hard cash-第32章

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　are　_you_　about？　Why；　it　isn't　two　o'clock。〃

The　remark　was　quite　honest：　he　really　feared；　for　a　moment；　that　orb　was　mistaken　and　would　get　himselfand　othersinto　trouble。　However；　the　middy　proved　to　be　wrong；　and　the　sun　right　to　a　minute：　Time　flies　fast　fighting。

Mrs。　Beresford　came　on　deck　with　brat　and　poodle：　Fred；　a　destructive　child；　clapped　his　hands　with　glee　at　the　holes　in　the　canvas：　Snap　toddled　about　smelling　the　blood　of　the　slain；　and　wagging　his　tail　by　halves；　perplexed。　〃Well；　gentlemen；〃　said　Mrs。　Beresford；　〃I　hope　you　have　made　noise　enough　over　one's　head：　and　what　a　time　you　did　take　to　beat　that　little　bit　of　a　thing。　Freddy；　be　quiet；　you　worry　me；　where　is　your　bearer？　Will　anybody　oblige　me　by　finding　Ramgolam？〃

〃I　will；〃　said　Mr。　Tickell　hastily；　and　ran　off　for　the　purpose；　but　he　returned　after　some　time　with　a　long　face。　No　Ramgolam　to　be　found。

Fullalove　referred　herwith　humour…twinkling　eyeto　Vespasian。　〃I　have　a　friend　here　who　says　he　can　tell　you　something　about　him。〃

〃Can　you；　my　good　man？〃　inquired　the　lady；　turning　haughtily　towards　the　negro。

〃Iss；　Missy；〃　said　Vespasian；　showing　his　white　teeth　in　a　broad　grin；　〃dis　child　knows　where　to　find　dat　ar　niggar；　widout　him　been　and　absquatulated　since。〃

〃Then　go　and　fetch　him　directly。〃

Vespasian　went　off　with　an　obedient　start。

This　annoyed　Fullalove；　interfered　with　his　system：　〃Madam；〃　said　he　gravely；　〃would　you　oblige　me　by　bestowing　on　my　friend　a　portion　of　that　courtesy　with　which　you　favour　me；　and　which　becomes　you　so　gracefully？〃

〃Certainly　not；〃　replied　Mrs。　Beresford。　〃Mr。　Fullalove；　I　am　out　of　patience　with　you：　the　idea　of　a　sensible　intelligent　gentleman　like　you　calling　that　creature　your　friend！　And　you　an　American；　where　they　do　nothing　but　whip　them　from　morning　till　night。　Who　ever　heard　of　making　friends　with　a　black？Now　what　is　the　meaning　of　this？　I　detest　practical　jokes。〃　For　the　stalwart　negro　had　returned；　bringing　a　tall　bread…bag　in　his　arms：　he　now　set　it　up　before　her；　remarking；　〃Dis　yar　bag　white　outside；　but　him　'nation　black　inside。〃　To　confirm　his　words；　he　drew　off　the　bag；　and　revealed　Ramgolam；　his　black　skin　powdered　with　meal。　The　good…natured　negro　then　blew　the　flour　off　his　face；　and　dusted　him　a　bit：　the　spectators　laughed　heartily；　but　Ramgolam　never　moved　a　muscle：　not　a　morsel　discomposed　at　what　would　have　made　an　European　miserably　ashamed；　even　in　a　pantomimethe　Caucasian　darkie　retained　all　his　dignity　while　the　African　one　dusted　him；　but；　being　dusted；　he　put　on　his　obsequiousness；　stepped　forward；　joined　his　palms　together　to　Mrs。　Beresfordlike　medieval　knights　and　modern　children　at　their　devotionsand　addressed　her　thus：

〃Daughter　of　light；　he　who　basks　in　your　beams　said　to　himself；　'The　pirates　are　upon　us；　those　children　of　blood；　whom　Sheitan　their　master　blast　for　ever！　They　will　ravish　the　Queen　of　Sunshine　and　the　ayahs；　and　throw　the　sahibs　and　sailors　into　the　sea；　but；　bread　being　the　staff　of　existence；　these　foxes　of　the　water　will　not　harm　it；　but　keep　it　for　their　lawless　appetites；　therefore　Ramgolam；　son　of　Chittroo；　son　of　Soonarayan；　will　put　the　finger　of　silence　on　the　lip　of　discretion；　and　be　bread　in　the　day　of　adversity：　the　sons　of　Sheitan　will　peradventure　return　to　dry　land　and　close　the　eye　of　watchfulness；　then　will　I　emerge　like　the　sun　from　a　cloud；　and　depart　in　peace。〃

