for the term of his natural life- 第96部分

〃No；　I　had　vowed　to　bury　the　knowledge　of　it　in　my　own　breastit　was　too　bitter　to　speak。〃

　〃Saved　his　life！〃

〃Ay；　and　hers！　I　made　the　boat　that　carried　her　to　freedom。　　I　held　her　in　my　arms；　and　took　the　bread　from　my　own　lips　to　feed　her！〃

〃She　cannot　know　this；〃　said　North　in　an　undertone。

〃She　has　forgotten　it；　perhaps；　for　she　was　but　a　child。　　But　you　will　remind　her；　will　you　not？　　You　will　do　me　justice　in　her　eyes　before　I　die？　You　will　get　her　forgiveness　for　me？〃

North　could　not　explain　why　such　an　interview　as　the　convict　desired　was　impossible；　and　so　he　promised。

〃She　is　going　away　in　the　schooner；〃　said　he；　concealing　the　fact　of　his　own　departure。　　〃I　will　see　her　before　she　goes；　and　tell　her。〃

〃God　bless　you；　sir；〃　said　poor　Dawes。　　〃Now　pray　with　me〃；　and　the　wretched　priest　mechanically　repeated　one　of　the　formulae　his　Church　prescribes。

The　next　day　he　told　his　penitent　that　Mrs。　Frere　had　forgiven　him。　This　was　a　lie。　　He　had　not　seen　her；　but　what　should　a　lie　be　to　him　now？　Lies　were　needful　in　the　tortuous　path　he　had　undertaken　to　tread。　Yet　the　deceit　he　was　forced　to　practise　cost　him　many　a　pang。　　He　had　succumbed　to　his　passion；　and　to　win　the　love　for　which　he　yearned　had　voluntarily　abandoned　truth　and　honour；　but　standing　thus　alone　with　his　sin；　he　despised　and　hated　himself。　　To　deaden　remorse　and　drown　reflection；　he　had　recourse　to　brandy；　and　though　the　fierce　excitement　of　his　hopes　and　fears　steeled　him　against　the　stupefying　action　of　the　liquor；　he　was　rendered　by　it　incapable　of　calm　reflection。　　In　certain　nervous　conditions　our　mere　physical　powers　are　proof　against　the　action　of　alcohol；　and　though　ten　times　more　drunk　than　the　toper；　who；　incoherently　stammering；　reels　into　the　gutter；　we　can　walk　erect　and　talk　with　fluency。　　Indeed；　in　this　artificial　exaltation　of　the　sensibilities；　men　often　display　a　brilliant　wit；　and　an　acuteness　of　comprehension；　calculated　to　delight　their　friends；　and　terrify　their　physicians。　　North　had　reached　this　condition　of　brain…drunkenness。　　In　plain　terms；　he　was　trembling　on　the　verge　of　madness。

The　days　passed　swiftly；　and　Blunt's　preparations　for　sea　were　completed。　There　were　two　stern　cabins　in　the　schooner；　one　of　which　was　appropriated　to　Mrs。　Frere；　while　the　other　was　set　apart　for　North。　　Maurice　had　not　attempted　to　renew　　his　overtures　of　friendship；　and　the　chaplain　had　not　spoken。　　Mindful　of　Sylvia's　last　words；　he　had　resolved　not　to　meet　her　until　fairly　embarked　upon　the　voyage　which　he　intended　should　link　their　fortunes　together。　　On　the　morning　of　the　19th　December；　Blunt　declared　himself　ready　to　set　sail；　and　in　the　afternoon　the　two　passengers　came　on　board。

Rufus　Dawes；　gazing　from　his　window　upon　the　schooner　that　lay　outside　the　reef；　thought　nothing　of　the　fact　that；　after　the　Commandant's　boat　had　taken　away　the　Commandant's　wife　another　boat　should　put　off　with　the　chaplain。　　It　was　quite　natural　that　Mr。　North　should　desire　to　bid　his　friends　farewell；　and　through　the　hot；　still　afternoon　he　watched　for　the　returning　boat；　hoping　that　the　chaplain　would　bring　him　some　message　from　the　woman　whom　he　was　never　to　see　more　on　earth。　The　hours　wore　on；　however；　and　no　breath　of　wind　ruffled　the　surface　of　the　sea。　　The　day　was　exceedingly　close　and　sultry；　heavy　dun　clouds　hung　on　the　horizon；　and　it　seemed　probable　that　unless　a　thunder…storm　should　clear　the　air　before　night；　the　calm　would　continue。　　Blunt；　however；　with　a　true　sailor's　obstinacy　in　regard　to　weather；　swore　there　would　be　a　breeze；　and　held　to　his　purpose　of　sailing。　　The　hot　afternoon　passed　away　in　a　sultry　sunset；　and　it　was　not　until　the　shades　of　evening　had　begun　to　fall　that　Rufus　Dawes　distinguished　a　boat　detach　itself　from　the　sides　of　the　schooner；　and　glide　through　the　oily　water　to　the　jetty。　The　chaplain　was　returning；　and　in　a　few　hours　perhaps　would　be　with　him；　to　bring　him　the　message　of　comfort　for　which　his　soul　thirsted。　He　stretched　out　his　unshackled　limbs；　and　throwing　himself　upon　his　stretcher；　fell　to　recalling　the　pasthis　boat…building；　the　news　of　his　fortune；　his　love；　and　his　self…sacrifice。

