登陆注册
20042100000017

第17章 CHAPTER XIII(1)

BETWEEN FIRE AND WATER

OCTOBER 24 to 29. -- For the last five days the sea has been very heavy, and although the Chancellor sails with wind and wave in her favor, yet her progress is considerably im- peded. Here on board this veritable fire-ship I cannot help contemplating with a longing eye this vast ocean that sur- rounds us. The water supply should be all we need.

"Why not bore the deck?" I said to Curtis. "Why not admit the water by tons into the hold? What could be the harm? The fire would be quenched; and what would be easier than to pump the water out again?"

"I have already told you, Mr. Kazallon," said Curtis, "that the very moment we admit the air, the flames will rush forth to the very top of the masts. No; we must have cour- age and patience; we must wait. There is nothing whatever to be done, except to close every aperture."

The fire continued to progress even more rapidly than we had hitherto suspected. The heat gradually drove the pas- sengers nearly all on deck, and the two stern cabins, lighted, as I said, by their windows in the aft-board were the only quarters below that were inhabitable. Of these Mrs. Kear occupied one, and Curtis reserved the other for Ruby, who, a raving maniac, had to be kept rigidly under restraint. I went down occasionally to see him, but invariably found him in a state of abject terror, uttering horrible shrieks, as though possessed with the idea that he was being scorched by the most excruciating heat.

Once or twice, too, I looked in upon the ex-captain. He was always calm and spoke quite rationally on any subject except his own profession; but in connection with that he prated away the merest nonsense. He suffered greatly, but steadily declined all my offers of attention, and pertina- ciously refused to leave his cabin.

To-day, an acrid, nauseating smoke made its way through the panelings that partition off the quarters of the crew. At once Curtis ordered the partition to be enveloped in wet tar- paulin, but the fumes penetrated even this, and filled the whole neighborhood of the ship's bows with a reeking vapor that was positively stifling. As we listened, too, we could hear a dull rumbling sound, but we were as mystified as ever to comprehend where the air could have entered that was evidently fanning the flames. Only too certainly, it was now becoming a question not of days nor even of hours before we must be prepared for the final catastrophe. The sea was still running high, and escape by the boats was plainly impossible. Fortunately, as I have said, the main- mast and the mizzen are of iron; otherwise the great heat at their base would long ago have brought them down and our chances of safety would have been very much imperiled; but by crowding on sail the Chancellor in the full northeast wind continued to make her way with undiminished speed.

It is now a fortnight since the fire was first discovered, and the proper working of the ship has gradually become a more and more difficult matter. Even with thick shoes any attempt to walk upon deck up to the forecastle was soon im- practicable, and the poop, simply because its floor is elevated somewhat above the level of the hold, is now the only avail- able standing-place. Water began to lose its effect upon the scorched and shriveling planks; the resin oozed out from the knots in the wood, the seams burst open, and the tar, melted by the heat, followed the rollings of the vessel, and formed fantastic patterns about the deck.

同类推荐
  • The Story of Little Black Sambo

    The Story of Little Black Sambo

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • APHORISMS

    APHORISMS

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说除盖障菩萨所问经

    佛说除盖障菩萨所问经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 菩萨地持经

    菩萨地持经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 玉机微义

    玉机微义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 中国现当代文学名著解读

    中国现当代文学名著解读

    鲁迅一生都在探讨改造国民性的问题,他的《呐喊》、《彷徨》就是改造国民灵魂的艺术实践。通过描写农民和知识分子,来揭示现代中国社会的风貌和时代精神,形象地总结了辛亥革命失败的教训,为中国社会变革提供了一幅幅惊心动魄的历史画面。
  • 逆命兵王

    逆命兵王

    秦无原是纵横天下的北境兵王,却重生在数千年前楚国的一名废柴少年林默的身上。林默身患绝症九天残体,是废物中的废物,看秦无如何逆天改命,以林默之名成就一代传奇兵王。
  • 青瞳:完美典藏版(全集)

    青瞳:完美典藏版(全集)

    一个面容明艳、眼眸清澈的公主,天生拥有运筹帷幄的才能,杀伐果断的决绝,号令千军万马的气势。这样的女子,纵然怀揣一份小儿女的柔软,仍然毫无悬念地戴上了象征最高权力的王冠。然而,当文武百官匍匐脚下高呼“万岁”时,她不止一次地恍惚,自己真的想要这样站在风口浪尖握住日月乾坤吗,可为什么心中那份思念如鸩毒般在每个午夜发作呢?大苑百万苍生的女王,草原他一个人的女人,其实她知道自己最想成为什么……《青瞳:完美典藏版(全集)》,大气磅礴,家国爱恨,美人天下,绝美和震撼都将在典藏版中继续酣畅呈现,并极具收藏价值!
  • 超级战士在校园

    超级战士在校园

    某超级大国曾展开一项名为《超级战士计划》的研究,李天阳是唯一成功的实验品。但他并不知道这些,以为自己不过是个普通的高一学生罢了。然而,自身的能力无法隐藏,必然在校园里掀起轩然大波。
  • 青春与年少

    青春与年少

    在星空下的他们相遇了,他们的缘分很深,他们有共同的爱好,有共同的习惯,他相信一定会有更多的东西他们是共同喜欢的。
  • 大天尊

    大天尊

    炼天器皇陨落重生,化名申屠傲,背负废物之名,经过三年磨砺封印觉醒,意识,功法,经验,全部回来!修炼‘无极玄功’,可炼丹成仙,练器成神!从此开始逆天改命,战天才,傲苍穹!开启一场独战天下的大天尊之路……
  • 同心物语

    同心物语

    唐玄本事一个富家公子,却因一场意外卷入修行纷争。是意外、还是必然,是重生还、是惊天大布局。看唐玄如何力挽狂澜,揭开修行界种种迷局,不断逆势而为,求证天道。
  • 若教解语戏倾城

    若教解语戏倾城

    第一次写文,多指教,原著没有让黑瞎子和小花相遇认识所以就写了这篇文。。(不喜勿喷)
  • 紫藤之凉,雨打满墙

    紫藤之凉,雨打满墙

    早知道我遇见的那个人是你,就不会那么任性了那个叫做初念的男孩,如果可以真的想带你去见见从前的我这样你就知道,你的出现究竟是怎样改变了我……
  • tfboys你愿意我就爱

    tfboys你愿意我就爱

    在几次擦肩而过中,他们在一起了,还能遇到什么困难呢……第一次写,如果不好,不要介意噻加群455287466聊,加QQ号1946178823聊内部,我在这里等你,么么哒~