登陆注册
19471600000113

第113章

"Not on God's earth, but that does not make a general, sir.If Cortez had been brave and no more, Mexico would have been Mexico still.The truth is, sir, Cortez, like my Captain Drake, knew when to hang a man; and your great brother did not."Amyas, as I suppose, was right.Gilbert was a man who could be angry enough at baseness or neglect, but who was too kindly to punish it; he was one who could form the wisest and best-digested plans, but who could not stoop to that hail-fellow-well-met drudgery among his subordinates which has been the talisman of great captains.

Then Amyas went on to tell the rest of his story; the setting sail from St.John's to discover the southward coast; Sir Humphrey's chivalrous determination to go in the little Squirrel of only ten tons, and "overcharged with nettings, fights, and small ordnance,"not only because she was more fit to examine the creeks, but because he had heard of some taunt against him among the men, that he was afraid of the sea.

After that, woe on woe; how, seven days after they left Cape Raz, their largest ship, the Delight, after she had "most part of the night" (I quote Hayes), "like the swan that singeth before her death, continued in sounding of trumpets, drums, and fifes, also winding of the comets and hautboys, and, in the end of their jollity, left off with the battle and doleful knells," struck the next day (the Golden Hind and the Squirrel sheering off just in time) upon unknown shoals; where were lost all but fourteen, and among them Frank's philosopher friend, poor Budaeus; and those who escaped, after all horrors of cold and famine, were cast on shore in Newfoundland.How, worn out with hunger and want of clothes, the crews of the two remaining ships persuaded Sir Humphrey to sail toward England on the 31st of August; and on "that very instant, even in winding about," beheld close alongside "a very lion in shape, hair, and color, not swimming, but sliding on the water, with his whole body; who passed along, turning his head to and fro, yawning and gaping wide, with ugly demonstration of long teeth and glaring eyes; and to bid us farewell (coming right against the Hind) he sent forth a horrible voice, roaring or bellowing as doth a lion." "What opinion others had thereof, and chiefly the general himself, I forbear to deliver; but he took it for bonum omen, rejoicing that he was to war against such an enemy, if it were the devil.""And the devil it was, doubtless," said Adrian, "the roaring lion who goes about seeking whom he may devour.""He has not got your brother, at least," quoth Amyas.

同类推荐
  • 洞渊集-长筌子

    洞渊集-长筌子

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Work and Wealth

    Work and Wealth

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说长寿王经

    佛说长寿王经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 继世纪闻

    继世纪闻

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 送清敬闍黎归浙西

    送清敬闍黎归浙西

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 网游之血色红颜

    网游之血色红颜

    一个美到让女人妒忌的男子,一个悍到让男人颤抖的女子,是游戏一场,还是天做之合。在女汉子的教育下的小伪娘,是越来越娘,还是逐渐坚强?这是一部宣扬正能量的故事,虽然存在争斗,却不仗势欺人。虽然也有欲望,却不随便放荡。无论你懂不懂网游,都能在这个故事里发现真实的快乐,以及现实中渐渐丧失的道德。
  • 九年等候一朝重逢:恋恋好日

    九年等候一朝重逢:恋恋好日

    再遇沈易,我们之间隔了九年的空白格。一场调查之后,我被他卷入泥潭,一步步走向残忍的黑暗。他带着伪装的假面,时而冷漠,时而温情,而我深陷其中,抓不住救赎的绳索。欺骗的真相掀开,我举枪对准他的脑袋,婚姻围城轰然倒塌。那日炎炎火光前,我心如死灰,决心忘记,却无法逃离。直到最后一刻,层层迷雾散尽,看清眼前人,我才恍然明白,那个我爱的男人,不是王者,不是枭雄,是这世上最怯懦的胆小鬼……
  • 萧红(大全集)

    萧红(大全集)

    萧红民国四大才女之一的萧红在短暂的创作生涯中为我们留下非常丰富的作品,涵盖了小说、散文、诗歌和戏剧创作几个方面。本书精选了萧红所有体裁的经典作品,包括生前写给爱人、友人的重要信件、随笔,以求更完整、更丰富地反映和表现萧红一生的思想艺术全貌。
  • 最后的魔武士

