《宝岛》第十二章 军事会议
THERE was a great rush of feet across the deck. I could hear people tumbling up from the cabin and the foc's'le; and, slipping in an instant outside my barrel, I dived behind the fore-sail, made a double towards the stern, and came out upon the open deck in time to join Hunter and Dr Livesey in the rush for the weather bow.
There all hands were already congregated. A belt of fog had lifted almost simultaneously with the appearance of the moon. Away to the south-west of us we saw two low hills, about a couple of miles apart, and rising behind one of them a third and higher hill, whose peak was still buried in the fog. All three seemed sharp and conical in figure.
So much I saw, almost in a dream, for I had not yet recovered from my horrid fear of a minute or two before. And then I heard the voice of Captain Smollett issuing orders. The Hispaniola was laid a couple of points nearer the wind, and now sailed a course that would just clear the island on the east.
`And now, men,' said the captain, when all was sheeted home, `has any one of you ever seen that land ahead?'
`I have, sir,' said Silver. `I've watered there with a trader I was cook in.'
`The anchorage is on the south, behind an islet, I fancy?' asked the captain.
`Yes, sir; Skeleton Island they calls it. It were a main place for pirates once, and a hand we had on board knowed all their names for it. That hill to the nor'ard they calls the Fore-mast Hill; there are three hills in a row running south'ard - fore, main, and mizzen, sir. But the main - that's the big 'un, with the cloud on it - they usually calls the Spy-glass, by reason of a look-out they kept when they was in the anchorage cleaning; for it's there they cleaned their ships, sir, asking your pardon.'
`I have a chart here,' says Captain Smollett. `See if that's the place.'
Long John's eyes burned in his head as he took the char but, by the fresh look of the paper, I knew he was doom to disappointment. This was not the map we found in Billy Bones's chest, but an accurate copy, complete in all things - names and heights and soundings - with the single except it of the red crosses and the written notes. Sharp as must have been his annoyance, Silver had the strength of mind to hide it.
`Yes, sir,' said he, `this is the spot to be sure; and very prettily drawed out. Who might have done that, I wonder The pirates were too ignorant, I reckon. Ay, here it is: ``Capt. Kidd's Anchorage'' - just the name my shipmate called it. There's a strong current runs along the south, and then away nor'ard up the west coast. Right you was, sir,' says he, haul your wind and keep the weather of the island. Leastways, if such was your intention as to enter and careen, and the ain't no better place for that in these waters.
`Thank you, my man,' says Captain Smollett. `I'll ask you later on, to give us a help. You may go.'
I was surprised at the coolness with which John avowed his knowledge of the island; and I own I was half-frighten' when I saw him drawing nearer to myself. He did not know to be sure, that I had overheard his council from the apple barrel, and yet I had, by this time, taken such a horror his cruelty, duplicity, and power, that I could scarce conceal a shudder when he laid his hand upon my arm.
`Ah,' says he, `this here is a sweet spot, this island - a sweet spot for a lad to get ashore on. You'll bathe, and you'll climb trees, and you'll hunt goats, you will; and you'll get aloft them hills like a goat yourself. Why, it makes me young again I was going to forget my timber leg, I was. It's a pleasant thing to be young, and have ten toes, and you may lay that. When you want to go a bit of exploring, you just an old John, and he'll put up a snack for you to take along.'
And clapping me in the friendliest way upon the shoulder he hobbled off forward and went below.
Captain Smollett, the squire, and Dr Livesey were talking together on the quarterdeck, and, anxious as I was to tell them my story, I durst not interrupt them openly. While I was still casting about in my thoughts to find some probable excuse, Dr Livesey called me to his side. He had left his pipe below, and being a slave to tobacco, had meant that I should fetch it; but as soon as I was near enough ta speak and not to be overheard, I broke out immediately: `Doctor, let me speak. Get the captain and squire down to the cabin, and then make some pretence to send for me. I have terrible news.'
The doctor changed countenance a little, but next moment he was master of himself.
`Thank you, Jim,' said he, quite loudly, `that was all I wanted to know,' as if he had asked me a question.
