7.All the lanterns had been extinguished.The land could be faintly discerned，rising like a heavy bank of black fog above the margin of the waters，and was only distinguishable from the heavens，by its deeper obscurity.For several minutes the stillness of death pervaded the crowded decks.It was evident to every one that their ship was dashing at a prodigious rate through the waves；and she was approaching，with such velocity，the quarter of the bay，where the shoals and dangers were known to be situated，that nothing but the habits of the most exact discipline could suppress the uneasiness of the officers and men.At length，the voice of Captain Munson was heard calling to the pilot，“Shall I send a hand into the chains，Mr.Gray，and try our water？”“Tack your ship，sir，tack your ship，I would see how she works，before we reach the point where she must behave well.”
8.Griffith gazed after him in wonder，while the pilot slowly paced the quarter-deck，and then，rousing from his trance，gave forth the cheering order that called each man to his station.The confident assurances which the young gentleman had given to the pilot respecting the qualities of his vessel，and his own ability to manage her，were fully realized by the result.The helm was no sooner put down，than the huge ship bore up gallantly against the wind，and，dashing directly through the waves，threw the foam high into the air as she looked boldly into the very eye of the wind，and then，yielding gracefully to its power，she fell aft on the other tack，with her head pointed from those dangerous shoals that she had so recently approached with such terrifying velocity.The heavy yards sprung round as if they had been vanes to indicate the currents of the air，and，in a few moments，the frigate again moved with stately progress through the water，leaving the rocks and shoals behind her on one side of the bay，but advancing toward those that offered equal danger on the other.
9.During this time，the sea was becoming more agitated，and the violence of the wind was gradually increasing.An endless succession of white surges rose above the heavy billows，and the very air was glittering with the light that was disengaged from the ocean.The ship yielded each moment more and more before the storm and，in less than half an hour，she was driven along with tremendous fury by the full power of a gale of wind.Still the hardy and experienced mariners who directed her movements，held her to the course that was necessary to their preservation，and still Griffith gave forth，when directed by their unknown pilot，those orders that turned her in the narrow channel where safety was alone to be found.
