little novels-第47部分

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A　week　more　elapsed；　and　the　officers　and　crew　began　to　talk　of　the　voyage　to　their　market　in　China。　The　Captain　refused　to　fix　a　day　for　sailing。　He　even　took　offense　at　being　asked　to　decide。　Instead　of　sleeping　in　his　cabin；　he　went　ashore　for　the　night。

Not　many　hours　afterward　（just　before　daybreak）；　Mr。　Duncalf；　snoring　in　his　cabin　on　deck；　was　aroused　by　a　hand　laid　on　his　shoulder。　The　swinging　lamp；　still　alight；　showed　him　the　dusky　face　of　the　chief's　son；　convulsed　with　terror。　By　wild　signs；　by　disconnected　words　in　the　little　English　which　he　had　learned；　the　lad　tried　to　make　the　mate　understand　him。　Dense　Mr。　Duncalf；　understanding　nothing；　hailed　the　second　officer；　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　deck。　The　second　officer　was　young　and　intelligent；　he　rightly　interpreted　the　terrible　news　that　had　come　to　the　ship。

The　Captain　had　broken　his　own　rules。　Watching　his　opportunity；　under　cover　of　the　night；　he　had　taken　a　canoe；　and　had　secretly　crossed　the　channel　to　the　Holy　Island。　No　one　had　been　near　him　at　the　time　but　the　chief's　son。　The　lad　had　vainly　tried　to　induce　him　to　abandon　his　desperate　enterprise；　and　had　vainly　waited　on　the　shore　in　the　hope　of　hearing　the　sound　of　the　paddle　announcing　his　return。　Beyond　all　reasonable　doubt；　the　infatuated　man　had　set　foot　on　the　shores　of　the　tabooed　island。

The　one　chance　for　his　life　was　to　conceal　what　he　had　done；　until　the　ship　could　be　got　out　of　the　harbor；　and　then　（if　no　harm　had　come　to　him　in　the　interval）　to　rescue　him　after　nightfall。　It　was　decided　to　spread　the　report　that　he　had　really　been　taken　ill；　and　that　he　was　confined　to　his　cabin。　The　chief's　son；　whose　heart　the　Captain's　kindness　had　won；　could　be　trusted　to　do　this；　and　to　keep　the　secret　faithfully　for　his　good　friend's　sake。

Toward　noon；　the　next　day；　they　attempted　to　take　the　ship　to　sea；　and　failed　for　want　of　wind。　Hour　by　hour；　the　heat　grew　more　oppressive。　As　the　day　declined；　there　were　ominous　appearances　in　the　western　heaven。　The　natives；　who　had　given　some　trouble　during　the　day　by　their　anxiety　to　see　the　Captain；　and　by　their　curiosity　to　know　the　cause　of　the　sudden　preparations　for　the　ship's　departure；　all　went　ashore　together；　looking　suspiciously　at　the　sky；　and　reappeared　no　more。　Just　at　midnight；　the　ship　（still　in　her　snug　berth　inside　the　reef）　suddenly　trembled　from　her　keel　to　her　uppermost　masts。　Mr。　Duncalf；　surrounded　by　the　startled　crew；　shook　his　knotty　fist　at　the　island　as　if　he　could　see　it　in　the　dark。　〃My　lads；　what　did　I　tell　you？　That　was　a　shock　of　earthquake。〃

With　the　morning　the　threatening　aspect　of　the　weather　unexpectedly　disappeared。　A　faint　hot　breeze　from　the　land；　just　enough　to　give　the　ship　steerage…way；　offered　Mr。　Duncalf　a　chance　of　getting　to　sea。　Slowly　the　_Fortuna_；　with　the　mate　himself　at　the　wheel；　half　sailed；　half　drifted　into　the　open　ocean。　At　a　distance　of　barely　two　miles　from　the　island　the　breeze　was　felt　no　more；　and　the　vessel　lay　becalmed　for　the　rest　of　the　day。

At　night　the　men　waited　their　orders；　expecting　to　be　sent　after　their　Captain　in　one　of　the　boats。　The　intense　darkness；　the　airless　heat；　and　a　second　shock　of　earthquake　（faintly　felt　in　the　ship　at　her　present　distance　from　the　land）　warned　the　mate　to　be　cautious。　〃I　smell　mischief　in　the　air；〃　said　Mr。　Duncalf。　〃The　Captain　must　wait　till　I　am　surer　of　the　weather。〃

