armadale-第28章

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while　we　are　brothers　still！〃

Allan　turned　away　quickly；　convinced　that　his　mind　had　not　yet
recovered　the　shock　of　the　fainting　fit。　〃Don't　forget　the
whisky！〃　he　said；　cheerfully；　as　he　sprang　into　the　rigging；　and
mounted　to　the　mizzen…top。

It　was　past　two；　the　moon　was　waning；　and　the　darkness　that　comes
before　dawn　was　beginning　to　gather　round　the　wreck。　Behind
Allan；　as　he　now　stood　looking　out　from　the　elevation　of　the
mizzen…top；　spread　the　broad　and　lonely　sea。　Before　him　were　the
low；　black；　lurking　rocks；　and　the　broken　waters　of　the　channel；
pouring　white　and　angry　into　the　vast　calm　of　the　westward　ocean
beyond。　On　the　right　hand；　heaved　back　grandly　from　the
water…side；　were　the　rocks　and　precipices；　with　their　little
table…lands　of　grass　between；　the　sloping　downs；　and
upward…rolling　heath　solitudes　of　the　Isle　of　Man。　On　the　left
hand　rose　the　craggy　sides　of　the　Islet　of　the　Calf；　here　rent
wildly　into　deep　black　chasms；　there　lying　low　under　long
sweeping　acclivities　of　grass　and　heath。　No　sound　rose；　no　light
was　visible；　on　either　shore。　The　black　lines　of　the　topmost
masts　of　the　wreck　looked　shadowy　and　faint　in　the　darkening
mystery　of　the　sky；　the　land　breeze　had　dropped；　the　small
shoreward　waves　fell　noiseless：　far　or　near；　no　sound　was　audible
but　the　cheerless　bubbling　of　the　broken　water　ahead；　pouring
through　the　awful　hush　of　silence　in　which　earth　and　ocean　waited
for　the　coming　day。

Even　Allan's　careless　nature　felt　the　solemn　influence　of　the
time。　The　sound　of　his　own　voice　startled　him　when　he　looked　down
and　hailed　his　friend　on　deck

〃I　think　I　see　one　house；〃　he　said。　〃Here…away；　on　the　mainland
to　the　right。〃　He　looked　again；　to　make　sure；　at　a　dim　little
patch　of　white；　with　faint　white　lines　behind　it；　nestling　low　in
a　grassy　hollow；　on　the　main　island。　〃It　looks　like　a　stone　house
and　inclosure；〃　he　resumed。　〃I'll　hail　it；　on　the　chance。〃　He
passed　his　arm　round　a　rope　to　steady　himself；　made　a
speaking…trumpet　of　his　hands；　and　suddenly　dropped　them　again
without　uttering　a　sound。　〃It's　so　awfully　quiet；〃　he　whispered
to　himself。　〃I'm　half　afraid　to　call　out。〃　He　looked　down　again
on　deck。　〃I　shan't　startle　you；　Midwinter；　shall　I？〃　he　said；
with　an　uneasy　laugh。　He　looked　once　more　at　the　faint　white
object；　in　the　grassy　hollow。　〃It　won't　do　to　have　come　up　here
for　nothing；〃　he　thought；　and　made　a　speaking…trumpet　of　his
hands　again。　This　time　he　gave　the　hail　with　the　whole　power　of
his　lungs。　〃On　shore　there！〃　he　shouted；　turning　his　face　to　the
main　island。　〃Ahoy…hoy…hoy！〃

The　last　echoes　of　his　voice　died　away　and　were　lost。　No　sound
answered　him　but　the　cheerless　bubbling　of　the　broken　water
ahead。

He　looked　down　again　at　his　friend；　and　saw　the　dark　figure　of
Midwinter　rise　erect；　and　pace　the　deck　backward　and　forward；
never　disappearing　out　of　sight　of　the　cabin　when　it　retired
toward　the　bows　of　the　wreck；　and　never　passing　beyond　the　cabin
when　it　returned　toward　the　stern。　〃He　is　impatient　to　get　away；〃
thought　Allan；　〃I'll　try　again。〃　He　hailed　the　land　once　more；
and；　taught　by　previous　experience；　pitched　his　voice　in　its
highest　key。

This　time　another　sound　than　the　sound　of　the　bubbling　water
answered　him。　The　lowing　of　frightened　cattle　rose　from　the
building　in　the　grassy　hollow；　and　traveled　far　and　drearily
through　the　stillness　of　the　morning　air。　Allan　waited　and
listened。　If　the　building　was　a　farmhouse　the　disturbance　among
the　beasts　would　rouse　the　men。　If　it　was　only　a　cattle…stable；
nothing　more　would　happen。　The　lowing　of　the　frightened　brutes
rose　and　fell　drearily；　the　minutes　passed；　and　nothing　happened。

