who could not find room in her.

Dowlas, the carpenter, Mr. Falsten, and ten sailors were told off to put the raft in hand, the rest of the crew being ordered to continue their work assiduously at the pumps, until the time came and everything was ready for embarkation.

Hatchet or saw in hand, the carpenter and his assistants made a beginning without delay, by cutting and trimming the spare yards and extra spars to a proper length. These were then lowered into the sea -- which was propitiously calm -- so as to favor the operation (which otherwise would have been very difficult) of lashing them together into a firm framework, about forty feet long and twenty-five feet wide, upon which the platform was to be supported.

I kept my own place steadily at the pumps, and Andre Le- tourneur worked at my side. I often noticed his father glance at him sorrowfully, as though he wondered what would become of him if he had to struggle with waves to which even the strongest man could hardly fail to succumb.

But come what may, his father will never forsake him, and I myself shall not be wanting in rendering him whatever assistance I can.

Mrs. Kear, who had been for some time in a state of drowsy unconsciousness, was not informed of the immediate danger; but when Miss Herbey, looking somewhat pale with fatigue, paid one of her flying visits to the deck, I warned her to take every precaution for herself, and to be ready for any emergency.

"Thank you, doctor, I am always ready," she cheerfully replied, and returned to her duties below. I saw Andre follow the young girl with his eyes, and a look of melancholy interest passed over his countenance.

Toward eight o'clock in the evening the framework for the raft was almost complete, and the men were lower- ing empty barrels, which had first been securely bunged, and were lashing them to the woodwork to insure its floating.

Two hours later and suddenly there arose the startling cry, "We are sinking! we are sinking!"

Up to the poop rushed Mr. Kear, followed immediately by Falsten and Miss Herbey, who were bearing the inan- imate form of Mrs. Kear. Curtis ran to his cabin, instantly returning with a chart, a sextant, and a compass in his hand.

The scene that followed will ever be engraven in my memory; the cries of distress, the general confusion, the frantic rush of the sailors toward the raft that was not yet ready to support them, can never be forgotten. The whole period of my life seemed to be concentrated into that terrible moment when the planks bent below my feet and the ocean yawned beneath me.

Some of the sailors had taken their delusive refuge in the shrouds, and I was preparing to follow them when a hand was laid upon my shoulder.. Turning round I beheld M.

Letourneur, with tears in his eyes, pointing toward his son.

"Yes, my friend," I said, pressing his hand, "we will save him, if possible."

But Curtis had already caught hold of the young man, and was hurrying him to the main-mast shrouds, when the Chancellor, which had been scudding along rapidly with the wind, stopped suddenly, with a violent shock, and began to settle. The sea rose over my ankles, and almost instinc- tively I clutched at the nearest rope. All at once, when it seemed all over, the ship ceased to sink, and hung motionless in mid-ocean.

同类推荐
  • 医碥

    医碥

    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。
  • 注华严同教一乘策

    注华严同教一乘策

    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。
  • 太一救苦护身妙经

    太一救苦护身妙经

    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。
  • 金丹直指

    金丹直指

    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。
  • 施公案

    施公案

    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
  • 都市诡话(合集)

    都市诡话(合集)

    无论伊氏兄妹搬到哪个城市,死亡诅咒总是如影随行,他们能预知哪些人将会在诡异事件中死去,却也将自己拖入了死咒包围的深渊。画中恶鬼索命、随意扭曲的变形人、吃人的五角怪屋、海中爬出的灵瞳恶女、能把活人拉进去杀死的恐怖片、让人一梦不醒的恶灵、迷失的异次元公寓,惊悚恐怖的事情接二连三发生,他们用脆弱的身体拼命抵抗,这些无助的人们惊声尖叫,他们想要活下去!然而,眼睛会欺骗他们,环境会迷惑他们,头脑会误导他们。人怕鬼,鬼玩人,他们一次次眼睁睁地看着被诅咒的人坠入死亡深渊。到底怎样才能活下去!
  • 店铺创建设计

    店铺创建设计

    店铺管理丛书·第二辑·安特管理文库。本书借鉴了许多国外店铺的成功经验,并且搜集了大量国内相关行业的资料,力图全面翔实地向有志于店铺经营的读者介绍店铺创建设计的全过程,以及每个环节应该注意的问题和难点。
  • 鲑去来:我的美国留学往事