And with that he turned on his heel and rejoined the other two. They spoke together for a little, and though none of them started, or raised his voice, or so much as whistled, it was plain enough that Dr Livesey had communicated my request; for the next thing that I heard was the captain giving an order to Job Anderson, and all hands were piped on deck.
`My lads,' said Captain Smollett, `I've a word to say to you. This land that we have sighted is the place we have been sailing for. Mr Trelawney, being a very open-handed gentleman, as we all know, has just asked me a word or two, and as I was able to tell him that every man on board had done his duty, alow and aloft, as I never ask to see it done better, why, he and I and the doctor are going below to the cabin to drink your health and luck, and you'll have grog served out for you to drink our health and luck. I'll tell you what I think of this: I think it handsome. And if you think as I do, you'll give a good sea cheer for the gentleman that does it.'
The cheer followed - that was a matter of course; but it rang out so full and hearty, that I confess I could hardly believe these same men were plotting for our blood.
`One more cheer for Cap'n Smollett,' cried Long John, when the first had subsided.
And this also was given with a will.
On the top of that the three gentlemen went below, and not long after, word was sent forward that Jim Hawkins was wanted in the cabin.
I found them all three seated round the table, a bottle c Spanish wine and some raisins before them, and the doctor smoking away, with his wig on his lap, and that, I knew, was a sign that he was agitated. The stern window was open, for it was a warm night, and you could see the moon shining behind on the ship's wake.
`Now, Hawkins,' said the squire, `you have something say. Speak up.'
I did as I was bid, and as short as I could make it, to] the whole details of Silver's conversation. Nobody interrupted me till I was done, nor did any one of the three of them make so much as a movement, but they kept their eyes upon my face from first to last.
`Jim,' said Dr Livesey, `take a seat.'
And they made me sit down at table beside them, poured me out a glass of wine, filled my hands with raisins, and three, one after the other, and each with a bow, drank my good health, and their service to me, for my luck and courage.
`Now, captain,' said the squire, `you were right, and I was wrong. I own myself an ass, and I await your orders.'
`No more an ass than I, sir,' returned the captain. `I never heard of a crew that meant to mutiny but what showed signs before, for any man that had an eye in his head to see the mischief and take steps according. But this crew,' he added `beats me.'
`Captain,' said the doctor, `with your permission, that Silver. A very remarkable man.'
`He'd look remarkably well from a yard-arm, sir,' returned the captain. `But this is talk; this don't lead to anything. I see three or four points, and with Mr Trelawney's permission I'll name them.'
`You, sir, are the captain. It is for you to speak,' says Mr Trelawney, grandly.
`First point,' began Mr Smollett. `We must go on, because we can't turn back. If I gave the word to go about, they would rise at once. Second point, we have time before us - at least until this treasure's found. Third point, there are faithful hands. Now, sir, it's got to come to blows sooner or later and what I propose is, to take time by the forelock, as the saying is, and come to blows some fine day when they least expect it. We can count, I take it, on your own home servants, Mr Trelawney?'
`As upon myself,' declared the squire.
`Three,' reckoned the captain, `ourselves make seven, counting Hawkins, here. Now, about the honest hands?'
`Most likely Trelawney's own men,' said the doctor; `those he had picked up for himself, before he lit on Silver.'
`Nay,' replied the squire, `Hands was one of mine.'
`I did think I could have trusted Hands,' added the captain.
`And to think that they're all Englishmen!' broke out the squire. `Sir, I could find it in my heart to blow the ship up.'
`Well, gentlemen,' said the captain, `the best that I can say is not much. We must lay to, if you please, and keep a bright look out. It's trying on a man, I know. It would be pleasanter to come to blows. But there's no help for it till we know our men. Lay to, and whistle for a wind, that's my view.'
`Jim here,' said the doctor, `can help us more than anyone. The men are not shy with him, and Jim is a noticing lad.'
