登陆注册
5382900000112

第112章

"No, she is a Bordeaux vessel, La Gironde; she comes from India also; but she is not mine.""Perhaps she has spoken the Pharaon, and brings you some tidings of her?""Shall I tell you plainly one thing, sir? I dread almost as much to receive any tidings of my vessel as to remain in doubt.uncertainty is still hope." Then in a low voice Morrel added, -- "This delay is not natural.The Pharaon left Calcutta the 5th February; she ought to have been here a month ago.""What is that?" said the Englishman."What is the meaning of that noise?""Oh, oh!" cried Morrel, turning pale, "what is it?" A loud noise was heard on the stairs of people moving hastily, and half-stifled sobs.Morrel rose and advanced to the door; but his strength failed him and he sank into a chair.The two men remained opposite one another, Morrel trembling in every limb, the stranger gazing at him with an air of profound pity.The noise had ceased; but it seemed that Morrel expected something -- something had occasioned the noise, and something must follow.The stranger fancied he heard footsteps on the stairs; and that the footsteps, which were those of several persons, stopped at the door.A key was inserted in the lock of the first door, and the creaking of hinges was audible.

"There are only two persons who have the key to that door,"murmured Morrel, "Cocles and Julie." At this instant the second door opened, and the young girl, her eyes bathed with tears, appeared.Morrel rose tremblingly, supporting himself by the arm of the chair.He would have spoken, but his voice failed him."Oh, father!" said she, clasping her hands, "forgive your child for being the bearer of evil tidings."Morrel again changed color.Julie threw herself into his arms.

"Oh, father, father!" murmured she, "courage!""The Pharaon has gone down, then?" said Morrel in a hoarse voice.The young girl did not speak; but she made an affirmative sign with her head as she lay on her father's breast.

"And the crew?" asked Morrel.

"Saved," said the girl; "saved by the crew of the vessel that has just entered the harbor." Morrel raised his two hands to heaven with an expression of resignation and sublime gratitude."Thanks, my God," said he, "at least thou strikest but me alone." A tear moistened the eye of the phlegmatic Englishman.

"Come in, come in," said Morrel, "for I presume you are all at the door."Scarcely had he uttered those words than Madame Morrel entered weeping bitterly.Emmanuel followed her, and in the antechamber were visible the rough faces of seven or eight half-naked sailors.At the sight of these men the Englishman started and advanced a step; then restrained himself, and retired into the farthest and most obscure corner of the apartment.Madame Morrel sat down by her husband and took one of his hands in hers, Julie still lay with her head on his shoulder, Emmanuel stood in the centre of the chamber and seemed to form the link between Morrel's family and the sailors at the door.

"How did this happen?" said Morrel.

"Draw nearer, Penelon," said the young man, "and tell us all about it."An old seaman, bronzed by the tropical sun, advanced, twirling the remains of a tarpaulin between his hands.

"Good-day, M.Morrel," said he, as if he had just quitted Marseilles the previous evening, and had just returned from Aix or Toulon.

"Good-day, Penelon," returned Morrel, who could not refrain from smiling through his tears, "where is the captain?""The captain, M.Morrel, -- he has stayed behind sick at Palma; but please God, it won't be much, and you will see him in a few days all alive and hearty.""Well, now tell your story, Penelon."

Penelon rolled his quid in his cheek, placed his hand before his mouth, turned his head, and sent a long jet of tobacco-juice into the antechamber, advanced his foot, balanced himself, and began, -- "You see, M.Morrel," said he, "we were somewhere between Cape Blanc and Cape Boyador, sailing with a fair breeze, south-south-west after a week's calm, when Captain Gaumard comes up to me -- I was at the helm I should tell you -- and says, `Penelon, what do you think of those clouds coming up over there?' I was just then looking at them myself.`What do I think, captain? Why Ithink that they are rising faster than they have any business to do, and that they would not be so black if they didn't mean mischief.' -- `That's my opinion too,' said the captain, `and I'll take precautions accordingly.We are carrying too much canvas.Avast, there, all hands! Take in the studding-sl's and stow the flying jib.' It was time; the squall was on us, and the vessel began to heel.`Ah,' said the captain, `we have still too much canvas set; all hands lower the mains'l!' Five minutes after, it was down; and we sailed under mizzen-tops'ls and to'gall'nt sails.`Well, Penelon,' said the captain, `what makes you shake your head?' `Why,' I says, `I still think you've got too much on.' `I think you're right,' answered he, `we shall have a gale.' `A gale? More than that, we shall have a tempest, or I don't know what's what.' You could see the wind coming like the dust at Montredon; luckily the captain understood his business.`Take in two reefs in the tops'ls,' cried the captain; `let go the bowlin's, haul the brace, lower the to'gall'nt sails, haul out the reef-tackles on the yards.'""That was not enough for those latitudes," said the Englishman; "I should have taken four reefs in the topsails and furled the spanker."His firm, sonorous, and unexpected voice made every one start.Penelon put his hand over his eyes, and then stared at the man who thus criticized the manoeuvres of his captain."We did better than that, sir," said the old sailor respectfully; "we put the helm up to run before the tempest;ten minutes after we struck our tops'ls and scudded under bare poles.""The vessel was very old to risk that," said the Englishman.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 唐僧打怪神豪系统

