登陆注册
5392600000023

第23章

It was not a long wait.Victor was in difficulties almost from the beginning.The oar belonging to the dingy was a foot longer than the one I had given him and he zig-zagged wildly.Soon he was in the edge of the eelgrass and "catching crabs," first on one side, then on the other.The dingy's bow slid up on the mud.He stood up to push it off, and the stern swung around.Getting clear, he took a fresh start and succeeded only in fouling again.This time he got further into the tangle before he grounded.The bow rose and the stern settled.There was a mighty splashing, as Victor pushed and tugged, but the dingy stuck fast.And there she would continue to stick for four hours unless I, or some one else, helped her off.

I did not want to help.In fact, I looked all up and down the bay before I made a move.But it was dinner time and there was not another soul afloat.More than that, I noticed, as I had not noticed before, that brown clouds--wind clouds--were piling up in the west, and, if I was anything of a prophet, we would have squalls and dirty weather long before those four hours were over.

And the dingy, in that position, was not safe to face a blow.No, as the small boys say, it was "up to me." I wished it was not, but it was.

So again I went to the rescue, but this time in an entirely different frame of mind.My anger and resentment had settled to a cold determination, and this trip was purely business.I was not at a disadvantage now, as I had been when I first met that girl and her friend, in "Big Jim" Colton's library.I was master of this situation and master I intended to be.

I sculled the skiff straight in to the edge of the flat, at a point where the bank sloped sharply to deep water.I threw over my anchor, shortened the rope and made it fast.Then I stepped out into water above my shoe tops and waded toward the dingy.The water was icy cold, but I did not know it at the time.

I splashed through the eelgrass.Victor saw me coming and roared an angry protest.He was still trying to push the boat off with an oar.

"Here!" he shouted."You keep away.We don't want you."I did not care what he wanted.I splashed alongside the dingy and looked at her and the position she was in.My mind was made up instantly.

"You'll never get her off if you both stay aboard," I said."Let the lady move amidships and you get out and wade."He glared at me as if I were as crazy as Colton or Lute had declared me to be.Then he laughed contemptuously.

"You go back where you came from," he ordered."I'm running this.""Yes, I've noticed that.Now I'll state the facts as plainly as Ican.This boat is fast aground in the mud, the tide is still going out, and there are squalls coming.She must be got off or there may be danger.You can't get her off until she is lightened.Will you get out and wade?"He did not answer; instead he continued to push with the oar.Iturned to the girl.

"Miss Colton," I said, "I must ask you to stand up.Be careful when you rise."She made no move, nor did she reply.The look she gave me was enough.

"You must stand up," I repeated, firmly."Either your--this gentleman--must get out, as I tell him to, or I shall have to carry you to my skiff.We haven't any time to spare."She gazed at me in blank astonishment.Then the color flamed in her cheeks and her eyes flashed.

"We don't wish your help," she said, icily.

"I'm sorry, but that makes no difference.I--"Victor whirled on me, the oar in his hands.I thought for an instant he was going to strike me with it.

同类推荐
  • 南山祖师礼赞文

    南山祖师礼赞文

    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。
  • 佛说佛地经

    佛说佛地经

    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。
  • 加句灵验佛顶尊胜陀罗尼记

    加句灵验佛顶尊胜陀罗尼记

    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。
  • 壬归

    壬归

    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。
  • 元始天尊说梓童帝君本愿经

    元始天尊说梓童帝君本愿经

    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。
热门推荐
  • 报告校草大人

    报告校草大人

    传闻圣伊高中的校草大人桀骜不驯,说好的生人勿进,却把她宠上了天。慕汐樱冷眼一横:“你说什么?”某大校草一秒变怂包,化身呆萌小奶狗:“老婆,我错啦~我再也不敢了!”装逼一时爽,追妻火葬场!***【1V1】【双洁】【巨宠贼甜】【女主扮猪吃虎不小白】
  • Madame Chiang Kai-shek
  • 读者文摘精华:没人会责怪你的精心准备(原创版)

    读者文摘精华:没人会责怪你的精心准备(原创版)

    这是一本励志作品集。收作者100余篇经典作品。正所谓一花一世界,一树一菩萨。看似平凡细小的东西,却蕴藏着深刻的人生哲理,看似随手拈来的素材,通过作者一支普通的笔,也能编织成精美的文章。本书作者有近20余篇作品被选大、中学教辅、教材和中、高考语文试卷。同时也是《读者》等多家大刊、名刊的签约作家。温馨、美好、哲理、励志构成了这本书的特。别具一格的阐述,对人生的感悟,于滴、细节、碎片之中闪烁着真、善、美的色彩,以充沛的感情、深邃的意境、丰富的哲理,为人们烹饪思想盛宴、审美大餐。
  • 重塑心灵:一门使人成功快乐的学问

    重塑心灵:一门使人成功快乐的学问

    本书全面地介绍了NLP的历史、理论框架、基本概念等基础理论;共分为10章,每章都有其独立的主题。书中提供了少量NLP技巧,既安全又容易产生实效的技巧,以及更多与时代同步发展的新观点与新案例;同时本书的概念与技巧也可为所有人在面对人生时提供启迪。
  • 诸法集要经

    诸法集要经

    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。
  • 游心安乐道

    游心安乐道

    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。
  • 午后薰衣茶

    午后薰衣茶

    冷酷帅气的偶像巨星夏夜薰和新近崛起的天才娱记“火焰小魔女”小园,他们本属于两个势同水火的群体,却因为一次“偶然”,成为亲密的好友。小园的可爱融化了少年冰冷的外壳,薰的温柔逐渐动摇了她的心。是无情无义地曝光超级巨星的独家资料,还是维持那份令人心动莫名的友谊,残酷的现实只能让小园选择其一。当红偶像夏夜薰的绝密私人档案首次曝光,曝光资料的居然是他的好朋友——天才娱记“火焰小魔女”小园!生气的薰毅然决定和小园断绝朋友关系,小园为如何挽回二人的友谊苦恼不已。这时,妄图东山再起的黑帮组织海兴帮竟将魔爪伸向了薰!小园在保护薰的瞬间,明白了自己的心意。
  • 佛说魔娆乱经

    佛说魔娆乱经

    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。
  • 陈账

    陈账

    马民庆是高考恢复后的第二届师院本科生,上大学时,他二十三岁,已经在西马村做了七年农民。村里人对他种了八年庄稼又能考上大学更多的是惊讶与羡慕,他对自己能离开农村更多的是逃离虎口般的庆幸与解脱。每次暑假回到村里,望着钻进玉米地挥汗如雨的村人,再看他们憔悴的面容和僵硬的表情,马民庆都有一种噩梦般的感觉。心想,多亏考上了。1981年的西马村还是生产队,正式名称叫桑泉公社莲村大队第四生产队。三年前,马民庆是这个生产队的一员,每天要随钟声上工,去地里干活。暑假第二天,马民庆又是被上工的钟声惊醒的,三年来每次放假在家都是如此。
  • 隐婚老公总想套路我

    隐婚老公总想套路我

    新文《唐先生他总想独占我》已发婚前,他说:“不要对我动心,你只是摆设。”婚后,他却说:“老婆,来亲亲抱抱举高高。”苏媛抓着衣领跑出房:无耻,是谁说的她只是摆设?!都说京都厉少高冷矜贵,倨傲薄情,却独独对他的小妻子宠之入骨,爱之如命,别人碰不得,惹不得,伤不得。苏媛直磨牙,假的,假的,都是假的!→_→他们都不知道被他宠有多伤身!