elinor wyllys-2-第70章
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her water…fowl flying lower and lower； nearer and nearer to their favourite element； the land…birds hurrying hither and thither； seeking shelter among their native branches。 But not a drop of rain had yet fallen； and the waves still came rolling in upon the sands with the measured； lulling sound of fair weather。
The air from the south revived for a moment； sweeping in light； fitful puffs over the bay。 Favoured by this last flickering current of the morning's breeze； the Petrel had succeeded in making her way half across the bay； though returning less steadily than she had gone on her errand an hour before。
〃Give us another puff or two； and she will yet be here before the squall；〃 said de Vaux。
The little schooner was now indeed within less than half a mile of the wharf； but here at length the wind entirely failed her； and she sat idly on the water。 De Vaux was watching her through the glass； there seemed to be some little hesitation and confusion on board； Sam； the boy； had given up the tiller to Black Bob。 Suddenly the first blast of the gust from the east came rustling through the wood； making the young trees bend before it； then as it passed over the water there was a minute's respite。
〃How she dodges！What are they about？〃 exclaimed Harry。
〃What do they mean？Are they blind？can't they see the squall coming？〃 cried de Vaux in great anxiety； as he watched the hesitation on board the Petrel。
〃As my name is Nat Fisher； that nigger is drunk！I thought so this morning！〃 exclaimed the steward。
〃And Smith and Hubbard know nothing of a boat！〃 cried de Vaux； in despair。
The words had scarcely passed his lips before the wind came rushing over the wood； in a sudden； furious blast； bringing darker and heavier clouds； accompanied by quick； vivid flashes of lightning； and sharp cracks of thunder； the rain pouring down in torrents。 It was with difficulty the young men kept their footing on the end of the wharf； such was the first fury of the gust； but they forgot themselves in fears for their friends。
〃Are they mad！〃 cried de Vaux； as he marked the uncertainty of their movements； while the wind was sweeping furiously over the darkened waters towards them。
A heavy sheet of rain； pouring in a flood from the clouds； completely enveloped the party on the wharf； another second and a shout was indistinctly heard amid the tumult of the winds and waters； a lighter cloud passed over； the bay was partially seen again； but neither the white sails of the Petrel nor her buoyant form could be traced by the eager eyes on the wharf。 She had been struck by the gust and capsized。
〃She is gone！〃 exclaimed de Vaux； with a cry of horror。
〃Charlie can't swim！〃 cried Harry。
〃Nor Bob； for certain；〃 said the steward。 〃I don't know about the others。〃
Three shots from a fowling…piece were rapidly fired； as a signal to the party in the Petrel that their situation was known to their friends on shore。 The steward was instantly ordered to run along the beach to the farthest point； and carry the boat from there to the spot； it was a distance of more than two miles by land； still de Vaux thought it best to be done； while he himself and Stebbins seized another pair of oars； and set off at full speed in the opposite direction； to the nearest point； about a mile from the wharf； beyond which Stryker was fishing with their own boat； intending to carry her instantly to the relief of the party in the schooner。
Harry thought of his friend； Charlie could not swim； he himself was a remarkably good swimmer。 It must be some little time before either boat could reach the capsized schooner； and in the interval； two at least of the four individuals in the Petrel； were helpless and in imminent peril。 The idea of Charlie's danger decided his course； in a moment he had cast off his clothes； and with Bruno at his sidea faithful ally at such a momenthe had thrown himself into the water； confident that he could swim the distance himself with ease。
The next half…hour was one of fearful anxiety。 The gust still raged with sullen fury； the shower from eastward； collected among the mists of the ocean； and the array from the west； gathered amid the woods and marshes of the land； met with a fierce shock on the shores of the Vineyard。 The thunder and lightning were unusually severe； several bolts falling within a short distance about the bay； the rain pouring down in a dense sheet； as the wind drove cloud after cloud over the spot in its stormy flight。 And amid this scene of violence four human beings were struggling for life； while their anxious friends were hurrying to their relief； with every nerve alive。 Frederick Smith was the first who rose after the Petrel capsized； in another moment he saw the head of the boy emerge from the water at a little distance； the lad could swim； and both had soon gained the portion of the little schooner's hull which was partially bare； though constantly washed by the waves。 Another minute； and Smith saw amid the spray Charlie's head； he knew that Hubbard could not swim； and moved towards him with a cry of encouragement。
〃Here！〃 replied the young painter； but he had disappeared before Smith could reach him。
A fresh blast of wind； rain； and hail passed over the spot； Smith moved about calling to Hubbard and the negro； but he received no answer from either。
〃There's one of them！〃 cried the boy eagerly； he swam towards the object he had seen； but it proved to be only a hat。
Both returned to the Petrel's side； watching as closely as the violence of the wind and rain would permit。 Not a trace of the negro was seen； yet Smith thought he must have risen to the surface at some point unobserved by them； for he was a man of a large； corpulent body； more likely to float than many others。 A second time Smith was relieved by seeing Charlie rise； but at a greater distance from the Petrel's hull； a second time he strained every nerve to reach him； but again the young man sunk beneath the waves。
A shout was now heard。 〃It is the boat！〃 said Smith； as he answered the call。 He was mistaken； it was Hazlehurst who now approached； with Bruno at his side； guided by the voices of Smith and the boy。
〃Charlie！〃 cried Harry； as he made his way through the water。 Charlie！〃 he repeated again。
〃Hubbard has sunk twice； and the negro is gone！〃 cried Smith。
〃Come to the hull and take breath；〃 added Smith。
But just as he spoke； Harry had seen an arm left bare by a passing wave； he made a desperate effort； reached the spot； and seized Charlie's body； crying joyfully； 〃It is Hubbard； I have him！Charlie； do you know me？Charlie； speak but a word； my good fellow！〃
But the young man had lost his consciousness； he returned no answer either by look or word。 Harry grasped his collar； holding his face above the water； and at the same time moving towards the Petrel's hull as rapidly as he could。
〃Here Bruno； my noble dog！ That's right； Smith； get a firm hold on the schooner； we must draw him up； he has fainted； but the boats must be here soon。〃
Smith was following Hazlehurst's directions； but ere Bruno had joined his master； Harry； now within a short distance of the schooner； suddenly cried； 〃Help！〃and in another second both he and Charlie had disappeared beneath the water； in a manner as incomprehensible； as it was unexpected and distressing to Smith。
〃He's sunk！〃 cried the boy。
〃How？where？ Surely he was not exhausted！〃
A howl burst from Bruno。
〃Perhaps it's the cramp；〃 said the lad。
〃Both sunk！Hazlehurst too！〃 again exclaimed Smith； as much amazed as he was distressed。 He and the boy threw themselves from the schooner's side again； looking anxiously for some trace of Hazlehurst。
〃Look sharp； my lad； as you would save a fellow…creature！〃
〃There's one of them！〃 cried the boy； and in another instant he had caught Charlie by the hair。 But not a trace of Hazlehurst was seen since he first disappeared； and the waters had closed so suddenly over him。 Charlie was carried to the Petrel's side； and while Smith and the lad were endeavouring to raise him on the schooner； Bruno was swimming hither and thither； howling piteously for his master。
A shout was now heard。
〃The boat at last； thank Heaven！〃 cried Smith； returnin
