hard cash-第35章

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ne：　then　to　windward；　this；　the　more　ticklish　operation；　was　also　done　smartly：　the　wreck　passed　under　the　ship's　quarter；　and　she　drifted　clear　of　it　They　breathed　again。

At　eight　bells　in　the　first　watch　it　began　to　thunder　and　lighten　furiously；　but　the　thunder；　though　close；　was　quite　inaudible　in　the　tremendous　uproar　of　the　wind　and　sea。　It　blew　a　hurricane：　there　were　no　more　squalls　now；　but　one　continuous　tornado；　which　in　its　passage　through　that　great　gaunt　skeleton；　the　ship's　rigging　and　bare　poles；　howled　and　yelled　and　roared　so　terrifically；　as　would　have　silenced　a　salvo　of　artillery　fired　alongside。　The　overwhelming　sea　ran　in　dark　watery　mountains　crested　with　devilish　fire。　The　inky　blackness　added　supernatural　horror；　the　wrath　of　the　Almighty　seemed　upon　them；　and　His　hand　to　drop　the　black　sky　down　on　them　for　their　funeral　pall。　Surely　Noah　from　his　ark　saw　nothing　more　terrible。

What　is　that？　Close　on　the　lee　bow：　chose：　the　flash　of　a　gun；　another；　another；　another。　A　ship　in　distress　firing　minute…guns　in　their　ears；　yet　no　sound：　human　thunder　silenced；　as　God's　thunder　was　silenced；　by　the　uproar　of　His　greater　creatures　in　their　mad　rage。　The　_Agra_　fired　two　minute…guns　to　let　the　other　poor　ship　know　she　had　a　companion　in　her　helplessness　and　her　distress；　and　probably　a　companion　in　her　fate。　Even　this　companionship　added　its　mite　of　danger：　for　both　ships　were　mere　playthings　of　the　elements；　they　might　be　tossed　together；　and　then；　what　would　be　their　fate？　Two　eggs　clashed　together　in　a　great　boiling　caldron；　and　all　the　life　spilt　out。

Yet　did　each　flash　shoot　a　ray　of　humanity　and　sympathy　into　the　thick　black　supernatural　horror。

And　now　came　calamity　upon　calamity。　A　tremendous　sea　broke　the　tiller　at　the　rudder…head；　and　not　only　was　the　ship　in　danger　of　falling　off　and　shipping　the　sea；　but　the　rudder　hammered　her　awfully；　and　bade　fair　to　stave　in　her　counter；　which　is　another　word　for　Destruction。　Thus　death　came　at　them　with　two　hands　open　at　once。

These　vessels　always　carry　a　spare　tiller：　they　tried　to　ship　it；　but　the　difficulty　was　prodigious。　No　light　but　the　miserable　deck…lanternone　glowworm　in　Egypt　supernaturally　darkenedthe　_Agra_　never　on　an　even　keel；　and　heeling　over　like　a　seesaw　more　than　a　ship；　and　then　every　time　they　did　place　the　tiller；　and　get　the　strain　on　with　their　luff　tackles；　the　awful　sea　gave　it　a　blow　and　knocked　it　away　like　a　hair。

At　last　they　hit　it　off；　or　thought　they　had；　for　the　ponderous　thumps　of　the　rudder　ceased　entirely。　However；　the　ship　did　not　obey　this　new　tiller　like　the　old　one：　her　head　fell　off　in　an　unlucky　moment　when　seven　waves　were　rolling　in　one；　and；　on　coming　to　the　windward　again；　she　shipped　a　sea。　It　came　in　over　her　bow　transversely；　broke　as　high　as　the　mainstay；　and　hid　and　buried　the　whole　ship　before　the　mast；　carried　away　the　waist　bulwarks　on　both　sides；　filled　the　launch；　and　drowned　the　live　stock　which　were　in　it；　swept　four　water…butts　and　three　men　away　into　the　sea；　like　corks　and　straws；　and　sent　tons　of　water　down　the　forescuttle　and　main　hatchway；　which　was　partly　opened；　not　to　stifle　the　crew；　and　flooded　the　gun…deck　ankle…deep。

Dodd；　who　was　in　his　cabin；　sent　the　whole　crew　to　the　pumps；　except　the　men　at　the　wheel；　and　prepared　for　the　worst。

In　men　so　brave　as　he　was；　when　Hope　dies　Fear　dies。　His　chief　care　now　was　to　separate　the　fate　of　those　he　loved　from　his　own。　He　took　a　bottle；　inserted　the　fatal　money　in　it　with　a　few　words　of　love　to　his　wife；　and　of　direction　to　any　stranger　that　should　fall　in　with　it；　secured　the　cork　with　melted　sealing…wax；　tied　oilskin　over　it　and　melted　wax　on　that；　applied　a　preparation　to　the　glass　to　close　the　pores；　and　to　protect　it　against　other　accidents；　and　attract　attention；　fastened　a　black　painted　bladder　to　it　by　a　stout　tarred　twine；　and　painted　_〃Agra_；　lost　at　sea；〃　in　white　on　the　bladder。　He　had　logged　each　main　incident　of　the　storm　with　that　curt　business…like　accuracy　which　reads　so　cold　and　small　a　record　of　these　great　and　terrible　tragedies。　He　now　made　a　final　entry　a　little　more　in　character　with　the　situation：