    鲑去来:我的美国留学往事

    “鲑去来”的涵义:利用鲑鱼的溯河洄游习性的象征意义,突显作者赴美留学的奋斗意志和在美国学成归来报效祖国的决心。本书以自传体的形式,回顾2003—2012年作者在出国考试、工作经验准备阶段以及出国后在美国伊利诺伊、夏威夷、纽约、洛杉矶、加利福尼亚等地留学、生活、工作(半工半读)经历,以一连串跌宕起伏、生动有趣的真实故事介绍了21 世纪初的美国留学生活。本书呈现了留学生活中的艰辛和奋斗历史,处处洋溢着乐观向上的正能量,堪称“70后”一代留学者的历史剪影。这不是一本充满自恋的回忆录,也不是一部杜撰的猎奇小说,而是观察纪实、理性思考的文化结晶,体现了作者在探究教育本质方面的努力。
  • The Coxon Fund

    The Coxon Fund

    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。
  • 老祖母的厨房

    老祖母的厨房

    实的怀念与虚幻的构想,就在这间老祖母的厨房里展开,在这里,有我丢失的蓝花瓷碗,有坚守的爱,有不倦的等待,有一段神秘的、古老的故事轻手轻脚地徐徐走来。
  • 时空转换之搬家至南冥

    时空转换之搬家至南冥

    由于一个决定我将家搬到了古代。命中注定,我遇见了他。他——堂堂的太子殿下,却愿意为我付出一切。奇——永远温柔的对我笑,只希望我过得好。他愿意为我做任何事情。煌——自称我的哥哥,我却只能一笑置之。只有我知道这是不可能的事情。而我只想回家,但却......--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 豪门攻略:高冷女皇,拽上天!

    豪门攻略:高冷女皇,拽上天!

    【叮,恭喜您解锁了豪门攻略系统!】攻略霸道总裁、邪魅王爷xxx?不存在的,我们要做的是将他们统统踩在脚下,做一个万人之上的女皇!“宿主,你你你干什么?!”“挖眼睛。”冰冷的声音不带任何情感,宸伸手抬了抬眼镜,水晶容器里赫然是装着一对美丽的眼珠子,没有一丝血迹,完美至极。“他他他、是男主啊!”某系统快被气晕了,还能不能好好做任务了?它究竟是多眼瞎才绑定了这么一个鬼畜宿主?!“哦,我只是觉得他看我的眼神太恶心。”宸不以为然,才一双眼睛而已。“……”人家看你的眼神是充满温柔和爱意好不?哪里恶心了?【非快穿攻略文,不喜勿入】
  • 理想生活

    理想生活

    李东文, 70后。1999年开始学习写作,以小说及情感专栏为主,曾在《天涯》《长城》《十月》《西湖》《长江文艺》等杂志发表小说,作品多次被《小说选刊》《中篇小说选刊》《读者》等转载。
  • 我的供货商是主神

    我的供货商是主神

    唐辕被主神选中,然而还没成为轮回者呢,就突然发现自己脑海里出现了一个名为“720安全卫士”的未知程序,把主神当成病毒给“杀”了,同时还将主神的某些功能给剥离出来并安装到了他的脑海里……他可以在主神那里兑换物品,也可以利用主神前往各个轮回世界……从此,他成了一个不受主神限制的“轮回者”……然而他并不想成为什么最强王者,也不想成为什么曰天曰地曰空气的浑身是肾的标准男主……他只想成为一个奸商,在各种各样的世界里和各种各样的人做交易……而他的供货商,是主神!【无敌流,轻松向,不虐主】【书评区一旦有无故骂人贴,粪青贴,直接删除+永久禁言,别问我为啥,我不想说。】
  • 爱的教育

    爱的教育

    《爱的教育》这是一部伟大的爱的经典,发生在学校、班级和家里的一个个感人至深的故事,在平凡而细腻的笔触下,体现着近乎完美的亲子之爱、师生之情、朋友之谊、乡国之恋,洋溢着爱所散发出的那种深厚、浓郁的情感力量。凡是读过此书的人,都无法抗拒它的魅力。让我们沿着时光隧道,进行一次爱的旅程。