Читать книгу The Dawn of Reckoning - James Hilton - Страница 5

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Accidents are rare upon the Danube boats. For that reason they cause all the more commotion when they occur. Monsell and the American stood talking calmly while the noise and commotion increased all around them. "These fellers make too much noise," said the American, chewing his cigar. "Too much talk—not enough action. Now in America...or "—he added as a concession to his neighbour "in England..."

Monsell had thrown away his cigarette and was tapping his foot irritably on the deck. "Surely some body will go in and rescue her," he said, more to himself than to the other. "Or throw a lifebelt...or something..."

"Have you seen a lifebelt anywhere on this gol darned boat?—Because I haven't...Now on the Mississippi..."

"Well, damn it all," Monsell interrupted, "I'd go in and have a try myself if—if—" He shrugged his shoulders and added lamely: "If I could swim and—heaps of other things."

"Not swim?"

"No," said Monsell curtly.

"Do you know that in every high-school and college in America swimmun is—"

The impact of a huge-limbed member of the crew knocked the cigar from his lips amidst a jet of sparks. Interest seemed suddenly to be converging on the part of the boat where Monsell and the American were standing; blue-jerseyed sailors hurried to the deck-rail, threw ropes over, and shouted shrill and deafening instructions. An officer, vibrating with gold-lace and self-importance, ordered away all the second-class passengers, but gave the American a salute and a smile as he passed.

"Curious fellers," remarked the latter to Monsell, choosing another cigar.

Suddenly the men at the deck-rail gave a loud cry, evidently of satisfaction, and began lifting something up from over the side. The huge-limbed man who had collided with the American was the one to whom fell the actual honour of rescue. He came away from the deck-rail with a huddled and dripping bundle in his arms; it might have been as light as a feather from the way he carried it. The gold-laced officer rapped out an order, and he laid the bundle gently upon a sheet of tarpaulin, almost at Monsell's feet. The crew thronged round, chattering more loudly than ever, while the water made a dull lead-coloured pool, a pool that grew and grew and then trickled over the boards to the Danube again...

The dapper little ship's officer approached the American and addressed him a few words in German. The latter nodded and turned to Monsell.

"This gentleman wants to know if you're a doctor—or if you know of one on board. I don't."

"Nor do I, but—but—perhaps my mother—she has been a nurse—I'll fetch her, anyway..."

He raced back towards the saloon, and when he had gone the American said to the officer in German "That young English kid's gone to fetch his mother. Says she's been a nurse. I quite believe it. I'd believe anything of her. She's a most remarkable woman—most remarkable..."