〃About　eight　bells　in　the　morning　watch　shipped　a　heavy　sea　forward。　The　rudder　being　now　damaged；　and　the　ship　hardly　manageable；　brought　the　log　and　case　on　check；　expecting　to　founder　shortly。　Sun　and　moon　hidden　this　two　days；　and　no　observation　possible；　but　by　calculation　of　wind　and　current；　we　should　be　about　fifty　miles　to　the　southward　of　the　Mauritius。　God's　will　be　done。〃

He　got　on　deck　with　the　bottle　in　his　pocket　and　the　bladder　peeping　out：　put　the　log　and　its　case　down　on　deck；　and　by　means　of　the　life…lines　crawled　along　on　his　knees；　and　with　great　difficulty；　to　the　wheel。　Finding　the　men　could　hardly　hold　on；　and　dreading　another　sea；　Dodd；　with　his　own　hands；　lashed　them　to　the　helm。

While　thus　employed；　he　felt　the　ship　give　a　slight　roll；　a　very　slight　roll　to　windward。　His　experienced　eye　lightened　with　hope；　he　cast　his　eager　glance　to　leeward。　There　it　is　a　sailor　looks　for　the　first　spark　of　hope。　Ay；　thereaway　was　a　little　gleam　of　light。　He　patted　the　helmsman　on　the　shoulder　and　pointed　to　it；　for　now　neither　could　one　man　speak　for　the　wind；　nor　another　hear。　The　sailor　nodded　joyfully。

Presently　the　continuous　tornado　broke　into　squalls。

Hope　grew　brighter。

But；　unfortunately；　in　one　furious　squall　the　ship　broke　round　off；　so　as　to　present　her　quarter　to　the　sea　at　an　unlucky　moment：　for　it　came　seven　deep　again；　a　roaring　mountain；　and　hurled　itself　over　her　stern　and　quarter。　The　mighty　mass　struck　her　stem　frame　with　the　weight　of　a　hundred　thousand　tons　of　water；　and　drove　her　forward　as　a　boy　launches　his　toy…boat　on　a　pond；　and　though　she　made　so　little　resistance；　stove　in　the　dead　lights　and　the　port　frames；　burst　through　the　cabin　bulkheads；　and　washed　out　all　the　furniture；　and　Colonel　Kenealy　in　his　nightgown　with　a　table　in　his　arms　borne　on　water　three　feet　deep；　and　carried　him　under　the　poop　awning　away　to　the　lee　quarter…deck　scuppers；　and　flooded　the　lower　deck。　Above；　it　swept　the　quarter…deck　clean　of　everything　except　the　shrieking　helmsmen；　washed　Dodd　away　like　a　cork；　and　would　have　carried　him　overboard　if　he　had　not　brought　up　against　the　mainmast　and　grasped　it　like　grim　death；　half　drowned；　half　stunned；　sorely　bruised；　and　gasping　like　a　porpoise　ashore。

He　held　on　by　the　mast　in　water　and　foam；　panting。　He　rolled　his　despairing　eyes　around；　the　bulwarks　fore　and　aft　were　all　in　ruins；　with　wide　chasms；　as　between　the　battlements　of　some　decayed　castle；　and　through　the　gaps　he　saw　the　sea　yawning　wide　for　him。　He　dare　not　move：　no　man　was　safe　a　moment　unless　lashed　to　mast　or　helm。　He　held　on；　expecting　death。　But　presently　it　struck　him　he　could　see　much　farther　than　before。　He　looked　up：　it　was　clearing　overhead；　and　the　uproar　abating　visibly。　And　now　the　wind　did　not　decline　as　after　a　gale：　extraordinary　to　the　last；　it　blew　itself　out。

Sharpe　came　on　deck；　and　crawled　on　all　fours　to　his　captain；　and　helped　him　to　a　life…line。　He　held　on　by　it；　and　gave　his　orders。　The　wind　was　blown　out；　but　the　sea　was　as　dangerous　as　ever。　The　ship　began　to　roll　to　windward。　If　that　was　not　stopped；　her　fate　was　sealed。　Dodd　had　the　main　trysail　set　and　then　the　fore　trysail；　before　he　would　yield　to　go　below；　though　drenched；　and　sore；　and　hungry；　and　worn　out。　Those　sails　steadied　the　ship；　the　sea　began　to　go　down　by　degrees；　the　celestial　part　of　nature　was　more　generous：　away　flew　every　cloud；　out　came　the　heavenly　sky　bluer　and　lovelier　than　ever　they　had　seen　it；　the　sun　flamed　in　its　centre。　Nature；　after　three　days'　eclipse；　was　so　lovely；　it　seemed　a　new　heavens　and　a　new　earth。　If　there　was　an　infidel　on　board　who　did　not　believe　in　God；　now　his　soul　felt　Him；　in　spite　of　the　poor　little　head。　As　for　Dodd；　who　was　naturally　pious；　he　raised　his　eyes　towards　that　lovely　sky　in　heartfelt；　though　silent；　gratitude　to　its　Maker　for　saving　the　ship　and　cargo　and　her　people's　lives；　not　forgetting　the　private　treasure　he　was　carrying　home　to　his　dear　wife　and　children。