North；　however；　was　not　returning　to　bring　to　the　prisoner　a　message　of　comfort；　but　he　was　returning　on　purpose　to　see　him；　nevertheless。　The　unhappy　man；　torn　by　remorse　and　passion；　had　resolved　upon　a　course　of　action　which　seemed　to　him　a　penance　for　his　crime　of　deceit。　He　determined　to　confess　to　Dawes　that　the　message　he　had　brought　was　wholly　fictitious；　that　he　himself　loved　the　wife　of　the　Commandant；　and　that　with　her　he　was　about　to　leave　the　island　for　ever。　〃I　am　no　hypocrite；〃　he　thought；　in　his　exaltation。　　〃If　I　choose　to　sin；　I　will　sin　boldly；　and　this　poor　wretch；　who　looks　up　to　me　as　an　angel；　shall　know　me　for　my　true　self。〃

The　notion　of　thus　destroying　his　own　fame　in　the　eyes　of　the　man　whom　he　had　taught　to　love　him；　was　pleasant　to　his　diseased　imagination。　It　was　the　natural　outcome　of　the　morbid　condition　of　mind　into　which　he　had　drifted；　and　he　provided　for　the　complete　execution　of　his　scheme　with　cunning　born　of　the　mischief　working　in　his　brain。　　It　was　desirable　that　the　fatal　stroke　should　be　dealt　at　the　last　possible　instant；　that　he　should　suddenly　unveil　his　own　infamy；　and　then　depart；　never　to　be　seen　again。　　To　this　end　he　had　invented　an　excuse　for　returning　to　the　shore　at　the　latest　possible　moment。　　He　had　purposely　left　in　his　room　a　dressing…bagthe　sort　of　article　one　is　likely　to　forget　in　the　hurry　of　departure　from　one's　house；　and　so　certain　to　remember　when　the　time　comes　to　finally　prepare　for　settling　in　another。　He　had　ingeniously　extracted　from　Blunt　the　fact　that　〃he　didn't　expect　a　wind　before　dark；　but　wanted　all　ship…shape　and　aboard〃；　and　then；　just　as　darkness　fell；　discovered　that　it　was　imperative　for　him　to　go　ashore。　Blunt　cursed；　but；　if　the　chaplain　insisted　upon　going；　there　was　no　help　for　it。

〃There'll　be　a　breeze　in　less　than　two　hours；〃　said　he。　　〃You've　plenty　of　time；　but　if　you're　not　back　before　the　first　puff；　I'll　sail　without　you；　as　sure　as　you're　born。〃　North　assured　him　of　his　punctuality。　　〃Don't　wait　for　me；　Captain；　if　I'm　not　here；〃　said　he　with　the　lightness　of　tone　which　men　use　to　mask　anxiety。　　〃I'd　take　him　at　his　word；　Blunt；〃　said　the　Commandant；　who　was　affably　waiting　to　take　final　farewell　of　his　wife。　　〃Give　way　there；　men；〃　he　shouted　to　the　crew；　〃and　wait　at　the　jetty。　　If　Mr。　North　misses　his　ship　through　your　laziness；　you'll　pay　for　it。〃　　So　the　boat　set　off；　North　laughing　uproariously　at　the　thought　of　being　late。　　Frere　observed　with　some　astonishment　that　the　chaplain　wrapped　himself　in　a　boat　cloak　that　lay　in　the　stern　sheets。　〃Does　the　fellow　want　to　smother　himself　in　a　night　like　this！〃　was　his　remark。　　The　truth　was　that；　though　his　hands　and　head　were　burning；　North's　teeth　chattered　with　cold。　　Perhaps　this　was　the　reason　why；　when　landed　and　out　of　eyeshot　of　the　crew；　he　produced　a　pocket…flask　of　rum　and　eagerly　drank。　　The　spirit　gave　him　courage　for　the　ordeal　to　which　he　had　condemned　himself；　and　with　steadied　step；　he　reached　the　door　of　the　old　prison。　　To　his　surprise；　Gimblett　refused　him　admission！

