±´¿Çµç×ÓÊé > Ó¢ÎÄÔ­Öøµç×ÓÊé > the riverman >

µÚ62ÕÂ

the riverman-µÚ62ÕÂ

С˵£º the riverman ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



Newmark¡¡apparently¡¡remained¡¡as¡¡calm¡¡as¡¡ever£»¡¡leaning¡¡against¡¡an¡¡

upright¡¡timber£»¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡folded£»¡¡and¡¡an¡¡unlighted¡¡cigar¡¡as¡¡usual¡¡

between¡¡his¡¡lips¡£



Methodically¡¡every¡¡few¡¡moments¡¡he¡¡removed¡¡his¡¡eyeglasses¡¡and¡¡wiped¡¡

the¡¡lenses¡¡free¡¡of¡¡spray¡£



Suddenly£»¡¡without¡¡warning£»¡¡occurred¡¡one¡¡of¡¡those¡¡inexplicable¡¡lulls¡¡

that¡¡interpose¡¡often¡¡amid¡¡the¡¡wildest¡¡uproars¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡the¡¡briefest¡¡

instant¡¡other¡¡sounds¡¡than¡¡the¡¡roar¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡and¡¡surf¡¡were¡¡

permitted¡¡the¡¡multitude¡¡on¡¡the¡¡beach¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡grinding¡¡of¡¡

timbers¡¡from¡¡the¡¡stricken¡¡ships£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡draining¡¡away¡¡of¡¡waters¡£¡¡¡¡

And¡¡distinctly¡¡they¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡faint£»¡¡far¡¡tinkle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡jangler¡¡

calling¡¡again¡¡for¡¡¡¨full¡¡speed¡¡ahead¡£¡¨



Between¡¡two¡¡waves¡¡the¡¡SPRITE¡¡darted¡¡forward¡¡directly¡¡for¡¡the¡¡nearest¡¡

of¡¡the¡¡wrecks¡£¡¡¡¡Straight¡¡as¡¡an¡¡arrow's¡¡flight¡¡she¡¡held¡¡until¡¡from¡¡

the¡¡crowd¡¡went¡¡up¡¡a¡¡groan¡£



¡¨She'll¡¡collide£¡¡¨¡¡some¡¡one¡¡put¡¡it¡¡into¡¡words¡£



But¡¡at¡¡the¡¡latest¡¡moment¡¡the¡¡tug¡¡swerved£»¡¡raced¡¡past£»¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡on¡¡

a¡¡long¡¡diagonal¡¡across¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bar¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡piers¡£



Captain¡¡Marsh¡¡had¡¡chosen¡¡his¡¡moment¡¡with¡¡exactitude¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡the¡¡utmost¡¡

he¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡advantage¡¡of¡¡the¡¡brief¡¡lull¡¡of¡¡jumbled¡¡seas¡¡after¡¡the¡¡

¡¨three¡¡largest¡¡waves¡¨¡¡had¡¡swept¡¡by¡£¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡in¡¡shallow¡¡water¡¡and¡¡with¡¡

the¡¡strong¡¡inshore¡¡set£»¡¡even¡¡that¡¡lull¡¡was¡¡all¡¡too¡¡short¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡

SPRITE¡¡was¡¡staggered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡buffets¡¡of¡¡the¡¡smaller¡¡breakers£»¡¡her¡¡

speed¡¡was¡¡checked£»¡¡her¡¡stern¡¡was¡¡dragged¡¡around¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡it¡¡

seemed¡¡that¡¡the¡¡back¡¡suction¡¡would¡¡hold¡¡her¡¡in¡¡its¡¡grip¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡tore¡¡

herself¡¡from¡¡the¡¡grasp¡¡of¡¡the¡¡current¡£¡¡¡¡Enveloped¡¡in¡¡a¡¡blinding¡¡hail¡¡

of¡¡spray¡¡she¡¡struggled¡¡desperately¡¡to¡¡extricate¡¡herself¡¡from¡¡the¡¡

maelstrom¡¡in¡¡which¡¡she¡¡was¡¡involved¡¡before¡¡the¡¡resumption¡¡of¡¡the¡¡

larger¡¡seas¡¡should¡¡roll¡¡her¡¡over¡¡and¡¡over¡¡to¡¡destruction¡£



Already¡¡these¡¡larger¡¡seas¡¡were¡¡racing¡¡in¡¡from¡¡the¡¡open¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡Carroll£»¡¡

watching¡¡breathless¡¡and¡¡wide¡­eyed¡¡in¡¡that¡¡strange¡¡passive¡¡and¡¡

receptive¡¡state¡¡peculiar¡¡to¡¡imaginative¡¡natures£»¡¡they¡¡seemed¡¡alive¡£¡¡¡¡