〃Oh；　very　well；〃　said　Mrs。　Beresford；　〃then　you　are　an　abominable　egotist；　that　is　all；　and　a　coward：　and　thank　Heaven　Freddy　and　I　were　defended　by　English　and　Americans；　andhem！their　friends；　and　not　by　Hindoos。〃　She　added　charmingly；　〃This　shows　me　my　first　words　on　coming　here　ought　to　have　been　to　offer　my　warmest　thanks　to　the　brave　men　who　have　defended　me　and　my　child；〃　and　swept　them　so　queenly　a　curtesy；　that　the　men's　hats　and　caps　flew　off　in　an　instant　〃Mr。　Black；〃　said　she；　turning　with　a　voice　of　honey　to　Vespasian；　but　aiming　obliquely　at　Fullalove's　heart；　_〃would_　you　oblige　me　by　kicking　that　dog　a　_little：_　he　is　always　smelling　what　does　not　belong　to　himwhy；　it　is　blood；　oh！〃　and　she　turned　pale　in　a　moment。

Sharpe　thought　some　excuse　necessary。　〃You　see；　ma'am；　we　haven't　had　time　to　clean　the　decks　since。〃

〃It　is　the　blood　of　menof　the　poor　fellows　who　have　defended　us　so　nobly；〃　faltered　the　lady；　trembling　visibly。

〃Well；　ma'am；〃　said　Sharpe；　still　half　apologetically；　〃you　know　a　ship　can't　fight　all　day　long　without　an　accident　or　two。〃　He　added；　with　nautical　simplicity　and　love　of　cleanliness；　〃However；　the　deck　will　be　cleaned　and　holy…stoned　to…morrow；　long　before　you　turn　out。〃

Mrs。　Beresford　was　too　much　overcome　to　explain　how　much　deeper　her　emotion　was　than　a　dislike　to　stained　floors。　She　turned　faint；　and　on　getting　the　better　of　that；　went　down　to　her　cabin　crying。　Thence　issued　a　royal　order　that　the　wounded　were　to　have　wine　and　every　luxury　they　could　fancy；　without　limit　or　stintat　her　expense。

The　next　day　a　deep　gloom　reigned　in　the　ship；　the　crew　were　ranged　in　their　Sunday　clothes　and　bare…headed；　a　grating　was　rigged；　Sharpe　read　the　burial　service；　and　the　dead；　each　man　sewed　up　in　his　hammock　with　a　32…lb。　shot；　glided　off　the　grating　into　the　sea　with　a　sullen　plunge；　while　their　shipmates　cried　so　that　the　tears　dripped　on　the　deck。

With　these　regrets　for　the　slain；　too　violent　to　last；　was　mingled　a　gloomy　fear　that　Death　had　a　heavier　blow　in　store。　The　surgeon's　report　of　Captain　Dodd　was　most　alarming；　he　had　become　delirious　about　midnight；　and　so　continued。

Sharpe　commanded　the　ship；　and　the　rough　sailors　stepped　like　cats　over　that　part　of　the　deck　beneath　which　their　unconscious　captain　lay。　If　two　men　met　on　the　quarter…deck；　a　look　of　anxious；　but　not　hopeful；　inquiry　was　sure　to　pass　between　them。

Among　the　constant　inquirers　was　Ramgolam。　The　grave　Hindoo　often　waylaid　the　surgeon　at　the　captain's　door；　to　get　the　first　intelligence　This　marked　sympathy　with　a　hero　in　extremity　was　hardly　expected　from　a　sage　who　at　the　first　note　of　war's　trumpet　had　vanished　in　a　meal…bag。　However；　it　went　down　to　his　credit。　One　person；　however；　took　a　dark　view　of　this　innocent　circumstance　But　then　that　hostile　critic　was　Vespasian；　a　rival　in　matters　of　tint。　He　exploded　in　one　of　those　droll　rages　darkies　seem　liable　to：　〃Massa　cunnel；〃　said　he；　〃what　for　dat　yar　niggar　always　prowling　about　the　capn's　door？　What　for　he　ask　so　many　stupid　questions？　Dat　ole　fox　arter　no　good：　him　heart　so　black　as　um　skin：　dam　ole　niggar！〃

Fullalove　suggested　slily　that　a　person　with　a　dark　skin　might　have　a　grateful　heart：　and　the　colonel；　who　dealt　little　in　innuendo；　said；　〃Come；　don't　you　be　so　hard　on　jet；　you　ebony！〃

〃Bery　well；　gemmen；〃　replied　Vespasian　ceremoniously；　and　with　seeming　acquiescence。　Then；　with　sudden　ire；　〃Because　Goramighty　made　you　white；　you　tink　you　bery　wise　without　any　more　trouble。　Dat　ar　niggar　am　an　abominable　egotisk。〃

〃Pray　what　does　that　mean？〃　inquired　Kenealy　innocently。

〃What　him　mean？　what　him　mean？　Yah！　yah！〃

〃Yes。　What　does　it　mean？〃

〃What　him　mean？　Yah！　What　didn't　you　hear　Missy　Besford　miscall　him　an　abominable　egotisk？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Fullalove；　winking　to　Kenealy；　〃but　we　don't　know　what　it　means。　Do　you；　sir？〃

