in search of the castaways-第55章

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to　alter　the　sail　at　any　moment；　and　stay　in　the　shrouds　himself　watching　the　tempest。　The　remainder　of　the　night　was　spent　in　this　manner；　and　it　was　hoped　that　morning　would　bring　a　calm。　　But　this　was　a　delusive　hope。　At　8　A。　M。　the　wind　had　increased　to　a　hurricane。　John　said　nothing；　but　he　trembled　for　his　ship；　and　those　on　board。　The　DUNCAN　made　a　frightful　plunge　forward；　and　for　an　instant　the　men　thought　she　would　never　rise　again。　　Already　they　had　seized　their　hatchets　to　cut　away　the　shrouds　from　the　mainmast；　but　the　next　minute　the　sails　were　torn　away　by　the　tempest；　and　had　flown　off　like　gigantic　albatrosses。　The　yacht　had　risen　once　more；　but　she　found　herself　at　the　mercy　of　the　waves　entirely　now；　with　nothing　to　steady　or　direct　her；　and　was　so　fearfully　pitched　and　tossed　about　that　every　moment　the　captain　expected　the　masts　would　break　short　off。　　John　had　no　resource　but　to　put　up　a　forestaysail；　and　run　before　the　gale。　But　this　was　no　easy　task。　　Twenty　times　over　he　had　all　his　work　to　begin　again；　and　it　was　3　P。　M。　before　his　attempt　succeeded。　A　mere　shred　of　canvas　though　it　was；　it　was　enough　to　drive　the　DUNCAN　forward　with　inconceivable　rapidity　to　the　northeast；　of　course　in　the　same　direction　as　the　hurricane。　Swiftness　was　their　only　chance　of　safety。　　Sometimes　she　would　get　in　advance　of　the　waves　which　carried　her　along；　and　cutting　through　them　with　her　sharp　prow；　bury　herself　in　their　depths。　At　others；　she　would　keep　pace　with　them；　and　make　such　enormous　leaps　that　there　was　imminent　danger　of　her　being　pitched　over　on　her　side；　and　then　again；　every　now　and　then　the　storm…driven　sea　would　out…distance　the　yacht；　and　the　angry　billows　would　sweep　over　the　deck　from　stem　to　stern　with　tremendous　violence。　In　this　alarming　situation　and　amid　dreadful　alternations　of　hope　and　despair；　the　12th　of　December　passed　away；　and　the　ensuing　night；　John　Mangles　never　left　his　post；　not　even　to　take　food。　Though　his　impassive　face　betrayed　no　symptoms　of　fear；　he　was　tortured　with　anxiety；　and　his　steady　gaze　was　fixed　on　the　north；　as　if　trying　to　pierce　through　the　thick　mists　that　enshrouded　it。　There　was；　indeed；　great　cause　for　fear。　　The　DUNCAN　was　out　of　her　course；　and　rushing　toward　the　Australian　coast　with　a　speed　which　nothing　could　lessen。　　To　John　Mangles　it　seemed　as　if　a　thunderbolt　were　driving　them　along。　Every　instant　he　expected　the　yacht　would　dash　against　some　rock；　for　he　reckoned　the　coast　could　not　be　more　than　twelve　miles　off；　and　better　far　be　in　mid　ocean　exposed　to　all　its　fury　than　too　near　land。　John　Mangles　went　to　find　Glenarvan；　and　had　a　private　talk　with　him　about　their　situation；　telling　him　frankly　the　true　state　of　affairs；　stating　the　case　with　all　the　coolness　of　a　sailor　prepared　for　anything　and　everything　and　he　wound　up　by　saying　he　might；　perhaps；　be　obliged　to　cast　the　yacht　on　shore。　〃To　save　the　lives　of　those　on　board；　my　Lord；〃　he　added。　〃Do　it　then；　John；〃　replied　Lord　Glenarvan。　〃And　Lady　Helena；　Miss　Grant？〃　〃I　will　tell　them　at　the　last　moment　when　all　hope　of　keeping　out　at　sea　is　over。　　You　will　let　me　know？〃　〃I　will；　my　Lord。〃　Glenarvan　rejoined　his　companions；　who　felt　they　were　in　imminent　danger；　though　no　word　was　spoken　on　the　subject。　Both　ladies　displayed　great　courage；　fully　equal　to　any　of　the　party。　Paganel　descanted　in　the　most　inopportune　manner　about　the　direction　of　atmospheric　currents；　making　interesting　comparisons；　between　tornadoes；　cyclones；　and　rectilinear　tempests。　The　Major　calmly　awaited　the　end　with　the　fatalism　of　a　Mussulman。　