〃Once　more！〃　said　Allan；　looking　down　at　the　restless　figure
pacing　beneath　him。　For　the　third　time　he　hailed　the　land。　For
the　third　time　he　waited　and　listened。

In　a　pause　of　silence　among　the　cattle；　he　heard　behind　him；　on
the　opposite　shore　of　the　channel；　faint　and　far　among　the
solitudes　of　the　Islet　of　the　Calf；　a　sharp；　sudden　sound；　like
the　distant　clash　of　a　heavy
　door…bolt　drawn　back。　Turning　at　once　in　the　new　direction；　he
strained　his　eyes　to　look　for　a　house。　The　last　faint　rays　of　the
waning　moonlight　trembled　here　and　there　on　the　higher　rocks；　and
on　the　steeper　pinnacles　of　ground；　but　great　strips　of　darkness
lay　dense　and　black　over　all　the　land　between；　and　in　that
darkness　the　house；　if　house　there　were；　was　lost　to　view。

〃I　have　roused　somebody　at　last；〃　Allan　called　out；
encouragingly；　to　Midwinter；　still　walking　to　and　fro　on　the
deck；　strangely　indifferent　to　all　that　was　passing　above　and
beyond　him。　〃Look　out　for　the　answering；　hail！〃　And　with　his　face
set　toward　the　islet；　Allan　shouted　for　help。

The　shout　was　not　answered；　but　mimicked　with　a　shrill；　shrieking
derision；　with　wilder　and　wilder　cries；　rising　out　of　the　deep
distant　darkness；　and　mingling　horribly　the　expression　of　a　human
voice　with　the　sound　of　a　brute's。　A　sudden　suspicion　crossed
Allan's　mind；　which　made　his　head　swim　and　turned　his　hand　cold
as　it　held　the　rigging。　In　breathless　silence　he　looked　toward
the　quarter　from　which　the　first　mimicry　of　his　cry　for　help　had
come。　After　a　moment's　pause　the　shrieks　were　renewed；　and　the
sound　of　them　came　nearer。　Suddenly　a　figure；　which　seemed　the
figure　of　a　man；　leaped　up　black　on　a　pinnacle　of　rock；　and
capered　and　shrieked　in　the　waning　gleam　of　the　moonlight。　The
screams　of　a　terrified　woman　mingled　with　the　cries　of　the
capering　creature　on　the　rock。　A　red　spark　flashed　out　in　the
darkness　from　a　light　kindled　in　an　invisible　window。　The　hoarse
shouting　of　a　man's　voice　in　anger　was　heard　through　the　noise。　A
second　black　figure　leaped　up　on　the　rock；　struggled　with　the
first　figure；　and　disappeared　with　it　in　the　darkness。　The　cries
grew　fainter　and　fainter；　the　screams　of　the　woman　were　stilled；
the　hoarse　voice　of　the　man　was　heard　again　for　a　moment；　hailing
the　wreck　in　words　made　unintelligible　by　the　distance；　but　in
tones　plainly　expressive　of　rage　and　fear　combined。　Another
moment；　and　the　clang　of　the　door…bolt　was　heard　again；　the　red
spark　of　light　was　quenched　in　darkness；　and　all　the　islet　lay
quiet　in　the　shadows　once　more。　The　lowing　of　the　cattle　on　the
main…land　ceased；　rose　again；　stopped。　Then；　cold　and　cheerless
as　ever；　the　eternal　bubbling　of　the　broken　water　welled　up
through　the　great　gap　of　silencethe　one　sound　left；　as　the
mysterious　stillness　of　the　hour　fell　like　a　mantle　from　the
heavens；　and　closed　over　the　wreck。

Allan　descended　from　his　place　in　the　mizzen…top；　and　joined　his
friend　again　on　deck。

〃We　must　wait　till　the　ship…breakers　come　off　to　their　work；〃　he
said；　meeting　Midwinter　halfway　in　the　course　of　his　restless
walk。　〃After　what　has　happened；　I　don't　mind　confessing　that　I've
had　enough　of　hailing　the　land。　Only　think　of　there　being　a
madman　in　that　house　ashore；　and　of　my　waking　him！　Horrible；
wasn't　it？〃

Midwinter　stood　still　for　a　moment；　and　looked　at　Allan；　with　the
perplexed　air　of　a　man　who　hears　circumstances　familiarly
mentioned　to　which　he　is　himself　a　total　stranger。　He　appeared；
if　such　a　thing　had　been　possible；　to　have　passed　over　entirely
without　notice　all　that　had　just　happened　on　the　Islet　of　the
Calf。

〃Nothing　is　horrible　_out_　of　this　ship；〃　he　said。　〃Everything　is
horrible　_in_　it。〃

Answering　in　those　strange　words；　he　turned　away　again；　and　went
on　with　his　walk。