`Hawkins, I put prodigious faith in you,' added the squire. I began to feel pretty desperate at this, for I felt altogether helpless; and yet, by an odd train of circumstances, it was indeed through me that safety came. In the meantime, talk as we pleased, there were only seven out of the twenty-six on whom we knew we could rely; and out of these seven one was a boy, so that the grown men on our side were six to their nineteen
甲板上响起了一大阵脚步的奔跑声。我能听见人们跌跌撞撞地从特舱和水手舱里跑出来,于是我立即从苹果桶里溜了出来,钻到了前桅帆的下面,又转身到了船尾,及时地跑到了开阔的甲板上,和亨特、利弗西医生一道冲到了露天的船首。
所有的人员都聚集在那里。几乎与月出同时,一条雾带已渐渐散去了。在我们的西南方,我们看到了两座低矮的小山,两山离得大约有两英里远,而在它们中一座的后面又耸立着第三座高一些的山峰,峰顶仍有雾气线绕着。这三座山的外形全都是尖尖的圆锥形。
我看到这些的时候,仿佛人在梦中一般,因为我还没从一两分钟前那可怕的恐惧中缓过神来。然后我听到斯莫列特船长发布命令的声音。伊斯班袅拉号能够抢风行船的方位有两处,而眼下正沿着离岛东部近的航线行驶着。
鈥溛梗锛泼牵澊に担馐彼械姆潘鞫家芽劢簦溎忝侵杏兴懊娴恼饪槁降兀库
鈥溛壹笙拢澪鞫ニ担湹蔽以谝凰疑檀献龀Φ氖焙颍以谀嵌彻b
鈥溝旅υ谀媳撸桓鲂〉旱暮竺妫也孪耄库澊の实馈
鈥準牵笙拢凰墙兴橑槛玫衡櫋D窃呛5脸雒坏闹饕氐悖颐谴嫌懈鋈酥浪歉鸬乃械拿啤1北叩哪亲∩剿墙凶鲡樓拔ι解櫍淮幽嵌蚰峡矗 并列的是三座山鈥斺斍拔Α⒅魑秃笪Γ笙隆5侵魑︹斺斁褪谴蟮摹⑸厦嬗性频哪亲斺斔峭ǔ=兴樛毒瞪解櫍蛭彼窃诿叵创保芘筛鋈嗽谀抢锏H喂弁灰蛭蔷褪窃谀嵌创笙隆2坏敝Γ肽鸌NO鈥︹︹
鈥溛艺饫镉姓磐迹澦鼓刑卮に担溈纯词欠裼胪忌系牡胤轿呛稀b
当高个子约翰接过这张图时,他的眼睛在眼眶子里燃烧起来;但是,我一看到这担新的纸就知道,他肯定是要失望了。这不是我们在比尔路彭斯的胸膛上找到的那张地图,而是一张精确的复制品,所有的东西上面都有鈥斺斆啤⒏叨群退钼斺斁椭幻挥泻焐氖旨呛藕捅曜⒌乃得鳌N鞫ヒ欢张郊悖撬刂谱×俗约翰⒔湟亓似鹄础