And¡¡the¡¡SPRITE£»¡¡too£»¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡be£»¡¡not¡¡a¡¡fabric¡¡and¡¡a¡¡mechanism¡¡

controlled¡¡by¡¡men£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡sentient¡¡creature¡¡struggling¡¡gallantly¡¡on¡¡

her¡¡own¡¡volition¡£



Far¡¡out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lake¡¡against¡¡the¡¡tumbling¡¡horizon¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡heave¡¡up¡¡

for¡¡a¡¡second¡¡the¡¡shoulder¡¡of¡¡a¡¡mighty¡¡wave¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡instinctively¡¡she¡¡

perceived¡¡this¡¡wave¡¡as¡¡a¡¡deadly¡¡enemy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡little¡¡tug£»¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡it¡¡

bending¡¡all¡¡its¡¡great¡¡energies¡¡to¡¡hurrying¡¡in¡¡on¡¡time¡¡to¡¡catch¡¡the¡¡

victim¡¡before¡¡it¡¡could¡¡escape¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡this¡¡wave¡¡she¡¡gave¡¡all¡¡her¡¡

attention£»¡¡watching¡¡for¡¡it¡¡after¡¡it¡¡had¡¡sunk¡¡momentarily¡¡below¡¡its¡¡

fellows£»¡¡recognising¡¡it¡¡instantly¡¡as¡¡it¡¡rose¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡spasms¡¡of¡¡

dismay¡¡and¡¡relief¡¡among¡¡the¡¡crowd¡¡about¡¡her¡¡she¡¡did¡¡not¡¡share¡¡at¡¡

all¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡crises¡¡they¡¡indicated¡¡did¡¡not¡¡exist¡¡for¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡Until¡¡the¡¡

wave¡¡came¡¡in£»¡¡Carroll¡¡knew£»¡¡the¡¡SPRITE£»¡¡no¡¡matter¡¡how¡¡battered¡¡and¡¡

tossed£»¡¡would¡¡be¡¡safe¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡whole¡¡being¡¡was¡¡concentrated¡¡in¡¡a¡¡

continually¡¡shifting¡¡calculation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡respective¡¡distances¡¡between¡¡

the¡¡tug¡¡and¡¡the¡¡piers£»¡¡the¡¡tug¡¡and¡¡the¡¡relentlessly¡¡advancing¡¡wave¡£



¡¨Oh£»¡¡go£¡¡¨¡¡she¡¡exhorted¡¡the¡¡SPRITE¡¡under¡¡her¡¡breath¡£



Then¡¡the¡¡crowd£»¡¡too£»¡¡caught¡¡with¡¡its¡¡slower¡¡perceptions¡¡the¡¡import¡¡

of¡¡the¡¡wave¡£¡¡¡¡Carroll¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡electric¡¡thrill¡¡of¡¡apprehension¡¡

shiver¡¡through¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡Huge¡¡and¡¡towering£»¡¡green¡¡and¡¡flecked¡¡with¡¡foam¡¡

the¡¡wave¡¡came¡¡on¡¡now¡¡calmly¡¡and¡¡deliberately¡¡as¡¡though¡¡sure¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡

SPRITE¡¡was¡¡off¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pier¡¡when¡¡the¡¡wave¡¡lifted¡¡her£»¡¡just¡¡in¡¡

the¡¡position¡¡her¡¡enemy¡¡would¡¡have¡¡selected¡¡to¡¡crush¡¡her¡¡life¡¡out¡¡

against¡¡the¡¡cribs¡£¡¡¡¡Slowly¡¡the¡¡tug¡¡rose¡¡against¡¡its¡¡shoulder£»¡¡was¡¡

lifted¡¡onward£»¡¡poised£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡with¡¡a¡¡swift¡¡forward¡¡thrust¡¡the¡¡wave¡¡

broke£»¡¡smothering¡¡the¡¡pier¡¡and¡¡lighthouse¡¡beneath¡¡tons¡¡of¡¡water¡£



A¡¡low£»¡¡agonised¡¡wail¡¡broke¡¡from¡¡the¡¡crowd¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡thenand¡¡thenover¡¡

beyond¡¡the¡¡pier¡¡down¡¡which¡¡the¡¡wave£»¡¡broken¡¡and¡¡spent¡¡but¡¡formidable¡¡

still£»¡¡was¡¡ripping¡¡its¡¡way£»¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡gliding¡¡a¡¡battered¡¡black¡¡stack¡¡

from¡¡which¡¡still¡¡poured¡¡defiantly¡¡clouds¡¡of¡¡gray¡¡smoke¡£



For¡¡ten¡¡seconds¡¡the¡¡spectators¡¡could¡¡not¡¡believe¡¡their¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡

had¡¡distinctly¡¡seen¡¡the¡¡SPRITE¡¡caught¡¡between¡¡a¡¡resistless¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡

water¡¡and¡¡the¡¡pier£»¡¡where¡¡she¡¡should¡¡have¡¡been¡¡crushed¡¡like¡¡the¡¡

proverbial¡¡egg¡­shell¡£¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡there¡¡she¡¡wasor¡¡her¡¡ghost¡£



