south sea tales-第27章

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shield　their　faces。



〃Now；〃　said　McCoy；　stealing　a　glance　ahead　at　the　low　shore；　〃four　points　up；

Captain；　and　let　her　drive。〃



Shreds　and　patches　of　burning　rope　and　canvas　were　falling　about　them　and　upon

them。　The　tarry　smoke　from　a　smouldering　piece　of　rope　at　the　captain's　feet

set　him　off　into　a　violent　coughing　fit；　during　which　he　still　clung　to　the

spokes。



The　Pyrenees　struck；　her　bow　lifted　and　she　ground　ahead　gently　to　a　stop。　A

shower　of　burning　fragments；　dislodged　by　the　shock；　fell　about　them。　The　ship

moved　ahead　again　and　struck　a　second　time。　She　crushed　the　fragile　coral

under　her　keel；　drove　on；　and　struck　a　third　time。



〃Hard　over；〃　said　McCoy。　〃Hard　over？〃　he　questioned　gently；　a　minute　later。



〃She　won't　answer；〃　was　the　reply。



〃All　right。　She　is　swinging　around。〃　'mcCoy　peered　over　the　side。　〃Soft；　white

sand。　Couldn't　ask　better。　A　beautiful　bed。〃



As　the　Pyrenees　swung　around　her　stern　away　from　the　wind；　a　fearful　blast　of

smoke　and　flame　poured　aft。　Captain　Davenport　deserted　the　wheel　in　blistering

agony。　He　reached　the　painter　of　the　boat　that　lay　under　the　quarter；　then

looked　for　McCoy；　who　was　standing　aside　to　let　him　go　down。



〃You　first；〃　the　captain　cried；　gripping　him　by　the　shoulder　and　almost

throwing　him　over　the　rail。　But　the　flame　and　smoke　were　too　terrible；　and　he

followed　hard　after　McCoy；　both　men　wriggling　on　the　rope　and　sliding　down

into　the　boat　together。　A　sailor　in　the　bow；　without　waiting　for　orders；

slashed　the　painter　through　with　his　sheath　knife。　The　oars；　poised　in

readiness；　bit　into　the　water；　and　the　boat　shot　away。



〃a　beautiful　bed；　Captain；〃　McCoy　murmured；　looking　back。



〃Ay；　a　beautiful　bed；　and　all　thanks　to　you；〃　was　the　answer。



The　three　boats　pulled　away　for　the　white　beach　of　pounded　coral；　beyond

which；　on　the　edge　of　a　cocoanut　grove；　could　be　seen　a　half　dozen　grass

houses　and　a　score　or　more　of　excited　natives；　gazing　wide…eyed　at　the

conflagration　that　had　come　to　land。



The　boats　grounded　and　they　stepped　out　on　the　white　beach。



〃And　now；〃　said　McCoy；　〃I　must　see　about　getting　back　to　Pitcairn。〃











End