the lost continent(消失的大陆)-第5章
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of the ship。 I deplore the action of Lieutenant Alvarez； but I cannot
expunge from my mind the loyalty and self…sacrificing friendship which
has prompted him to his acts。 Were I you； sir； I should profit by the
example he has set。 Further； Mr。 Johnson； I intend retaining command of
the ship； even though she crosses thirty； and I shall demand implicit
obedience from every officer and man aboard until I am properly relieved
from duty by a superior officer in the port of New York。〃
〃You mean to say that you will cross thirty without submitting to
arrest？〃 he almost shouted。
〃I do； sir；〃 I replied。 〃And now you may go below； and； when again
you find it necessary to address me； you will please be so good as to bear
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in mind the fact that I am your commanding officer； and as such entitled to
a salute。〃
He flushed； hesitated a moment； and then； saluting； turned upon his
heel and left the bridge。 Shortly after； Alvarez appeared。 He was pale；
and seemed to have aged ten years in the few brief minutes since I last had
seen him。 Saluting； he told me very simply what he had done； and asked
that I place him under arrest。
I put my hand on his shoulder； and I guess that my voice trembled a
trifle as； while reproving him for his act； I made it plain to him that my
gratitude was no less potent a force than his loyalty to me。 Then it was
that I outlined to him my purpose to defy the regulation that had raised the
dead lines； and to take my ship back to New York myself。
I did not ask him to share the responsibility with me。 I merely stated
that I should refuse to submit to arrest； and that I should demand of him
and every other officer and man implicit obedience to my every command
until we docked at home。
His face brightened at my words； and he assured me that I would find
him as ready to acknowledge my command upon the wrong side of thirty
as upon the right； an assurance which I hastened to tell him I did not need。
The storm continued to rage for three days； and as far as the wind
scarce varied a point during all that time； I knew that we must be far
beyond thirty； drifting rapidly east by south。 All this time it had been
impossible to work upon the damaged engines or the gravity…screen
generators； but we had a full set of instruments upon the bridge； for
Alvarez； after discovering my intentions； had fetched the reserve
instruments from his own cabin； where he had hidden them。 Those which
Johnson had seen him destroy had been a third set which only Alvarez had
known was aboard the Coldwater。
We waited impatiently for the sun； that we might determine our exact
location； and upon the fourth day our vigil was rewarded a few minutes
before noon。
Every officer and man aboard was tense with nervous excitement as
we awaited the result of the reading。 The crew had known almost as
soon as I that we were doomed to cross thirty； and I am inclined to believe
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that every man jack of them was tickled to death； for the spirits of
adventure and romance still live in the hearts of men of the twenty…second
century； even though there be little for them to feed upon between thirty
and one hundred seventy…five。
The men carried none of the burdens of responsibility。 They might
cross thirty with impunity； and doubtless they would return to be heroes at
home； but how different the home… coming of their commanding officer！
The wind had dropped to a steady blow； still from west by north； and
the sea had gone down correspondingly。 The crew； with the exception of
those whose duties kept them below； were ranged on deck below the
bridge。 When our position was definitely fixed I personally announced it
to the eager； waiting men。
〃Men；〃 I said； stepping forward to the handrail and looking down into
their upturned； bronzed faces； 〃you are anxiously awaiting information as
to the ship's position。 It has been determined at latitude fifty degrees
seven minutes north； longitude twenty degrees sixteen minutes west。〃
I paused and a buzz of animated comment ran through the massed men
beneath me。 〃Beyond thirty。 But there will be no change in
commanding officers； in routine or in discipline； until after we have
docked again in New York。〃
As I ceased speaking and stepped back from the rail there was a roar
of applause from the deck such as I never before had heard aboard a ship
of peace。 It recalled to my mind tales that I had read of the good old days
when naval vessels were built to fight； when ships of peace had been man…
of…war； and guns had flashed in other than futile target practice； and decks
had run red with blood。
With the subsistence of the sea； we were able to go to work upon the
damaged engines to some effect； and I also set men to examining the
gravitation…screen generators with a view to putting them in working order
should it prove not beyond our resources。
For two weeks we labored at the engines； which indisputably showed
evidence of having been tampered with。 I appointed a board to
investigate and report upon the disaster。 But it accomplished nothing
other than to convince me that there were several officers upon it who
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were in full sympathy with Johnson； for； though no charges had been
preferred against him； the board went out of its way specifically to
exonerate him in its findings。
All this time we were drifting almost due east。 The work upon the
engines had progressed to such an extent that within a few hours we might
expect to be able to proceed under our own power westward in the
direction of Pan… American waters。
To relieve the monotony I had taken to fishing； and early that morning
I had departed from the Coldwater in one of the boats on such an
excursion。 A gentle west wind was blowing。 The sea shimmered in the
sunlight。 A cloudless sky canopied the west for our sport； as I had made
it a point never voluntarily to make an inch toward the east that I could
avoid。 At least； they should not be able to charge me with a willful
violation of the dead lines regulation。
I had with me only the boat's ordinary complement of men three in
all； and more than enough to handle any small power boat。 I had not
asked any of my officers to accompany me； as I wished to be alone； and
very glad am I now that I had not。 My only regret is that； in view of what
befell us； it had been necessary to bring the three brave fellows who
manned the boat。
Our fishing； which proved excellent； carried us so far to the west that
we no longer could see the Coldwater。 The day wore on； until at last；
about mid…afternoon； I gave the order to return to the
