for the term of his natural life- 第17部分

In　another　moment　the　trap…door　was　closed；　the　howitzer　rumbled　back　to　its　cleatings；　and　the　prison　breathed　again。


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In　the　meantime；　a　scene　almost　as　exciting　had　taken　place　on　the　upper　deck。　Gabbett；　with　the　blind　fury　which　the　consciousness　of　failure　brings　to　such　brute…like　natures；　had　seized　Frere　by　the　throat；　determined　to　put　an　end　to　at　least　one　of　his　enemies。　　But　desperate　though　he　was；　and　with　all　the　advantage　of　weight　and　strength　upon　his　side；　he　found　the　young　lieutenant　a　more　formidable　adversary　than　he　had　anticipated。

Maurice　Frere　was　no　coward。　　Brutal　and　selfish　though　he　might　be；　his　bitterest　enemies　had　never　accused　him　of　lack　of　physical　courage。　Indeed；　he　had　beenin　the　rollicking　days　of　old　that　were　gonecelebrated　for　the　display　of　very　opposite　qualities。　　He　was　an　amateur　at　manly　sports。　He　rejoiced　in　his　muscular　strength；　and；　in　many　a　tavern　brawl　and　midnight　riot　of　his　own　provoking；　had　proved　the　fallacy　of　the　proverb　which　teaches　that　a　bully　is　always　a　coward。　　He　had　the　tenacity　of　a　bulldogonce　let　him　get　his　teeth　in　his　adversary；　and　he　would　hold　on　till　he　died。　　In　fact　he　was；　as　far　as　personal　vigour　went；　a　Gabbett　with　the　education　of　a　prize…fighter；　and；　in　a　personal　encounter　between　two　men　of　equal　courage；　science　tells　more　than　strength。　　In　the　struggle；　however；　that　was　now　taking　place；　science　seemed　to　be　of　little　value。　To　the　inexperienced　eye；　it　would　appear　that　the　frenzied　giant；　gripping　the　throat　of　the　man　who　had　fallen　beneath　him；　must　rise　from　the　struggle　an　easy　victor。　　Brute　force　was　all　that　was　neededthere　was　neither　room　nor　time　for　the　display　of　any　cunning　of　fence。

But　knowledge；　though　it　cannot　give　strength；　gives　coolness。　Taken　by　surprise　as　he　was；　Maurice　Frere　did　not　lose　his　presence　of　mind。　The　convict　was　so　close　upon　him　that　there　was　no　time　to　strike；　but；　as　he　was　forced　backwards；　he　succeeded　in　crooking　his　knee　round　the　thigh　of　his　assailant；　and　thrust　one　hand　into　his　collar。　Over　and　over　they　rolled；　the　bewildered　sentry　not　daring　to　fire；　until　the　ship's　side　brought　them　up　with　a　violent　jerk；　and　Frere　realized　that　Gabbett　was　below　him。　　Pressing　with　all　the　might　of　his　muscles；　he　strove　to　resist　the　leverage　which　the　giant　was　applying　to　turn　him　over；　but　he　might　as　well　have　pushed　against　a　stone　wall。　With　his　eyes　protruding；　and　every　sinew　strained　to　its　uttermost；　he　was　slowly　forced　round；　and　he　felt　Gabbett　releasing　his　grasp；　in　order　to　draw　back　and　aim　at　him　an　effectual　blow。　　Disengaging　his　left　hand；　Frere　suddenly　allowed　himself　to　sink；　and　then；　drawing　up　his　right　knee；　struck　Gabbett　beneath　the　jaw；　and　as　the　huge　head　was　forced　backwards　by　the　blow；　dashed　his　fist　into　the　brawny　throat。　　The　giant　reeled　backwards；　and；　falling　on　his　hands　and　knees；　was　in　an　instant　surrounded　by　sailors。