Then¡¡a¡¡great¡¡cheer¡¡rose¡¡up¡¡against¡¡the¡¡wind¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡crowd¡¡went¡¡crazy¡£¡¡¡¡

Mere¡¡acquaintances¡¡hugged¡¡each¡¡other¡¡and¡¡danced¡¡around¡¡and¡¡around¡¡

through¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡sands¡£¡¡¡¡Several¡¡women¡¡had¡¡hysterics¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡riverman¡¡

next¡¡to¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Duncan¡¡opened¡¡his¡¡mouth¡¡and¡¡swore¡¡so¡¡picturesquely¡¡that£»¡¡

as¡¡he¡¡afterward¡¡told¡¡his¡¡chum£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡must've¡¡been¡¡plumb¡¡inspired¡¡for¡¡

the¡¡occasion¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡it¡¡never¡¡entered¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Duncan's¡¡ministerial¡¡headCAIRTjess¡¡a

little¡¡ne'vous¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡I¡¡

had¡¡to¡¡do¡¡was¡¡to¡¡feed¡¡her¡¡slabs¡¡and¡¡l¡¡

to¡¡reprove¡¡the¡¡blasphemy¡£¡¡¡¡Orde¡¡jumped¡¡down¡¡from¡¡his¡¡half¡­buried¡¡log¡¡

and¡¡clapped¡¡his¡¡hat¡¡on¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¡Newmark¡¡did¡¡not¡¡alter¡¡his¡¡attitude¡¡

nor¡¡his¡¡expression¡£



The¡¡SPRITE¡¡was¡¡safe¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡the¡¡few¡¡moments¡¡before¡¡she¡¡glided¡¡the¡¡

length¡¡of¡¡the¡¡long¡¡pier¡¡to¡¡stiller¡¡water¡¡this¡¡fact¡¡sufficed¡£



¡¨I¡¡wonder¡¡if¡¡she¡¡got¡¡the¡¡line¡¡aboard£»¡¨¡¡speculated¡¡the¡¡tug¡­boat¡¡

captain¡¡at¡¡last¡£



The¡¡crowd¡¡surged¡¡over¡¡to¡¡the¡¡piers¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡Below¡¡them¡¡rose¡¡and¡¡fell¡¡

the¡¡SPRITE¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡the¡¡fancy¡¡scroll¡­work¡¡of¡¡her¡¡upper¡¡works£»¡¡the¡¡

cornice¡¡of¡¡her¡¡deck¡¡house£»¡¡the¡¡light¡¡rigging¡¡of¡¡her¡¡cabin¡¡had¡¡

disappeared£»¡¡leaving¡¡raw¡¡and¡¡splintered¡¡wood¡¡to¡¡mark¡¡their¡¡

attachments¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡tall¡¡smokestack¡¡was¡¡bent¡¡awry£»¡¡but¡¡its¡¡supports¡¡

had¡¡held£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡fortunate¡¡since¡¡otherwise¡¡the¡¡fires¡¡would¡¡have¡¡

been¡¡drowned¡¡out¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡the¡¡moment£»¡¡Captain¡¡Marsh¡¡was¡¡bending¡¡over¡¡

examining¡¡a¡¡bad¡¡break¡¡in¡¡the¡¡overhangthe¡¡only¡¡material¡¡damage¡¡the¡¡

tug¡¡had¡¡sustained¡£



At¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡him¡¡the¡¡crowd¡¡set¡¡up¡¡a¡¡yell¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡paid¡¡no¡¡attention¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡

of¡¡the¡¡life¡­saving¡¡men¡¡tossed¡¡a¡¡mooring¡¡line¡¡ashore¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡seized¡¡

by¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡men¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡somebody¡¡noticed¡¡that¡¡

although¡¡the¡¡tug¡¡had¡¡come¡¡to¡¡a¡¡standstill£»¡¡her¡¡screw¡¡was¡¡still¡¡

turning¡¡slowly¡¡over¡¡and¡¡over£»¡¡holding¡¡her¡¡against¡¡the¡¡erratic¡¡strong¡¡

jerking¡¡of¡¡a¡¡slender¡¡rope¡¡that¡¡ran¡¡through¡¡her¡¡stern¡¡chocks¡¡and¡¡into¡¡

the¡¡water¡£



¡¨He¡¡got¡¡it¡¡aboard£¡¡¨¡¡yelled¡¡the¡¡man£»¡¡pointing¡£



Another¡¡cheer¡¡broke¡¡out¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡life¡­saving¡¡crew¡¡leaped¡¡to¡¡the¡¡deck¡£¡¡¡¡

