for the term of his natural life- 第19部分

CHAPTER　II。

THE　SOLITARY　OF　〃HELL'S　GATES〃。



〃Hell's　　Gates；〃　formed　by　a　rocky　point；　which　runs　abruptly　northward；　almost　touches；　on　its　eastern　side；　a　projecting　arm　of　land　which　guards　the　entrance　to　King's　River。　　In　the　middle　of　the　gates　is　a　natural　boltthat　is　to　say；　an　island…which；　lying　on　a　sandy　bar　in　the　very　jaws　of　the　current；　creates　a　double　whirlpool；　impossible　to　pass　in　the　smoothest　weather。　　Once　through　the　gates；　the　convict；　chained　on　the　deck　of　the　inward…bound　vessel；　sees　in　front　of　him　the　bald　cone　of　the　Frenchman's　Cap；　piercing　the　moist　air　at　a　height　of　five　thousand　feet；　while；　gloomed　by　overhanging　rocks；　and　shadowed　by　gigantic　forests；　the　black　sides　of　the　basin　narrow　to　the　mouth　of　the　Gordon。　　The　turbulent　stream　is　the　colour　of　indigo；　and；　being　fed　by　numerous　rivulets；　which　ooze　through　masses　of　decaying　vegetable　matter；　is　of　so　poisonous　a　nature　that　it　is　not　only　undrinkable；　but　absolutely　kills　the　fish；　which　in　stormy　weather　are　driven　in　from　the　sea。　　As　may　be　imagined；　the　furious　tempests　which　beat　upon　this　exposed　coast　create　a　strong　surf…line。　　After　a　few　days　of　north…west　wind　the　waters　of　the　Gordon　will　be　found　salt　for　twelve　miles　up　from　the　bar。　　The　head…quarters　of　the　settlement　were　placed　on　an　island　not　far　from　the　mouth　of　this　inhospitable　river；　called　Sarah　Island。

Though　now　the　whole　place　is　desolate；　and　a　few　rotting　posts　and　logs　alone　remain…mute　witnesses　of　scenes　of　agony　never　to　be　revivedin　the　year　1833　the　buildings　were　numerous　and　extensive。　　On　Philip's　Island；　on　the　north　side　of　the　harbour；　was　a　small　farm；　where　vegetables　were　grown　for　the　use　of　the　officers　of　the　establishment；　and；　on　Sarah　Island；　were　sawpits；　forges；　dockyards；　gaol；　guard…house；　barracks；　and　jetty。　The　military　force　numbered　about　sixty　men；　who；　with　convict…warders　and　constables；　took　charge　of　more　than　three　hundred　and　fifty　prisoners。　These　miserable　wretches；　deprived　of　every　hope；　were　employed　in　the　most　degrading　labour。　　No　beast　of　burden　was　allowed　on　the　settlement；　all　the　pulling　and　dragging　was　done　by　human　beings。　About　one　hundred　〃good…conduct〃　men　were　allowed　the　lighter　toil　of　dragging　timber　to　the　wharf；　to　assist　in　shipbuilding；　the　others　cut　down　the　trees　that　fringed　the　mainland；　and　carried　them　on　their　shoulders　to　the　water's　edge。　　The　denseness　of　the　scrub　and　bush　rendered　it　necessary　for　a　〃roadway；〃　perhaps　a　quarter　of　a　mile　in　length；　to　be　first　constructed；　and　the　trunks　of　trees；　stripped　of　their　branches；　were　rolled　together　in　this　roadway；　until　a　〃slide〃　was　made；　down　which　the　heavier　logs　could　be　shunted　towards　the　harbour。　　The　timber　thus　obtained　was　made　into　rafts；　and　floated　to　the　sheds；　or　arranged　for　transportation　to　Hobart　Town。　The　convicts　were　lodged　on　Sarah　Island；　in　barracks　flanked　by　a　two…storied　prison；　whose　〃cells〃　were　the　terror　of　the　most　hardened。　Each　morning　they　received　their　breakfast　of　porridge；　water；　and　salt；　and　then　rowed；　under　the　protection　of　their　guard；　to　the　wood…cutting　stations；　where　they　worked　without　food；　until　night。　The　launching　and　hewing　of　the　timber　compelled　them　to　work　up　to　their　waists　in　water。　　Many　of　them　were　heavily　ironed。　Those　who　died　were　buried　on　a　little　plot　of　ground；　called　Halliday's　Island　（from　the　name　of　the　first　man　buried　there）；　and　a　plank　stuck　into　the　earth；　and　carved　with　the　initials　of　the　deceased；　was　the　only　monument　vouchsafed　him。

