the cruise of the dolphin-第2章

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oars　and　the　drowsy　twitterings　of　the　birds　seemed　to　mingle　with；
rather　than　break；　the　enchanted　silence　that　reigned　about　us。

The　scent　of　the　new　clover　comes　back　to　me　now；　as　I　recall　that
delicious　morning　when　we　floated　away　in　a　fairy　boat　down　a　river
like　a　dream！

The　sun　was　well　up　when　the　nose　of　the　Dolphin　nestled　against
the　snow…white　bosom　of　Sandpeep　Island。　This　island；　as　I　have
said　before；　was　the　last　of　the　cluster；　one　side　of　it　being
washed　by　the　sea。　We　landed　on　the　river…side；　the　sloping　sands
and　quiet　water　affording　us　a　good　place　to　moor　the　boat。

It　took　us　an　hour　or　more　to　transport　our　stores　to　the　spot
selected　for　the　encampment。　Having　pitched　our　tent；　using　the
five　oars　to　support　the　canvas；　we　got　out　our　lines；　and　went
down　the　rocks　seaward　to　fish。　It　was　early　for　cunners；　but　we
were　lucky　enough　to　catch　as　nice　a　mess　as　ever　you　saw。　A　cod
for　the　chowder　was　not　so　easily　secured。　At　last　Binny　Wallace
hauled　in　a　plump　little　fellow　clustered　all　over　with　flaky
silver。

To　skin　the　fish；　build　our　fireplace；　and　cook　the　chowder　kept　us
busy　the　next　two　hours。

The　fresh　air　and　the　exercise　had　given　us　the　appetites　of
wolves；　and　we　were　about　famished　by　the　time　the　savory　mixture
was　ready　for　our　clam…shell　saucers。　

I　shall　not　insult　the　rising　generation　on　the　seaboard　by　telling
them　how　delectable　is　a　chowder　compounded　and　eaten　in　this
Robinson　Crusoe　fashion。　As　for　the　boys　who　live　inland；　and　know
not　of　such　marine　feasts；　my　heart　is　full　of　pity　for　them。　What
wasted　lives！　Not　to　know　the　delights　of　a　clambake；　not　to　love
chowder；　to　be　ignorant　of　lobscouse！

How　happy　we　were；　we　four；　sitting　cross…legged　in　the　crisp　salt
grass；　with　the　invigorating　seabreeze　blowing　gratefully　through
our　hair！　What　a　joyous　thing　was　life；　and　how　far　off　seemed
deathdeath；　that　lurks　in　all　pleasant　places；　and　was　so　near！

The　banquet　finished；　Phil　Adams　drew　from　his　pocket　a　handful　of
sweet…fern　cigars；　but　as　none　of　the　party　could　indulge　without
imminent　risk　of　becoming　ill；　we　all；　on　one　pretext　or　another；
declined；　and　Phil　smoked　by　himself。

The　wind　had　freshened　by　this；　and　we　found　it　comfortable　to　put
on　the　jackets　which　had　been　thrown　aside　in　the　heat　of　the　day。
We　strolled　along　the　beach　and　gathered　large　quantities　of　the
fairy…woven　Iceland　moss；　which　at　certain　seasons　is　washed　to
these　shores；　then　we　played　at　ducks　and　drakes；　and　then；　the　sun
being　sufficiently　low；　we　went　in　bathing。

Before　our　bath　was　ended　a　slight　change　had　come　over　the　sky　and
sea；　fleecy…white　clouds　scudded　here　and　there；　and　a　muffled　moan
from　the　breakers　caught　our　ears　from　time　to　time。　While　we　were
dressing；　a　few　hurried　drops　of　rain　came　lisping　down；　and　we
adjourned　to　the　tent　to　wait　the　passing　of　the　squall。

〃We're　all　right；　anyhow；〃　said　Phil　Adams。　〃It　won't　be　much　of　a
blow；　and　we'll　be　as　snug　as　a　bug　in　a　rug；　here　in　the　tent；
particularly　if　we　have　that　lemonade　which　some　of　you　fellows
were　going　to　make。

By　an　oversight；　the　lemons　had　been　left　in　the　boat。　Binny
Wallace　volunteered　to　go　for　them。

〃Put　an　extra　stone　on　the　painter；　Binny；〃　said　Adams；　calling
after　him；　〃it　would　be　awkward　to　have　the　Dolphin　give　us　the
slip　and　return　to　port　minus　her　passengers。〃　

〃That　it　would；〃　answered　Binny；　scrambling　down　the　rocks。

Sandpeep　Island　is　diamond…shapedone　point　running　out　into　the
sea；　and　the　other　looking　towards　the　town。　Our　tent　was　on　the
river…side。　Though　the　Dolphin　was　also　on　the　same　side；　she　lay
out　of　sight　by　the　beach　at　the　farther　extremity　of　the　island。

Binny　Wallace　had　been　absent　five　or　six　minutes　when　we　heard　him
calling　our　several　names　in　tones　that　indicated　distress　or
surprise；　we　could　not　tell　which。　Our　first　thought　was；　〃The　boat
has　broken　adrift！〃