With　this　thought；　he　naturally　looked　down；　but　missed　the　bladder　that　had　lately　protruded　from　his　pocket　He　clapped　his　hand　to　his　pocket　all　in　a　flutter。　The　bottle　was　gone。　In　a　fever　of　alarm　and　anxiety；　but　with　good　hopes　of　finding　it；　he　searched　the　deck；　he　looked　in　every　cranny；　behind　every　coil　of　rope　the　sea　had　not　carried　away。

In　vain。

The　sea；　acting　on　the　buoyant　bladder　attached；　had　clearly　torn　the　bottle　out　of　his　pocket；　when　it　washed　him　against　the　mast。　His　treasure　then　must　have　been　driven　much　farther；　and　how　far？　Who　could　tell？

It　flashed　on　the　poor　man　with　fearful　distinctness　that　it　must　either　have　been　picked　up　by　somebody　in　the　ship　ere　now；　or　else　carried　out　to　sea。

Strict　inquiry　was　made　amongst　the　men。

No　one　had　seen　it

The　fruit　of　his　toil　and　prudence；　the　treasure　Love；　not　Avarice；　had　twined　with　his　heartstrings；　was　gone。　In　its　defence　he　had　defeated　two　pirates；　each　his　superior　in　force；　and　now　conquered　the　elements　at　their　maddest。　And　in　the　very　moment　of　that　great　victoryIt　was　gone。


CHAPTER　XII

IN　the　narrative　of　home　events　I　skipped　a　little　business；　not　quite　colourless；　but　irrelevant　to　the　love　passages　then　on　hand。　It　has；　however；　a　connection　with　the　curious　events　now　converging　to　a　point：　so；　with　the　reader's　permission；　I　will　place　it　in　logical　sequence；　disregarding　the　order　of　time。　The　day　Dr。　Sampson　splashed　among　the　ducks；　and　one　of　them　hid　till　dinner；　the　rest　were　seated　at　luncheon；　when　two　patients　were　announced　as　waitingMr。　and　Mrs。　Maxley。　Sampson　refused　to　see　them；　on　this　ground：　〃I　will　not　feed　and　heal。〃　But　Mrs。　Dodd　interceded；　and　he　yielded。　〃Well；　then；　show　them　in　here。　They　are　better　cracters　than　pashints。〃　On　this；　a　stout　fresh…coloured　woman；　the　picture　of　health；　was　ushered　in　and　curtseyed　all　round。　〃Well；　what　is　the　matter　now？〃　inquired　Sampson　rather　roughly。　〃Be　seated；　Mrs。　Maxley；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd；　benignly。

〃I　thank　ye　kindly；　ma'am；〃　and　she　sat　down。　〃Doctor；　it　is　that　pain。〃

〃Well；　don't　say　'that　pain。'　Describe　it。　Now　listen　all　of　ye；　ye're　goen　to　get　a　clinical　lecture。〃

〃If　_you_　please；　ma'am；〃　said　the　patient；　〃it　takes　me　here　under　my　left　breest；　and　runs　right　to　my　elbow；　it　do；　and　bitter　bad　'tis　while　it　do　last；　chokes　me　mostly；　and　I　feel　as　I　must　die：　and　if　I　was　to　move　hand　or　fut；　I　think　I　_should_　die；　that　I　do。〃

〃Poor　woman！〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd。

〃Oh；　she　isn't　dead　yet；〃　cried　Sampson　cheerfully。　〃She'll　sell　addled　eggs　over　all　our　tombstones；　that　is　to　say；　if　she　minds　what　I　bid　her。　When　was　your　last　spasm？〃

〃No　longer　agone　that　yestereen；　ma'am；　and　so　I　said　to　my　master；　'The　doctor　he　is　due　to…morrow；　Sally　up　at　Albion　tells　me；　and'〃

〃Whist！　whist！　who　cares　what　you　said　to　Jack；　and　Jill　said　to　you？　What　was　the　cause？〃

〃The　cause！　What；　of　my　pain？　He　says；　'What　was　the　cause？'〃

〃Ay；　the　cause。　Just　obsairve；　jintlemen；〃　said　Sampson；　addressing　imaginary　students；　〃how　startled　they　all　are　if　a　docker　deviates　from