About　eleven　o'clock；　the　hurricane　appeared　to　decrease　slightly。　The　damp　mist　began　to　clear　away；　and　a　sudden　gleam　of　light　revealed　a　low…lying　shore　about　six　miles　distant。　They　were　driving　right　down　on　it。　　Enormous　breakers　fifty　feet　high　were　dashing　over　it；　and　the　fact　of　their　height　showed　John　there　must　be　solid　ground　before　they　could　make　such　a　rebound。　〃Those　are　sand…banks；〃　he　said　to　Austin。　〃I　think　they　are；〃　replied　the　mate。　〃We　are　in　God's　hands；〃　said　John。　　〃If　we　cannot　find　any　opening　for　the　yacht；　and　if　she　doesn't　find　the　way　in　herself；　we　are　lost。〃　〃The　tide　is　high　at　present；　it　is　just　possible　we　may　ride　over　those　sand…banks。〃　〃But　just　see　those　breakers。　　What　ship　could　stand　them。　Let　us　invoke　divine　aid；　Austin！〃　Meanwhile　the　DUNCAN　was　speeding　on　at　a　frightful　rate。　Soon　she　was　within　two　miles　of　the　sand…banks；　which　were　still　veiled　from　time　to　time　in　thick　mist。　But　John　fancied　he　could　see　beyond　the　breakers　a　quiet　basin；　where　the　DUNCAN　would　be　in　comparative　safety。　But　how　could　she　reach　it？　All　the　passengers　were　summoned　on　deck；　for　now　that　the　hour　of　shipwreck　was　at　hand；　the　captain　did　not　wish　anyone　to　be　shut　up　in　his　cabin。　〃John！〃　said　Glenarvan　in　a　low　voice　to　the　captain；　〃I　will　try　to　save　my　wife　or　perish　with　her。　　I　put　Miss　Grant　in　your　charge。〃　〃Yes；　my　Lord；〃　replied　John　Mangles；　raising　Glenarvan's　hand　to　his　moistened　eyes。　The　yacht　was　only　a　few　cables'　lengths　from　the　sandbanks。　The　tide　was　high；　and　no　doubt　there　was　abundance　of　water　to　float　the　ship　over　the　dangerous　bar；　but　these　terrific　breakers　alternately　lifting　her　up　and　then　leaving　her　almost　dry；　would　infallibly　make　her　graze　the　sand…banks。　Was　there　no　means　of　calming　this　angry　sea？　　A　last　expedient　struck　the　captain。　　〃The　oil；　my　lads！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃Bring　the　oil　here！〃　The　crew　caught　at　the　idea　immediately；　this　was　a　plan　that　had　been　successfully　tried　already。　　The　fury　of　the　waves　had　been　allayed　before　this　time　by　covering　them　with　a　sheet　of　oil。　Its　effect　is　immediate；　but　very　temporary。　　The　moment　after　a　ship　has　passed　over　the　smooth　surface；　the　sea　redoubles　its　violence；　and　woe　to　the　bark　that　follows。　　The　casks　of　seal…oil　were　forthwith　hauled　up；　for　danger　seemed　to　have　given　the　men　double　strength。　A　few　hatchet　blows　soon　knocked　in　the　heads；　and　they　were　then　hung　over　the　larboard　and　starboard。　〃Be　ready！〃　shouted　John；　looking　out　for　a　favorable　moment。　In　twenty　seconds　the　yacht　reached　the　bar。　　Now　was　the　time。　〃Pour　out！〃　cried　the　captain；　〃and　God　prosper　it！〃　The　barrels　were　turned　upside　down；　and　instantly　a　sheet　of　oil　covered　the　whole　surface　of　the　water。　　The　billows　fell　as　if　by　magic；　the　whole　foaming　sea　seemed　leveled；　and　the　DUNCAN　flew　over　its　tranquil　bosom　into　a　quiet　basin　beyond　the　formidable　bar；　but　almost　the　same　minute　the　ocean　burst　forth　again　with　all　its　fury；　and　the　towering　breakers　dashed　over　the　bar　with　increased　violence。

CHAPTER　VI　A　HOSPITABLE　COLONIST

THE　captain's　first　care　was　to　anchor　his　vessel　securely。　He　found　excellent　moorage　in　five　fathoms'　depth　of　water；　with　a　solid　bottom　of　hard　granite；　which　afforded　a　firm　hold。　There　was　no　danger　now　of　either　being　driven　away　or　stranded　at　low　water。　　After　so　many　hours　of　danger；　the　DUNCAN　found　herself　in　a　sort　of　creek；　sheltered　by　a　high　circular　point　from　the　winds　outside　in　the　open　sea。　Lord　Glenarvan　grasped　John　Mangles'　hand；　and　simply　said：　〃Thank　you；　John。〃　This　was　all；　but　John　felt　it　ample　recompense。　　G