Now　began　and　ended；　in　less　time　than　it　takes　to　write　it；　one　of　those　Homeric　struggles　of　one　man　against　twenty；　which　are　none　the　less　heroic　because　the　Ajax　is　a　convict；　and　the　Trojans　merely　ordinary　sailors。　　Shaking　his　assailants　to　the　deck　as　easily　as　a　wild　boar　shakes　off　the　dogs　which　clamber　upon　his　bristly　sides；　the　convict　sprang　to　his　feet；　and；　whirling　the　snatched…up　cutlass　round　his　head；　kept　the　circle　at　bay。　Four　times　did　the　soldiers　round　the　hatchway　raise　their　muskets；　and　four　times　did　the　fear　of　wounding　the　men　who　had　flung　themselves　upon　the　enraged　giant　compel　them　to　restrain　their　fire。　Gabbett；　his　stubbly　hair　on　end；　his　bloodshot　eyes　glaring　with　fury；　his　great　hand　opening　and　shutting　in　air；　as　though　it　gasped　for　something　to　seize；　turned　himself　about　from　side　to　sidenow　here；　now　there；　bellowing　like　a　wounded　bull。　　His　coarse　shirt；　rent　from　shoulder　to　flank；　exposed　the　play　of　his　huge　muscles。　He　was　bleeding　from　a　cut　on　his　forehead；　and　the　blood；　trickling　down　his　face；　mingled　with　the　foam　on　his　lips；　and　dropped　sluggishly　on　his　hairy　breast。　　Each　time　that　an　assailant　came　within　reach　of　the　swinging　cutlass；　the　ruffian's　form　dilated　with　a　fresh　access　of　passion。　　At　one　moment　bunched　with　clinging　adversarieshis　arms；　legs；　and　shoulders　a　hanging　mass　of　human　bodiesat　the　next；　free；　desperate；　alone　in　the　midst　of　his　foes；　his　hideous　countenance　contorted　with　hate　and　rage；　the　giant　seemed　less　a　man　than　a　demon；　or　one　of　those　monstrous　and　savage　apes　which　haunt　the　solitudes　of　the　African　forests。　　Spurning　the　mob　who　had　rushed　in　at　him；　he　strode　towards　his　risen　adversary；　and　aimed　at　him　one　final　blow　that　should　put　an　end　to　his　tyranny　for　ever。　　A　notion　that　Sarah　Purfoy　had　betrayed　him；　and　that　the　handsome　soldier　was　the　cause　of　the　betrayal；　had　taken　possession　of　his　mind；　and　his　rage　had　concentrated　itself　upon　Maurice　Frere。　　The　aspect　of　the　villain　was　so　appalling；　that；　despite　his　natural　courage；　Frere；　seeing　the　backward　sweep　of　the　cutlass；　absolutely　closed　his　eyes　with　terror；　and　surrendered　himself　to　his　fate。

As　Gabbett　balanced　himself　for　the　blow；　the　ship；　which　had　been　rocking　gently　on　a　dull　and　silent　sea；　suddenly　lurchedthe　convict　lost　his　balance；　swayed；　and　fell。　　Ere　he　could　rise　he　was　pinioned　by　twenty　hands。

Authority　was　almost　instantaneously　triumphant　on　the　upper　and　lower　decks。　The　mutiny　was　over。




CHAPTER　XI。

DISCOVERIES　AND　CONFESSIONS。



The　shock　was　felt　all　through　the　vessel；　and　Pine；　who　had　been　watching　the　ironing　of　the　last　of　the　mutineers；　at　once　divined　its　cause。

〃Thank　God！〃　he　cried；　〃there's　a　breeze　at　last！〃　and　as　the　overpowered　Gabbett；　bruised；　bleeding；　and　bound；　was　dragged　down　the　hatchway；　the　triumphant　doctor　hurried　upon　deck　to　find　the　Malabar　plunging　through　the　whitening　water　under　the　influence　of　a　fifteen…knot　breeze。

〃Stand　by　to　reef　topsails！　　Away　aloft；　men；　and　furl　the　royals！〃　cries　Best　from　the　quarter…deck；　and　in　the　midst　of　the　cheery　confusion　Maurice　Frere　briefly　recapitulated　what　had　taken　place；　taking　care；　however；　to　pass　over　his　own　dereliction　of　duty　as　rapidly　as　possible。

Pine　knit　his　brows。　　〃Do　you　think　that　she　was　in　the　plot？〃　he　asked。

〃Not　she！〃　says　Frereeager　to　avert　inquiry。　　〃How　should　she　be？　Plot！　　She's　sickening　of　fever；　or　I'm　much　mistaken。〃

Sure　enough；　on　opening　the　door　of　the　cabin；　they　found　Sarah　Purfoy　lying　where　she　had　fallen　a　quarter　of　an　hour　before。　　The　clashing　of　cutlasses　and　the　firing　of　muskets　had　not　roused　her。

