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！
of the bottle。 But five of the remaining ships tossed； already
close to the bottom； in a perilous and helpless crowd； threatening
ruin to each other as they tossed； threatened with a common and
imminent destruction on the reefs。 Three had been already in
collision： the OLGA was injured in the quarter； the ADLER had lost
her bowsprit； the NIPSIC had lost her smoke…stack； and was making
steam with difficulty； maintaining her fire with barrels of pork；
and the smoke and sparks pouring along the level of the deck。 For
the seventh war…ship the day had come too late； the EBER had
finished her last cruise； she was to be seen no more save by the
eyes of divers。 A coral reef is not only an instrument of
destruction； but a place of sepulchre； the submarine cliff is
profoundly undercut； and presents the mouth of a huge antre in
which the bodies of men and the hulls of ships are alike hurled
down and buried。 The EBER had dragged anchors with the rest； her
injured screw disabled her from steaming vigorously up； and a
little before day she had struck the front of the coral； come off；
struck again； and gone down stern foremost； oversetting as she
went； into the gaping hollow of the reef。 Of her whole complement
of nearly eighty； four souls were cast alive on the beach； and the
bodies of the remainder were； by the voluminous outpouring of the
flooded streams； scoured at last from the harbour； and strewed
naked on the seaboard of the island。
Five ships were immediately menaced with the same destruction。 The
EBER vanished … the four poor survivors on shore … read a dreadful
commentary on their danger； which was swelled out of all proportion
by the violence of their own movements as they leaped and fell
among the billows。 By seven the NIPSIC was so fortunate as to
avoid the reef and beach upon a space of sand； where she was
immediately deserted by her crew； with the assistance of Samoans；
not without loss of life。 By about eight it was the turn of the
ADLER。 She was close down upon the reef； doomed herself； it might
yet be possible to save a portion of her crew； and for this end
Captain Fritze placed his reliance on the very hugeness of the seas
that threatened him。 The moment was watched for with the anxiety
of despair； but the coolness of disciplined courage。 As she rose
on the fatal wave； her moorings were simultaneously slipped； she
broached to in rising； and the sea heaved her bodily upward and
cast her down with a concussion on the summit of the reef； where
she lay on her beam…ends； her back broken； buried in breaching
seas； but safe。 Conceive a table： the EBER in the darkness had
been smashed against the rim and flung below； the ADLER； cast free
in the nick of opportunity； had been thrown upon the top。 Many
were injured in the concussion； many tossed into the water； twenty
perished。 The survivors crept again on board their ship； as it now
lay； and as it still remains； keel to the waves； a monument of the
sea's potency。 In still weather； under a cloudless sky； in those
seasons when that ill…named ocean； the Pacific； suffers its vexed
shores to rest； she lies high and dry； the spray scarce touching
her … the hugest structure of man's hands within a circuit of a
thousand miles … tossed up there like a schoolboy's cap upon a
shelf； broken like an egg； a thing to dream of。
The unfriendly consuls of Germany and Britain were both that
morning in Matautu； and both displayed their nobler qualities。 De
Coetlogon； the grim old soldier； collected his family and kneeled
with them in an agony of prayer for those exposed。 Knappe； more
fortunate in that he was called to a more active service； must；
upon the striking of the ADLER； pass to his own consulate。 From
this he was divided by the Vaisingano； now a raging torrent；
impetuously charioting the trunks of trees。 A kelpie might have
dreaded to attempt the passage； we may conceive this brave but
unfortunate and now ruined man to have found a natural joy in the
exposure of his life； and twice that day； coming and going； he
braved the fury of the river。 It was possible； in spite of the
darkness of the hurricane and the continual breaching of the seas；
to remark human movements on the ADLER； and by the help of Samoans；
always nobly forward in the work； whether for friend or enemy；
Knappe sought long to get a line conveyed from shore； and was for
long defeated。 The shore guard of fifty men stood to their arms
the while upon the beach； useless themselves； and a great deterrent
of Samoan usefulness。 It was perhaps impossible that this mistake
should be avoided。 What more natural； to the mind of a European；
than that the Mataafas should fall upon the Germans in this hour of
their disadvantage？ But they had no other thought than to assist；
and those who now rallied beside Knappe braved （as they supposed）
in doing so a double danger； from the fury of the sea and the
weapons of their enemies。 About nine； a quarter…master swam
ashore； and reported all the officers and some sixty men alive but
in pitiable case； some with broken limbs； others insensible from
the drenching of the breakers。 Later in the forenoon； certain
valorous Samoans succeeded in reaching the wreck and returning with
a line； but it was speedily broken； and all subsequent attempts
proved unavailing； the strongest adventurers being cast back again
by the bursting seas。 Thenceforth； all through that day and night；
the deafened survivors must continue to endure their martyrdom； and
one officer died； it was supposed from agony of mind； in his
inverted cabin。
Three ships still hung on the next margin of destruction； steaming
desperately to their moorings； dashed helplessly together。 The
CALLIOPE was the nearest in； she had the VANDALIA close on her port
side and a little ahead； the OLGA close a…starboard； the reef under
her heel； and steaming and veering on her cables； the unhappy ship
fenced with her three dangers。 About a quarter to nine she carried
away the VANDALIA'S quarter gallery with her jib…boom； a moment
later； the OLGA had near rammed her from the other side。 By nine
the VANDALIA dropped down on her too fast to be avoided； and
clapped her stern under the bowsprit of the English ship； the
fastenings of which were burst asunder as she rose。 To avoid
cutting her down； it was necessary for the CALLIOPE to stop and
even to reverse her engines； and her rudder was at the moment … or
it seemed so to the eyes of those on board … within ten feet of the
reef。 〃Between the VANDALIA and the reef〃 （writes Kane； in his
excellent report） 〃it was destruction。〃 To repeat Fritze's
manoeuvre with the ADLER was impossible； the CALLIOPE was too
heavy。 The one possibility of escape was to go out。 If the
engines should stand； if they should have power to drive the ship
against wind and sea； if she should an