Daniel Donovan was a passenger on the For farshire. He stood on the deck of the ship, and looked at the sea. It was difficult to stand on the deck, because the wind was so strong. The ship was moving up and down uncomfortably and Daniel felt ill. Then a big wave hit the side of the ship, and salt water flew into his face.
’The wind is getting stronger,’ said a passenger beside him. He was a tall, dark man with a black coat — Mr Robb, a churchman. ’And it’s getting darker, too.’
’Yes,’ said Daniel. ’I can’t see the land now.’ He looked to the west, but he could see no land, no lights. Only water — big grey waves with white tops, which went up and down, up and down.
Daniel looked down at the big paddle wheel on the side of the ship. It went round and round, down under the white water, and up again... under the water, and up. Then he looked up at the black smoke which came from the For farshire’s funnel.
’Yes,’ he said. ’They’re good, strong engines.’ But he was not really sure. He was an engineer, so he knew about engines. Sometimes the For farshire’s engines made strange noises, and the paddle wheels went round slowly. Then there was a crash, and they went quickly again. Daniel was not happy.
A sea-bird flew low across the white tops of the big, grey waves. Daniel watched it, and felt wind and rain on his face. Then a door opened behind him, and a woman screamed.
Daniel looked behind him, and saw a small boy. He was running across the deck. He was only three or four years old, and the wind was much too strong for him. He fell over on the deck and began to cry. Then another big wave hit the side of the ship. The white water came over the side and carried the boy along the deck.
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“救命啊!”那女人尖叫道,“救救我的孩子!”
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’Help!’ the woman screamed. ’Save my child!’
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丹尼尔伸出一只手抓住了男孩的外套,然后飞快地把男孩抱还给他的母亲。
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Daniel put out a hand and caught the boy’s coat. Then he carried him quickly back to his mother.
’Quick! Get back in, out of the wind, woman!’ he shouted. He hurried through the door and closed it with a crash. ’It’s too dangerous for children out there!’
’Yes, I know,’ the woman said. ’Come here, Simon!’ She sat down and held the boy with one arm. She had another child in her other arm — a little girl, about one or two years old. ’Thank you, sir,’ she said.
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船颠簸得厉害,丹尼尔在这个女人身边坐下来。她冲他笑了笑,但她看起来苍白而虚弱。
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The ship moved up and down very quickly, and Daniel sat down beside the woman. She smiled at him, but she looked very white and ill.
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“我叫丹尼尔·多诺万,”他说,“您叫什么名字?”
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’I’m Daniel Donovan,’ he said, ’What’s your name?’
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“玛丽·道森,”她回答说,“这是我的儿子西蒙和女儿萨拉。”
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’Mary Dawson,’ she said. ’This is my son Simon, and my daughter Sarah.’
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“您丈夫没和您一起吗?”
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’Isn’t your husband with you?’
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“没有,”她说,“他在苏格兰呢,我们现在就是回去看他。幸好我们坐的是一艘坚固的新式轮船。”
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’No,’ she said. ’He’s in Scotland. We’re going home to see him. It’s good we’re in a strong, modern ship.’
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“是啊。”丹尼尔说。接着他沉默了几秒钟。客舱里很安静,比外面安静多了。
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’Yes,’ said Daniel. Then for a few seconds he said nothing. It was quiet in this room. Much quieter than outside.
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“多诺万先生,”道森夫人突然说,“引擎怎么了?我听不见响了,您能听见吗?”
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’Mr Donovan,’ said Mrs Dawson suddenly. ’What’s happened to the engines? I can’t hear them now. Can you?’
Daniel listened. ’My God,’ he thought. ’She’s right! The engines have stopped!’ He could hear the noise of the wind and the sea, but not the engines. ’You’re right, Mrs Dawson,’ he said. He stood up, and ran to the door. ’Excuse me. I...’ But then he opened the door, and his words were lost in the wind.
Outside, he looked up at the ship’s funnel. There was no smoke above it. He looked over the side of the ship, at the big paddle wheels. He watched them for two minutes, but they did not move. And all the time the big grey waves lifted the For farshire up and down, and white water blew over the deck.
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“出什么事了?”罗布先生尖叫道,“为什么我们原地不动了?”
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’What’s happening?’ screamed Mr Robb. ’Why aren’t we moving?’
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“引擎出毛病了!”多诺万大叫着说,“这不是帆船,没有引擎它就动不了!”
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’The engines have broken down!’ shouted Donovan. ’This isn’t a sailing ship — it can’t move without its engines!’
A big wave hit the side of the paddle wheel and sent white water over their heads. Some sailors were trying to put up a small sail, but the wind belw it out of their hands, away across the sea into the night.
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“船上还有妇女和孩子,”罗布先生喊道,“天快黑了,天气越来越糟。我们该怎么办?”
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’There are women and children on this ship,’ shouted Mr Robb. ’It’s nearly dark, and the weather is getting worse. What can we do?’
Daniel looked at him. ’I don’t know, my friend,’ he shouted back. ’I can’t do anything. Why not ask God — you’re a churchman! Perhaps He’ll send an angel to save us!’