hard cash-第41章

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The　ship　began　to　show　the　first　signs　of　breaking　up：　hammered　to　death　by　the　sea；　she　discharged　the　oakum　from　her　opening　seams；　and　her　decks　began　to　gape　and　grin　fore　and　aft。　Corpses　of　drunken　sailors　drowned　between　decks　now　floated　up　amidships；　and　washed　and　rolled　about　among　the　survivors'　feet　These；　seeing　no　hope；　went　about　making　up　all　quarrels；　and　shaking　hands　in　token　of　a　Christian　end。　One　or　two　came　to　Dodd　with　their　hands　out。

〃Avast　ye　lubbers！〃　said　he　angrily；　〃do　you　think　I　have　time　for　nonsense？　Foksel　ahoy！　axes；　and　cut　the　weather　shrouds！〃

It　was　done；　the　foremast　went　by　the　board　directly；　and　fell　to　leeward：　a　few　blows　of　the　axe　from　Dodd's　own　hand　sent　the　mainmast　after　it。

The　_Agra_　rose　a　streak；　and　the　next　wave　carried　her　a　little　farther　on　shore。

And　now　the　man　in　charge　of　the　hawser　reported　with　joy　that　there　was　a　strain　on　it。

This　gave　those　on　board　a　hope　of　life。　Dodd　bustled　and　had　the　hawser　carefully　payed　out　by　two　men；　while　he　himself　secured　the　other　end　in　the　mizen　top：　he　had　left　that　mast　standing　on　purpose。

There　was　no　fog　here；　but　great　heavy　black　clouds　flying　about　with　amazing　swiftness　extinguished　the　moon　at　intervals：　at　others　she　glimmered　through　a　dull　mist　in　which　she　was　veiled；　and　gave　the　poor　souls　on　the　_Agra_　a　dim　peep　of　the　frail　and　narrow　bridge　they　must　pass　to　live。　A　thing　like　a　black　snake　went　down　from　the　mizen…top；　bellying　towards　the　yawning　sea；　and　soon　lost　to　sight：　it　was　seen　rising　again　among　some　lanterns　on　the　rock　ashore：　but　what　became　of　it　in　the　middle？　The　darkness　seemed　to　cut　it　in　two；　the　sea　to　swallow　it。　Yet；　to　get　from　a　ship　going　to　pieces　under　them；　the　sailors　precipitated　themselves　eagerly　on　that　black　thread　bellying　to　the　sea　and　flickering　in　the　wind。　They　went　down　it；　one　after　another；　and　anxious　eyes　straining　after　them　saw　them　no　more：　but　this　was　seen；　that　scarce　one　in　three　emerged　into　the　lights　ashore。

Then　Dodd　got　an　axe；　and　stood　in　the　top；　and　threatened　to　brain　the　first　man　who　attempted　to　go　on　the　rope。

〃We　must　make　it　taut　first；〃　said　he；　〃bear　a　hand　here　with　a　tackle。〃

Even　while　this　was　being　done；　the　other　rope；　whose　end　he　had　fired　ashore；　was　seen　moving　to　windward。　The　natives；　it　seems；　had　found　it；　half　buried　in　sand。

Dodd　unlashed　the　end　from　the　bulwarks　and　carried　it　into　the　top；　and　made　it　fast：　and　soon　there　were　two　black　snakes　dipping　shrorewards　and　waving　in　the　air　side　by　side。

The　sailors　scrambled　for　a　place；　and　some　of　them　were　lost　by　their　own　rashness。　Kenealy　waited　coolly；　and　went　by　himself。

Finally；　Dodd　was　left　in　the　ship　with　Mr。　Sharpe　and　the　women；　and　little　Murphy；　and　Ramgolam；　whom　Robarts　had　liberated　to　show　his　contempt　of　Dodd。

He　now　advised　Mrs。　Beresford　to　be　lashed　to　Sharpe　and　himself；　and　venture　the　passage；　but　she　screamed　and　clung　to　him；　and　said；　〃I　dare　not！　oh　I　dare　not！〃

〃Then　I　must　lash　you　to　a　spar；〃　said　he；　〃for　she　can't　last　much　longer。〃　He　ordered　Sharpe　ashore。　Sharpe　shook　hands　with　him；　and　went　on　the　rope　with　tears　in　his　eyes。

Dodd　went　hard　to　work；　lashed　Mrs。　Beresford　to　a　piece　of　broken　water…butt：　filled　Fred's　pockets　with　corks　and　sewed　them　up　（you　never　caught　Dodd　without　a　needle；　only；　unlike　the　women's；　it　was　always　kept　threaded）。　Mrs。　Beresford　threw　her　arms　round　his　neck　and　kissed　him　wildly：　a　way　women　have　in　mortal　peril：　it　is　but　their　homage　to　courage。　〃All　right！〃　said　Dodd；　interpreting　it　as　appeal　to　his　protection；　and　affecting　cheerfulness：　〃we'll　get　ashore　together　on　the　poop　awning；　or　somehow；　never　you　fear。　I'd　give　a　thousand　pounds　to　know　where　high　water　is。〃

