the lost continent(消失的大陆)-第3章
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palliate the offense。
〃He was in command； and he took his ship across thirty！〃 That was
sufficient。 It might not have been in any way his fault； as； in the case of
the Coldwater； it could not possibly have been justly charged to my
account that the gravitation…screen generators were worthless； but well I
knew that should chance have it that we were blown across thirty today
as we might easily be before the terrific west wind that we could hear
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howling below us； the responsibility would fall upon my shoulders。
In a way； the regulation was a good one； for it certainly accomplished
that for which it was intended。 We all fought shy of 30d on the east and
175d on the west； and； though we had to skirt them pretty close； nothing
but an act of God ever drew one of us across。 You all are familiar with
the naval tradition that a good officer could sense proximity to either line；
and for my part； I am firmly convinced of the truth of this as I am that the
compass finds the north without recourse to tedious processes of
reasoning。
Old Admiral Sanchez was wont to maintain that he could smell thirty；
and the men of the first ship in which I sailed claimed that Coburn； the
navigating officer； knew by name every wave along thirty from 60dN。 to
60dS。 However； I'd hate to vouch for this。
Well； to get back to my narrative； we kept on dropping slowly toward
the surface the while we bucked the west wind； clawing away from thirty
as fast as we could。 I was on the bridge； and as we dropped from the
brilliant sunlight into the dense vapor of clouds and on down through them
to the wild； dark storm strata beneath； it seemed that my spirits dropped
with the falling ship； and the buoyancy of hope ran low in sympathy。
The waves were running to tremendous heights； and the Coldwater
was not designed to meet such waves head on。 Her elements were the
blue ether； far above the raging storm； or the greater depths of ocean；
which no storm could ruffle。
As I stood speculating upon our chances once we settled into the
frightful Maelstrom beneath us and at the same time mentally computing
the hours which must elapse before aid could reach us； the wireless
operator clambered up the ladder to the bridge； and； disheveled and
breathless； stood before me at salute。 It needed but a glance at him to
assure me that something was amiss。
〃What now？〃 I asked。
〃The wireless； sir！〃 he cried。 〃My God； sir； I cannot send。〃
〃But the emergency outfit？〃 I asked。
〃I have tried everything； sir。 I have exhausted every resource。 We
cannot send；〃 and he drew himself up and saluted again。
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I dismissed him with a few kind words； for I knew that it was through
no fault of his that the mechanism was antiquated and worthless； in
common with the balance of the Coldwater's equipment。 There was no
finer operator in Pan… America than he。
The failure of the wireless did not appear as momentous to me as to
him； which is not unnatural； since it is but human to feel that when our
own little cog slips； the entire universe must necessarily be put out of gear。
I knew that if this storm were destined to blow us across thirty； or send us
to the bottom of the ocean； no help could reach us in time to prevent it。 I
had ordered the message sent solely because regulations required it； and
not with any particular hope that we could benefit by it in our present
extremity。
I had little time to dwell upon the coincidence of the simultaneous
failure of the wireless and the buoyancy generators； since very shortly
after the Coldwater had dropped so low over the waters that all my
attention was necessarily centered upon the delicate business of settling
upon the waves without breaking my ship's back。 With our buoyancy
generators in commission it would have been a simple thing to enter the
water； since then it would have been but a trifling matter of a forty…five
degree dive into the base of a huge wave。 We should have cut into the
water like a hot knife through butter； and have been totally submerged
with scarce a jarI have done it a thousand timesbut I did not dare
submerge the Coldwater for fear that it would remain submerged to the
end of timea condition far from conducive to the longevity of
commander or crew。
Most of my officers were older men than I。 John Alvarez； my first
officer； is twenty years my senior。 He stood at my side on the bridge as
the ship glided closer and closer to those stupendous waves。 He watched
my every move； but he was by far too fine an officer and gentleman to
embarrass me by either comment or suggestion。
When I saw that we soon would touch； I ordered the ship brought
around broadside to the wind； and there we hovered a moment until a huge
wave reached up and seized us upon its crest； and then I gave the order
that suddenly reversed the screening force； and let us into the ocean。
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Down into the trough we went； wallowing like the carcass of a dead whale；
and then began the fight； with rudder and propellers； to force the
Coldwater back into the teeth of the gale and drive her on and on； farther
and farther from relentless thirty。
I think that we should have succeeded； even though the ship was
wracked from stem to stern by the terrific buffetings she received； and
though she were half submerged the greater part of the time； had no
further accident befallen us。
We were making headway； though slowly； and it began to look as
though we were going to pull through。 Alvarez never left my side；
though I all but ordered him below for much…needed rest。 My second
officer； Porfirio Johnson； was also often on the bridge。 He was a good
officer； but a man for whom I had conceived a rather unreasoning aversion
almost at the first moment of meeting him； an aversion which was not
lessened by the knowledge which I subsequently gained that he looked
upon my rapid promotion with jealousy。 He was ten years my senior
both in years and service； and I rather think he could never forget the fact
that he had been an officer when I was a green apprentice。
As it became more and more apparent that the Coldwater； under my
seamanship； was weathering the tempest and giving promise of pulling
through safely； I could have sworn that I perceived a shade of annoyance
and disappointment growing upon his dark countenance。 He left
