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the crusade of the excelsior-第9章

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into it; and the wind's failing!〃



It was true。  In the last few moments all that vast glistening

surface of metallic blue which stretched so far to windward

appeared to be slowly eaten away as if by some dull; corroding

acid; the distant horizon line of sea and sky was still distinct

and sharply cut; but the whole water between them had grown gray;

as if some invisible shadow had passed in mid…air across it。  The

actual fog bank had suddenly lost its resemblance to the shore; had

lifted as a curtain; and now seemed suspended over the ship。

Gradually it descended; the top…gallant and top…sails were lost in

this mysterious vapor; yet the horizon line still glimmered

faintly。  Then another mist seemed to rise from the sea and meet

it; in another instant the deck whereon they stood shrank to the

appearance of a raft adrift in a faint gray sea。  With the complete

obliteration of all circumambient space; the wind fell。  Their

isolation was complete。



It was notable that the first and most peculiar effect of this

misty environment was the absolute silence。  The empty; invisible

sails above did not flap; the sheets and halyards hung limp; even

the faint creaking of an unseen block overhead was so startling as

to draw every eye upwards。  Muffled orders from viewless figures

forward were obeyed by phantoms that moved noiselessly through the

gray sea that seemed to have invaded the deck。  Even the passengers

spoke in whispers; or held their breath; in passive groups; as if

fearing to break a silence so replete with awe and anticipation。

It was next noticed that the vessel was subjected to some vague

motion; the resistance of the water had ceased; the waves no longer

hissed under her bows; or nestled and lapped under her counter; a

dreamy; irregular; and listless rocking had taken the place of the

regular undulations; at times; a faint and half delicious vertigo

seemed to overcome their senses; the ship was drifting。



Captain Bunker stood near the bitts; where his brief orders were

transmitted to the man at the almost useless wheel。  At his side

Senor Perkins beamed with unshaken serenity; and hopefully replied

to the captain's half surly; half anxious queries。



〃By the chart we should be well east of Los Lobos island; d'ye

see?〃 he said impatiently。  〃You don't happen to remember the

direction of the current off shore when you were running up here?〃



〃It's five years ago;〃 said the Senor modestly; 〃but I remember we

kept well to the west to weather Cape St。 Eugenio。  My impression

is that there was a strong northwesterly current setting north of

Ballenos Bay。〃



〃And we're in it now;〃 said Captain Bunker shortly。  〃How near St。

Roque does it set?〃



〃Within a mile or two。  I should keep away more to the west;〃 said

Senor Perkins; 〃and clear〃



〃I ain't asking you to run the ship;〃 interrupted Captain Bunker

sharply。  〃How's her head now; Mr。 Brooks?〃



The seamen standing near cast a rapid glance at Senor Perkins; but

not a muscle of his bland face moved or betrayed a consciousness of

the insult。  Whatever might have been the feeling towards him; at

that moment the sailorsafter their fashionadmired their

captain; strong; masterful; and imperious。  The danger that had

cleared his eye; throat; and brain; and left him once more the

daring and skillful navigator they knew; wiped out of their shallow

minds the vicious habit that had sunk him below their level。



It had now become perceptible to even the inexperienced eyes of the

passengers that the Excelsior was obeying some new and profound

impulse。  The vague drifting had ceased; and in its place had come

a mysterious but regular movement; in which the surrounding mist

seemed to participate; until fog and vessel moved together towards

some unseen but well…defined bourne。  In vain had the boats of the

Excelsior; manned by her crew; endeavored with a towing…line to

check or direct the inexplicable movement; in vain had Captain

Bunker struggled; with all the skilled weapons of seamanship;

against his invincible foe; wrapped in the impenetrable fog; the

ship moved ghost…like to what seemed to be her doom。



The anxiety of the officers had not as yet communicated itself to

the passengers; those who had been most nervous in the ordinary

onset of wind and wave looked upon the fog as a phenomenon whose

only disturbance might be delay。  To Miss Keene this conveyed no

annoyance; rather that placid envelopment of cloud soothed her

fancy; she submitted herself to its soft embraces; and to the

mysterious onward movement of the ship; as if it were part of a

youthful dream。  Once she thought of the ship of Sindbad; and that

fatal loadstone mountain; with an awe that was; however; half a

pleasure。



〃You are not frightened; Miss Keene?〃 said a voice near her。



She started slightly。  It was the voice of Mr。 Hurlstone。  So thick

was the fog that his face and figure appeared to come dimly out of

it; like a part of her dreaming fancy。  Without replying to his

question; she said quickly;



