for the term of his natural life- 第40部分

So　another　day　and　night　passed；　and　the　eleventh　morning　saw　the　boat　yet　alive；　rolling　in　the　trough　of　the　same　deserted　sea。　The　four　exiles　lay　in　her　almost　without　breath。

All　at　once　Dawes　uttered　a　cry；　and；　seizing　the　sheet；　put　the　clumsy　craft　about。　　〃A　sail！　　a　sail！〃　he　cried。　　〃Do　you　not　see　her？〃

Frere's　hungry　eyes　ranged　the　dull　water　in　vain。

〃There　is　no　sail；　fool！〃　he　said。　　〃You　mock　us！〃

The　boat；　no　longer　following　the　line　of　the　coast；　was　running　nearly　due　south；　straight　into　the　great　Southern　Ocean。　Frere　tried　to　wrest　the　thong　from　the　hand　of　the　convict；　and　bring　the　boat　back　to　her　course。　　〃Are　you　mad？〃　he　asked；　in　fretful　terror；　〃to　run　us　out　to　sea？〃

〃Sit　down！〃　returned　the　other；　with　a　menacing　gesture；　and　staring　across　the　grey　water。　　〃I　tell　you　I　see　a　sail！〃

Frere；　overawed　by　the　strange　light　which　gleamed　in　the　eyes　of　his　companion；　shifted　sulkily　back　to　his　place。　　〃Have　your　own　way；〃　he　said；　〃madman！　　It　serves　me　right　for　putting　off　to　sea　in　such　a　devil's　craft　as　this！〃

After　all；　what　did　it　matter？　　As　well　be　drowned　in　mid…ocean　as　in　sight　of　land。

The　long　day　wore　out；　and　no　sail　appeared。　　The　wind　freshened　towards　evening；　and　the　boat；　plunging　clumsily　on　the　long　brown　waves；　staggered　as　though　drunk　with　the　water　she　had　swallowed；　for　at　one　place　near　the　bows　the　water　ran　in　and　out　as　through　a　slit　in　a　wine　skin。　　The　coast　had　altogether　disappeared；　and　the　huge　ocean　vast；　stormy；　and　threateningheaved　and　hissed　all　around　them。　It　seemed　impossible　that　they　should　live　until　morning。　　But　Rufus　Dawes；　with　his　eyes　fixed　on　some　object　visible　alone　to　him；　hugged　the　child　in　his　arms；　and　drove　the　quivering　coracle　into　the　black　waste　of　night　and　sea。　　To　Frere；　sitting　sullenly　in　the　bows；　the　aspect　of　this　grim　immovable　figure；　with　its　back…blown　hair　and　staring　eyes；　had　in　it　something　supernatural　and　horrible。　He　began　to　think　that　privation　and　anxiety　had　driven　the　unhappy　convict　mad。

Thinking　and　shuddering　over　his　fate；　he　fellas　it　seemed　to　him　into　a　momentary　sleep；　in　the　midst　of　which　someone　called　to　him。　He　started　up；　with　shaking　knees　and　bristling　hair。　　The　day　had　broken；　and　the　dawn；　in　one　long　pale　streak　of　sickly　saffron；　lay　low　on　the　left　hand。　　Between　this　streak　of　saffron…coloured　light　and　the　bows　of　the　boat　gleamed　for　an　instant　a　white　speck。

〃A　sail！　　a　sail！〃　cried　Rufus　Dawes；　a　wild　light　gleaming　in　his　eyes；　and　a　strange　tone　vibrating　in　his　voice。　　〃Did　I　not　tell　you　that　I　saw　a　sail？〃

Frere；　utterly　confounded；　looked　again；　with　his　heart　in　his　mouth；　and　again　did　the　white　speck　glimmer。　　For　an　instant　he　felt　almost　safe；　and　then　a　blanker　despair　than　before　fell　upon　him。　　From　the　distance　at　which　she　was；　it　was　impossible　for　the　ship　to　sight　the　boat。

〃They　will　never　see　us！〃　he　cried。　　〃DawesDawes！　　Do　you　hear？　They　will　never　see　us！〃

Rufus　Dawes　started　as　if　from　a　trance。　　Lashing　the　sheet　to　the　pole　which　served　as　a　gunwale；　he　laid　the　sleeping　child　by　her　mother；　and　tearing　up　the　strip　of　bark　on　which　he　had　been　sitting；　moved　to　the　bows　of　the　boat。