鈥準钦庋笙拢澦担溈隙ň褪钦飧龅氐悖徊⑶一孟嗟钡木贰N移婀帜鞘撬哪兀亢5撩翘拗怀隼矗夜兰疲。饩褪橇耍衡樋卮は旅︹ 鈥斺斦俏业拇呀兴拿啤U饫镉幸坏篮芮康乃鞔幽媳吖矗缓笱匚靼断虮绷魅ァD闶嵌缘模笙拢澦担溨辽伲悄阆虢坌拚幌碌幕埃谡饫锸辗 靠拢下风岸,再也没有比这一带水域更适宜的地方了。鈥
鈥溞恍荒悖值埽澦鼓刑卮に担湽笪一挂誓悖颐前锇锩ΑD憧梢宰吡恕b
我对约翰公开承认他对这个岛的了解时所表现出来的冷静感到吃惊,并且我承认, 当我看到他走近我时,我都吓傻了。可以断定,他不知道我在苹果桶里偷听了他的作战会议,然而,直到这时,我对他的残忍、口蜜腹剑和威力仍是那样的恐惧,以致当他把手搭到我肩上时,我几乎不能遏制地战栗起来。
鈥湴。澦担溦舛歉隹砂牡胤剑飧龅衡斺敹杂谝桓鲂』镒永此担系侥巧厦媸钦婧冒 D憧梢韵春K。憧梢耘朗鳎慊箍梢源蛏窖颍阏娴目梢裕徊⑶夷阕约夯箍梢韵裢飞窖蛩频嘏赖侥切┬∩蕉ド狭ā0。刮抑赜帜昵崞鹄蠢病N铱煲粑业哪就攘ǎ艺娴目煲衾病D昵帷⒂惺鼋胖和罚嗪冒。阋靼渍庖坏恪 什么时候你想去寻幽探胜了,只要跟老约翰打个招呼,他就会为你配制一份快餐,让你随身带上。鈥
说完他友好地拍了拍我的肩膀,然后一瘸一拐地走开、下去了。
斯莫列特船长,乡绅,还有医生,正聚在后甲板上谈着话,尽管我是那么的急于把我的经历告诉给他们,但却不敢公开地打断他们。当我还在心里焦急地寻找着某种可能的理由时,利弗西医生把我叫到了他的身边。他把他的烟斗拉在下面了,而他又离不了烟,意思是让我给他取来;一旦我走到离他足够近、不致被旁人听到的地方,我就立刻把话说了出来:鈥溡缴矣谢耙怠=写ず拖缟鸬较旅嫣夭绽锶ィ缓笳腋鼋杩谌梦蚁氯ァN矣锌膳碌南ⅰb
医生脸色略微一变,但他很快控制住了自己。
鈥溞恍荒悖罚澦担艉艽螅溛蚁胫赖木驼庑b澓孟袼柿宋腋鑫侍馑频摹
说完,他就转过身去,重新和另外两个谈起话来。他们在一起商谈了一会儿,尽管他们谁都没流露出惊愕的表情,也没提高嗓音,或是嘘烯一番,但是显然医生已经传达了我的要求,因为接下来我就听到船长给乔布路安德森下了一道命令,之后全体船员都被哨子召集到了甲板上。
鈥湹苄置牵澦鼓刑卮に档溃溛矣谢耙阅忝撬怠N颐且丫吹降恼饪槁降兀 正是我们一直航行所要到达的地方。特里罗尼先生,这位众所周知的、非常慷慨的绅士, 刚刚问了我一两句话,而我告诉他,船上的每一个人,从上到下,都尽到了他的职责, 比我要求的做得还要好,因此,他和我,以及医生,准备到下面的特舱去,为你们的健康和好运干杯,同时也为你们备了些水酒,来为我们的健康和好运干杯。我将告诉你们 我是怎样看待此事的:我认为这是慷慨之举。而如果你们也和我想得一样的话,你们就为办这件事的先生来一个痛快的水手式的欢呼吧!鈥
跟着就是欢呼鈥斺斈鞘抢硭比坏氖拢坏钦夂俺隼吹纳羰悄茄谋ヂ腿攘遥灾掠谖页腥衔液苣严嘈牛钦庑┤嗽诿苣币盼颐堑难
鈥溤俑鼓刑卮だ匆桓觯♀澋钡谝桓龌逗羝较⑾吕春螅吒鲎釉己埠暗馈
于是这个欢呼也热烈地进行了。
三位先生在欢呼的**时刻退到下面去了,不一会工夫,有话传来,要吉姆路霍金斯到特舱去。