Allan　picked　up　the　flask　of　whisky　lying　on　the　deck　near　him；
and　revived　his　spirits　with　a　dram。　〃Here's　one　thing　on　board
that　isn't　horrible；〃　he　retorted　briskly；　as　he　screwed　on　the
stopper　of　the　flask；　〃and　here's　another；〃　he　added；　as　he　took
a　cigar　from　his　case　and　lit　it。　〃Three　o'clock！〃　he　went　on；
looking　at　his　watch；　and　settling　himself　comfortably　on　deck
with　his　back　against　the　bulwark。　〃Daybreak　isn't　far　off；　we
shall　have　the　piping　of　the　birds　to　cheer　us　up　before　long。　I
say；　Midwinter；　you　seem　to　have　quite　got　over　that　unlucky
fainting　fit。　How　you　do　keep　walking！　Come　here　and　have　a
cigar；　and　make　yourself　comfortable。　What's　the　good　of　tramping
backward　and　forward　in　that　restless　way？〃

〃I　am　waiting；〃　said　Midwinter。

〃Waiting！　What　for？〃

〃For　what　is　to　happen　to　you　or　to　meor　to　both　of　usbefore
we　are　out　of　this　ship。〃

〃With　submission　to　your　superior　judgment；　my　dear　fellow；　I
think　quite　enough　has　happened　already。　The　adventure　will　do
very　well　as　it　stands　now；　more　of　it　is　more　than　I　want。〃　He
took　another　dram　of　whisky；　and　rambled　on；　between　the　puffs　of
his　cigar；　in　his　usual　easy　way。　〃I've　not　got　your　fine
imagination；　old　boy；　and　I　hope　the　next　thing　that　happens　will
be　the　appearance　of　the　workmen's　boat。　I　suspect　that　queer
fancy　of　yours　has　been　running　away　with　you　while　you　were　down
here　all　by　yourself。　Come；　now；　what　were　you　thinking　of　while
I　was　up　in　the　mizzen…top　frightening　the　cows？〃

Midwinter　suddenly　stopped。　〃Suppose　I　tell　you？〃　he　said。

〃Suppose　you　do？〃

The　torturing　temptation　to　reveal　the　truth；　roused　once　already
by　his　companion's　merciless　gayety　of　spirit；　possessed　itself
of　Midwinter　for　the　second　time。　He　leaned　back　in　the　dark
against　the　high　side　of　the　ship；　and　looked　down　in　silence　at
Allan's　figure；　stretched　comfortably　on　the　deck。　〃Rouse　him；〃
the　fiend　whispered；　subtly；　〃from　that　ignorant　self…possession
and　that　pitiless　repose。　Show　him　the　place　where　the　deed　was
done；　let　him　know　it　with　your　knowledge；　and　fear　it　with　your
dread。　Tell　him　of　the　letter　you　burned；　and　of　the　words　no
fire　can　destroy　which　are　living　in　your　memory　now。　Let　him　see
your　mind　as　it　was　yesterday；　when　it　roused　your　sinking　faith
in　your　own　convictions；　to　look　back　on　your　life　at　sea；　and　to
cherish　the　comforting　remembrance　that；　in　all　your　voyages；　you
had　never　fallen　in　with　this　ship。　Let　him　see　your　mind　as　it
is　now；　when　the　ship　has　got　you　at　the　turning…point　of　your
new　life；　at　the　outset　of　your　friendship　with　the　one　man　of
all　men　whom　your　father　warned　you　to　avoid。　Think　of　those
death…bed　words；　and　whisper　them　in　his　ear；　that　he　may　think
of　them；　too：　'Hide　yourself　from　him　under　an　assumed　name。　Put
the　mountains　and　the　seas　between　you；　be　ungrateful；　be
unforgiving；　be　all　that　is　most　repellent　to　your　own　gentler
nature；　rather　than　live　under　the　same　roof　and　breathe　the　same
air　with　that　man。'　〃　So　the　tempter　counseled。　So；　like　a
noisome　exhalation　from　the　father's　grave；　the　father's
influence　rose　and　poisoned　the　mind　of　the　son。

The　sudden　silence　surprised　Allan；　he　looked　back　drowsily　over
his　shoulder。　〃Thinking　again！〃　he　exclaimed；　with　a　weary　yawn。

Midwinter　stepped　out　from　the　shadow；　and　came　nearer　to　Allan
than　he　had　come　yet。　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃thinking　of　the　past　and
the　future。〃

〃The　past　and　the　future？〃　repeated　Allan；　shifting　himself
comfortably　into　a　new　position。　〃For　my　part；　I'm　dumb　about　the
past。　It's　a　sore　subject　with　me：　the　past　means　the　loss　of　the
doctor's　boat。　Let's　talk　about　the　future。　Have　you　been　taking
a　practical　view？　as　dear　old　Brock　calls