THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER-第15章

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！


　were　　seeing　what　so　many　people　have　foolishly　wanted　to　see　…　the　great　sea　serpent。　the　folds　　of　its　gigantic　tail　could　be　seen　far　away；　rising　at　intervals　from　the　surface。　　and　now　its　head　was　towering　up　higher　than　the　mast。

every　man　rushed　to　his　weapon；　but　there　was　nothing　to　be　done；　the　　monster　was　out　of　reach。　〃shoot！　shoot！〃　cried　the　master　bowman；　and　several　obeyed；　but　　the　arrows　glanced　off　the　sea　serpents　hide　as　if　it　was　ironplated。　then；　for　a　　dreadful　minute；　everyone　was　still；　staring　up　at　its　eyes　and　mouth　and　wondering　where　it　　would　pounce。

but　it　didnt　pounce。　it　shot　its　head　forward　across　the　ship　on　a　level　　with　the　yard　of　the　mast。　now　its　head　was　just　beside　the　fighting　top。　still　it　stretched　　and　stretched　till　its　head　was　over　the　starboard　bulwark。　then　down　it　began　to　e　…　not　　on　to　the　　

crowded　deck　but　into　the　water；　so　that　the　whole　ship　was　under　an　arch　　of　serpent。

and　almost　at　once　that　arch　began　to　get　smaller：　indeed　on　the　starboard　　the　sea　serpent　was　now　almost　touching　the　dawn　treaders　side。

eustace　（who　had　really　been　trying　very　hard　to　behave　well；　till　the　rain　　and　the　chess　put　him　back）　now　did　the　first　brave　thing　he　had　ever　done。　he　was　　wearing　a　sword　that　caspian　had　lent　him。　as　soon　as　the　serpents　body　was　near　enough　on　　the　starboard　side　he　jumped　on　to　the　bulwark　and　began　hacking　at　it　with　all　　his　might。　it　is　true　that　he　acplished　nothing　beyond　breaking　caspians　second…best　　sword　into　bits；　but　it　was　a　fine　thing　for　a　beginner　to　have　done。

others　would　have　joined　him　if　at　that　moment　reepicheep　had　not　called　　out；　〃dont　fight！　push！〃　it　was　so　unusual　for　the　mouse　to　advise　anyone　not　to　fight　　that；　even　in　that　terrible　moment；　every　eye　turned　to　him。　and　when　he　jumped　up　on　to　　the　bulwark；　forward　of　the　snake；　and　set　his　little　furry　back　against　its　　huge　scaly；　slimy　back；　and　began　pushing　as　hard　as　he　could；　quite　a　number　of　people　saw　　what　he　meant　and　rushed　to　both　sides　of　the　ship　to　do　the　same。　and　when；　a　　moment　later；　the　sea　serpents　head　appeared　again；　this　time　on　the　port　side；　and　this　　time　with　its　back　to　them；　then　everyone　understood。

the　brute　had　made　a　loop　of　itself　round　the　dawn　treader　and　was　　beginning　to　draw　the　loop　tight。　when　it　got　quite　tight　…　snap！　…　there　would　be　floating　　matchwood　where　the　ship　had　been　and　it　could　pick　them　out　of　the　water　one　by　one。　their　　only　chance　was　to　push　the　loop　backward　till　it　slid　over　the　stern；　or　else　（to　put　　the　same　thing　another　way）　to　push　the　ship　forward　out　of　the　loop。

reepicheep　alone　had；　of　course；　no　more　chance　of　doing　this　than　of　　lifting　up　a　cathedral；　but　he　had　nearly　killed　himself　with　trying　before　others　　shoved　him　aside。