At　this　moment；　with　a　report　like　a　cannon；　the　lower　decks　burst　fore　and　aft：　another　still　louder；　and　the　_Agra's_　back　broke。　She　parted　amidships　with　a　fearful　yawn；　and　the　waves　went　toppling　and　curling　clean　through　her。

At　this　appalling　sound　and　sight；　the　few　creatures　left　on　the　poop　cowered　screaming　and　clinging　at　Dodd's　knees；　and　fought　for　a　bit　of　him。

Yes；　as　a　flood　brings　incongruous　animals　together　on　some　little　isle　in　brotherhood　of　fearcreatures　who　never　met　before　without　one　eating　the　other；　and　there　they　cuddleso　the　thief　Ramgolam　clung　to　the　man　he　had　tried　to　rob；　the　Hindoo　Ayan　and　the　English　maid　hustled　their　mistress；　the　haughty　Mrs。　Beresford；　and　were　hustled　by　her；　for　a　bit　of　this　human　pillar；　and　little　Murphy　and　Fred　Beresford　wriggled　in　at　him　where　they　could：　and　the　poor　goat　crept　into　the　quivering　mass　trembling　like　an　aspen；　and　not　a　butt　left　either　in　his　head　or　his　heart。　Dodd　stood　in　the　middle　of　these　tremblers；　a　rock　of　manhood：　and　when　he　was　silent　and　they　heard　only　the　voice　of　the　waves；　they　despaired；　and　whenever　he　spoke；　they　started　at　the　astounding　calmness　of　his　voice　and　words；　and　life　sounded　possible。

〃Come；〃　said　he；　〃this　won't　do　any　longer。　All　hands　into　the　mizen…top！〃

He　helped　them　all　up；　and　stood　on　the　ratlines　himself：　and；　if　you　will　believe　me；　the　poor　goat　wailed　like　a　child　below。　He　found　in　that　new　terror　and　anguish　a　voice　goat　was　never　heard　to　speak　in　before。　But　they　had　to　leave　him　on　deck：　no　help　for　it。　Dodd　advised　Mrs。　Beresford　once　more　to　attempt　the　rope：　she　declined。　〃I　dare　not！　I　dare　not！〃　she　cried；　but　she　begged　Dodd　hard　to　go　on　it　and　save　himself。

It　was　a　strong　temptation：　he　clutched　the　treasure　in　his　bosom；　and　one　sob　burst　from　the　strong　man。

That　sob　was　but　the　tax　paid　by　Nature；　for　pride；　humanity；　and　manhood　stood　staunch　in　spite　of　it。　〃No；　no；　I　can't；〃　said　he　〃I　mustn't。　Don't　tempt　me　to　leave　you　in　this　plight；　and　be　a　cur！　Live　or　die；　I　must　be　the　last　man　on　her。　Here's　something　coming　out　to　us；　the　Lord　in　Heaven　be　praised！〃

A　bright　light　was　seen　moving　down　the　black　line　that　held　them　to　the　shore；　it　descended　slowly　within　a　foot　of　the　billows；　and　lighting　them　up　showed　their　fearful　proximity　to　the　rope　in　mid…passage：　they　had　washed　off　many　a　poor　fellow　at　that　part。

〃Look　at　that！　Thank　Heaven　you　did　not　try　it！〃　said　Dodd　to　Mrs。　Beresford。

At　tins　moment　a　higher　wave　than　usual　swallowed　up　the　light：　there　was　a　loud　cry　of　dismay　from　the　shore；　and　a　wail　of　despair　from　the　ship。

No！　not　lost　after　all！　The　light　emerged；　and　mounted；　and　mounted　towards　the　ship。

It　came　near；　and　showed　the　black　shiny　body　of　Vespasian；　with　very　little　on　but　a　handkerchief　and　a　lanternthe　former　round　his　waist；　and　the　latter　lashed　to　his　back：　he　arrived　with　a　〃Yah！　yah！〃　and　showed　his　white　teeth　in　a　grin。

Mrs。　Beresford　clutched　his　shoulder；　and　whimpered；　〃　Oh；　Mr。　Black！〃

〃Iss；　Missy；　dis　child　bring　good　news。　Cap'n！　Massah　Fullalove　send　you　his　congratulations；　and　the　compliments　of　the　season；　and　take　the　liberty　to　observe　the　tide　am　turn　in　twenty　minutes。〃

The　good　news　thus　quaintly　announced　caused　an　outburst　of　joy　from　Dodd；　and；　sailor…like；　he　insisted　on　all　hands　joining　in　a　cheer。　The　shore　re…echoed　it　directly。　And　this　encouraged　the　forlorn　band　still　more；　to　hear　other　hearts　beating　for　them　so　near。　Even　the　intervening　waves　could　not　quite　annul　the　sustaining　power　of　sympathy。

At　this　moment　came　the　first　faint　streaks　of　welcome　dawn；　and　revealed　their　situation　more　fully。