They¡¡were¡¡immediately¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡a¡¡crowd¡¡of¡¡enthusiasts¡¡eager¡¡to¡¡

congratulate¡¡and¡¡question¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡Captain¡¡Marsh¡¡would¡¡have¡¡none¡¡of¡¡

them¡£



¡¨Get¡¡off¡¡my¡¡tug£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡shouted¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡want¡¡to¡¡swamp¡¡her£¿¡¡¡¡What¡¡do¡¡

you¡¡suppose¡¡we¡¡put¡¡that¡¡line¡¡aboard¡¡for£¿¡¡¡¡Fun£¿¡¡¡¡Get¡¡busy¡¡and¡¡use¡¡it£¡¡¡¡¡

Rescue¡¡that¡¡crew¡¡now£¡¡¨



Abashed£»¡¡the¡¡enthusiasts¡¡scrambled¡¡back¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡life¡­saving¡¡crew¡¡took¡¡

charge¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡pass¡¡the¡¡line¡¡around¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡

pier¡¡and¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡beach¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡was¡¡a¡¡dangerous¡¡job£»¡¡and¡¡one¡¡

requiring¡¡considerable¡¡power¡¡and¡¡ingenuity£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡strain¡¡on¡¡the¡¡

line¡¡imposed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡waters¡¡was¡¡terrific£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡breaking¡¡seas¡¡

rendered¡¡work¡¡on¡¡the¡¡piers¡¡extremely¡¡hazardous¡£¡¡¡¡However£»¡¡the¡¡life¡­

saving¡¡captain¡¡took¡¡charge¡¡confidently¡¡enough¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡crew¡¡began¡¡to¡¡

struggle¡¡out¡¡the¡¡pier£»¡¡while¡¡volunteers£»¡¡under¡¡his¡¡personal¡¡

direction£»¡¡manipulated¡¡the¡¡reel¡£



A¡¡number¡¡of¡¡the¡¡curious¡¡lingered¡¡about¡¡the¡¡SPRITE¡£¡¡¡¡Marsh¡¡and¡¡Orde¡¡

were¡¡in¡¡consultation¡¡over¡¡the¡¡smashed¡¡stern£»¡¡and¡¡did¡¡not¡¡look¡¡as¡¡

though¡¡they¡¡cared¡¡to¡¡be¡¡disturbed¡£¡¡¡¡Harvey¡¡leaned¡¡out¡¡his¡¡little¡¡

square¡¡door¡£



¡¨Don'¡¡know¡¡nuffin¡¡'bout¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he£»¡¡¡¨'ceptin'¡¡she¡¡done¡¡rolled¡¡'way¡¡

over¡¡'bout¡¡foh¡¡times¡£¡¡¡¡Yass¡¡she¡¡did£»¡¡suh£¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡know¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡her¡¡doin'¡¡

it¡£¡¨



¡¨No£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡answered¡¡a¡¡query¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡wasn't¡¡what¡¡you¡­all¡¡would¡¡call¡¡

scairt£»¡¡that¡¡is£»¡¡not¡¡really¡¡Sisten¡¡foh¡¡my¡¡bell¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡see£»¡¡

Cap'n¡¡Ma'sh£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡in¡¡cha'ge¡£¡¨



¡¨No£»¡¡sir£»¡¨¡¡Captain¡¡Marsh¡¡was¡¡saying¡¡emphatically¡¡to¡¡his¡¡employer¡£¡¡¡¡

¡¨I¡¡can't¡¡figure¡¡it¡¡out¡¡except¡¡on¡¡one¡¡thing¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡see¡¡it's¡¡stove¡¡from¡¡

UNDERNEATH¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡sea¡¡would¡¡have¡¡smashed¡¡it¡¡from¡¡above¡£¡¨



¡¨Perhaps¡¡you¡¡grounded¡¡in¡¡between¡¡seas¡¡out¡¡there£»¡¨¡¡suggested¡¡Orde¡£



Marsh¡¡smiled¡¡grimly¡£



¡¨I¡¡reckon¡¡I'd¡¡have¡¡known¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡sir£¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡sounds¡¡wil

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