We　sprung　to　our　feet　and　hastened　down　to　the　beach。　On　turning
the　bluff　which　hid　the　mooring…place　from　our　view；　we　found　the
conjecture　correct。　Not　only　was　the　Dolphin　afloat；　but　poor
little　Binny　Wallace　was　standing　in　the　bows　with　his　arms
stretched　helplessly　towards　usdrifting　out　to　sea！

〃Head　the　boat　inshore！〃　shouted　Phil　Adams。

Wallace　ran　to　the　tiller；　but　the　slight　cockle…shell　merely　swung
round　and　drifted　broadside　on。　Oh；　if　we　had　but　left　a　single
scull　in　the　Dolphin！

〃Can　you　swim　it？〃　cried　Adams　desperately；　using　his　hand　as　a
speaking…trumpet；　for　the　distance　between　the　boat　and　the　island
widened　momently。

Binny　Wallace　looked　down　at　the　sea；　which　was　covered　with　white
caps；　and　made　a　despairing　gesture。　He　knew；　and　we　knew；　that　the
stoutest　swimmer　could　not　live　forty　seconds　in　those　angry
waters。

A　wild；　insane　light　came　into　Phil　Adam's　eyes；　as　he　stood　knee…
deep　in　the　boiling　surf；　and　for　an　instant　I　think　he　meditated
plunging　into　the　ocean　after　the　receding　boat。

The　sky　darkened；　and　an　ugly　look　stole　rapidly　over　the　broken
surface　of　the　sea。

Binny　Wallace　half　rose　from　his　seat　in　the　stern；　and　waved　his
hand　to　us　in　token　of　farewell。　In　spite　of　the　distance；
increasing　every　moment；　we　could　see　his　face　plainly。　The　anxious
expression　it　wore　at　first　had　passed。　It　was　pale　and　meek　now；
and　I　love　to　think　there　was　a　kind　of　halo　about　it；　like　that
which　painters　place　around　the　forehead　of　a　saint。　So　he　drifted
away。

The　sky　grew　darker　and　darker。　It　was　only　by　straining　our　eyes
through　the　unnatural　twilight　that　we　could　keep　the　Dolphin　in
sight。　The　figure　of　Binny　Wallace　was　no　longer　visible；　for　the
boat　itself　had　dwindled　to　a　mere　white　dot　on　the　black　water。
Now　we　lost　it；　and　our　hearts　stopped　throbbing；　and　now　the　speck
appeared　again；　for　an　instant；　on　the　crest　of　a　high　wave。

Finally　it　went　out　like　a　spark；　and　we　saw　it　no　more。　Then　we
gazed　at　one　another；　and　dared　not　speak。

Absorbed　in　following　the　course　of　the　boat；　we　had　scarcely
noticed　the　huddled　inky　clouds　that　sagged　heavily　all　around　us。
From　these　threatening　masses；　seamed　at　intervals　with　pale
lightning；　there　now　burst　a　heavy　peal　of　thunder　that　shook　the
ground　under　our　feet。　A　sudden　squall　struck　the　sea；　ploughing
deep　white　furrows　into　it；　and　at　the　same　instant　a　single
piercing　shriek　rose　above　the　tempestthe　frightened　cry　of　a
gull　swooping　over　the　island。　How　it　startled　us！

It　was　impossible　any　longer　to　keep　our　footing　on　the　beach。　The
wind　and　the　breakers　would　have　swept　us　into　the　ocean　if　we　had
not　clung　to　one　another　with　the　desperation　of　drowning　men。
Taking　advantage　of　a　momentary　lull；　we　crawled　up　the　sands　on
our　hands　and　knees；　and；　pausing　in　the　lee　of　the　granite　ledge
to　gain　breath；　returned　to　the　camp；　where　we　found　that　the　gale
had　snapped　all　the　fastenings　of　the　tent　but　one。　Held　by　this；
the　puffed…out　canvas　swayed　in　the　wind　like　a　balloon。　It　was　a
task　of　some　difficulty　to　secure　it；　which　we　did　by　beating　down
the　canvas　with　the　oars。

After　several　trials；　we　succeeded　in　setting　up　the　tent　on　the
leeward　side　of　the　ledge。　Blinded　by　the　vivid　flashes　of
lightning；　and　drenched　by　the　rain；　which　fell　in　torrents；　we
crept；　half　dead　with　fear　and　anguish；　under　our　flimsy　shelter。
Neither　the　anguish　nor　the　fear　was　on　our　own　account；　for　we
were　comparatively　safe；　but　for　poor　little　Binny　Wallace；　driven
out　to　sea　in　the　merciless　gale。　We　shuddered　to　think　of　him　in
that　frail　shell；　drifting　on　and　on　to　his　grave；　the　sky　rent
with　lightning　over　his　head；　and　the　green　abysses　yawning　beneath
him。　We　suddenly　fell　to　crying；　and　cried　I　know　not　how　long。

Meanwhile　the　storm　raged　with　augmented　fury。　We　were　obliged　to
hold　on　to　the　ropes　of　the　tent　to　prevent　it　blowing　away。　The
spray　from　the　river　leaped　several　yards　up　the　rocks　and　clutched
at　us　malignantly。　The　very　island　trembled　with　the　concussions　of
the　sea　beating　upon　it；　and　at　times　I　fancied　that　it　had　broken
loose　from　its　foundation　and　was　floating　off　with　us。　The
breakers；　strea