The　vessel　lay　on　the　edge　of　a　sandbank。　She　was　clean　in　two；　the　stern　lying　somewhat　higher　than　the　stem。　The　sea　rolled　through　her　amidships　six　feet　broad；　frightful　to　look　at；　and　made　a　clean　breach　over　her　forward；　all　except　the　bowsprit　to　the　end　of　which　the　poor　sailors　were　now　discovered　to　be　clinging。　The　afterpart　of　the　poop　was　out　of　water；　and　in　a　corner　of　it　the　goat　crouched　like　a　rabbit：　four　dead　bodies　washed　about　beneath　the　party　trembling　in　the　mizen…top；　and　one　had　got　jammed　in　the　wheel；　face　uppermost　and　glared　up　at　them；　gazing　terror…stricken　down。

No　sign　of　the　tide　turning　yet；　and　much　reason　to　fear　it　would　turn　too　late　for　them　and　the　poor　fellows　shivering　on　the　bowsprit。

These　fears　were　well　founded。

A　huge　sea　rolled　in；　and　turned　the　forepart　of　the　vessel　half　over；　buried　the　bowsprit；　and　washed　the　men　off　into　the　breakers。

Mrs。　Beresford　sank　down；　and　prayed；　holding　Vespasian　by　the　knee。

Fortunately；　as　in　that　vessel　wrecked　long　syne　on　Melita；　〃the　hind　part　of　the　ship　stuck　fast　and　remained　immovable。〃

But　for　how　long？

Each　wave　now　struck　the　ship's　weather　quarter　with　a　sound　like　a　cannon　fired　in　a　church；　and　sent　the　water　clear　into　the　mizen…top。　It　hit　them　like　strokes　of　a　whip。　They　were　drenched　to　the　skin；　chilled　to　the　bone；　and　frozen　to　the　heart　with　fear。　They　made　acquaintance　that　hour　with　Death。　Ay；　Death　itself　has　no　bitterness　that　forlorn　cluster　did　not　feel：　only　the　insensibility　that　ends　that　bitterness　was　wanting。

Now　the　sea；　you　must　know；　was　literally　strewed　with　things　out　of　the　_Agra_；　masts；　rigging；　furniture；　tea…chests；　bundles　of　canes；　chairs；　tables；　but　of　all　this　jetsam；　Dodd's　eye　had　been　for　some　little　time　fixed　on　one　object：　a　live　sailor　drifting　ashore　on　a　great　wooden　case。　It　struck　him　after　a　while　that　the　man　made　very　little　way；　and　at　last　seemed　to　go　up　and　down　in　one　place。　By…and…bye　he　saw　him　nearer　and　nearer；　and　recognised　him。　It　was　one　of　the　three　washed　off　the　bowsprit。

He　cried　joyfully；　〃The　tide　has　turned！　here's　Thompson　coming　out　to　sea。〃

Then　there　ensued　a　dialogue；　incredible　to　landsmen；　between　these　two　sailors；　the　captain　of　the　ship　and　the　captain　of　the　foretop；　one　perched　on　a　stationary　fragment　of　that　vessel；　the　other　drifting　on　a　pianoforte；　and　both　bawling　at　one　another　across　the　jaws　of　death。

〃Thompson　ahoy！〃

〃Hal…lo！〃

〃Whither　bound？〃

〃Going　out　with　the　tide；　and　be　dd　to　me。〃

〃What；　can't　ye　swim　？〃

〃Like　a　brass　figure…head。　It's　all　over　with　poor　Jack；　sir。〃

〃All　over！　Don't　tell　me！　Look　out　now　as　you　drift　under　our　stern；　and　we'll　lower　you　the　four…inch　hawser。〃

〃Lord　bless　you；　sir；　do；　pray！〃　cried　Thompson；　losing　his　recklessness　with　the　chance　of　life。

By　this　time　the　shore　was　black　with　people；　and　a　boat　was　brought　down　to　the　beach；　but　to　attempt　to　launch　it　was　to　be　sucked　out　to　sea。

At　present　all　eyes　were　fixed　on　Thompson　drifting　to　destruction。

Dodd　cut　the　four…inch　hawser；　and　Vespasian；　on　deck；　lowered　it　with　a　line；　so　that　Thompson　presently　drifted　right　athwart　it。　〃All　right；　sir！〃　said　he；　grasping　it；　and；　amidst　thundering　acclamations；　was　drawn　to　land　full　of　salt　water　and　all　but　insensible。　The　piano　landed　at　Dunkirk　three　weeks　later。

In　the　bustle　of　this　good　and　smart　action　the　tide　retired　perceptibly。

By…and…bye　the　sea　struck　lower　and　with　less　weight。

At　9　P。　M。　Dodd　took　his　little　party　down　on　deck　again；　being　now　the　safest　place；　for　the　mast　might　go。

It　was　a　sad　scene：　the　deck　was　now　dry；　and　the　dead　bodies　lay　quiet　around　them　with　glassy　eyes；　and；　grotesquely　horrible；　the　lo