for the term of his natural life-第10章

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I　think　the　child　has　caught　it。　　You　must　be　careful　where　you　go。〃　And　then；　with　an　anxious　face；　he　went　in　pursuit　of　Vickers。

Sarah　Purfoy　stood　motionless　for　an　instant；　in　deadly　terror。　Her　lips　parted；　her　eyes　glittered；　and　she　made　a　movement　as　though　to　retrace　her　steps。

〃Poor　soul！〃　thought　honest　Blunt；　〃how　she　feels　for　the　child！　D　that　lubberly　surgeon；　he's　hurt　her！Never　mind；　my　lass；〃　he　said　aloud。　　It　was　broad　daylight；　and　he　had　not　as　much　courage　in　love…making　as　at　night。　　〃Don't　be　afraid。　　I've　been　in　ships　with　fever　before　now。〃

Awaking；　as　it　were；　at　the　sound　of　his　voice；　she　came　closer　to　him。　〃But　ship　fever！　　I　have　heard　of　it！　　Men　have　died　like　rotten　sheep　in　crowded　vessels　like　this。〃

〃Tush！　　Not　they。　　Don't　be　frightened；　Miss　Sylvia　won't　die；　nor　you　neither。〃　He　took　her　hand。　　〃It　may　knock　off　a　few　dozen　prisoners　or　so。　　They　are　pretty　close　packed　down　there〃

She　drew　her　hand　away；　and　then；　remembering　herself；　gave　it　him　again。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃

〃Nothinga　pain。　　I　did　not　sleep　last　night。〃

〃There；　there；　you　are　upset；　I　dare　say。　　Go　and　lie　down。〃

She　was　staring　away　past　him　over　the　sea；　as　if　in　thought。　So　intently　did　she　look　that　he　involuntarily　turned　his　head；　and　the　action　recalled　her　to　herself。　　She　brought　her　fine　straight　brows　together　for　a　moment；　and　then　raised　them　with　the　action　of　a　thinker　who　has　decided　on　his　course　of　conduct。

〃I　have　a　toothache；〃　said　she；　putting　her　hand　to　her　face。

〃Take　some　laudanum；〃　says　Blunt；　with　dim　recollections　of　his　mother's　treatment　of　such　ailments。　　〃Old　Pine'll　give　you　some。〃

To　his　astonishment　she　burst　into　tears。

〃Therethere！　　Don't　cry；　my　dear。　　Hang　it；　don't　cry。　What　are　you　crying　about？〃

She　dashed　away　the　bright　drops；　and　raised　her　face　with　a　rainy　smile　of　trusting　affection。　　〃Nothing！　　I　am　lonely。　　So　far　from　home；　andand　Dr。　Pine　hurt　my　arm。　　Look！〃

She　bared　that　shapely　member　as　she　spoke；　and　sure　enough　there　were　three　red　marks　on　the　white　and　shining　flesh。

〃The　ruffian！〃　cried　Blunt；　〃it's　too　bad。〃　And　after　a　hasty　look　around　him；　the　infatuated　fellow　kissed　the　bruise。　　〃I'll　get　the　laudanum　for　you；〃　he　said。　　〃You　shan't　ask　that　bear　for　it。　　Come　into　my　cabin。〃

Blunt's　cabin　was　in　the　starboard　side　of　the　ship；　just　under　the　poop　awning；　and　possessed　three　windowsone　looking　out　over　the　side；　and　two　upon　deck。　　The　corresponding　cabin　on　the　other　side　was　occupied　by　Mr。　Maurice　Frere。　　He　closed　the　door；　and　took　down　a　small　medicine　chest；　cleated　above　the　hooks　where　hung　his　signal…pictured　telescope。

〃Here；〃　said　he；　opening　it。　　〃I've　carried　this　little　box　for　years；　but　it　ain't　often　I　want　to　use　it；　thank　God。　　Now；　then；　put　some　o'　this　into　your　mouth；　and　hold　it　there。〃

〃Good　gracious；　Captain　Blunt；　you'll　poison　me！　　Give　me　the　bottle；　I'll　help　myself。〃

〃Don't　take　too　much；〃　says　Blunt。　　〃It's　dangerous　stuff；　you　know。〃

〃You　need　not　fear。　　I've　used　it　before。〃

The　door　was　shut；　and　as　she　put　the　bottle　in　her　pocket；　the　amorous　captain　caught　her　in　his　arms。

〃What　do　you　say？　　Come；　I　think　I　deserve　a　kiss　for　that。〃

Her　tears　were　all　dry　long　ago；　and　had　only　given　increased　colour　to　her　face。　　This　agreeable　woman　never　wept　long　enough　to　make　herself　distasteful。　　She　raised　her　dark　eyes　to　his　for　a　moment；　with　a　saucy　smile。　〃By　and　by；〃　said　she；　and　escaping；　gained　her　cabin。　　It　was　next　to　that　of　her　mistress；　and　she　could　hear　the　sick　child　feebly　moaning。　Her　eyes　filled　with　tearsreal　ones　this　time。

