elinor wyllys-2- 第56部分

〃Coming；　sure　enough！look　yonder！〃exclaimed　Harry；　pointing　eastward；　where　heavy　clouds　were　now　seen　rising　rapidly　over　the　wood。

〃We　shall　have　a　shower；　and　something　of　a　squall；　I　guess；〃　added　Stebbins。

There　could　not　indeed　be　much　doubt　of　the　fact；　for　a　heavy　shower　now　seemed　advancing；　with　the　sudden　rapidity　not　unusual　after　very　warm　weather；　the　position　of　the　bay；　and　a　wooded　bank　having　concealed　its　approach　until　close　at　hand。

〃We　shall　have　a　dead　calm　in　ten　minutes；〃　said　de　Vaux；　〃I　wish　the　Petrel　was　off。〃

But　still　there　seemed　something　going　on　in　the　garden；　the　woman　and　Sam　were　very　busy；　and　Charlie　and　Smith　had　joined　them。

〃They　must　see　the　shower　coming　up　by　this　time！〃　exclaimed　de　Vaux。

〃There　will　be　a　squall　and　a　sharp　one；　too；〃　added　Stebbins。

The　wind；　which　had　prevailed　steadily　all　the　morning　in　a　light；　sultry　breeze　from　the　south；　was　now　dying　away；　the　sullen　roll　of　distant　thunder　was　heard；　while　here　and　there　a　sudden　flash　burst　from　a　nearer　cloud。

〃Thank　Heaven；　they　are　off　at　last！〃　cried　de　Vaux；　who　was　watching　the　schooner　with　some　anxiety。

Harry　and　the　two　men　were　busy　gathering　together　under　cover　of　the　shanty；　the　different　articles　scattered　about；　and　among　others　Charlie's　half…finished　sketch。

The　sun　was　now　obscured；　light；　detached　clouds；　looking　heated　and　angry；　were　hurrying　in　advance　with　a　low　flight；　while　the　heavens　were　half…covered　by　the　threatening　mass　which　came　gathering　in　dark　and　heavy　folds　about　the　island。　Suddenly　the　great　body　of　vapour　which　had　been　hanging　sullenly　over　the　western　horizon　all　the　morning；　now　set　in　motion　by　a　fresh　current　of　air；　began　to　rise　with　a　slow　movement；　as　if　to　meet　the　array　advancing　so　eagerly　from　the　opposite　direction；　it　came　onward　steadily；　with　a　higher　and　a　wider　sweep　than　the　mass　which　was　pouring　immediately　over　the　little　bay。　The　landscape　had　hung　out　its　storm…lights；　the　dark　scowl　of　the　approaching　gust　fell　alike　on　wood；　beach；　and　waters；　the　birds　were　wheeling　about　anxiously；　the　gulls　and　other　water…fowl　flying　lower　and　lower；　nearer　and　nearer　to　their　favourite　element；　the　land…birds　hurrying　hither　and　thither；　seeking　shelter　among　their　native　branches。　But　not　a　drop　of　rain　had　yet　fallen；　and　the　waves　still　came　rolling　in　upon　the　sands　with　the　measured；　lulling　sound　of　fair　weather。

The　air　from　the　south　revived　for　a　moment；　sweeping　in　light；　fitful　puffs　over　the　bay。　Favoured　by　this　last　flickering　current　of　the　morning's　breeze；　the　Petrel　had　succeeded　in　making　her　way　half　across　the　bay；　though　returning　less　steadily　than　she　had　gone　on　her　errand　an　hour　before。

〃Give　us　another　puff　or　two；　and　she　will　yet　be　here　before　the　squall；〃　said　de　Vaux。

The　little　schooner　was　now　indeed　within　less　than　half　a　mile　of　the　wharf；　but　here　at　length　the　wind　entirely　failed　her；　and　she　sat　idly　on　the　water。　De　Vaux　was　watching　her　through　the　glass；　there　seemed　to　be　some　little　hesitation　and　confusion　on　board；　Sam；　the　boy；　had　given　up　the　tiller　to　Black　Bob。　Suddenly　the　first　blast　of　the　gust　from　the　east　came　rustling　through　the　wood；　making　the　young　trees　bend　before　it；　then　as　it　passed　over　the　water　there　was　a　minute's　respite。

〃How　she　dodges！What　are　they　about？〃　exclaimed　Harry。

〃What　do　they　mean？Are　they　blind？can't　they　see　the　squall　coming？〃　cried　de　Vaux　in　great　anxiety；　as　he　watched　the　hesitation　on　board　the　Petrel。

