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第61章

the riverman-第61章

小说: the riverman 字数: 每页4000字

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thing is hazardous and it's Mr。 Orde's tug。  It's for him to say 

whether he wants to risk her。〃



〃Good Lord; man; what's the tug in a case like this!〃 cried Orde; 

who was standing near。  Carroll looked at him proudly; but she did 

not attempt to make her presence known。



〃I thought so;〃 replied Captain Marsh。  〃So it's settled。  I'll take 

her out; if I can get a crew。  Harvey; step up here!〃



The engineer slowly hoisted his long figure through the breast…high 

doorway; dragged his legs under him; then with extraordinary agility 

swung to the pier; his teeth shining like ivory in his black face。



〃Yas; suh!〃 said he。



〃Harvey;〃 said Captain Marsh briskly; 〃we'reing back and up; shot with terrific 

impact against the house and beyond。  For an instant the little 

craft seemed buried; but almost immediately the gleam of her black 

hull showed her plunging forward dauntlessly。



〃That's nothin'!〃 said the tug captain who had first spoken。  〃Wait 

'til she gets outside!〃  The watchers streamed down from the pier 

for a better view。  Carroll and Miss Heinzman followed。  They saw 

the staunch little craft drive into three big seas; each of which 

appeared to bury her completely; save for her upper works。  She 

managed; however; to keep her headway。



〃She can stand that; all right;〃 said one of the life…saving crew 

who had been watching her critically。  〃The trouble will come when 

she drops down to the vessels。〃



In spite of the heavy smashing of head…on seas the SPRITE held her 

course straight out。



〃Where's she going; anyway?〃 marvelled little Mr。 Smith; the 

stationer。  〃She's away beyond the wrecks already。〃



〃Probably Marsh has found the seas heavier than he thought and is 

afraid to turn her broadside;〃 guessed his companion。



〃Afraid; hell!〃 snorted a riverman who overheard。



Nevertheless the SPRITE was now so distant that the loom of the 

great seas on the horizon swallowed her from view; save when she 

rose on the crest of some mighty billow。



〃Well; what is he doing 'way out there then?〃 challenged Mr。 Smith's 

friend with some asperity。



〃Do'no;〃 replied  going to try to get a 

line aboard those vessels out there。  It's dangerous。  You don't 

have to go if you don't want to。  Will you go?〃



Harvey removed his cap and scratched his wool。  The grin faded from 

his good…natured countenance。



〃You…all goin'; suh?〃 he asked。



〃Of course。〃



〃I reckon I'll done haif to go; too;〃 said Harvey simply。  Without 

further word he swung lightly back to the uneasy craft below him; 

and began to toss the slabs from the deck into the hold。



〃I want a man with me at the wheel; two to handle the lines; and one 

to fire for Harvey;〃 said Captain Marsh to the crowd in general。



〃That's our job;〃 announced the life…saving captain。



〃Well; come on then。  No use in delay;〃 said Captain Marsh。



The four men from the life…saving service dropped aboard。  The five 

then went over the tug from stem to stern; tossing aside all 

movables; and lashing tight all essentials。  From the pilot…house 

Captain Marsh distributed life preservers。  Harvey declined his。



〃Whaf…for I want dat?〃 he inquired。  〃Lots of good he gwine do me 

down here!〃



Then all hatches were battened down。  Captain Marsh reached up to 

shake the hand which Orde; stooping; offered him。



〃I'll try to bring her back all right; sir;〃 said he。



〃To hell with the tug!〃 cried Orde; impatient at this insistence on 

the mere property aspect。  〃Bring yourself back。〃



Captain Marsh deliberately lit another cigar and entered the pilot…

house with the other men。



〃Cast off!〃 he cried; and the silent crowd heard clearly the single 

sharp bell ringing for attention; and then the 〃jangler〃 that called 

for full speed ahead。  Awed; they watched the tiny sturdy craft move 

out into the stream and point to the fury of the open lake。



〃Brave chaps!  Brave chaps!〃 said Dr。 McMullen to Carroll as they 

turned away。  The physician drew his tall slender figure to its 

height。  〃Brave chaps; every one of them。  But; do you know; to my 

mind; the bravest of them all are that niggerand his fireman

nailed down in the hold where they can't see nor know what's going 

on; and ifif〃 the good doctor blew his nose vigorously five or 

six times〃 well; it's just like a rat in a hole。〃  He shook his 

head vigorously and looked out to sea。  〃I read last evening; sir;〃 

said he to Bradford; 〃in a blasted fool medical journal I take; that 

the race is degenerating。  Good God!〃



The tug had rounded the end of the pier。  The first of her thousand 

enemies; sweeping in from the open; had struck her fair。  A great 

sheet of white water; slantthe riverman; 〃but whatever it is; it's all right 

as long as Buck Marsh is at the wheel。〃



〃There; she's turned now;〃 Mr。 Smith interposed。



Beneath the trail of black smoke she had shifted direction。  And 

then with startling swiftness the SPRITE darted out of the horizon 

into full view。  For the first time the spectators realised the size 

and weight of the seas。  Not even the sullen pounding to pieces of 

the vessels on the bar had so impressed them as the sight of the tug 

coasting with railroad speed down the rush of a comber like a 

child's toy…boat in the surf。  One moment the whole of her deck was 

visible as she was borne with the wave; the next her bow alone 

showed high as the back suction caught her and dragged her from the 

crest into the hollow。  A sea rose behind。  Nothing of the tug was 

to be seen。  It seemed that no power or skill could prevent her 

feeling overwhelmed。  Yet somehow always she staggered out of the 

gulf until she caught the force of the billow and was again cast 

forward like a chip。



Maybe they ain't catchin' p'ticular hell at that wheel to hold her 

from yawing!〃 muttered the tug captain to his neighbour; who 

happened to be Mr。 Duncan; the minister。



Almost before Carroll had time to see that the little craft was 

coming in; she had arrived at the outer line of breakers。  Here the 

combers; dragged by the bar underneath; crested; curled over; and 

fell with a roar; just as in milder weather the surf breaks on the 

beach。  When the SPRITE rushed at this outer line of white…water; a 

woman in the crowd screamed。



But at the edge of destruction the SPRITE came to a shuddering stop。  

Her powerful propellers had been set to the reverse。  They could not 

hold her against the forward fling of the water; but what she lost 

thus she regained on the seaward slopes of the waves and in their 

hollows。  Thus she hovered on the edge of the breakers; awaiting her 

chance。



As long as the seas rolled in steadily; and nothing broke; she was 

safe。  But if one of the waves should happen to crest and break; as 

many of them did; the weight of water catching the tug on her flat; 

broad stern deck would indubitably bury her。  The situation was 

awful in its extreme simplicity。  Would Captain Marsh see his 

opportunity before the law of chances would bring along the wave 

that would overwhelm him?



A realisation of the crisis came to the crowd on the beach。  At once 

the terrible strain of suspense tugged at their souls。  Each 

conducted himself according to his nature。  The hardy men of the 

river and the woods set their teeth until the cheek muscles turned 

white; and blasphemed softly and steadily。  Two or three of the 

townsmen walked up and down the space of a dozen feet。  One; the 

woman who had screamed; prayed aloud in short hysterical sentences。



〃O God!  Save them; O Lord! O Lord!〃



Orde stood on top of a half…buried log; his hat in his hand; his 

entire being concentrated on the manoeuvre being executed。  Only 

Newmark apparently remained as calm as ever; leaning against an 

upright timber; his arms folded; and an unlighted cigar as usual 

between his lips。



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