〃Poor　little　thing；〃　she　said；　〃I　hope　she　won't　die。〃

And　then　she　threw　herself　on　her　bed；　and　buried　her　hot　head　in　the　pillow。　The　intelligence　of　the　fever　seemed　to　have　terrified　her。　　Had　the　news　disarranged　some　well…concocted　plan　of　hers？　　Being　near　the　accomplishment　of　some　cherished　scheme　long　kept　in　view；　had　the　sudden　and　unexpected　presence　of　disease　falsified　her　carefully…made　calculations；　and　cast　an　almost　insurmountable　obstacle　in　her　path？

〃She　die！　　and　through　me？　　How　did　I　know　that　he　had　the　fever？　Perhaps　I　have　taken　it　myselfI　feel　ill。〃　She　turned　over　on　the　bed；　as　if　in　pain；　and　then　started　to　a　sitting　position；　stung　by　a　sudden　thought。　　〃Perhaps　he　might　die！　　The　fever　spreads　quickly；　and　if　so；　all　this　plotting　will　have　been　useless。　　It　must　be　done　at　once。　It　will　never　do　to　break　down　now；〃　and　taking　the　phial　from　her　pocket；　she　held　it　up；　to　see　how　much　it　contained。　　It　was　three　parts　full。　〃Enough　for　both；〃　she　said；　between　her　set　teeth。　　The　action　of　holding　up　the　bottle　reminded　her　of　the　amorous　Blunt；　and　she　smiled。　〃A　strange　way　to　show　affection　for　a　man；〃　she　said　to　herself；　〃and　yet　he　doesn't　care；　and　I　suppose　I　shouldn't　by　this　time。　I'll　go　through　with　it；　and；　if　the　worst　comes　to　the　worst；　I　can　fall　back　on　Maurice。〃　She　loosened　the　cork　of　the　phial；　so　that　it　would　come　out　with　as　little　noise　as　possible；　and　then　placed　it　carefully　in　her　bosom。　　〃I　will　get　a　little　sleep　if　I　can；〃　she　said。　〃They　have　got　the　note；　and　it　shall　be　done　to…night。〃




CHAPTER　VII。

TYPHUS　FEVER。



The　felon　Rufus　Dawes　had　stretched　himself　in　his　bunk　and　tried　to　sleep。　But　though　he　was　tired　and　sore；　and　his　head　felt　like　lead；　he　could　not　but　keep　broad　awake。　　The　long　pull　through　the　pure　air；　if　it　had　tired　him；　had　revived　him；　and　he　felt　stronger；　but　for　all　that；　the　fatal　sickness　that　was　on　him　maintained　its　hold；　his　pulse　beat　thickly；　and　his　brain　throbbed　with　unnatural　heat。　　Lying　in　his　narrow　spacein　the　semi…darknesshe　tossed　his　limbs　about；　and　closed　his　eyes　in　vainhe　could　not　sleep。　　His　utmost　efforts　induced　only　an　oppressive　stagnation　of　thought；　through　which　he　heard　the　voices　of　his　fellow…convicts；　while　before　his　eyes　was　still　the　burning　Hydaspesthat　vessel　whose　destruction　had　destroyed　for　ever　all　trace　of　the　unhappy　Richard　Devine。

It　was　fortunate　for　his　comfort；　perhaps；　that　the　man　who　had　been　chosen　to　accompany　him　was　of　a　talkative　turn；　for　the　prisoners　insisted　upon　hearing　the　story　of　the　explosion　a　dozen　times　over；　and　Rufus　Dawes　himself　had　been　roused　to　give　the　name　of　the　vessel　with　his　own　lips。　Had　it　not　been　for　the　hideous　respect　in　which　he　was　held；　it　is　possible　that　he　might　have　been　compelled　to　give　his　version　also；　and　to　join　in　the　animated　discussion　which　took　place　upon　the　possibility　of　the　saving　of　the　fugitive　crew。　As　it　was；　however；　he　was　left　in　peace；　and　lay　unnoticed；　trying　to　sleep。

The　detachment　of　fifty　being　on　deckairingthe　prison　was　not　quite　so　hot　as　at　night；　and　many　of　the　convicts　made　up　for　their　lack　of　rest　by　snatching　a　dog…sleep　in　the　bared　bunks。　　The　four　volunteer　oarsmen　were　allowed　to　〃take　it　out。〃

As　yet　there　had　been　no　alarm　of　fever。　　The　three　seizures　had　excited　some　comment；　however；　and　had　it　not　been　for　the　counter…excitement　of　the　burning　ship；　it　is　possible　that　Pine's　precaution　would　have　been　thrown　away。　　The　〃Old　Hands〃who　had　been　through　the　Passage　beforesuspected；　but　said　nothing；　save　among　themselves。　　It　was　likely　that　the　weak　and　sickly　would　go　first；　and　that　there　would　be　more　room　for　those　remaining。　　The　Old　Hands　were　satisfied。

