she-第10章
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a gale。
We were pooped。
The wave passed。 It seemed to me that I was under
water for minutesreally it was seconds。 I looked
forward。 The blast had torn out the great sail； and
high in the air it was fluttering away to leeward like
a huge wounded bird。 Then for a moment there was
comparative calm； and in it I heard Job's voice
yelling wildly； 〃Come here to the boat。〃
Bewildered and half drowned as I was； I had the sense
to rush aft。 I felt the dhow sinking under me she was
full of water。 Under her counter the whale…boat was
tossing furiously； and I saw the Arab Mahomed； who had
been steering； leap into her。 I gave one desperate
pull at the towrope to bring the boat alongside。
Wildly I sprang also； and Job caught me by one arm and
I rolled into the bottom of the boat。 Down went the
dhow bodily； and as she did so Mahomed drew his curved
knife and severed the fibre…rope by which we were fast
to her； and in another second we were driving before
the storm over the place where the dhow had been。
〃Great God！〃 I shrieked； 〃where is Leo？ Leo！ Leo！〃
〃He's gone； sir； God help him！〃 roared Job into my
ear； and such was the fury of the squall that his
voice sounded like a whisper。
I wrung my hands in agony。 Leo was drowned； and I was
left alive to mourn him。
〃Look out；〃 yelled Job； 〃here comes another。〃
I turned； a second huge wave was overtaking us。 I half
hoped that it would drown me。 With a curious
fascination I watched its awful advent。 The moon was
nearly hidden now by the wreaths of the rushing storm；
but a little light still caught the crest of the
devouring breaker。 There was something dark on ita
piece of wreckage。 It was on us now； and the boat was
nearly full of water。 But she was built in air…tight
compartmentsHeaven bless the man who invented them！
and lifted up through it like a swan。 Through the foam
and turmoil I saw the black thing on the wave hurrying
right at me。 I put out my right arm to ward it from
me； and my hand closed on another arm； the wrist of
which my fingers gripped like a vise。 l am a very
strong man； and had something to hold to； but my arm
was nearly torn from its socket by the strain and
weight of the floating body。 Had the rush lasted
another two seconds I must either have let go or gone
with it。 But it passed； leaving us up to our knees in
water。
〃Bail out！ bail out！〃 shouted Job； suiting the action
to the word。
But I could not bail just then； for as the moon went
out and left us in total darkness； one faint； flying
ray of light lit upon the face of the man I had
gripped； who was now half lying； half floating in the
bottom of the boat。
It was Leo。 Leo brought back by the waveback； dead
or alive； from the very jaws of Death。
〃Bail out！ bail out！〃 yelled Job； 〃or we shall
founder。〃
I seized a large tin bowl with a handle to it； which
was fixed under one of the seats； and the three of us
bailed away for dear life。 The furious tempest drove
over and round us； flinging the boat this way and
that； the wind and the storm wreaths and the sheets of
stinging spray blinded and bewildered us； but through
it all we worked like demons with the wild
exhilaration of despair； for even despair can
exhilarate。 One minute！ three minutes！ six minutes！
The boat began to lighten； and no fresh wave swamped
us。 Five minutes more； and she was fairly clear。 Then；
suddenly； above the awful shriekings of the hurricane
came a duller； deeper roar。 Great heavens！ It was the
voice of breakers！
At that moment the moon began to shine forth again
this time behind the path of the squall。 Out far
across the torn bosom of the ocean shot the ragged
arrows of her light； and there； half a mile ahead of
us； was a white line of foam； then a little space of
openmouthed blackness； and then another line of white。
It was the breakers； and their roar grew clearer and
yet more clear as we sped down upon them like a
swallow。 There they were； boiling up in snowy spouts
of spray； smiting and gnashing together like the
gleaming teeth of hell。
〃Take the tiller； Mahomed！〃 I roared in Arabic。 〃We
must try and shoot them。〃 At the same moment I seized
an oar； and got it out； motioning to Job to do
likewise。
Mahomed clambered aft； and got hold of the tiller； and
with some difficulty Job； who had sometimes pulled a
tub upon the homely Cam； got out his oar。 In another
minute the boat's head was straight on to the ever…
nearing foam； towards which she plunged and tore with
the speed of a racehorse。 Just in front of us the
first line of breakers seemed a little thinner than to
the right or leftthere was a gap of rather deeper
water。 I turned and pointed to it。
〃Steer for your life； Mahomed！〃 I yelled。 He was a
skilful steersman； and well acquainted with the
dangers of this most perilous coast； and I saw him
grip the tiller and bend his heavy frame forward； and
stare at the foaming terror till his big round eyes
looked as though they would start out of his head。 The
send of the sea was driving the boat's head round to
starboard。 If we struck the line of breakers fifty
yards to starboard of the gap we must sink。 It was a
great field of twisting； spouting waves。 Mahomed
planted his foot against the seat before him； and；
glancing at him I saw his brown toes spread out like a
hand with the weight he put upon them as he took the
strain of the tiller。 She came round a bit； but not
enough。 I roared to Job to back water； while I dragged
and labored at my oar。 She answered now； and none too
soon。
Heavens； we were in them！ And then followed a couple
of minutes of heartbreaking excitement such as I
cannot hope to describe。 All I remember is a shrieking
sea of foam； out of which the billows rose here；
there； and everywhere； like avenging ghosts from their
ocean grave。 Once we were turned right round； but
either by chance； or through Mahomed's skilful
steering； the boat's head came straight again before a
breaker filled us。 One morea monster。 We were
through it or over itmore through than overand
then； with a wild yell of exultation from the Arab； we
shot out into the comparatively smooth water of the
mouth of sea between the teeth like lines of gnashing
waves。
But we were half full of water again； and not more
than half a mile ahead was the second line of
breakers。 Again we set to and bailed furiously。
Fortunately the storm had now quite gone by； and the
moon shone brightly； revealing a rocky headland
running half a mile or more out into the sea； of which
this second line of breakers appeared to be a
continuation。 At any rate； they boiled around its
foot。 Probably the ridge that formed the headland ran
out into the ocean； only at a lower level； and made
the reef also。 This headland was terminated by a
curious peak that seemed not to be more than a mile
away from us。 Just as we got the boat pretty clear for
the second time； Leo； to my immense relief； opened his
eyes and remarked that the clothes had tumbled off the
bed； and that he supposed it was time to get up for
chapel。 I told him to shut his eyes and keep quiet；
which he did without in the slightest degree realizing
the position。 As for myself； his reference to chapel
made me reflect； with a sort of sick longing； on my
comfortable rooms at Cambridge。 Why had I been such a
fool as to leave them？ This is a reflection that has
several times recurred to me since； and with ever…
increasing force。
But now again we are drifting down on the breakers；
though with lessened speed； for the wind had fallen；
and only the current or the tide （it afterwards turned
out to be the tide） was driving us。
Another minute； and with a sort of howl to Allah from
the Arab； a pious ejaculation from myself； and
something that was not pious from Job； we were in
them。 And then the whole scene； down to our final
escape； repeated itself； only not quite so violently。
Mahomed's skilful steering and the air…tight
compartments saved our lives。 In five minutes we were
through； and driftingfor we were too exhausted to do
anything to h
