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！
he did not expect to behold us alive again； and tried to throw a
wet blanket over the expedition。
〃Guess you'll have a squally time of it；〃 said Charley； casting off
the painter。 〃I'll drop in at old Newbury's〃 （Newbury was the
parish undertaker） 〃and leave word； as I go along！〃
〃Bosh！〃 muttered Phil Adams； sticking the boathook into the
string…piece of the wharf； and sending the Dolphin half a dozen
yards toward the current。
How calm and lovely the river was！ Not a ripple stirred on the
glassy surface； broken only by the sharp cutwater of our tiny
craft。 The sun； as round and red as an August moon； was by this
time peering above the water…line。
The town had drifted behind us； and we were entering among the
group of islands。 Sometimes we could almost touch with our boat…
hook the shelving banks on either side。 As we neared the mouth of
the harbor； a little breeze now and then wrinkled the blue water；
shook the spangles from the foliage； and gently lifted the spiral
mist…wreaths that still clung alongshore。 The measured dip of our
oars and the drowsy twitterings of the birds seemed to mingle with；
rather than break； the enchanted silence that reigned about us。
The scent of the new clover comes back to me now； as I recall that
delicious morning when we floated away in a fairy boat down a river
like a dream！
The sun was well up when the nose of the Dolphin nestled against
the snow…white bosom of Sandpeep Island。 This island； as I have
said before； was the last of the cluster； one side of it being
washed by the sea。 We landed on the river…side； the sloping sands
and quiet water affording us a good place to moor the boat。
It took us an hour or more to transport our stores to the spot
selected for the encampment。 Having pitched our tent； using the
five oars to support the canvas； we got out our lines； and went
down the rocks seaward to fish。 It was early for cunners； but we
were lucky enough to catch as nice a mess as ever you saw。 A cod
for the chowder was not so easily secured。 At last Binny Wallace
hauled in a plump little fellow clustered all over with flaky
silver。
To skin the fish； build our fireplace； and cook the chowder kept us
busy the next two hours。
The fresh air and the exercise had given us the appetites of
wolves； and we were about famished by the time the savory mixture
was ready for our clam…shell saucers。
I shall not insult the rising generation on the seaboard by telling
them how delectable is a chowder compounded and eaten in this
Robinson Crusoe fashion。 As for the boys who live inland； and know
not of such marine feasts； my heart is full of pity for them。 What
wasted lives！ Not to know the delights of a clambake； not to love
chowder； to be ignorant of lobscouse！
How happy we were； we four； sitting cross…legged in the crisp salt
grass； with the invigorating seabreeze blowing gratefully through
our hair！ What a joyous thing was life； and how far off seemed
deathdeath； that lurks in all pleasant places； and was so near！
The banquet finished； Phil Adams drew from his pocket a handful of
sweet…fern cigars； but as none of the party could indulge without
imminent risk of becoming ill； we all； on one pretext or another；
declined； and Phil smoked by himself。
The wind had freshened by this； and we found it comfortable to put
on the jackets which had been thrown aside in the heat of the day。
We strolled along the beach and gathered large quantities of the
fairy…woven Iceland moss； which at certain seasons is washed to
these shores； then we played at ducks and drakes； and then； the sun
being sufficiently low； we went in bathing。
Before our bath was ended a slight change had come over the sky and
sea； fleecy…white clouds scudded here and there； and a muffled moan
from the breakers caught our ears from time to time。 While we were
dressing； a few hurried drops of rain came lisping down； and we
adjourned to the tent to wait the passing of the squall。
〃We're all right； anyhow；〃 said Phil Adams。 〃It won't be much of a
blow； and we'll be as snug as a bug in a rug； here in the tent；
particularly if we have that lemonade which some of you fellows
were going to make。
By an oversight； the lemons had been left in the boat。 Binny
Wallace volunteered to go for them。
〃Put an extra stone on the painter； Binny；〃 said Adams； calling
after him； 〃it would be awkward to have the Dolphin give us the
slip and return to port minus her passengers。〃
〃That it would；〃 answered Binny； scrambling down the rocks。
Sandpeep Island is diamond…shapedone point running out into the
sea； and the other looking towards the town。 Our tent was on the
river…side。 Though the Dolphin was also on the same side； she lay
out of sight by the beach at the farther extremity of the island。
Binny Wallace had been absent five or six minutes when we heard him
calling our several names in tones that indicated distress or
surprise； we could not tell which。 Our first thought was； 〃The boat
has broken adrift！〃
We sprung to our feet and hastened down to the beach。 On turning
the bluff which hid the mooring…place from our view； we found the
conjecture correct。 Not only was the Dolphin afloat； but poor
little Binny Wallace was standing in the bows with his arms
stretched helplessly towards usdrifting out to sea！
〃Head the boat inshore！〃 shouted Phil Adams。
Wallace ran to the tiller； but the slight cockle…shell merely swung
round and drifted broadside on。 Oh； if we had but left a single
scull in the Dolphin！
〃Can you swim it？〃 cried Adams desperately； using his hand as a
speaking…trumpet； for the distance between the boat and the island
widened momently。
Binny Wallace looked down at the sea； which was covered with white
caps； and made a despairing gesture。 He knew； and we knew； that the
stoutest swimmer could not live forty seconds in those angry
waters。
A wild； insane light came into Phil Adam's eyes； as he stood knee…
deep in the boiling surf； and for an instant I think he meditated
plunging into the ocean after the receding boat。
The sky darkened； and an ugly look stole rapidly over the broken
surface of the sea。
Binny Wallace half rose from his seat in the stern； and waved his
hand to us in token of farewell。 In spite of the distance；
increasing every moment； we could see his face plainly。 The anxious
expression it wore at first had passed。 It was pale and meek now；
and I love to think there was a kind of halo about it； like that
which painters place around the forehead of a saint。 So he drifted
away。
The sky grew darker and darker。 It was only by straining our eyes
through the unnatural twilight that we could keep the Dolphin in
sight。 The figure of Binny Wallace was no longer visible； for the
boat itself had dwindled to a mere white dot on the black water。
Now we lost it； and our hearts stopped throbbing； and now the speck
appeared again； for an instant； on the crest of a high wave。
Finally it went out like a spark； and we saw it no more。 Then we
gazed at one another； and dared not speak。
Absorbed in following the course of the boat； we had scarcely
noticed the huddled inky clouds that sagged heavily