Sarah　Island；　situated　at　the　south…east　corner　of　the　harbour；　is　long　and　low。　　The　commandant's　house　was　built　in　the　centre；　having　the　chaplain's　house　and　barracks　between　it　and　the　gaol。　The　hospital　was　on　the　west　shore；　and　in　a　line　with　it　lay　the　two　penitentiaries。　　Lines　of　lofty　palisades　ran　round　the　settlement；　giving　it　the　appearance　of　a　fortified　town。　　These　palisades　were　built　for　the　purpose　of　warding　off　the　terrific　blasts　of　wind；　which；　shrieking　through　the　long　and　narrow　bay　as　through　the　keyhole　of　a　door；　had　in　former　times　tore　off　roofs　and　levelled　boat…sheds。　　The　little　town　was　set；　as　it　were；　in　defiance　of　Nature；　at　the　very　extreme　of　civilization；　and　its　inhabitants　maintained　perpetual　warfare　with　the　winds　and　waves。

But　the　gaol　of　Sarah　Island　was　not　the　only　prison　in　this　desolate　region。

At　a　little　distance　from　the　mainland　is　a　rock；　over　the　rude　side　of　which　the　waves　dash　in　rough　weather。　　On　the　evening　of　the　3rd　December；　1833；　as　the　sun　was　sinking　behind　the　tree…tops　on　the　left　side　of　the　harbour；　the　figure　of　a　man　appeared　on　the　top　of　this　rock。　　He　was　clad　in　the　coarse　garb　of　a　convict；　and　wore　round　his　ankles　two　iron　rings；　connected　by　a　short　and　heavy　chain。　　To　the　middle　of　this　chain　a　leathern　strap　was　attached；　which；　splitting　in　the　form　of　a　T；　buckled　round　his　waist；　and　pulled　the　chain　high　enough　to　prevent　him　from　stumbling　over　it　as　he　walked。　　His　head　was　bare；　and　his　coarse；　blue…striped　shirt；　open　at　the　throat；　displayed　an　embrowned　and　muscular　neck。　　Emerging　from　out　a　sort　of　cell；　or　den；　contrived　by　nature　or　art　in　the　side　of　the　cliff；　he　threw　on　a　scanty　fire；　which　burned　between　two　hollowed　rocks；　a　small　log　of　pine　wood；　and　then　returning　to　his　cave；　and　bringing　from　it　an　iron　pot；　which　contained　water；　he　scooped　with　his　toil…hardened　hands　a　resting…place　for　it　in　the　ashes；　and　placed　it　on　the　embers。　It　was　evident　that　the　cave　was　at　once　his　storehouse　and　larder；　and　that　the　two　hollowed　rocks　formed　his　kitchen。

Having　thus　made　preparations　for　supper；　he　ascended　a　pathway　which　led　to　the　highest　point　of　the　rock。　　His　fetters　compelled　him　to　take　short　steps；　and；　as　he　walked；　he　winced　as　though　the　iron　bit　him。　A　handkerchief　or　strip　of　cloth　was　twisted　round　his　left　ankle；　on　which　the　circlet　had　chafed　a　sore。　　Painfully　and　slowly；　he　gained　his　destination；　and　flinging　himself　on　the　ground；　gazed　around　him。　　The　afternoon　had　been　stormy；　and　the　rays　of　the　setting　sun　shone　redly　on　the　turbid　and　rushing　waters　of　the　bay。　On　the　right　lay　Sarah　Island；　on　the　left　the　bleak　shore　of　the　opposite　and　the　tall　peak　of　the　Frenchman's　Cap；　while　the　storm　hung　sullenly　over　the　barren　hills　to　the　eastward。　　Below　him　appeared　the　only　sign　of　life。　　A　brig　was　being　towed　up　the　harbour　by　two　convict…manned　boats。