〃They　will　see　this！　　Tear　up　that　board！　　So！　　Now；　place　it　thus　across　the　bows。　　Hack　off　that　sapling　end！　　Now　that　dry　twist　of　osier！　Never　mind　the　boat；　man；　we　can　afford　to　leave　her　now。　Tear　off　that　outer　strip　of　hide。　　See；　the　wood　beneath　is　dry！　Quickyou　are　so　slow。〃

〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　cried　Frere；　aghast；　as　the　convict　tore　up　all　the　dry　wood　he　could　find；　and　heaped　it　on　the　sheet　of　bark　placed　on　the　bows。

〃To　make　a　fire！　　See！〃

Frere　began　to　comprehend。　　〃I　have　three　matches　left；〃　he　said；　fumbling；　with　trembling　fingers；　in　his　pocket。　　〃I　wrapped　them　in　one　of　the　leaves　of　the　book　to　keep　them　dry。〃

The　word　〃book〃　was　a　new　inspiration。　　Rufus　Dawes　seized　upon　the　English　History；　which　had　already　done　such　service；　tore　out　the　drier　leaves　in　the　middle　of　the　volume；　and　carefully　added　them　to　the　little　heap　of　touchwood。

〃Now；　steady！〃

The　match　was　struck　and　lighted。　　The　paper；　after　a　few　obstinate　curlings；　caught　fire；　and　Frere；　blowing　the　young　flame　with　his　breath；　the　bark　began　to　burn。　　He　piled　upon　the　fire　all　that　was　combustible；　the　hides　began　to　shrivel；　and　a　great　column　of　black　smoke　rose　up　over　the　sea。

〃Sylvia！〃　cried　Rufus　Dawes。　　〃Sylvia！　　My　darling！　　You　are　saved！〃

She　opened　her　blue　eyes　and　looked　at　him；　but　gave　no　sign　of　recognition。　Delirium　had　hold　of　her；　and　in　the　hour　of　safety　the　child　had　forgotten　her　preserver。　　Rufus　Dawes；　overcome　by　this　last　cruel　stroke　of　fortune；　sat　down　in　the　stern　of　the　boat；　with　the　child　in　his　arms；　speechless。　　Frere；　feeding　the　fire；　thought　that　the　chance　he　had　so　longed　for　had　come。　　With　the　mother　at　the　point　of　death；　and　the　child　delirious；　who　could　testify　to　this　hated　convict's　skilfulness？　No　one　but　Mr。　Maurice　Frere；　and　Mr。　Maurice　Frere；　as　Commandant　of　convicts；　could　not　but　give　up　an　〃absconder〃　to　justice。

The　ship　changed　her　course；　and　came　towards　this　strange　fire　in　the　middle　of　the　ocean。　　The　boat；　the　fore　part　of　her　blazing　like　a　pine　torch；　could　not　float　above　an　hour。　　The　little　group　of　the　convict　and　the　child　remained　motionless。　　Mrs。　Vickers　was　lying　senseless；　ignorant　even　of　the　approaching　succour。

The　shipa　brig；　with　American　colours　flyingcame　within　hail　of　them。　Frere　could　almost　distinguish　figures　on　her　deck。　　He　made　his　way　aft　to　where　Dawes　was　sitting；　unconscious；　with　the　child　in　his　arms；　and　stirred　him　roughly　with　his　foot。

〃Go　forward；〃　he　said；　in　tones　of　command；　〃and　give　the　child　to　me。〃

Rufus　Dawes　raised　his　head；　and；　seeing　the　approaching　vessel；　awoke　to　the　consciousness　of　his　duty。　　With　a　low　laugh；　full　of　unutterable　bitterness；　he　placed　the　burden　he　had　borne　so　tenderly　in　the　arms　of　the　lieutenant；　and　moved　to　the　blazing　bows。　　


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The　brig　was　close　upon　them。　　Her　canvas　loomed　large　and　dusky；　shadowing　the　sea。　　Her　wet　decks　shone　in　the　morning　sunlight。　From　her　bulwarks　peered　bearded　and　eager　faces；　looking　with　astonishment　at　this　burning　boat　and　its　haggard　company；　alone　on　that　barren　and　stormy　ocean。