    最后的魔武士

    在女神的面前,他是个绝世好男人,在萝莉的眼中,他是个猥琐小流氓,在历史的记载中,他是最后的魔武士,事实上,他只不过是个悲催的穿越者,两个来自不同时空的灵魂结合到同一个人的身上,魔法于武道的激烈碰撞,魔武双修,二合为一,这到底是流传千年的传说,还是真是存在的法门?PS:此书已签约,保证完本,请放心收藏
  • 魔记

    魔记

    六本带血的日记,通往死亡陷阱的暗黑地穴,光明,黑暗,只存在于一个毁灭的城池,他们的命运,以及那些幸存者,都因某个现实的意义而再次苏醒,这或许本不该成为永存的记忆,命运并不是任何人所能左右,那是一个无法抗衡的使命,没有人会相信,它将改变所有,包括那段史话。
  • 超级狂兵

    超级狂兵

    秦阳是华夏的顶级兵王,在接受过科学家的改造后,他的手骨换成了钛合金,牙齿里添加了芯片……。自此,他摇身一变,成为了顶级的杀人机器。不过他觉醒了,他不想再为那些政客们卖命了,只想回到大学里,泡泡妞,上上学,做做生意赚点钱而已。肆意花都,秦阳有铁骨铮铮的拳头,砸碎了任何敢挑衅他的对手,用能够用芯片控制的神级嗓音,唱出了最让女孩子动心的歌声。
  • 倾情之缘:穿越王妃

    倾情之缘:穿越王妃

    她,云蕙菱。在一个狗血的戏剧分手中,莫名的又来个更加狗血的游戏:一朝穿越?!敢问总导演,有没有更戏剧化一点的啊?穿越就穿越了嘛,干嘛还要当人家的替身?不就是自己与那个什么云家大小姐长得相似了点,何必要让自己去当一个已经死了的人的替身,还要代婚??!!不要吧!我还青春期过去不到一年呐,就赶着成亲......搞什么,一点都不好笑。代婚代婚代婚......代婚!!!一世英明的逻辑在此刻全部混乱、、、
  • 神秘百慕大

    神秘百慕大

    关于百慕大的离奇传说很多,全世界都注视着这一海域的每一桩事件,失踪事件都有一个特殊规律:飞机和轮船迷航,呼救,然后迅速消失,连残骸都找不到。为了探索其中的奥秘,从20世纪50年代起,许多科学家就付出全力以解开20世纪自然界这个最大的疑团。但种种研究始终在机械的故障、粗心的驾驶、雷击、风暴、海啸等假说上回转,虽费尽心机,却无法自网其说。
  • 夜修然

    夜修然

    她原来只是一个小小的第一杀手,却重生千越大陆,成为妖族之人,一路卖萌装乖、扮猪吃老虎。他,夜门门主,冰冷无情,冷酷狂妄,第一眼看到她时就已恋上,随她一起穿越到异世,只为伴她一生。他,冥殿淡漠如云,温润如玉的殿主,当那抹身影闯入他眼中时,也闯进了他的心里!他,魔宫宫主,淡漠邪魅,人人惧怕,而第一眼看到她便爱上了她。她很贪心,既然都爱,那么一起一辈子又如何?既然是她的爱人,那么就得做到即使负尽天下,也不伤她分毫!本文女强男更强,无虐!
  • 玄天至尊

    玄天至尊

    主人公星奇,由散仙莫天残魂和一小孩子灵魂融合,先天痴呆,饱受家庭冷落,九岁恢复,十岁离家到青香谷学制药,从采药学员,采药员,制药员,药师,丹师,到天级丹师,修练莫天残魂中的玄天经,从斗士,斗师,斗王,斗皇,斗尊,斗帝。为母亲,为生存,为亲情,为兄弟,为自由而不断奋斗,走向巅峰之路。