Still　no　change　came　with　the　new　day。　The　dead　calm　continued；　and　the　airless　heat。　As　the　day　declined；　another　ominous　appearance　became　visible。　A　thin　line　of　smoke　was　discovered　through　the　telescope；　ascending　from　the　topmost　peak　of　the　mountain　on　the　main　island。　Was　the　volcano　threatening　an　eruption？　The　mate；　for　one；　entertained　no　doubt　of　it。　〃By　the　Lord；　the　place　is　going　to　burst　up！〃　said　Mr。　Duncalf。　〃Come　what　may　of　it；　we　must　find　the　Captain　to…night！〃

V。

WHAT　was　the　Captain　doing？　and　what　chance　had　the　crew　of　finding　him　that　night？

He　had　committed　himself　to　his　desperate　adventure；　without　forming　any　plan　for　the　preservation　of　his　own　safety；　without　giving　even　a　momentary　consideration　to　the　consequences　which　might　follow　the　risk　that　he　had　run。　The　charming　figure　that　he　had　seen　haunted　him　night　and　day。　The　image　of　the　innocent　creature；　secluded　from　humanity　in　her　island　solitude；　was　the　one　image　that　filled　his　mind。　A　man；　passing　a　woman　in　the　street；　acts　on　the　impulse　to　turn　and　follow　her；　and　in　that　one　thoughtless　moment　shapes　the　destiny　of　his　future　life。　The　Captain　had　acted　on　a　similar　impulse；　when　he　took　the　first　canoe　he　had　found　on　the　beach；　and　shaped　his　reckless　course　for　the　tabooed　island。

Reaching　the　shore　while　it　was　still　dark；　he　did　one　sensible　thinghe　hid　the　canoe　so　that　it　might　not　betray　him　when　the　daylight　came。　That　done；　he　waited　for　the　morning　on　the　outskirts　of　the　forest。

The　trembling　light　of　dawn　revealed　the　mysterious　solitude　around　him。　Following　the　outer　limits　of　the　trees；　first　in　one　direction；　then　in　another；　and　finding　no　trace　of　any　living　creature；　he　decided　on　penetrating　to　the　interior　of　the　island。　He　entered　the　forest。

An　hour　of　walking　brought　him　to　rising　ground。　Continuing　the　ascent；　he　got　clear　of　the　trees；　and　stood　on　the　grassy　top　of　a　broad　cliff　which　overlooked　the　sea。　An　open　hut　was　on　the　cliff。　He　cautiously　looked　in；　and　discovered　that　it　was　empty。　The　few　household　utensils　left　about；　and　the　simple　bed　of　leaves　in　a　corner；　were　covered　with　fine　sandy　dust。　Night…birds　flew　blundering　out　of　the　inner　cavities　of　the　roof；　and　took　refuge　in　the　shadows　of　the　forest　below。　It　was　plain　that　the　hut　had　not　been　inhabited　for　some　time　past。

Standing　at　the　open　doorway　and　considering　what　he　should　do　next；　the　Captain　saw　a　bird　flying　toward　him　out　of　the　forest。　It　was　a　turtle…dove；　so　tame　that　it　fluttered　close　up　to　him。　At　the　same　moment　the　sound　of　sweet　laughter　became　audible　among　the　trees。　His　heart　beat　fast；　he　advanced　a　few　steps　and　stopped。　In　a　moment　more　the　nymph　of　the　island　appeared；　in　her　white　robe；　ascending　the　cliff　in　pursuit　of　her　truant　bird。　She　saw　the　strange　man；　and　suddenly　stood　still；　struck　motionless　by　the　amazing　discovery　that　had　burst　upon　her。　The　Captain　approached；　smiling　and　holding　out　his　hand。　She　never　moved；　she　stood　before　him　in　helpless　wondermenther　lovely　black　eyes　fixed　spellbound　on　his　face；　her　dusky　bosom　palpitating　above　the　fallen　folds　of　her　robe；　her　rich　red　lips　parted　in　mute　astonishment。　Feasting　his　eyes　on　her　beauty　in　silence；　the　Captain　after　a　while　ventured　to　speak　to　her　in　the　language　of　the　main　island。　The　sound　　of　his　voice；　addressing　her　in　the　words　that　she　understood；　roused　the　lovely　creature　to　action。　She　started；　stepped　close　up　to　him；　and　dropped　on　her　knees　at　his　feet。