The　sight　of　this　brig　seemed　to　rouse　in　the　mind　of　the　solitary　of　the　rock　a　strain　of　reflection；　for；　sinking　his　chin　upon　his　hand；　he　fixed　his　eyes　on　the　incoming　vessel；　and　immersed　himself　in　moody　thought。　　More　than　an　hour　had　passed；　yet　he　did　not　move。　The　ship　anchored；　the　boats　detached　themselves　from　her　sides；　the　sun　sank；　and　the　bay　was　plunged　in　gloom。　　Lights　began　to　twinkle　along　the　shore　of　the　settlement。　　The　little　fire　died；　and　the　water　in　the　iron　pot　grew　cold；　yet　the　watcher　on　the　rock　did　not　stir。　With　his　eyes　staring　into　the　gloom；　and　fixed　steadily　on　the　vessel；　he　lay　along　the　barren　cliff　of　his　lonely　prison　as　motionless　as　the　rock　on　which　he　had　stretched　himself。

This　solitary　man　was　Rufus　Dawes。




CHAPTER　III。

A　SOCIAL　EVENING。



In　the　house　of　Major　Vickers；　Commandant　of　Macquarie　Harbour；　there　was；　on　this　evening　of　December　3rd；　unusual　gaiety。

Lieutenant　Maurice　Frere；　late　in　command　at　Maria　Island；　had　unexpectedly　come　down　with　news　from　head…quarters。　　The　Ladybird；　Government　schooner；　visited　the　settlement　on　ordinary　occasions　twice　a　year；　and　such　visits　were　looked　forward　to　with　no　little　eagerness　by　the　settlers。　To　the　convicts　the　arrival　of　the　Ladybird　meant　arrival　of　new　faces；　intelligence　of　old　comrades；　news　of　how　the　world；　from　which　they　were　exiled；　was　progressing。　　When　the　Ladybird　arrived；　the　chained　and　toil…worn　felons　felt　that　they　were　yet　human；　that　the　universe　was　not　bounded　by　the　gloomy　forests　which　surrounded　their　prison；　but　that　there　was　a　world　beyond；　where　men；　like　themselves；　smoked；　and　drank；　and　laughed；　and　rested；　and　were　Free。　When　the　Ladybird　arrived；　they　heard　such　news　as　interested　themthat　is　to　say；　not　mere　foolish　accounts　of　wars　or　ship　arrivals；　or　city　gossip；　but　matters　appertaining　to　their　own　worldhow　Tom　was　with　the　road　gangs；　Dick　on　a　ticket…of…leave；　Harry　taken　to　the　bush；　and　Jack　hung　at　the　Hobart　Town　Gaol。　　Such　items　of　intelligence　were　the　only　news　they　cared　to　hear；　and　the　new…comers　were　well　posted　up　in　such　matters。　To　the　convicts　the　Ladybird　was　town　talk；　theatre；　stock　quotations；　and　latest　telegrams。　　She　was　their　newspaper　and　post…office；　the　one　excitement　of　their　dreary　existence；　the　one　link　between　their　own　misery　and　the　happiness　of　their　fellow…creatures。　To　the　Commandant　and　the　〃free　men〃　this　messenger　from　the　outer　life　was　scarcely　less　welcome。　　There　was　not　a　man　on　the　island　who　did　not　feel　his　heart　grow　heavier　when　her　white　sails　disappeared　behind　the　shoulder　of　the　hill。

On　the　present　occasion　business　of　more　than　ordinary　importance　had　procured　for　Major　Vickers　this　pleasurable　excitement。　It　had　been　resolved　by　Governor　Arthur　that　the　convict　establishment　should　be　broken　up。　　A　succession　of　murders　and　attempted　escapes　had　called　public　attention　to　the　place；　and　its　distance　from　Hobart　Town　rendered　it　inconvenient　and　expensive。　　Arthur　had　fixed　upon　Tasman's　Peninsulathe　earring　of　which　we　have　spokenas　a　future　convict　dep魌；　and　naming　it　Port　Arthur；　in　honour　of　himself；　had　sent　down　Lieutenant　Maurice　Frere　with　instructions　for　Vickers　to　convey　the　prisoners　of　Macquarie　Harbour　thither。

In　order　to　understand　the　magnitude　and　meaning　of　such　an　order　as　that　with　which　Lieutenant　Frere　was　entrusted；　we　must　glance　at　the　social　condition　of　the　penal　colony　at　this　period　of　its　history。

Nine　years　before；　Colonel　Arthur；　late　Governor　of　Honduras；　had　arrived　at　a　most　critical　moment。　　The　former　Governor；　Colonel　Sorrell；　was　a　man　of　genial　temperament；　but　little　strength　of　character。　　He　was；　moreover；　profligate　in