〃You are better then; Mr。 Hurlstone?  Wewe were all so frightened

for you。〃



An angry shadow crossed his thin face; and he hesitated。  After a

pause he recovered himself; and said;



〃I was saying you were taking all this very quietly。  I don't think

there's much danger myself。  And if we should go ashore here〃



〃Well?〃 suggested Miss Keene; ignoring this first intimation of

danger in her surprise at the man's manner。



〃Well; we should all be separated only a few days earlier; that's

all!〃



More frightened at the strange bitterness of his voice than by the

sense of physical peril; she was vaguely moving away towards the

dimly outlined figures of her companions when she was arrested by a

voice forward。  There was a slight murmur among the passengers。



〃What did he say?〃 asked Miss Keene; 〃What are 'Breakers ahead'?〃



Hurlstone did not reply。



〃Where away?〃 asked a second voice。



The murmur still continuing; Captain Bunker's hoarse voice pierced

the gloom;〃Silence fore and aft!〃



The first voice repeated faintly;



〃On the larboard bow。〃



There was another silence。  Again the voice repeated; as if

mechanically;



〃Breakers!〃



〃Where away?〃



〃On the starboard beam。〃



〃We are in some passage or channel;〃 said Hurlstone quietly。



The young girl glanced round her and saw for the first time that;

in one of those inexplicable movements she had not understood; the

other passengers had been withdrawn into a limited space of the

deck; as if through some authoritative orders; while she and her

companion had been evidently overlooked。  A couple of sailors; who

had suddenly taken their positions by the quarter…boats; strengthened

the accidental separation。



〃Is there some one taking care of you?〃 he asked; half hesitatingly;

〃Mr。 BracePerkinsor〃



〃No;〃 she replied quickly。  〃Why?〃



〃Well; we are very near the boat in an emergency; and you might

allow me to stay here and see you safe in it。〃



〃But the other ladies?  Mrs。 Markham; and〃



〃They'll take their turn after YOU;〃 he said grimly; picking up a

wrap from the railing and throwing it over her shoulders。



〃ButI don't understand!〃 she stammered; more embarrassed by the

situation than by any impending peril。



〃There is very little danger; I think;〃 he added impatiently。

〃There is scarcely any sea; the ship has very little way on; and

these breakers are not over rocks。  Listen。〃



She tried to listen。  At first she heard nothing but the occasional

low voice of command near the wheel。  Then she became conscious of

a gentle; soothing murmur through the fog to the right。  She had

heard such a murmuring accompaniment to her girlish dreams at

Newport on a still summer night。  There was nothing to frighten

her; but it increased her embarrassment。



〃And you?〃 she said awkwardly; raising her soft eyes。



〃Oh; if you are all going off in the boats; by Jove; I think I'll

stick to the ship!〃 he returned; with a frankness that would have

been rude but for its utter abstraction。



Miss Keene was silent。  The ship moved gently onward。  The

monotonous cry of the leadsman in the chains was the only sound

audible。  The soundings were indicating shoaler water; although the

murmuring of the surf had been left far astern。  The almost

imperceptible darkening of the mist on either beam seemed to show

that the Excelsior was entering some land…locked passage。  The

movement of the vessel slackened; the tide was beginning to ebb。

Suddenly a wave of far…off clamor; faint but sonorous; broke across

the ship。  There was an interval of breathless silence; and then it

broke again; and more distinctly。  It was the sound of bells!



The thrill of awe which passed through passengers and crew at this

spiritual challenge from the vast and intangible void around them

had scarcely
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