〃As　my　name　is　Nat　Fisher；　that　nigger　is　drunk！I　thought　so　this　morning！〃　exclaimed　the　steward。

〃And　Smith　and　Hubbard　know　nothing　of　a　boat！〃　cried　de　Vaux；　in　despair。

The　words　had　scarcely　passed　his　lips　before　the　wind　came　rushing　over　the　wood；　in　a　sudden；　furious　blast；　bringing　darker　and　heavier　clouds；　accompanied　by　quick；　vivid　flashes　of　lightning；　and　sharp　cracks　of　thunder；　the　rain　pouring　down　in　torrents。　It　was　with　difficulty　the　young　men　kept　their　footing　on　the　end　of　the　wharf；　such　was　the　first　fury　of　the　gust；　but　they　forgot　themselves　in　fears　for　their　friends。

〃Are　they　mad！〃　cried　de　Vaux；　as　he　marked　the　uncertainty　of　their　movements；　while　the　wind　was　sweeping　furiously　over　the　darkened　waters　towards　them。

A　heavy　sheet　of　rain；　pouring　in　a　flood　from　the　clouds；　completely　enveloped　the　party　on　the　wharf；　another　second　and　a　shout　was　indistinctly　heard　amid　the　tumult　of　the　winds　and　waters；　a　lighter　cloud　passed　over；　the　bay　was　partially　seen　again；　but　neither　the　white　sails　of　the　Petrel　nor　her　buoyant　form　could　be　traced　by　the　eager　eyes　on　the　wharf。　She　had　been　struck　by　the　gust　and　capsized。

〃She　is　gone！〃　exclaimed　de　Vaux；　with　a　cry　of　horror。

〃Charlie　can't　swim！〃　cried　Harry。

〃Nor　Bob；　for　certain；〃　said　the　steward。　〃I　don't　know　about　the　others。〃

Three　shots　from　a　fowling…piece　were　rapidly　fired；　as　a　signal　to　the　party　in　the　Petrel　that　their　situation　was　known　to　their　friends　on　shore。　The　steward　was　instantly　ordered　to　run　along　the　beach　to　the　farthest　point；　and　carry　the　boat　from　there　to　the　spot；　it　was　a　distance　of　more　than　two　miles　by　land；　still　de　Vaux　thought　it　best　to　be　done；　while　he　himself　and　Stebbins　seized　another　pair　of　oars；　and　set　off　at　full　speed　in　the　opposite　direction；　to　the　nearest　point；　about　a　mile　from　the　wharf；　beyond　which　Stryker　was　fishing　with　their　own　boat；　intending　to　carry　her　instantly　to　the　relief　of　the　party　in　the　schooner。

Harry　thought　of　his　friend；　Charlie　could　not　swim；　he　himself　was　a　remarkably　good　swimmer。　It　must　be　some　little　time　before　either　boat　could　reach　the　capsized　schooner；　and　in　the　interval；　two　at　least　of　the　four　individuals　in　the　Petrel；　were　helpless　and　in　imminent　peril。　The　idea　of　Charlie's　danger　decided　his　course；　in　a　moment　he　had　cast　off　his　clothes；　and　with　Bruno　at　his　sidea　faithful　ally　at　such　a　momenthe　had　thrown　himself　into　the　water；　confident　that　he　could　swim　the　distance　himself　with　ease。

The　next　half…hour　was　one　of　fearful　anxiety。　The　gust　still　raged　with　sullen　fury；　the　shower　from　eastward；　collected　among　the　mists　of　the　ocean；　and　the　array　from　the　west；　gathered　amid　the　woods　and　marshes　of　the　land；　met　with　a　fierce　shock　on　the　shores　of　the　Vineyard。　The　thunder　and　lightning　were　unusually　severe；　several　bolts　falling　within　a　short　distance　about　the　bay；　the　rain　pouring　down　in　a　dense　sheet；　as　the　wind　drove　cloud　after　cloud　over　the　spot　in　its　stormy　flight。　And　amid　this　scene　of　violence　four　human　beings　were　struggling　for　life；　while　their　anxious　friends　were　hurrying　to　their　relief；　with　every　nerve　alive。　Frederick　Smith　was　the　first　who　rose　after　the　Petrel　capsized；　in　another　moment　he　saw　the　head　of　the　boy　emerge　from　the　water　at　a　little　distance；　the　lad　could　swim；　and　both　had　soon　gained　the　portion　of　the　little　schooner's　hull　which　was　partially　bare；　though　constantly　washed　by　the　waves。　Another　minute；　and　Smith　saw　amid　the　spray　Charlie's　head；　he　knew　that　Hubbard　could　not　swim；　and　moved　towards　him　with　a　cry　of　encouragement。

