按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to the poop。
The cry of land came down from the masthead。 From the deck the land was
invisible； and McCoy went aloft； while the captain took advantage of the
opportunity to curse some of the bitterness out of his heart。 But the cursing
was suddenly stopped by a dark line on the water which he sighted to the
northeast。 It was not a squall； but a regular breezethe disrupted trade
wind； eight points out of its direction but resuming business once more。
〃Hold her up； Captain；〃 McCoy said as soon as he reached the poop。 〃That's the
easterly point of Fakarava； and we'll go in through the passage full…tilt； the
wind abeam； and every sail drawing。〃
At the end of an hour； the cocoanut trees and the low…lying land were visible
from the deck。 The feeling that the end of the PYRENEES' resistance was
imminent weighed heavily on everybody。 Captain Davenport had the three boats
lowered and dropped short astern； a man in each to keep them apart。 The
Pyrenees closely skirted the shore； the surf…whitened atoll a bare two cable
lengths away。
And a minute later the land parted； exposing a narrow passage and the lagoon
beyond； a great mirror； thirty miles in length and a third as broad。
〃Now； Captain。〃
For the last time the yards of the Pyrenees swung around as she obeyed the
wheel and headed into the passage。 The turns had scarcely been made； and
nothing had been coiled down； when the men and mates swept back to the poop in
panic terror。 Nothing had happened； yet they averred that something was going
to happen。 They could not tell why。 They merely knew that it was about to
happen。 'mcCoy started forward to take up his position on the bow in order to
con the vessel in； but the captain gripped his arm and whirled him around。
〃Do it from here；〃 he said。 〃That deck's not safe。 What's the matter？〃 he
demanded the next instant。 〃We're standing still。〃
McCoy smiled。
〃You are bucking a seven…knot current； Captain；〃 he said。 〃That is the way the
full ebb runs out of this passage。〃
At the end of another hour the Pyrenees had scarcely gained her length； but
the wind freshened and she began to forge ahead。
〃Better get into the boats； some of you；〃 Captain Davenport commanded。
His voice was still ringing； and the men were just beginning to move in
obedience； when the amidship deck of the Pyrenees； in a mass of flame and
smoke； was flung upward into the sails and rigging； part of it remaining there
and the rest falling into the sea。 The wind being abeam； was what had saved
the men crowded aft。 They made a blind rush to gain the boats； but McCoy's
voice； carrying its convincing message of vast calm and endless time； stopped
them。
〃Take it easy；〃 he was saying。 Everything is all right。 Pass that boy down
somebody； please。〃
The man at the wheel had forsaken it in a funk； and Captain Davenport had
leaped and caught the spokes in time to prevent the ship from yawing in the
current and going ashore。
〃Better take charge of the boats；〃 he said to Mr。 Konig。 〃Tow one of them
short； right under the quarter。 。 。 。 When I go over； it'll be on the jump。〃
Mr。 Konig hesitated； then went over the rail and lowered himself into the
boat。
〃Keep her off half a point； Captain。〃
Captain Davenport gave a start。 He had thought he had the ship to himself。
〃Ay； ay； half a point it is；〃 he answered。
Amidships the Pyrenees was an open flaming furnace； out of which poured an
immense volume of smoke which rose high above the masts and completely hid the
forward part of the ship。 'mcCoy； in the shelter of the mizzen…shrouds；
continued his difficult task of conning the ship through the intricate
channel。 The fire was working aft along the deck from the seat of explosion；
while the soaring tower of canvas on the mainmast went up and vanished in a
sheet of flame。 Forward； though they could not see them； they knew that the
head…sails were still drawing。
〃If only she don't burn all her canvas off before she makes inside；：〃 the
captain groaned。
〃She'll make it；〃 McCoy assured him with supreme confidence。 〃There is plenty
of time。 She is bound to make it。 And once inside； we'll put her before it；
that will keep the smoke away from us and hold back the fire from working
aft。〃
A tongue of flame sprang up the mizzen； reached hungrily for the lowest tier
of canvas； missed it； and vanished。 From aloft a burning shred of rope stuff
fell square on the back of Captain Davenport's neck。 He acted with the
celerity of one stung by a bee as he reached up and brushed the offending fire
from his skin。
〃How is she heading； Captain？〃
〃Nor'west by west。〃
〃Keep her west…nor…west。〃
Captain Davenport put the wheel up and steadied her。
〃West by north； Captain。〃
〃West by north she is。〃
〃And now west。〃
Slowly； point by point； as she entered the lagoon； the PYRENEES described the
circle that put her before the wind； and point by point； with all the calm
certitude of a thousand years of time to spare； McCoy chanted the changing
course。
〃Another point； Captain。〃
〃A point it is。〃
Captain Davenport whirled several spokes over； suddenly reversing and coming
back one to check her。
〃Steady。〃
〃Steady she isright on it。〃
Despite the fact that the wind was now astern； the heat was so intense that
Captain Davenport was compelled to steal sidelong glances into the binnacle；
letting go the wheel now with one hand； now with the other； to rub or shield
his blistering cheeks。
McCoy's beard was crinkling and shriveling and the smell of it； strong in the
other's nostrils； compelled him to look toward McCoy with sudden solicitude。
Captain Davenport was letting go the spokes alternately with his hands in
order to rub their blistering backs against his trousers。 Every sail on the
mizzenmast vanished in a rush of flame； compelling the two men to crouch and
shield their faces。
〃Now；〃 said McCoy； stealing a glance ahead at the low shore； 〃four points up；
Captain； and let her drive。〃
Shreds and patches of burning rope and canvas were falling about them and upon
them。 The tarry smoke from a smouldering piece of rope at the captain's feet
set him off into a violent coughing fit； during which he still clung to the
spokes。
The Pyrenees struck； her bow lifted and she ground ahead gently to a stop。 A
shower of burning fragments； dislodged by the shock； fell about them。 The ship
moved ahead again and struck a second time。 She crushed the fragile coral
under her keel； drove on； and struck a third time。
〃Hard over；〃 said McCoy。 〃Hard over？〃 he questioned gently； a minute later。
〃She won't answer；〃 was the reply。
〃All right。 She is swinging around。〃 'mcCoy peered over the side。 〃Soft； white
sand。 Couldn't ask better。 A beautiful bed。〃
As the Pyrenees swung around her stern away from the wind； a fearful blast of
smoke and flame poured aft。 Captain Davenport deserted the wheel in blistering
agony。 He reached the painter of the boat that lay under the quarter； then
looked for McCoy； who was standing aside to let him go down。
〃You first；〃 the captain cried； gripping him by the shoulder and almost
throwing him over the rail。 But the flame and smoke were too terrible； and he
followed hard after McCoy； both men wriggling on the rope and sliding down
into the boat together。 A sailor in the bow； without waiting for orders；
slashed the painter through with his sheath knife。 The oars； poised in
readiness； bit into the water； and the boat shot away。
〃a beautiful bed； Captain；〃 McCoy murmured； looking back。
〃Ay； a beautiful bed； and all thanks to you；〃 was the answer。
The three boats pulled away for the white beach of pounded coral； beyond
which； on the edge of a cocoanut grove； could be seen a half dozen grass
houses and a score or more of excited natives； gazing wide…eyed at the
conflagration that had