Frere；　with　Sylvia　in　his　arms；　waited　for　her。



END　OF　BOOK　THE　SECOND






BOOK　III。PORT　ARTHUR。　　1838。




CHAPTER　I。

A　LABOURER　IN　THE　VINEYARD。



〃Society　in　Hobart　Town；　in　this　year　of　grace　1838；　is；　my　dear　lord；　composed　of　very　curious　elements。〃　　So　ran　a　passage　in　the　sparkling　letter　which　the　Rev。　Mr。　Meekin；　newly…appointed　chaplain；　and　seven…days'　resident　in　Van　Diemen's　Land；　was　carrying　to　the　post　office；　for　the　delectation　of　his　patron　in　England。　　As　the　reverend　gentleman　tripped　daintily　down　the　summer　street　that　lay　between　the　blue　river　and　the　purple　mountain；　he　cast　his　mild　eyes　hither　and　thither　upon　human　nature；　and　the　sentence　he　had　just　penned　recurred　to　him　with　pleasurable　appositeness。　　Elbowed　by　well…dressed　officers　of　garrison；　bowing　sweetly　to　well…dressed　ladies；　shrinking　from　ill…dressed；　ill…odoured　ticket…of…leave　men；　or　hastening　across　a　street　to　avoid　being　run　down　by　the　hand…carts　that；　driven　by　little　gangs　of　grey…clothed　convicts；　rattled　and　jangled　at　him　unexpectedly　from　behind　corners；　he　certainly　felt　that　the　society　through　which　he　moved　was　composed　of　curious　elements。　　Now　passed；　with　haughty　nose　in　the　air；　a　newly…imported　government　official；　relaxing　for　an　instant　his　rigidity　of　demeanour　to　smile　languidly　at　the　chaplain　whom　Governor　Sir　John　Franklin　delighted　to　honour；　now　swaggered；　with　coarse　defiance　of　gentility　and　patronage；　a　wealthy　ex…prisoner；　grown　fat　on　the　profits　of　rum。　　The　population　that　was　abroad　on　that　sunny　December　afternoon　had　certainly　an　incongruous　appearance　to　a　dapper　clergyman　lately　arrived　from　London；　and　missing；　for　the　first　time　in　his　sleek；　easy…going　life；　those　social　screens　which　in　London　civilization　decorously　conceal　the　frailties　and　vices　of　human　nature。　　Clad　in　glossy　black；　of　the　most　fashionable　clerical　cut；　with　dandy　boots；　and　gloves　of　lightest　lavendera　white　silk　overcoat　hinting　that　its　wearer　was　not　wholly　free　from　sensitiveness　to　sun　and　heatthe　Reverend　Meekin　tripped　daintily　to　the　post　office；　and　deposited　his　letter。　　Two　ladies　met　him　as　he　turned。

〃Mr。　Meekin！〃

Mr。　Meekin's　elegant　hat　was　raised　from　his　intellectual　brow　and　hovered　in　the　air；　like　some　courteous　black　bird；　for　an　instant。　〃Mrs。　Jellicoe！　　Mrs。　Protherick！　　My　dear　leddies；　this　is　an　unexpected　pleasure！　　And　where；　pray；　are　you　going　on　this　lovely　afternoon？　　To　stay　in　the　house　is　positively　sinful。　Ah！　what　a　climatebut　the　Trail　of　the　Serpent；　my　dear　Mrs。　Protherick　the　Trail　of　the　Serpent〃　and　he　sighed。

〃It　must　be　a　great　trial　to　you　to　come　to　the　colony；〃　said　Mrs。　Jellicoe；　sympathizing　with　the　sigh。

Meekin　smiled；　as　a　gentlemanly　martyr　might　have　smiled。　〃The　Lord's　work；　dear　leddiesthe　Lord's　work。　　I　am　but　a　poor　labourer　in　the　vineyard；　toiling　through　the　heat　and　burden　of　the　day。〃　The　aspect　of　him；　with　his　faultless　tie；　his　airy　coat；　his　natty　boots；　and　his　self…satisfied　Christian　smile；　was　so　unlike　a　poor　labourer　toiling　through　the　heat　and　burden　of　the　day；　that　good　Mrs。　Jellicoe；　the　wife　of　an　orthodox　Comptroller　of　Convicts'　Stores；　felt　a　horrible　thrill　of　momentary　heresy。　　〃I　would　rather　have　remained　in　England；〃　continued　Mr。　Meekin；　smoothing　one　lavender　finger　with　the　tip　of　another；　and　arching　his　elegant　eyebrows　in　mild　deprecation　of　any　praise　of　his　self…denial；　〃but　I　felt　it　my　duty　not　to　refuse　the　offer　made　me　through　the　kindness　of　his　lordship。　　Here　is　a　field；　leddies　a　field　for　the　Christian　pastor。　　They　appeal　to　me；　leddies；　these　lambs　of　our　Churchthese　lost　and　outcast　lambs　of　our　Church。〃

Mrs。　Jellicoe　shook　her　gay　bonnet　ribbons　at　Mr。　Meekin；　with　a　hearty　smile。　〃You　don't　know　our　convic