〃But　I　have　come　direct　from　the　Commandant；〃　said　North。

〃Got　any　order；　sir？〃

〃Order！　　No。〃

〃I　can't　let　you　in；　your　reverence；〃　said　Gimblett。

〃I　want　to　see　the　prisoner　Dawes。　　I　have　a　special　message　for　him。　I　have　come　ashore　on　purpose。〃

〃I　am　very　sorry；　sir〃

〃The　ship　will　sail　in　two　hours；　man；　and　I　shall　miss　her；〃　said　North；　indignant　at　being　frustrated　in　his　design。　　〃Let　me　pass。〃

〃Upon　my　honour；　sir；　I　daren't；〃　said　Gimblett；　who　was　not　without　his　good　points。　　〃You　know　what　authority　is；　sir。〃

North　was　in　despair；　but　a　bright　thought　struck　hima　thought　that；　in　his　soberer　moments；　would　never　have　entered　his　headhe　would　buy　admission。　　He　produced　the　rum　flask　from　beneath　the　sheltering　cloak。　〃Come；　don't　talk　nonsense　to　me；　Gimblett。　　You　don't　suppose　I　would　come　here　without　authority。　　Here；　take　a　pull　at　this；　and　let　me　through。〃　Gimblett's　features　relaxed　into　a　smile。　　〃Well；　sir；　I　suppose　it's　all　right；　if　you　say　so；〃　said　he。　　And　clutching　the　rum　bottle　with　one　hand；　he　opened　the　door　of　Dawes's　cell　with　the　other。

North　entered；　and　as　the　door　closed　behind　him；　the　prisoner；　who　had　been　lying　apparently　asleep　upon　his　bed；　leapt　up；　and　made　as　though　to　catch　him　by　the　throat。



Rufus　Dawes　had　dreamt　a　dream。　　Alone；　amid　the　gathering　glooms；　his　fancy　had　recalled　the　past；　and　had　peopled　it　with　memories。　He　thought　that　he　was　once　more　upon　the　barren　strand　where　he　had　first　met　with　the　sweet　child　he　loved。　　He　lived　again　his　life　of　usefulness　and　honour。　　He　saw　himself　working　at　the　boat；　embarking；　and　putting　out　to　sea。　　The　fair　head　of　the　innocent　girl　was　again　pillowed　on　his　breast；　her　young　lips　again　murmured　words　of　affection　in　his　greedy　ear。　　Frere　was　beside　him；　watching　him；　as　he　had　watched　before。　　Once　again　the　grey　sea　spread　around　him；　barren　of　succour。　Once　again；　in　the　wild；　wet　morning；　he　beheld　the　American　brig　bearing　down　upon　them；　and　saw　the　bearded　faces　of　the　astonished　crew。　　He　saw　Frere　take　the　child　in　his　arms　and　mount　upon　the　deck；　he　heard　the　shout　of　delight　　that　went　up；　and　pressed　again　the　welcoming　hands　which　greeted　the　rescued　castaways。　　The　deck　was　crowded。　　All　the　folk　he　had　ever　known　were　there。　　He　saw　the　white　hair　and　stern　features　of　Sir　Richard　Devine；　and　beside　him　stood；　wringing　her　thin　hands；　his　weeping　mother。　Then　Frere　strode　forward；　and　after　him　John　Rex；　the　convict；　who；　roughly　elbowing　through　the　crowd　of　prisoners　and　gaolers；　would　have　reached　the　spot　where　stood　Sir　Richard　Devine；　but　that　the　corpse　of　the　murdered　Lord　Bellasis　arose　and　thrust　him　back。　　How　the　hammers　clattered　in　the　shipbuilder's　yard！　Was　it　a　coffin　they　were　making？　Not　for　Sylviasurely　not　for　her！　　The　air　grows　heavy；　lurid　with　flame；　and　black　with　smoke。　　The　Hydaspes　is　on　fire！　　Sylvia　clings　to　her　husband。　Base　wretch；　would　you　shake　her　off！　　Look　up；　the　midnight　heaven　is