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the heir of redclyffe-第76部分

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Guy conducted the boys out of sight of the sea; and; to console them; 

gave them so much more use of the gun than usual; that it might be 

considered as a wonder that he escaped being shot。  Yet it did not 

prevent a few sighs being spent on the boating。



'Can't you forget it?' said Guy; smiling。  'You have no loss; after 

all; for we are likely to have no boating weather this long time。  

Hark! don't you hear the ground…swell?'



'What's that?' said the boys; standing still to listen to the distant 

surge; like a continuous low moan; or roar; far; far away; though there 

was no wind; and the sea was calm。



'It is the sound that comes before stormy weather;' said Guy。  'It is 

as if the sea was gathering up its forces for the tempest。'



'But what?how?  Tell me what it really is;' said Robin。



'I suppose it is the wind on the sea before it has reached us;' said 

Guy。  'How solemn it is!'



Too solemn for the boys; who began all manner of antics and noises; by 

way of silencing the impression of awfulness。  Guy laughed; and joined 

in their fun; but as soon as they were gone home; he stood in silence 

for a long time; listening to the sound; and recalling the mysterious 

dreams and fancies with which it was connected in his boyhood; and 

which he had never wished thus to drive away。



The storm he had predicted came on; and by the evening of the following 

day; sea and wind were thundering; in their might; against the foot of 

the crags。  Guy looked from the window; the last thing at night; and 

saw the stars twinkling overhead; with that extreme brilliancy which is 

often seen in the intervals of fitful storms; and which suggested 

thoughts that sent him to sleep in a vague; soothing dream。



He was wakened by one tremendous continued roar of sea; wind; and 

thunder combined。  Such was the darkness; that he could not see the 

form of the window; till a sheet of pale blue lightning brought it 

fully out for the moment。  He sat up; and listened to the 'glorious 

voice' that followed it; thought what an awful night at sea; and 

remembered when he used to fancy it would be the height of felicity to 

have a shipwreck at Redclyffe; and shocked Mrs。 Bernard by inhuman 

wishes that a ship would only come and be wrecked。  How often had he 

watched; through sounds like these; for a minute gun!  Nay; he had once 

actually called up poor Arnaud in the middle of the night for an 

imaginary signal。  Redclyffe Bay was a very dangerous one; a fine place 

for a wreck; with its precipitous crags; its single safe landing…place; 

and the great Shag Stone; on the eastern side; with a whole progeny of 

nearly sunken rocks; dreaded in rough weather by the fishermen 

themselves; but it was out of the ordinary track of vessels; and there 

were only a few traditions of terrible wrecks long before his time。



It seemed as if he had worked up his fancy again; for the sound of a 

gun was for a moment in his ear。  It was lost in the rush of hail 

against the window; and the moaning of the wind round the old house; 

but presently it returned too surely to be imaginary。  He sprang to the 

window; and the broad; flickering glare of lightning revealed the black 

cliff and pale sea…line; then all was dark and still; while the storm 

was holding its breath for the thunder…burst which in a few more 

seconds rolled overhead; shaking door and window throughout the house。  

As the awful sound died away; in a moment's lull; came the gun again。  

He threw up the window; and as the blast of wind and rain swept howling 

into the room; it brought another report。



To close the window; light his candle; throw on his clothes; and hasten 

down…stairs; was the work of a very few seconds。  Luckily; the key of 

the boat…house was lying on the table in the hall; where he had left 

it; after showing the boat to the Ashford boys; he seized it; caught up 

the pocket telescope; put on a rough coat; and proceeded to undo the 

endless fastenings of the hall…door; a very patience…trying occupation; 

and; when completed; the gusts that were eddying round the house; ready 

to force their way in everywhere; took advantage of the first opening 

to blow out his candle。



However; they had in one way done good service; for the shower had been 

as brief as it was violent; and the inky cloud was drifting away 

furiously towards the east; leaving the moon visible; near her setting; 

