masterman ready-第17章
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o does the other； when one howls； the other roars in concert … hand in hand they go in their fury and their force。 Had they been called up but one week since； where would have been those who have now been； as it were； intrusted to my weak help？ The father； the mother； the children； the infant at the breast； and I； the gray…headed old man； … all buried fathoms deep； awaiting our summons； but they were restrained by his will； and by his will we were saved。 Will those timbers which bore us here so miraculously hold together till morning？ I should think not。 What are the iron bolts and fastenings of weak man； compared with the force of God's elements： they will snap as yarns； and by to…morrow's dawn； the fragments of the stout ship will be washing and tossing on the wild surf。 Well； it will be a kindness to us； for the waters will perform the labour which we could not； they will break up the timbers for our use； and throw on shore from the hold those articles which we could not reach with our little strength。〃
A sharp flash of lightning struck upon the old man's eyes； and obstructed his vision for the moment。 〃The storm will soon be at its height；〃 thought he； 〃I will watch the tents； and see how they stand up against its force。〃 Then the rain came pattering down； and the wind howled louder than before。 In a minute or two the darkness became so intense that he could hardly find his way back to the tents。 He turned round； but could not see； for he was blinded by the heavy rain。 As nothing could be done； he went into the tent and sheltered himself from the storm； although he would not lie down； lest his services might be required。 The others had retired to bed； but with the exception of Tommy and the children； they had not taken off their clothes。
Chapter XVIII
The storm now raged furiously； the lightning was accompanied by loud peals of thunder； and the children awoke and cried with fright； till they were hushed to sleep again。 The wind howled as it pressed with all its violence against the tents； while the rain poured off in torrents。 One moment the canvas of the tents would bulge in； and the cords which held it strain and crack； at another； an eddy of wind would force out the canvas； which would flap and flap； while the rain found many an entrance。 The tent in which Mrs。 Seagrave and the children reposed was on the outside of the others； and therefore the most exposed。 About midnight the wind burst on them with greater violence than before。 A loud crash was heard by Ready and Mr。 Seagrave； followed by the shrieks of Mrs。 Seagrave and Juno； the pegs of the tent had given way； and the inmates were exposed to the fury of the elements。 Ready rushed out； followed by Mr。 Seagrave and William。 So strong was the wind and beating rain； and such was the darkness； that it was with some difficulty that by their united efforts the women and children could be extricated。 Tommy was the first taken up by Ready： his courage had all gone； and he was bellowing furiously。 William took Albert in charge and carried him into the other tent； where Tommy sat in his wet shirt roaring most melodiously。 Juno； Mrs。 Seagrave； and the little girl were at last carried away and taken into the other tent： fortunately no one was hurt； although the frightened children could not be pacified； and joined in chorus with Tommy。 Nothing more could be done except to put the children into bed； and then the whole party sat up the remainder of the night listening to the noise of the wind； the roaring of the sea； and the loud patter of the rain against the canvas。 At dawn of day； Ready went out； and found that the gale had spent its force； and had already much abated； but it was not one of those bright glorious mornings to which they had been accustomed since their arrival at the island： the sky was still dark； and the clouds were chasing each other wildly； there was neither sun nor blue sky to be seen： it still rained； but only at intervals； and the earth was soft and spongy； the little cove； but the day before so beautiful； was now a mass of foaming and tumultuous waves； and the surf was thrown many yards upon the beach： the horizon was confused … you could not distinguish the line between the water and the sky； and the whole shore of the island was lined with a white foam。 Ready turned his eyes to where the ship had been fixed on the rocks： it was no longer there … the whole frame had disappeared； but the fragments of it； and the contents of the holds； were floating about in every direction； or tossing amongst the surf on the beach。
〃I thought as much；〃 said Ready； pointing to where the ship had lain； as he turned round and found that Mr。 Seagrave had followed him； 〃look； sir； this gale has broken her up entirely。 This is a warning to us not to remain here any longer： we must make the most of the fine weather which we may have before the rainy season sets in。〃
〃I agree with you； Ready；〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave； … 〃and there is another proof of it；〃 pointing to the tent which had been blown down。 〃It was a mercy that none of them were hurt。〃
〃Very true； sir； but the gale is breaking； and we shall have fine weather to…morrow。 Let us now see what we can do with the tent； while William and Juno try if they can get any breakfast。〃
They set to work。 Ready and Mr。 Seagrave made it fast with fresh cords and pegs； and very soon had it all ready； but the beds and bedding were wet through。 They hauled over the wet canvas； and then left it to go to their breakfast； to which Juno had summoned them。
〃We need do no more at present；〃 said Ready； 〃by night…time it will not be so wet； and we can handle it easier。 I see a break in the sky now which promises fine weather soon。 And now we had better work hard to…day； for we may save a great many things； which may be dashed to pieces on the rocks； if we do not haul them on the beach。〃
Chapter XIX
They went down to the beach。 Ready first procured from the stores a good stout rope； and as the waves threw up casks and timbers of the vessel； they stopped them from being washed back again； and either rolled or hauled them up with the rope until they were safely landed。 This occupied them for the major part of the day； and yet they had not collected a quarter of the articles that were in their reach； independent of the quantity which floated about out at sea and at the entrance of the cove。
〃I think；〃 said Ready； 〃we have done a good day's work； tomorrow we shall be able to do much more； for the sea is going down； and the sun is showing himself from the corner of that cloud。 Now we will go to supper； and then see if we can make ourselves more comfortable for the night。〃
The tent which had not been blown down was given to Mrs。 Seagrave and the children； and the other was fitted up as well as it could be。 The bedding being all wet； they procured some sails from the stores； which； being stowed away farther in the grove； had not suffered much from the tempest； and； spreading the canvas； they lay down； and the night passed without any disaster； for the wind was now lulled to a pleasant breeze。
The next morning the sun shone bright … the air was fresh and bracing； but a slight breeze rippled the waters； and there was little or no surf。 The various fragments of the wreck were tossed by the little surf that still remained； many things were lying on the beach which had landed during the night； and many more required but a little trouble to secure them。 There appeared to be a sort of in draught into the cove； as all the articles which had been floating out at sea were now gradually coming on shore in that direction。 Ready and Mr。 Seagrave worked till breakfast…time； and had by that time saved a great many casks and packages。
After breakfast they went down again to the beach and resumed their labours。 〃Look； Ready； what is that？〃 said William； who was with them； as he pointed to a white…looking mass floating in the cove。
〃That； sir； is the poor cow； and if you look again； you will see the sharks are around； making a feast of her： don't you see them？〃
〃Yes； I do … what a quantity！〃
〃Yes； there's no want of them； William； so be very careful how you get into the water； and never let Tommy go near it； for they don't c