Three　of　these　Old　Hands　were　conversing　together　just　behind　the　partition　of　Dawes's　bunk。　　As　we　have　said；　the　berths　were　five　feet　square；　and　each　contained　six　men。　　No。　　10；　the　berth　occupied　by　Dawes；　was　situated　on　the　corner　made　by　the　joining　of　the　starboard　and　centre　lines；　and　behind　it　was　a　slight　recess；　in　which　the　scuttle　was　fixed。　　His　〃mates〃　were　at　present　but　three　in　number；　for　John　Rex　and　the　cockney　tailor　had　been　removed　to　the　hospital。　　The　three　that　remained　were　now　in　deep　conversation　in　the　shelter　of　the　recess。　Of　these；　the　giantwho　had　the　previous　night　asserted　his　authority　in　the　prisonseemed　to　be　the　chief。　　His　name　was　Gabbett。　He　was　a　returned　convict；　now　on　his　way　to　undergo　a　second　sentence　for　burglary。　　The　other　two　were　a　man　named　Sanders；　known　as　the　〃Moocher〃；　and　Jemmy　Vetch；　the　Crow。　　They　were　talking　in　whispers；　but　Rufus　Dawes；　lying　with　his　head　close　to　the　partition；　was　enabled　to　catch　much　of　what　they　said。

At　first　the　conversation　turned　on　the　catastrophe　of　the　burning　ship　and　the　likelihood　of　saving　the　crew。　　From　this　it　grew　to　anecdote　of　wreck　and　adventure；　and　at　last　Gabbett　said　something　which　made　the　listener　start　from　his　indifferent　efforts　to　slumber；　into　sudden　broad　wakefulness。

It　was　the　mention　of　his　own　name；　coupled　with　that　of　the　woman　he　had　met　on　the　quarter…deck；　that　roused　him。

〃I　saw　her　speaking　to　Dawes　yesterday；〃　said　the　giant；　with　an　oath。　〃We　don't　want　no　more　than　we've　got。　　I　ain't　goin'　to　risk　my　neck　for　Rex's　woman's　fancies；　and　so　I'll　tell　her。〃

〃It　was　something　about　the　kid；〃　says　the　Crow；　in　his　elegant　slang。　〃I　don't　believe　she　ever　saw　him　before。　　Besides；　she's　nuts　on　Jack；　and　ain't　likely　to　pick　up　with　another　man。〃

〃If　I　thort　she　was　agoin'　to　throw　us　over；　I'd　cut　her　throat　as　soon　as　look　at　her！〃　snorts　Gabbett　savagely。

〃Jack　ud　have　a　word　in　that；〃　snuffles　the　Moocher；　〃and　he's　a　curious　cove　to　quarrel　with。〃

〃Well；　stow　yer　gaff；〃　grumbled　Mr。　Gabbett；　〃and　let's　have　no　more　chaff。　If　we're　for　bizness；　let's　come　to　bizness。〃

〃What　are　we　to　do　now？〃　asked　the　Moocher。　　〃Jack's　on　the　sick　list；　and　the　gal　won't　stir　a'thout　him。〃

〃Ay；〃　returned　Gabbett；　〃that's　it。〃

〃My　dear　friends；〃　said　the　Crow；　〃my　keyind　and　keristian　friends；　it　is　to　be　regretted　that　when　natur'　gave　you　such　tremendously　thick　skulls；　she　didn't　put　something　inside　of　'em。　　I　say　that　now's　the　time。　Jack's　in　the　'orspital；　what　of　that？　　That　don't　make　it　no　better　for　him；　does　it？　　Not　a　bit　of　it；　and　if　he　drops　his　knife　and　fork；　why　then；　it's　my　opinion　that　the　gal　won't　stir　a　peg。　　It's　on　his　account；　not　ours；　that　she's　been　manoovering；　ain't　it？〃

〃Well！〃　says　Mr。　Gabbett；　with　the　air　of　one　who　was　but　partly　convinced；　〃I　s'pose　it　is。〃

〃All　the　more　reason　of　getting　it　off　quick。　　Another　thing；　when　the　boys　know　there's　fever　aboard；　you'll　see　the　rumpus　there'll　be。　They'll　be　ready　enough　to　join　us　then。　　Once　get　the　snapper　chest；　and　we're　right　as　ninepenn'orth　o'　hapence。〃

This　conversation；　interspersed　with　oaths　and　slang　as　it　was；　had　an　intense　interest　for　Rufus　Dawes。　　Plunged　into　prison；　hurriedly　tried；　and　by　reason　of　his　surroundings　ignorant　of　the　death　of　his　father　and　his　own　fortune；　he　had　hithertoin　his　agony　and　sullen　gloomheld　aloof　from　the　scoundrels　who　surrounded　him；　and　repelled　their　hideous　advances　of　friendship。　　He　now　saw　his　error。　　He　knew　that　the　name　he　had　once　possessed　was　blotted　out；　that　any　shred　of　his　old　life　which　had　clung　to　him　hitherto；　was　shrivelled　in　the　fire　that　consumed　the　〃Hydaspes〃。　　The　secret；　for　the　preservation　of　which　Richard　Devine　had　voluntarily　flung　away　his　name；　and　risked　a　terrible