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！
setting in。 A terrible sheet of lightning burst before their eyes；
illuminating the dark day； and the thunder rolled wildly about them。
Toriki and Levy broke into a run for their boats； the latter ambling along
like a panic…stricken hippopotamus。 As their two boats swept out the entrance；
they passed the boat of the Aorai coming in。 In the stern sheets； encouraging
the rowers； was Raoul。 Unable to shake the vision of the pearl from his mind；
he was returning to accept Mapuhi's price of a house。
He landed on the beach in the midst of a driving thunder squall that was so
dense that he collided with Huru…Huru before he saw him。
〃Too late；〃 yelled Huru…Huru。 〃Mapuhi sold it to Toriki for fourteen hundred
Chili； and Toriki sold it to Levy for twenty…five thousand francs。 And Levy
will sell it in France for a hundred thousand francs。 Have you any tobacco？〃
Raoul felt relieved。 His troubles about the pearl were over。 He need not worry
any more； even if he had not got the pearl。 But he did not believe Huru…Huru。
Mapuhi might well have sold it for fourteen hundred Chili； but that Levy； who
knew pearls； should have paid twenty…five thousand francs was too wide a
stretch。 Raoul decided to interview Captain Lynch on the subject； but when he
arrived at that ancient mariner's house； he found him looking wide…eyed at the
barometer。
〃What do you read it？〃 Captain Lynch asked anxiously； rubbing his spectables
and staring again at the instrument。
〃Twenty…nine…ten；〃 said Raoul。 〃I have never seen it so low before。〃
〃I should say not！〃 snorted the captain。 〃Fifty years boy and man on all the
seas； and I've never seen it go down to that。 Listen！〃
They stood for a moment； while the surf rumbled and shook the house。 Then they
went outside。 The squall had passed。 They could see the Aorai lying becalmed a
mile away and pitching and tossing madly in the tremendous seas that rolled in
stately procession down out of the northeast and flung themselves furiously
upon the coral shore。 One of the sailors from the boat pointed at the mouth of
the passage and shook his head。 Raoul looked and saw a white anarchy of foam
and surge。
〃I guess I'll stay with you tonight； Captain；〃 he said； then turned to the
sailor and told him to haul the boat out and to find shelter for himself and
fellows。
〃Twenty…nine flat；〃 Captain Lynch reported； coming out from another look at
the barometer； a chair in his hand。
He sat down and stared at the spectacle of the sea。 The sun came out；
increasing the sultriness of the day； while the dead calm still held。 The seas
continued to increase in magnitude。
〃What makes that sea is what gets me；〃 Raoul muttered petulantly。
〃There is no wind； yet look at it； look at that fellow there！〃
Miles in length； carrying tens of thousands of tons in weight； its impact
shook the frail atoll like an earthquake。 Captain Lynch was startled。
〃Gracious！〃 he bellowed； half rising from his chair； then sinking back。
〃But there is no wind；〃 Raoul persisted。 〃I could understand it if there was
wind along with it。〃
〃You'll get the wind soon enough without worryin' for it；〃 was the grim reply。
The two men sat on in silence。 The sweat stood out on their skin in myriads of
tiny drops that ran together； forming blotches of moisture； which； in turn；
coalesced into rivulets that dripped to the ground。 They panted for breath；
the old man's efforts being especially painful。 A sea swept up the beach；
licking around the trunks of the cocoanuts and subsiding almost at their feet。
〃Way past high water mark；〃 Captain Lynch remarked； 〃and I've been here eleven
years。〃 He looked at his watch。 〃It is three o'clock。〃
A man and woman； at their heels a motley following of brats and curs； trailed
disconsolately by。 They came to a halt beyond the house； and； after much
irresolution； sat down in the sand。 A few minutes later another family trailed
in from the opposite direction； the men and women carrying a heterogeneous
assortment of possessions。 And soon several hundred persons of all ages and
sexes were congregated about the captain's dwelling。 He called to one new
arrival； a woman with a nursing babe in her arms； and in answer received the
information that her house had just been swept into the lagoon。
This was the highest spot of land in miles； and already； in many places on
either hand； the great seas were making a clean breach of the slender ring of
the atoll and surging into the lagoon。 Twenty miles around stretched the ring
of the atoll； and in no place was it more than fifty fathoms wide。 It was the
height of the diving season； and from all the islands around； even as far as
Tahiti； the natives had gathered。
〃There are twelve hundred men； women； and children here；〃 said Captain Lynch。
〃I wonder how many will be here tomorrow morning。〃
〃But why don't it blow？that's what I want to know；〃 Raoul demanded。
〃Don't worry； young man； don't worry； you'll get your troubles fast enough。〃
Even as Captain Lynch spoke； a great watery mass smote the atoll。
The sea water churned about them three inches deep under the chairs。 A low
wail of fear went up from the many women。 The children； with clasped hands；
stared at the immense rollers and cried piteously。 Chickens and cats； wading
perturbedly in the water； as by common consent； with flight and scramble took
refuge on the roof of the captain's house。 A Paumotan； with a litter of
new…born puppies in a basket； climbed into a cocoanut tree and twenty feet
above the ground made the basket fast。 The mother floundered about in the
water beneath； whining and yelping。
And still the sun shone brightly and the dead calm continued。 They sat and
watched the seas and the insane pitching of the Aorai。 Captain Lynch gazed at
the huge mountains of water sweeping in until he could gaze no more。 He
covered his face with his hands to shut out the sight； then went into the
house。
〃Twenty…eight…sixty；〃 he said quietly when he returned。
In his arm was a coil of small rope。 He cut it into two…fathom lengths； giving
one to Raoul and； retaining one for himself； distributed the remainder among
the women with the advice to pick out a tree and climb。
A light air began to blow out of the northeast； and the fan of it on his cheek
seemed to cheer Raoul up。 He could see the Aorai trimming her sheets and
heading off shore； and he regretted that he was not on her。 She would get away
at any rate； but as for the atollA sea breached across； almost sweeping him
off his feet； and he selected a tree。 Then he remembered the barometer and ran
back to the house。 He encountered Captain Lynch on the same errand and
together they went in。
〃Twenty…eight…twenty；〃 said the old mariner。 〃It's going to be fair hell
around herewhat was that？〃
The air seemed filled with the rush of something。 The house quivered and
vibrated； and they heard the thrumming of a mighty note