very　soon　the　whole　ships　pany　except　lucy　and　the　mouse　（which　was　　fainting）

was　in　two　long　lines　along　the　two　bulwarks；　each　mans　chest　to　the　back　　of　the　man　in　front；　so　that　the　weight　of　the　whole　line　was　in　the　last　man；　pushing　　for　their　lives。　for　a　few　sickening　seconds　（which　seemed　like　hours）　nothing　appeared　to　　happen。　joints　cracked；　sweat　dropped；　breath　came　in　grunts　and　gasps。　then　they　felt　　that　the　ship　was　moving。　they　saw　that　the　snake…loop　was　further　from　the　mast　than　it　had　　been。　but　they　also　saw　that　it　was　smaller。　and　now　the　real　danger　was　at　hand。　　could　they　get　it　over　the　poop；　or　was　it　already　too　tight？　yes。　it　would　just　fit。　it　was　　resting　on　the　poop　rails。　a　dozen　or　more　sprang　up　on　the　poop。　this　was　far　better。　the　　sea　serpents　body　was　so　low　now　that　they　could　make　a　line　across　the　poop　and　push　　side　by　side。

hope　rose　high　till　everyone　remembered　the　high　carved　stern；　the　dragon　　tail；　of　the　dawn　treader。　it　would　be　quite　impossible　to　get　the　brute　over　that。

〃an　axe；〃　cried　caspian　hoarsely；　〃and　still　shove。〃　lucy；　who　knew　where　　everything　was；　heard　him　where　she　was　standing　on　the　main　deck　staring　up　at　the　　poop。　in　a　few　seconds　she　had　been　below；　got　the　axe；　and　was　rushing　up　the　ladder　to　　the　poop。　but　just　as　she　reached　the　top　there　came　a　great　crashing　noise　like　a　tree　　ing　down　and　the　ship　rocked　and　darted　forward。　for　at　that　very　moment；　whether　　because　the　sea　　

serpent　was　being　pushed　so　hard；　or　because　it　foolishly　decided　to　draw　　the　noose　tight；　the　whole　of　the　carved　stern　broke　off　and　the　ship　was　free。

the　others　were　too　exhausted　to　see　what　lucy　saw。　there；　a　few　yards　　behind　them；　the　loop　of　sea　serpents　body　got　rapidly　smaller　and　disappeared　into　a　　splash。　lucy　always　said　（but　of　course　she　was　very　excited　at　the　moment；　and　it　may　　have　been　only　imagination）　that　she　saw　a　look　of　idiotic　satisfaction　on　the　creatures　　face。　what　is　certain　is　that　it　was　a　very　stupid　animal；　for　instead　of　pursuing　the　　ship　it　turned　its　head　round　and　began　nosing　all　along　its　own　body　as　if　it　expected　to　　find　the　wreckage　of　the　dawn　treader　there。　but　the　dawn　treader　was　already　well　away；　　running　before　a　fresh　breeze；　and　the　men　lay　and　sat　panting　and　groaning　all　about　the　　deck；　till　presently　they　were　able　to　talk　about　it；　and　then　to　laugh　about　it。　and　　when　some　rum　had　been　served　out　they　even　raised　a　cheer；　and　everyone　praised　the　　valour　of　eustace　（though　it　hadnt　done　any　good）　and　of　reepicheep。

after　this　they　sailed　for　three　days　more　and　saw　nothing　but　sea　and　sky。　　on　the　fourth　day　the　wind　changed　to　the　north　and　the　seas　began　to　rise；　by　the　　afternoon　it　had　nearly　bee　a　gale。　but　at　the　same　time　they　sighted　land　on　their　port　　bow。

〃by　your　leave；　sire；〃　said　drinian；　〃we　will　try　to　get　under　the　lee　of　　that　country　by　rowing　and　lie　in　harbour；　maybe　till　this　is　over。〃　caspian　agreed；　but　a　　long　row　against　the　gale　did　not　bring　them　to　the　land　before　evening。　by　the　last　light　　of　that　day　they　steered　into　a　natural　harbour　and　anchored；　but　no　one　went　ashore　that　　night。　in　the　morning　they　found　themselves　in　the　green　bay　of　a　rugged；　lonely…looking　　country　which　sloped　up　to　a　rocky　summit。　from　the　windy　north　beyond　that　summit　　clouds　came　streaming　rapidly。　they　lowered　the　boat　and　loaded　　her　with　any　of　the　water　casks　which　were　now　empty。