〃Iss；　sar。　Dat　ar　expression　he　signify　a　darned　old　cuss　dat　says　to　dis　child；　'My　lord　Vespasium；　take　benevolence　on　your　insidious　slave；　and　invest　me　in　a　bread…bag；'　instead　of　fighting　for　de　ladies　like　a　freenindependum　citizen。　Now　you　two　go　fast　asleep；　dis　child　lie　shut　one　eye　and　open　de　oder　bery　wide　open　on　dat　ar　niggar。〃　And　with　this　mysterious　threat　he　stalked　away。

His　contempt　for　a　black　skin；　his　ebullitions　of　unexpected　ire；　his　turgid　pomposity；　and　love　of　long　terms；　may　make　the　reader　smile；　but　they　could　hardly　amuse　his　friends　just　then；　everything　that　touched　upon　Dodd　was　too　serious　now。　The　surgeon　sat　up　with　him　nearly　all　night：　in　the　daytime　those　two　friends　sat　for　hours　in　his　cabin；　watching　sadly；　and　silently　moistening　his　burning　brow　and　his　parched　lips。

At　length；　one　afternoon；　there　came　a　crisis；　which　took　an　unfavourable　turn。　Then　the　surgeon；　speaking　confidentially　to　these　two　staunch　friends；　inquired　if　they　had　asked　themselves　what　should　be　done　with　the　body？　〃Why　I　ask；〃　said　he；　〃is　because　we　are　in　a　very　hot　latitude；　and　if　you　wish　to　convey　it　to　Barkington；　the　measures　ought　to　be　taken　in　time：　in　fact；　within　an　hour　or　two　after　death。〃

The　poor　friends　were　shocked　and　sickened　by　this　horrible　piece　of　foresight。　But　Colonel　Kenealy　said；　with　tears；　in　his　eyes；　that　his　old　friend　should　never　be　buried　like　a　kitten。

〃Then　you　had　better　ask　Sharpe　to　give　me　an　order　for　a　barrel　of　spirits；〃　said　the　surgeon。

〃Yes；　yes；　for　two　if　you　like。　Oh；　don't　die；　Dodd；　my　poor　old　fellow。　How　shall　I　ever　face　his　wifeI　remember　her；　the　loveliest　girl　you　ever　sawwith　such　a　tale　as　this？　She　will　think　it　a　cruel　thing　I　should　come　out　of　it　without　a　scratch；　and　a　ten　times　better　man　to　be　dead：　and　so　it　is；　it　is　cruel；　it　is　unjust；　it　is　monstrous；　him　to　be　lying　there；　and　we　muffs　to　be　sitting　croaking　over　him　and　watching　for　his　last　breath　like　three　cursed　old　ravens。〃　And　the　stout　colonel　groaned　aloud。

When　the　surgeon　left　them；　they　fell　naturally　upon　another　topic；　the　pledge　they　had　given　Dodd　about　the　L。　14；000。　They　ascertained　it　was　upon　him；　next　his　skin；　but　it　seemed　as　unnecessary　as　it　was　repugnant　to　remove　it　from　his　living　person。　They　agreed；　however；　that　instantly　on　his　decease　they　would　take　possession　of　it；　note　the　particulars；　seal　it　up；　and　carry　it　to　Mrs。　Dodd；　with　such　comfort　as　they　could　hope　to　give　her　by　relating　the　gallant　act　in　which　his　precious　life　was　lost。

At　9　P。M。　the　surgeon　took　his　place　by　Dodd's　bedside；　and　the　pair；　whom　one　thing　after　another　had　drawn　so　close　together；　retired　to　Kenealy's　cabin。

Many　a　merry　chat　they　had　had　there；　and　many　a　gaseonade；　being　rival　hunters；　but　now　they　were　together　for　physical　companionship　in　sorrow　rather　than　for　conversation。　They　smoked　their　cigars　in　moody　silence；　and　at　midnight　shook　hands　with　a　sigh　and　parted。　That　sigh　meant　to　say　that　in　the　morning　all　would　be　over。

They　turned　in；　but；　ere　either　of　them　was　asleep；　suddenly　the　captain's　cabin　seemed　to　fill　with　roars　and　shrieks　of　wild　beasts；　that　made　the　whole　ship　ring　in　the　silent　night　The　savage　cries　were　answered　on　deck　by　shouts　of　dismay　and　many　pattering　feet　making　for　the　companion　ladder；　but　the　nearest　persons　to　the　cabin；　and　the　first　to　reach　it；　were　Kenealy　and　Fullalove；　who　burst　in；　the　former　with　a　drawn　sword；　the　latter　with　a　revolver；　both　in　their　nightgowns；　and　there　saw　a　sight　that　took　their　breath　away。

The　surgeon　was　not　there；　and　two　black　men；　one　with　a　knife；　and　one　with　his　bare　claws；　were　fighting　and　struggling　and　trampling　all　over　the　cabin　at　once；　and　the　dying　man　sitting　up　in　his　cot；　pale；　and　glaring　at　them。


CHAPTER　XI

THE　two　supple　dusky　forms　went　whirling　so　fast；　there　was　no　grasping　them　to　part　them。　But　presently　the　negro　seized　the　Hind