little novels-第58章
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ng charms and blessings into the canoes of our fishermen； who kneel to him for fine weather and great plenty of fish。 If any profane person； native or stranger； presumes to set foot on that island； my otherwise peaceful subjects will （in the performance of a religious duty） put that person to death。 Mention this to your men。 They will be fed by my male people； and fondled by my female people； so long as they keep clear of the Holy Isle。 As they value their lives； let them respect this prohibition。 Is it understood between us？ Wonderful white man！ my canoe is waiting for you。 Let us go back。〃
Understanding enough of the chief's language （illustrated by his gestures） to receive in the right spirit the communication thus addressed to him； the Captain repeated the warning to the ship's company in the plainest possible English。 The officers and men then took their holiday on shore； with the exception of Mr。 Duncalf； who positively refused to leave the ship。 For twelve delightful hours they were fed by the male people； and fondled by the female people； and then they were mercilessly torn from the flesh…pots and the arms of their new friends； and set to work on the sandal…wood in good earnest。 Mr。 Duncalf superintended the loading； and waited for the mischief that was to come of disobeying the owners' orders with a confidence worthy of a better cause。
IV。
STRANGELY enough； chance once more declared itself in favor of the mate's point of view。 The mischief did actually come； and the chosen instrument of it was a handsome young islander； who was one of the sons of the chief。
The Captain had taken a fancy to the sweet…tempered； intelligent lad。 Pursuing his studies in the dialect of the island； at leisure hours； he had made the chief's son his tutor； and had instructed the youth in English by way of return。 More than a month had passed in this intercourse； and the ship's lading was being rapidly completedwhen； in an evil hour； the talk between the two turned on the subject of the Holy Island。
〃Does nobody live on the island but the Priest？〃 the Captain asked。
The chief's son looked round him suspiciously。 〃Promise me you won't tell anybody！〃 he began very earnestly。
The Captain gave his promise。
〃There is one other person on the island；〃 the lad whispered； 〃a person to feast your eyes upon； if you could only see her！ She is the Priest's daughter。 Removed to the island in her infancy； she has never left it since。 In that sacred solitude she has only looked on two human beingsher father and her mother。 I once saw her from my canoe； taking care not to attract her notice； or to approach too near the holy soil。 Oh； so young； dear master； and； oh； so beautiful！〃 The chief's son completed the description by kissing his own hands as an expression of rapture。
The Captain's fine blue eyes sparkled。 He asked no more questions； but； later on that day； he took his telescope with him； and paid a secret visit to the eminence which overlooked the Holy Island。 The next day； and the next； he privately returned to the 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 fi