〃My　father　worships　invisible　deities；〃　she　said；　softly。　〃Are　you　a　visible　deity？　Has　my　mother　sent　you？〃　She　pointed　as　she　spoke　to　the　deserted　hut　behind　them。　〃You　appear；〃　she　went　on；　〃in　the　place　where　my　mother　died。　Is　it　for　her　sake　that　you　show　yourself　to　her　child？　Beautiful　deity；　come　to　the　Templecome　to　my　father！〃

The　Captain　gently　raised　her　from　the　ground。　If　her　father　saw　him；　he　was　a　doomed　man。

Infatuated　as　he　was；　he　had　sense　enough　left　to　announce　himself　plainly　in　his　own　character；　as　a　mortal　creature　arriving　from　a　distant　land。　The　girl　instantly　drew　back　from　him　with　a　look　of　terror。

〃He　is　not　like　my　father；〃　she　said　to　herself；　〃he　is　not　like　me。　Is　he　the　lying　demon　of　the　prophecy？　Is　he　the　predestined　destroyer　of　our　island？〃

The　Captain's　experience　of　the　sex　showed　him　the　only　sure　way　out　of　the　awkward　position　in　which　he　was　now　placed。　He　appealed　to　his　personal　appearance。

〃Do　I　look　like　a　demon？〃　he　asked。

Her　eyes　met　his　eyes；　a　faint　smile　trembled　on　her　lips。　He　ventured　on　asking　what　she　meant　by　the　predestined　destruction　of　the　island。　She　held　up　her　hand　solemnly；　and　repeated　the　prophecy。

The　Holy　Island　was　threatened　with　destruction　by　an　evil　being；　who　would　one　day　appear　on　its　shores。　To　avert　the　fatality　the　place　had　been　sanctified　and　set　apart；　under　the　protection　of　the　gods　and　their　priest。　Here　was　the　reason　for　the　taboo；　and　for　the　extraordinary　rigor　with　which　it　was　enforced。　Listening　to　her　with　the　deepest　interest；　the　Captain　took　her　hand　and　pressed　it　gently。

　〃Do　I　feel　like　a　demon？〃　he　whispered。

Her　slim　brown　fingers　closed　frankly　on　his　hand。　〃You　feel　soft　and　friendly；〃　she　said　with　the　fearless　candor　of　a　child。　〃Squeeze　me　again。　I　like　it！〃

The　next　moment　she　snatched　her　hand　away　from　him；　the　sense　of　his　danger　had　suddenly　forced　itself　on　her　mind。　〃If　my　father　sees　you；〃　she　said；　〃he　will　light　the　signal　fire　at　the　Temple；　and　the　people　from　the　other　island　will　come　here　and　put　you　to　death。　Where　is　your　canoe？　No！　It　is　daylight。　My　father　may　see　you　on　the　water。〃　She　considered　a　little；　and；　approaching　him；　laid　her　hands　on　his　shoulders。　〃Stay　here　till　nightfall；〃　she　resumed。　〃My　father　never　comes　this　way。　The　sight　of　the　place　where　my　mother　died　is　horrible　to　him。　You　are　safe　here。　Promise　to　stay　where　you　are　till　night…time。〃

The　Captain　gave　his　promise。

Freed　from　anxiety　so　far；　the　girl's　mobile　temperament　recovered　its　native　cheerfulness；　its　sweet　gayety　and　spirit。　She　admired　the　beautiful　stranger　as　she　might　have　admired　a　new　bird　that　had　flown　to　her　to　be　fondled　with　the　rest。　She　patted　his　fair　white　skin；　and　wished　she　had　a　skin　like　it。　She　lifted　the　great　glossy　folds　of　her　long　black　hair；　and　compared　it　with　the　Captain's　bright　curly　locks；　and　longed　to　change　colors　with　him　from　the　bottom　of　her　heart。　His　dress　was　a　wonder　to　her；　his　watch　was　a　new　revelation。　She　rested　her　head　on　his　shoulder　to　listen　delightedly　to　the　ticking；　as　he　held　the　watch　to　her　ear。　Her　fragrant　breath　played　on　his　face；　her　warm；　supple　figure　rested　against　him　softly。　The　Captain's　arm　stole　round　her　waist；　and　the　Captain's　lips　gently　touched　her　cheek。　She　lif