〃Here！〃　replied　the　young　painter；　but　he　had　disappeared　before　Smith　could　reach　him。

A　fresh　blast　of　wind；　rain；　and　hail　passed　over　the　spot；　Smith　moved　about　calling　to　Hubbard　and　the　negro；　but　he　received　no　answer　from　either。

〃There's　one　of　them！〃　cried　the　boy　eagerly；　he　swam　towards　the　object　he　had　seen；　but　it　proved　to　be　only　a　hat。

Both　returned　to　the　Petrel's　side；　watching　as　closely　as　the　violence　of　the　wind　and　rain　would　permit。　Not　a　trace　of　the　negro　was　seen；　yet　Smith　thought　he　must　have　risen　to　the　surface　at　some　point　unobserved　by　them；　for　he　was　a　man　of　a　large；　corpulent　body；　more　likely　to　float　than　many　others。　A　second　time　Smith　was　relieved　by　seeing　Charlie　rise；　but　at　a　greater　distance　from　the　Petrel's　hull；　a　second　time　he　strained　every　nerve　to　reach　him；　but　again　the　young　man　sunk　beneath　the　waves。

A　shout　was　now　heard。　〃It　is　the　boat！〃　said　Smith；　as　he　answered　the　call。　He　was　mistaken；　it　was　Hazlehurst　who　now　approached；　with　Bruno　at　his　side；　guided　by　the　voices　of　Smith　and　the　boy。

〃Charlie！〃　cried　Harry；　as　he　made　his　way　through　the　water。　Charlie！〃　he　repeated　again。

〃Hubbard　has　sunk　twice；　and　the　negro　is　gone！〃　cried　Smith。

〃Come　to　the　hull　and　take　breath；〃　added　Smith。

But　just　as　he　spoke；　Harry　had　seen　an　arm　left　bare　by　a　passing　wave；　he　made　a　desperate　effort；　reached　the　spot；　and　seized　Charlie's　body；　crying　joyfully；　〃It　is　Hubbard；　I　have　him！Charlie；　do　you　know　me？Charlie；　speak　but　a　word；　my　good　fellow！〃

But　the　young　man　had　lost　his　consciousness；　he　returned　no　answer　either　by　look　or　word。　Harry　grasped　his　collar；　holding　his　face　above　the　water；　and　at　the　same　time　moving　towards　the　Petrel's　hull　as　rapidly　as　he　could。

〃Here　Bruno；　my　noble　dog！　That's　right；　Smith；　get　a　firm　hold　on　the　schooner；　we　must　draw　him　up；　he　has　fainted；　but　the　boats　must　be　here　soon。〃

Smith　was　following　Hazlehurst's　directions；　but　ere　Bruno　had　joined　his　master；　Harry；　now　within　a　short　distance　of　the　schooner；　suddenly　cried；　〃Help！〃and　in　another　second　both　he　and　Charlie　had　disappeared　beneath　the　water；　in　a　manner　as　incomprehensible；　as　it　was　unexpected　and　distressing　to　Smith。

〃He's　sunk！〃　cried　the　boy。

〃How？where？　Surely　he　was　not　exhausted！〃

A　howl　burst　from　Bruno。

〃Perhaps　it's　the　cramp；〃　said　the　lad。

〃Both　sunk！Hazlehurst　too！〃　again　exclaimed　Smith；　as　much　amazed　as　he　was　distressed。　He　and　the　boy　threw　themselves　from　the　schooner's　side　again；　looking　anxiously　for　some　trace　of　Hazlehurst。

〃Look　sharp；　my　lad；　as　you　would　save　a　fellow…creature！〃

〃There's　one　of　them！〃　cried　the　boy；　and　in　another　instant　he　had　caught　Charlie　by　the　hair。　But　not　a　trace　of　Hazlehurst　was　seen　since　he　first　disappeared；　and　the　waters　had　closed　so　suddenly　over　him。　Charlie　was　carried　to　the　Petrel's　side；　and　while　Smith　and　the　lad　were　endeavouring　to　raise　him　on　the　schooner；　Bruno　was　swimming　hither　and　thither；　howling　piteously　for　h