〃We　must　make　a　sick…bay　somewhere；〃　says　Pine；　looking　at　the　senseless　figure　with　no　kindly　glance；　〃though　I　don't　think　she's　likely　to　be　very　bad。　　Confound　her！　　I　believe　that　she's　the　cause　of　all　this。　I'll　find　out；　too；　before　many　hours　are　over；　for　I've　told　those　fellows　that　unless　they　confess　all　about　it　before　to…morrow　morning；　I'll　get　them　six　dozen　a…piece　the　day　after　we　anchor　in　Hobart　Town。　I've　a　great　mind　to　do　it　before　we　get　there。　　Take　her　head；　Frere；　and　we'll　get　her　out　of　this　before　Vickers　comes　up。　　What　a　fool　you　are；　to　be　sure！　　I　knew　what　it　would　be　with　women　aboard　ship。　I　wonder　Mrs。　V。　　hasn't　been　out　before　now。　　Theresteady　past　the　door。　Why；　man；　one　would　think　you　never　had　your　arm　round　a　girl's　waist　before！　Pooh！　　don't　look　so　scaredI　won't　tell。　　Make　haste；　now；　before　that　little　parson　comes。　　Parsons　are　regular　old　women　to　chatter〃；　and　thus　muttering　Pine　assisted　to　carry　Mrs。　Vickers's　maid　into　her　cabin。

〃By　George；　but　she's　a　fine　girl！〃　he　said；　viewing　the　inanimate　body　with　the　professional　eye　of　a　surgeon。　　〃I　don't　wonder　at　you　making　a　fool　of　yourself。　　Chances　are；　you've　caught　the　fever；　though　this　breeze　will　help　to　blow　it　out　of　us；　please　God。　That　old　jackass；　Blunt；　too！he　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　himself；　at　his　age！〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Frere　hastily；　as　he　heard　a　step　approach。　〃What　has　Blunt　to　say　about　her？〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know；〃　returned　Pine。　　〃He　was　smitten　too；　that's　all。　　Like　a　good　many　more；　in　fact。〃

〃A　good　many　more！〃　repeated　the　other；　with　a　pretence　of　carelessness。

〃Yes！〃　laughed　Pine。　　〃Why；　man；　she　was　making　eyes　at　every　man　in　the　ship！　I　caught　her　kissing　a　soldier　once。〃

Maurice　Frere's　cheeks　grew　hot。　　The　experienced　profligate　had　been　taken　in；　deceived；　perhaps　laughed　at。　　All　the　time　he　had　flattered　himself　that　he　was　fascinating　the　black…eyed　maid；　the　black…eyed　maid　had　been　twisting　him　round　her　finger；　and　perhaps　imitating　his　love…making　for　the　gratification　of　her　soldier…lover。　　It　was　not　a　pleasant　thought；　and　yet；　strange　to　say；　the　idea　of　Sarah's　treachery　did　not　make　him　dislike　her。　　There　is　a　sort　of　loveif　love　it　can　be　calledwhich　thrives　under　ill…treatment。　　Nevertheless；　he　cursed　with　some　appearance　of　disgust。

Vickers　met　them　at　the　door。　　〃Pine；　Blunt　has　the　fever。　　Mr。　Best　found　him　in　his　cabin　groaning。　　Come　and　look　at　him。〃

The　commander　of　the　Malabar　was　lying　on　his　bunk　in　the　betwisted　condition　into　which　men　who　sleep　in　their　clothes　contrive　to　get　themselves。　The　doctor　shook　him；　bent　down　over　him；　and　then　loosened　his　collar。　〃He's　not　sick；〃　he　said；　〃he's　drunk！　　Blunt！　　wake　up！　　Blunt！〃

But　the　mass　refused　to　move。

〃Hallo！〃　says　Pine；　smelling　at　the　broken　tumbler；　〃what's　this？　Smells　queer。　　Rum？　　No。　　Eh！　　Laudanum！　　By　George；　he's　been　hocussed！〃

〃Nonsense！〃

〃I　see　it；〃　slapping　his　thigh。　　〃It's　that　infernal　woman！　　She's　drugged　him；　and　meant　to　do　the　same　for〃（Frere　gave　him　an　imploring　look）〃for　anybody　else　who　would　be　fool　enough　to　let　her　do　it。　　Dawes　was　right；　sir。　She's　in　it；　I'll　swear　she's　in　it。〃

〃What！　　my　wife's　maid？　　Nonsense！〃　said　Vickers。

〃Nonsense！〃　echoed　Frere。

〃It's　no　nonsense。　　That　soldier　who　was　shot；　what's　his　name？Miles；　hebut；　however；　it　doesn't　matter。　　It's　all　over　now。〃　〃The　men　will　confess　before　morning；〃　says　Vickers；　〃and　we'll　see。〃　And　he　went　off　to　his　wife's　cabin。

His　wife