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！
A head rose panting to the surface； and with a few strong strokes the swimmer had clutched the gunwale。 It was Ayacanora！
〃Go back！〃 shouted Amyas。 〃Go back； girl！〃
She uttered the same wild cry with which she had fled into the forest。
〃I will die； then！〃 and she threw up her arms。 Another moment； and she had sunk。
To see her perish before his eyes！ who could bear that？ Her hands alone were above the surface。 Amyas caught convulsively at her in the darkness； and seized her wrist。
A yell rose from the negroes： a roar from the crew as from a cage of lions。 There was a rush and a swirl along the surface of the stream； and 〃Caiman！ caiman！〃 shouted twenty voices。
Now； or never； for the strong arm！ 〃To larboard； men； or over we go！〃 cried Amyas； and with one huge heave he lifted the slender body upon the gunwale。 Her lower limbs were still in the water； when； within arm's length； rose above the stream a huge muzzle。 The lower jaw lay flat； the upper reached as high as Amyas's head。 He could see the long fangs gleam white in the moonshine； he could see for one moment full down the monstrous depths of that great gape； which would have crushed a buffalo。 Three inches； and no more； from that soft side； the snout surged up
There was the gleam of an axe from above； a sharp ringing blow； and the jaws came together with a clash which rang from bank to bank。 He had missed her！ Swerving beneath the blow； his snout had passed beneath her body； and smashed up against the side of the canoe； as the striker； overbalanced； fell headlong overboard upon the monster's back。
〃Who is it？〃
〃Yeo！〃 shouted a dozen。
Man and beast went down together； and where they sank； the moonlight shone on a great swirling eddy； while all held their breaths； and Ayacanora cowered down into the bottom of the canoe； her proud spirit utterly broken； for the first time； by the terror of that great need； and by a bitter loss。 For in the struggle； the holy trumpet； companion of all her wanderings； had fallen from her bosom； and her fond hope of bringing magic prosperity to her English friends had sunk with it to the bottom of the stream。
None heeded her； not even Amyas； round whose knees she clung； fawning like a spaniel dog： for where was Yeo？
Another swirl； a shout from the canoe abreast of them； and Yeo rose； having dived clean under his own boat； and risen between the two。
〃Safe as yet； lads！ Heave me a line； or he'll have me after all。〃
But ere the brute reappeared； the old man was safe on board。
〃The Lord has stood by me；〃 panted he； as he shot the water from his ears。 〃We went down together： I knew the Indian trick； and being uppermost； had my thumbs in his eyes before he could turn： but he carried me down to the very mud。 My breath was nigh gone； so I left go； and struck up： but my toes tingled as I rose again； I'll warrant。 There the beggar is； looking for me； I declare！〃
And； true enough； there was the huge brute swimming slowly round and round； in search of his lost victim。 It was too dark to put an arrow into his eye； so they paddled on； while Ayacanora crouched silently at Amyas's feet。
〃Yeo！〃 asked he； in a low voice； 〃what shall we do with her？〃
〃Why ask me； sir？〃 said the old man； as he had a very good right to ask。
〃Because； when one don't know oneself； one had best inquire of one's elders。 Besides； you saved her life at the risk of your own； and have a right to a voice in the matter； if any one has； old friend。〃
〃Then； my dear young captain； if the Lord puts a precious soul under your care； don't you refuse to bear the burden He lays on you。〃
Amyas was silent awhile； while Ayacanora； who was evidently utterly exhausted by the night's adventure； and probably by long wanderings； watchings； and weepings which had gone before it； sank with her head against his knee； fell fast asleep； and breathed as gently as a child。
At last he rose in the canoe； and called Cary alongside。
〃Listen to me； gentlemen； and sailors all。 You know that we have a maiden on board here； by no choice of our own。 Whether she will be a blessing to us； God alone can tell： but she may turn to the greatest curse which has befallen us ever since we came out over Bar three years ago。 Promise me one thing； or I put her ashore the next beach； and that is； that you will treat her as if she were your own sister； and make an agreement here and now； that if the maid comes to harm among us； the man that is guilty shall hang for it by the neck till he's dead； even though he be I； Captain Leigh； who speak to you。 I'll hang you； as I am a Christian； and I give you free leave to hang me。〃
〃A very fair bargain；〃 quoth Cary； 〃and I for one will see it kept to。 Lads； we'll twine a double strong halter for the captain as we go down along。〃
〃I am not jesting； Will。〃
〃I know it； good old lad；〃 said Cary； stretching out his own hand to him across the water through the darkness； and giving him a hearty shake。 〃I know it； and listen； men！ So help me God！ but I'll be the first to back the Captain in being as good as his word； as I trust he never will need to be。〃
〃Amen！〃 said Brimblecombe。 〃Amen！〃 said Yeo； and many an honest voice joined in that honest compact； and kept it too； like men。
CHAPTER XXVI
HOW THEY TOOK THE GREAT GALLEON
〃When captains courageous； whom death could not daunt； Did march to the siege of the city of Gaunt； They muster'd their soldiers by two and by three； But the foremost in battle was Mary Ambree。 When brave Sir John Major was slain in her sight； Who was her true lover； her joy and delight； Because he was murther'd most treacherouslie； Then vow'd to avenge him fair Mary Ambree。〃
Old Ballad； A。 D。 1584。
One more glance at the golden tropic sea； and the golden tropic evenings； by the shore of New Granada； in the golden Spanish Main。
The bay of Santa Marta is rippling before the land…breeze one sheet of living flame。 The mighty forests are sparkling with myriad fireflies。 The lazy mist which lounges round the inner hills shines golden in the sunset rays； and； nineteen thousand feet aloft； the mighty peak of Horqueta cleaves the abyss of air； rose… red against the dark…blue vault of heaven。 The rosy cone fades to a dull leaden hue； but only for awhile。 The stars flash out one by one； and Venus； like another moon； tinges the eastern snows with gold； and sheds across the bay a long yellow line of rippling light。 Everywhere is glory and richness。 What wonder if the earth in that enchanted land be as rich to her inmost depths as she is upon the surface？ The heaven； the hills； the sea； are one sparkling garland of jewelswhat wonder if the soil be jewelled also？ if every watercourse and bank of earth be spangled with emeralds and rubies； with grains of gold and feathered wreaths of native silver？
So thought； in a poetic mood； the Bishop of Cartagena； as he sat in the state cabin of that great galleon； The City of the True Cross； and looked pensively out of the window towards the shore。 The good man was in a state of holy calm。 His stout figure rested on one easy…chair； his stout ankles on another； beside a table spread with oranges