我发现他们三人围坐在桌旁,面前摆着瓶西班牙葡萄酒和一些葡萄干,而医生正不停地吸着烟,假发套放到了腿上,而我知道,那是他激动的迹象。因为这是个温暖的夜晚,后窗便开着,因而你可以看到月光在船尾留下的那道浪迹上闪耀。
鈥溛梗艚鹚梗澫缟鹚担溎阌谢耙担蔷涂焖蛋伞b
我照办了,并且尽可能简明扼要地讲述了西尔弗谈话的全部详情。直到我讲完,没有人来打断我,他们三人中也没有谁动一动,只是从始至终把眼睛盯在我身上。
鈥溂罚澙ノ饕缴档溃溩吕础b
接着他们让我挨着他们在桌边坐了下来,给我倒了杯葡萄酒,又往我手里塞满了葡萄干,而且他们三个,一个接一个地轮番向我颔首致谢,还为我的健康、好运和勇敢干杯。
鈥溎敲矗ぃ澫缟鹚档溃溎闶嵌缘模掖砹恕N页腥衔沂峭反缆浚衷谖业却幽愕拿睢b
鈥溛乙膊槐嚷孔哟厦鳎壬澊ご鸬溃溛掖游刺倒心陌锎蓖寄迸驯涠虑安宦都O蟮牧ǎ庋魏我桓鐾飞铣ぱ鄣娜硕加锌赡芸创┱夤戆严罚扇〈胧5钦獍锎保澦旨恿艘痪洌溒宋摇b
鈥湸ぃ澮缴担溓朐市砦宜担馊悄歉鑫鞫サ返墓怼U媸歉鋈萌烁呖匆谎鄣募一锇。♀
鈥湴阉踉诜艿亩ザ耍撬耪嫒萌烁呖匆谎哿ǎ壬澊ご鸬馈b湹舛际撬邓刀眩挥腥魏我庖濉N矣腥牡阆敕ǎ翘乩锫弈嵯壬市淼幕埃铱梢越渤隼础b
鈥溎悖笙拢谴ぁD憬不氨闶恰b澨乩锫弈嵯壬系厮怠
鈥湹谝坏悖澦鼓刑叵壬诘溃溛颐潜匦爰绦薪蛭颐遣荒艿敉贰R俏蚁铝畹敉返幕埃腔崃⒖唐鹗碌摹5诙悖颐茄巯禄褂惺奔溻斺斨辽伲艿秸业奖Σ氐氖焙颉5谌悖褂兄沂悼煽康娜恕U庋笙拢饩褪歉鍪浅傩┗故窃缧┙写蚧鞯奈侍狻6业慕ㄒ槭牵缢子锼担盐帐被缓笤谀骋惶欤銎洳灰猓テ洳槐浮N夜兰疲颐强梢匝隼的慵依锏钠腿税桑乩锫弈嵯壬库
鈥溇腿缤冶救艘谎档眯爬怠b澫缟鸲涎浴
鈥溔觯澊ぜ扑阕牛溂由衔颐鞘瞧吒觯ɑ艚鹚乖谀凇O衷冢倮纯纯椿褂心男┛煽康拇保库
鈥湸蠖嗍翘乩锫弈嶙约汗屠吹模澮缴担溎切┤耸撬龅轿鞫デ白约禾粞〉摹b
鈥溡膊痪∪唬澫缟鸫鸬溃満鹤染褪俏易约禾粞〕隼吹娜耸种械囊桓觥b
鈥溛胰吩衔梢孕湃魏鹤攘āb澊ひ哺潘盗艘痪洹
鈥溝胂胨蔷谷蝗际怯⒐耍♀澫缟鹋叵溃湼笙拢艺嫦氚颜馑掖ǚ闪耍♀
鈥満美玻壬牵澊に担溛以倜皇裁春盟档牧恕N颐且欢ㄒ龀鋈粑奁涫碌难永矗保氡3指叨鹊木琛U馐呛苷勰ト说模抑馈A⒓创蚧骰嵬纯煨俏藜糜谑拢钡轿颐桥逅亲约喝恕H粑奁涫拢彼呕饩褪俏业囊饧b
鈥溂吩谡饫铮澮缴担湵热魏稳硕晕颐嵌加杏谩D切┤硕运共黄鹗裁椿骋桑 而吉姆是个机灵的小家伙。鈥
鈥溁艚鹚梗叶阅慵挠枘蟮男湃巍b澫缟鸾幼潘档馈
听了这话,我开始感到相当的绝望,因为我觉得全无办法可想;然而后来,由于机遇的古怪的安排,确实是通过我,才保住了我们的平安。在此期间,不管我们愿意与否,在二十六个人中,我们只知道有七个人可以信赖;而在这七个人中还有一个孩子,这样,我们这边就是六个成人,要对付他们十九个。
相关文章: | ◇ 《台湾的蝴蝶谷》课堂实录一 | ◇ 刺杀希特勒 |
◇ 军事秘密 | ◇ 《郑成功》了解郑成功 |
|
|