    唐僧打怪神豪系统

    【西游乱不乱,唐僧说了算!】“悟空,和你说过多少次,女妖精不用拦!”“八戒,帮师傅化些斋饭,路过那村农妇在弄猪肘子,倍儿香!去吧,反正就一对母子,不给就抢,速去速回!”“沙僧,为师打怪去去就回,行李就靠你了!”……书友群:683093161
  • 灾难面前如何守护人身安全

    灾难面前如何守护人身安全

    《灾难面前如何守护人身安全》涉及的内容都与日常的学习和生活密切相关,只有人身安全了,我们才可能萌生起对其他目标追求的兴趣。著名学者马斯洛曾说过:“人有五种需要:生理需要、安全需要、社交需要、尊重需要和自我实现的需要。”可见“安全”对于人来说是如此的重要。“安全”是简单的两个字,却饱含着许多的祝福和期盼;安全是沉重的两个字,浸蕴着多少血泪与辛酸。
  • 观音

    观音

    戏写世道人心,人生百态。戏也是音。观音,观世间疾苦繁华,声声入耳,二在心。古典与时尚的融汇,传统与先锋的结合。安意如编著的《观音》这一年,是迷茫,挫折,欣悦的交集。那些怎么也不会老去的旋律,它们让我心醉神驰我企图把我所感知的美和人分享,它们是我年少至今的珍藏。如同小女孩的私物,在合适的时候,总想拿出来和人分享,即使它很有可能不值一晒。
  • 王妃不逊

    王妃不逊

    “混蛋王爷啊,说实话,你挺帅的。”“大胆,你叫本王什么?”“混蛋王爷啊,怎么了,有什么问题吗?”“你......。”“你要是不喜欢的话,我可以换个称呼,叫花心王爷老公,好不好?”某男直接被气晕过去。********************************************************“帅哥,我呢叫凤乐乐,你叫什么名字?”“咳咳......美人,我叫浅苍晨。”“什么美人啊,听着怎么就怪怪的,你还是叫我美女吧。”“美女,我很喜欢你。”“喜欢我?”“是啊,很喜欢。”“真的吗?”“当然是真的。”“可是很遗憾,我已经嫁人了,你这可是在勾引有妇之夫哦。”“嫁人了?”“对啊,人家现在是荣王府的王妃,帅哥你晚了一步了,我这朵花已经被采了。”“那我可以等你被荣王爷休了再娶你。”
  • 废土从我的战争开始

    废土从我的战争开始

    世界顺序:这是我的战争,行尸走肉,我是传奇,待定。当某个高维生命无聊,那么奇迹就会发生。当一个普通人被某个存在选中,以一个平常人的角度,去无尽的末日世界中历险,他又该怎样生存?无异能,无超凡力量,无系统,这是一个平常人在末世的YY。一切,只是想生存。
  • The Library

    The Library

    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。
  • 剑动山河

    剑动山河

    “你是万中无一的练剑之才!若随我习剑,至多一万载后,汝可为绝代仙王!”庄无道为赚取外快,假公济私倒卖学馆废旧兵刃。却遇一口神秘朽剑缠身,甩不掉、砸不烂、也压不住,使人毛骨悚然。然而每到夜间,庄无道都会梦到一位姿容绝世的美貌少女。
  • 逮捕妖孽美男老公

    逮捕妖孽美男老公

    夏菲萌……名字可爱懦弱,气场却强大的女生。某年某月某日她左手拿着九块钱,右手拿着伊殿伦的身份证笑道:“九块钱,我请你结婚。”话落,挑眉一脸的得意。“所以?……”伊殿伦不慌不忙的坐在沙发上,轻啄一口红酒,样子无比邪魅,一双深邃的眼眸,泛着迷人的色泽还带有浅浅的笑意。“所以我们结婚吧!”夏菲萌脸不红心不跳,伸出修长白嫩的食指挑起伊殿伦完美的下颌。“好,我同意。”放下酒杯,伊殿伦薄而性感的双唇如玫瑰花瓣娇嫩带着红酒香的邪气吻在她的唇上。
  • 鸿蒙战争令

    鸿蒙战争令

    武当在流血!人族在死亡!!鸿蒙在崩溃!!!“神要是公然去跟人作对,那是任何人都难以对付的”智慧尊者“可,我没得选择”封火朱雀顾希夷,执刀弑神
  • 章木头

    章木头

    吴君,女,中国作协会员。曾获首届中国小说双年奖、广东新人新作奖。长篇小说《我们不是一个人类》被媒体评为2004年最值得记忆五部长篇之一。出版多本中篇小说集。根据其中篇小说《亲爱的深圳》改编的电影已在国内及北美地区发行放映。