〃which　stream　shall　we　water　at；　drinian？〃　said　caspian　as　he　took　his　seat　　in　the　stern…sheets　of　the　boat。　〃there　seem　to　be　two　ing　down　into　the　bay。”

〃it　makes　little　odds；　sire；〃　said　drinian。　〃but　i　think　its　a　shorter　　pull　to　that　on　the　starboard…the　eastern　one。”

〃here　es　the　rain；〃　said　lucy。

〃i　should　think　it　does！〃　said　edmund；　for　it　was　already　pelting　hard。　〃i　　say；　lets　go　to　the　other　stream。　there　are　trees　there　and　well　have　some　shelter。”

〃yes；　lets；〃　said　eustace。　〃no　point　in　getting　wetter　than　we　need。”

but　all　the　time　drinian　was　steadily　steering　to　the　starboard；　like　　tiresome　people　in　cars　who　continue　at　forty　miles　an　hour　while　you　are　explaining　to　them　　that　they　are　on　the　wrong　road。

〃theyre　right；　drinian；〃　said　caspian。　〃why　dont　you　bring　her　head　round　　and　make　for　the　western　stream？”

〃as　your　majesty　pleases；〃　said　drinian　a　little　shortly。　he　had　had　an　　anxious　day　with　the　weather　yesterday；　and　he　didnt　like　advice　from　landsmen。　but　he　　altered　course；　and　it　turned　out　afterwards　that　it　was　a　good　thing　he　did。

by　the　time　they　had　finished　watering；　the　rain　was　over　and　caspian；　with　　eustace；　the　pevensies；　and　reepicheep；　decided　to　walk　up　to　the　top　of　the　hill　and　　see　what　could　be　seen。　it　was　a　stiffish　climb　through　coarse　grass　and　heather　and　they　　saw　neither　man　nor　beast；　except　seagulls。　when　they　reached　the　top　they　saw　that　it　was　　a　very　small　island；　not　more　than　twenty　acres；　and　from　this　height　the　sea　looked　　larger　and　more　desolate　than　it　did　from　the　deck；　or　even　the　fighting　top；　of　the　dawn　　treader。

〃crazy；　you　know；〃　said　eustace　to　lucy　in　a　low　voice；　looking　at　the　　eastern　horizon。

〃sailing　on　and　on　into　that　with　no　idea　what　we　may　get　to。〃　but　he　only　　said　it　out　of　habit；　not　really　nastily　as　he　would　have　done　at　one　time。

it　was　too　cold　to　stay　long　on　the　ridge　for　the　wind　still　blew　freshly　　from　the　north。

〃dont　lets　go　back　the　same　way；〃　said　lucy　as　they　turned；　〃lets　go　　along　a　bit　and　e　down　by　the　other　stream；　the　one　drinian　wanted　to　go　to。”

everyone　agreed　to　this　and　after　about　fifteen　minutes　they　were　at　the　　source　of　the　second　river。　it　was　a　more　interesting　place　than　they　had　expected；　a　　deep　little　mountain　lake；　surrounded　by　cliffs　except　for　a　narrow　channel　on　the　　seaward　side　out　of　which　the　water　flowed。　here　at　last　they　were　out　of　the　wind；　and　all　　sat　down　in　the　heather　above　the　cliff　for　a　rest。

all　sat　down；　but　one　（it　was　edmund）　jumped　up　again　very　quickly。

〃they　go　in　for　sharp　stones　on　this　island；〃　he　said；　groping　about　in　the　　heather。　〃where　is　the　wretched　thing？　。　。　。　ah；　now　ive　got　it　。　。　。　hullo！　it　wasnt　a　　stone　at　all；　its　a　sword…hilt。　no；　by　jove；　its　a　whole　sword；　what　the　rust　has　left　of　it。　　it　must　have　lain　here　for　ages。”

〃narnian；　too；　by　the　look　of　it；〃　said　caspian；　as　they　all　crowded