the cruise of the dolphin-第3章
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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； streaked with angry phosphorus； were fearful to look at。
The wind rose higher and higher； cutting long slits in the tent；
through which the rain poured incessantly。 To complete the sum of
our miseries； the night was at hand。 It came down abruptly； at
last； like a curtain； shutting in Sandpeep Island from all the
world。
It was a dirty night； as the sailors say。 The darkness was
something that could be felt as well as seenit pressed down upon
one with a cold； clammy touch。 Gazing into the hollow blackness；
all sorts of imaginable shapes seemed to start forth from vacancy
brilliant colors； stars； prisms； and dancing lights。 What boy；
lying awake at night； has not amused or terrified himself by
peopling the spaces around his bed with these phenomena of his own
eyes？
〃I say；〃 whispered Fred Langdon； at last； clutching my hand； 〃don't
you see thingsout therein the dark？〃
〃Yes； yesBinny Wallace's face！〃
I added to my own nervousness by making this avowal； though for the
last ten minutes I had seen little besides that star…pale face with
its angelic hair and brows。 First a slim yellow circle； like the
nimbus round the dark moon； took shape and grew sharp against the
darkness； then this faded gradually； and there was the Face；
wearing the same sad； sweet look it wore when he waved his hand to
us across the awful water。 This optical illusion kept repeating
itself。
〃And I too；〃 said Adams。〃 I see it every now and then； outside
there。 What wouldn't I give if it really was poor little Wallace
looking in at us！ O boys； how shall we dare to go back to the town
without him？ I've wished a hundred times； since we've been sitting
here； that I was in his place； alive or dead！〃
We dreaded the approach of morning as much as we longed for it。 The
morning would tell us all。 Was it possible for the Dolphin to
outride such a storm？ There was a lighthouse on Mackerel Reef；
which lay directly in the course the boat had taken when it
disappeared。 If the Dolphin had caught on this reef； perhaps Binny
Wallace was safe。 Perhaps his cries had been heard by the keeper of
the light。 The man owned a life…boat； and had rescued several
persons。 Who could tell？
Such were the questions we asked ourselves again and again； as we
lay huddled together waiting for daybreak。 What an endless night it
was！ I have known months that did not seem so long。
Our position was irksome rather than perilous； for the day was
certain to bring us relief from the town； where our prolonged
absence； together with the storm； had no doubt excited the
liveliest alarm for our safety。 But the cold； the darkness； and the
suspense were hard to bear。
Our soaked jackets had chilled us to the bone。 In order to keep
warm we lay so closely that we could hear our hearts beat above the
tumult of sea and sky。
After a while we grew very hungry； not having broken our fast since
early in the day。 The rain had turned the hard…tack into a sort of
dough； but it was better than nothing。
We used to laugh at Fred Langdon for always carrying in his pocket
a small vial of essence of peppermint or sassafras； a few drops of
which； sprinkled on a lump of loaf…sugar； he seemed to consider a
great luxury。 I do not know what would have become of us at this
crisis if it had not been for that omnipresent bottle of hot stuff。
We poured the stinging liquid over our sugar； which had kept dry in
a sardine…box； and warmed ourselves with frequent doses。
After four or five hours the rain ceased； the wind died away to a
moan； and the seano longer raging like a maniacsobbed and
sobbed with a piteous human voice all along the coast。 And well it
might； after that night's work。 Twelve sail of the Gloucester
fishing fleet had gone down with every soul on board； just outside
of Whale's…Back Light。 Think of the wide grief that follows in the
wake of one wreck； then think of the despairing women who wrung
their hands and wept； the next morning； in the streets of
Gloucester； Marblehead； and Newcastle！
Though our strength was nearly spent； we were too cold to sleep。
Once I sunk into a troubled doze； when I seemed to hear Charley
Marden's parting words； only it was the Sea that said them。 After
that I threw off the drowsiness whenever it threatened to overcome
me。
Fred Langdon was the earliest to discover a filmy； luminous streak
in the sky； the first glimmering of sunrise。
〃Look； it is nearly daybreak！〃
While we were following the direction of his finger； a sound of
distant oars fell upon our ears。
We listened breathlessly； and as the dip of the blades became more
audible； we discerned two foggy lights； like will…o'…the…wisps；
floating on the river。
Running down to the water's edge； we hailed the boats with all our
might。 The call was heard； for the oars rested a moment in the
row…locks； and then pulled in towards the island。
It was two boats from the town； in the foremost of which we could
now make out the figures of Captain Nutter and Binny Wallace's
father。 We shrunk back on seeing him。
〃Thank God！〃 cried Mr。 Wallace fervently； as he leaped from the
wherry without waiting for the bow to touch the beach。
But when he saw only three boys standing on the sands； his eye
wandered restlessly about in quest of the fourth； then a deadly
pallor overspread his features。
Our story was soon told。 A solemn silence fell upon the crowd of
rough boatmen gathered round； interrupted only by a stifled sob
form one poor old man who stood apart from the rest。
The sea was still running too high for any small boat to venture
out； so it was arranged that the wherry should take us back to
town； leaving the yawl； with a picked crew； to hug the island until
daybreak； and then set forth in search of the Dolphin。
Though it was barely sunrise when we reached town； there were a
great many persons assembled at the landing eager for intelligence
from missing boats。 Two picnic parties had started down river the
day before； just previous to the gale； and nothing had been heard
of them。 It turned out that the pleasure…seekers saw their danger
in time； and ran ashore on one of the least exposed islands； where
they passed the night。 Shortly after our own arrival they appeared
off Rivermouth； much to the joy of their friends； in two shattered；
dismasted boats。
The excitement over； I was in a forlorn state； physically and
mentally。 Captain Nutter put me to bed between hot blankets； and
sent Kitty Collins for the doctor。 I was wandering in my mind； and
fancied myself still on Sandpeep Island： now we were building our
brick stove to cook the chowder； and； in my delirium； I laughed
aloud and shouted to my comrades； now the sky darkened； and the
squall struck the island； now I gave orders to Wallace how to
manage the boat； and now I cried because the rain was pouring in on
me through the holes in the tent。 Towards evening a high fever set
in； and it was many days before my grandfather deemed it prudent
to tell me that the Dolphin had been found； floating keel upwards；
four miles southeast of Mackerel Reef。
Poor little Binny Wallace！ How strange it seemed； when I went to
school again； to see that empty seat in the fifth row！ How gloomy
the playground was； lacking the sunshine of his gentle； sensitive
face！ One day a folded sheet slipped from my algebra： it was the
last note he ever wrote me。 I could not read it for the tears。
What a pang shot across my heart the afternoon it was whispered
through the town that a body had been washed ashore at Grave
Pointthe place where we bathed！ We bathed there no more！ How well
I remember the funeral； and what a piteous sight it was afterwards
to see his familiar name on a small headstone in the Old South
Burying…Ground！
Poor little Binny Wallace！ Always the same to me。 The rest of us
have grown up into hard； worldly men； fighting the fight of life；
but you are forever young； and gentle； and pure； a part of my own
childhood that time cannot wither； always a little boy； always poor
little Binny Wallace！
End