（FROM COOPER ）
中文阅读
下面关于沙洲中的一艘船的描述是库帕对海上景象描述得最美的画面之一。
1.格里菲斯非凡的行动是由一次天气的突变引起的，它曾与所有船员短兵相接。地平线上非但没有描绘中的设计精巧的条纹，反而出现了一团模糊的光，这团光似乎正在海面上快速地移动，然而虽然遥远却很清晰的轰鸣声表明，翻滚海水的暴风雨要来了。就连格里菲斯也会一边手拿扬声器，用雷鸣般的声音发号施令，大喊大叫地催促着自己远征船队的船员们，同时稍停片刻，向那远处的即将到来的暴风雨投去焦虑的一瞥。靠在帆桁上的水手们的脸都本能地转向了天堂的同一角，他们给收帆索打结，为了将不规则的帆布控制在规定极限内。
2.在那混乱忙碌的人群中，大呼小叫声不绝于耳，只有舵手一个人好像对这一重要事件丝毫不感兴趣。他的双眼冷静地注视着正在到来的雾团，双臂交叠在一起，镇静沉着，平静地站着等待结果。船的一侧已经沉入海中，变得无法控制。“有纵帆船！”格里菲斯喊道，“我们在狂风到来之前就会沉没了，我们要不要试着转变航线，开条新的水道？”
3.舵手从他沉思的姿态中回过神来，沿着甲板慢慢地走动，在他对这个问题作出回答之前，感觉他就像是一个万事都一肩挑的人，而他能够胜任突发事件。“没必要。”他终于发话道，“这肯定是令人震惊的破坏，很难说在几个切入点中，风会怎样袭击我们。”“不难说了，”格里菲斯喊道，“已经来了，恰恰相当执着。”
4.现在，确实可以听到风的呼啸声就在耳旁。年轻的中尉话刚到嘴边，船体就重重地向一侧侧翻过去，然后当船开始在水下移动时，又再次庄严地升出水面，回到它竖立的位置上来，就像是在敬礼，就像一个彬彬有礼的冠军，对即将对抗的强大的敌人进行的致敬一样。不一会儿，船的一侧便开始迅速渗水。吵吵嚷嚷匆忙逃命的人们正在逐渐地下沉，人们慢慢地走上甲板，所有人瞪大了眼睛看着即将笼罩下来的黑暗，有的人伤感狐疑地摇着头，不敢说出他们心里感受到的真正的恐惧。
5.甲板上所有的人都在焦灼不安地等待着狂风发怒，因为在这雄伟的护卫舰上的所有人都清楚地明白这只是狂风初期的小试牛刀。每过一会儿，风力都会增强，尽管这个过程是渐变的，但是如释重负的水手们开始相信他们之前所有沮丧的预感都不会发生。就在这悬而未决的短暂的间歇，只听到风的呼啸声，风快速地从绳索团中通过，喷出的水花开始在船头飞舞，活像大瀑布溅起的泡沫。
6.“风才刚刚开始刮，”格里菲斯喊道，他在焦虑的时刻第一个开了口，“但是总的来说风不会比一桅帽风大。给我们活动的空间、合适的帆布，舵手先生，在这样的微风中，我会把船开得像一个绅士的游艇。”“你认为这样的航行船会保留下来吗？”陌生人用低沉的声音问道。“人们要求木头和铁能做到的，船都可以做到。”中尉回答说，“但是船不会浮动，在海洋上，双帆上桅帆，这会抢风航行。用帆来助船，舵手，你会看到船会像一个舞蹈大师似的转向。”“先让我们感受一下大风的力量。”一个被叫做格雷先生的人回答道，他把注意力从格里菲斯转到船队的处境上来，他默默地站在船上，冷静而心不在焉地望着船的前方。
7.所有的灯笼都被熄灭了。陆地只能模模糊糊地识别出来，像水边上方升起的一大团浓重的黑雾，晦暗使它只能与天划出了界限。几分钟内，死寂蔓延到了整个拥挤的甲板。每个人都很明白，他们的船正在飞速地冲破海浪。船正以这样的速度靠近海湾地区，他们知道那里存在着危险，除了严格遵守纪律的习惯之外，没有别的什么能够压制得了海军官兵和船上的人们的不安情绪。最终，人们听到蒙森船长对舵手喊道：“我要抓住绳索吗？格雷先生，我要校准我们的水平面。”“抢风航行，先生，抢风航行。在我们到达目的地之前，我会看到船是怎么航行的，在船到了那里以后，它一定会乖乖地航行的。”
8.格里菲斯惊奇地注视着舵手，而舵手却慢慢地踱到后甲板。格里菲斯回过神来，发出令人振奋的命令，让每个人各就各位。年轻的绅士对舵手做出的关于船的质量的自信保证以及他自己掌控船的能力的保证最后得到了证实。巨大的轮船刚刚开始勇敢地抢风行驶，船舵很快就被放了下来，船乘风破浪，勇往直前，激得泡沫直飞冲天，它勇敢地直视暴风的眼睛，然后优雅地向暴风屈服。船在另一次抢风航行中船尾下沉，船头朝向自己以惊人的速度靠近的最近的潜在危险。重重的帆桁急急地转动着，就像是风向标一样指示着当时的气流方向，片刻间，护卫舰又一次在水中庄严地取得了进展，离开了海湾一边的岩石与潜在的危险，转而向另一方具有同样危险的方向驶去。
9.在此期间，大海变得更加躁动，狂风逐渐加剧。白色的浪花无休无止地从巨浪中升起，在光的照耀下闪闪发亮。在暴风雨中，船每一刻都在一步步地退让，不到半小时，船就被雷霆万钧的狂风以一阵巨大的力量吹走了。富有经验的勇敢的水手们仍然指引着船的行程，使得船还停留在保证他们安全所需要的航程上。在不为人知的舵手的导引下，格里菲斯仍然在发布命令，这些命令使船转入了狭窄的海峡，在那里他们能找到的只有安全。
（库帕）