and allowing her white cold light to shine forth; contrasting with the 

distant sheets of pale lightning; growing fainter and fainter。



Guy ran across the court; round to the west side of the house; and 

struggled up the slope in the face of the wind; which almost swept him 

down again; and when at length he had gained the summit; came rushing 

against him with such force that he could hardly stand。  He did; 

however; keep his ground; and gazed out over the sea。  The swell was 

fearful; marked by the silver light on one side; where it caught the 

moonbeams; and the black shade on the other; ever alternating; so that 

the eye could; not fix on them for a moment; the spray leapt high in 

its whiteness; and the Shag stood up hard; bold; and black。  The waves 

thundered; bursting on the cliff and; high as he stood; the spray 

dashed almost blinding in his face; while the wind howled round him; as 

if gathering its might for the very purpose of wrenching him from the 

cliff; but he stood firm; and looked out again; to discern clearly what 

he thought he had seen。  It was the mast of a vessel; seen plainly 

against the light silvery distance of sea on the reef west of the Shag。  

It was in a slanting direction; and did not move; he could not doubt 

that the ship had struck on the dangerous rocks at the entrance of the 

bay; and as his eyes became more accustomed to the unusual light; and 

made out what objects were or were not familiar; he could perceive the 

ship herself。  He looked with the glass; but could see no one on board; 

nor were any boats in sight; but observing some of the lesser rocks; he 

beheld some moving figures on them。 Help!instant help!was his 

thought; and he looked towards the Cove。  Lights were in the cottage 

windows; and a few sounds came up to him; as if the fishing population 

were astir。



He hastened to the side of the cliff; which was partly clothed with 

brushwood。  There was a descentit could hardly be called a path

which no one ventured to attempt but himself and a few of the boldest 

birds'…nesting boys of the village; but he could lose no time; and 

scrambling; leaping; swinging himself by the branches; he reached the 

foot of the cliff in safety; and in five minutes more was on the little 

quay at the end of the steep street of the Cove。



The quay was crowded with the fisher…people; and there was a strange 

confusion of voices; some saying all was lost; some that the crew had 

got to the rock; others; that some one ought to put off and help them; 

others; that a boat would never live in such a sea; and an old 

telescope was in great requisition。



Ben Robinson; a tall; hardy young man; of five…and…twenty; wild; 

reckless; high…spirited and full of mischief and adventure; was 

standing on a pile at the extreme verge above the foaming water; daring 

the others to go with him to the rescue; and; though Jonas Ledbury; a 

feeble old man; was declaring; in a piteous tone; it was a sin and a 

shame to let so many poor creatures be lost in sight; without one man 

stirring to help them; yet all stood irresolute; watching the white 

breakers dashing on the Shag; and the high waves that swelled and 

rolled between。



'Do you know where the crew are?' exclaimed Guy; shouting as loud as he 

could; for the noise of the winds and waves was tremendous。



'There; sir; on the flat black stone;' said the fortunate possessor of 

the telescope。  'Some ten or eleven of them; I fancy; all huddled 

together。'



'Ay; ay!' said old Ledbury。  'Poor creatures! there they be; and what 

is to be done; I can't say!  I never saw a boat in such a sea; since 

the night poor Jack; my brother; was lost; and Will Ray with him。'



'I see them;' said Guy; who had in the meantime looked through his 

glass。  'How soon is high water?'



It was an important question; for the rocks round the Shag were covered 

before full tide; even when the water was still。  There was a looking 

up at the moon; and then Guy and the fishermen simultaneously 

exclaimed; that it would be in three hours; which gave scarcely an hour 

to spare。



Without another word; Guy sprang from the quay to the boat…house; 

unlocked it; and; by example; showed that the largest boat was to be 

brought out。  The men helped him vigorously; and it stood on the narrow 

pebbly beach; the only safe landing…place in the whole bay; he threw 

into it a coil of rope; and called out in his clear commanding voice

'Five to go with me!'


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