for the term of his natural life-第13章

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own　like　the　reflection　from　a　wavering　candle。　He　closed　his　eyes　with　a　terrible　sigh　of　despair；　and　resigned　himself　to　his　fate。　　At　that　instant　the　sound　of　hammering　ceased；　and　the　door　opened。　　It　was　six　o'clock；　and　Pine　had　come　to　have　a　last　look　at　his　patients　before　dinner。　　It　seemed　that　there　was　somebody　with　him；　for　a　kind；　though　somewhat　pompous；　voice　remarked　upon　the　scantiness　of　accommodation；　and　the　〃necessitythe　absolute　necessity〃　of　complying　with　the　King's　Regulations。

Honest　Vickers；　though　agonized　for　the　safety　of　his　child；　would　not　abate　a　jot　of　his　duty；　and　had　sternly　come　to　visit　the　sick　men；　aware　as　he　was　that　such　a　visit　would　necessitate　his　isolation　from　the　cabin　where　his　child　lay。　　Mrs。　Vickersweeping　and　bewailing　herself　coquettishly　at　garrison　partieshad　often　said　that　〃poor　dear　John　was　such　a　disciplinarian；　quite　a　slave　to　the　service。〃

〃Here　they　are；〃　said　Pine；　〃six　of　'em。　　This　fellow〃going　to　the　side　of　Rex〃is　the　worst。　　If　he　had　not　a　constitution　like　a　horse；　I　don't　think　he　could　live　out　the　night。〃

〃Three；　eighteen；　seven；　four；〃　muttered　Rex；　〃dot　and　carry　one。　Is　that　an　occupation　for　a　gentleman？　　No；　sir。　　Good　night；　my　lord；　good　night。　　Hark！　　The　clock　is　striking　nine；　five；　six；　seven；　eight！　Well；　you've　had　your　day；　and　can't　complain。〃

〃A　dangerous　fellow；〃　says　Pine；　with　the　light　upraised。　〃A　very　dangerous　fellowthat　is；　he　was。　　This　is　the　place；　you　seea　regular　rat…hole；　but　what　can　one　do？〃

〃Come；　let　us　get　on　deck；〃　said　Vickers；　with　a　shudder　of　disgust。

Rufus　Dawes　felt　the　sweat　break　out　into　beads　on　his　forehead。　They　suspected　nothing。　　They　were　going　away。　　He　must　warn　them。　With　a　violent　effort；　in　his　agony　he　turned　over　in　the　bunk　and　thrust　out　his　hand　from　the　blankets。

〃Hullo！　　what's　this？〃　cried　Pine；　bringing　the　lantern　to　bear　upon　it。　〃Lie　down；　my　man。　　Eh！water；　is　it？　　There；　steady　with　it　now〃；　and　he　lifted　a　pannikin　to　the　blackened；　froth…fringed　lips。　The　cool　draught　moistened　his　parched　gullet；　and　the　convict　made　a　last　effort　to　speak。

〃Sarah　Purfoyto…nightthe　prisonMUTINY！〃

The　last　word；　almost　shrieked　out；　in　the　sufferer's　desperate　efforts　to　articulate；　recalled　the　wandering　senses　of　John　Rex。

〃Hush！〃　he　cried。　　〃Is　that　you；　Jemmy？　　Sarah's　right。　Wait　till　she　gives　the　word。〃

〃He's　raving；〃　said　Vickers。

Pine　caught　the　convict　by　the　shoulder。　　〃What　do　you　say；　my　man？　A　mutiny　of　the　prisoners！〃

With　his　mouth　agape　and　his　hands　clenched；　Rufus　Dawes；　incapable　of　further　speech；　made　a　last　effort　to　nod　assent；　but　his　head　fell　upon　his　breast；　the　next　moment；　the　flickering　light；　the　gloomy　prison；　the　eager　face　of　the　doctor；　and　the　astonished　face　of　Vickers；　vanished　from　before　his　straining　eyes。　　He　saw　the　two　men　stare　at　each　other；　in　mingled　incredulity　and　alarm；　and　then　he　was　floating　down　the　cool　brown　river　of　his　boyhood；　on　his　wayin　company　with　Sarah　Purfoy　and　Lieutenant　Frereto　raise　the　mutiny　of　the　Hydaspes；　that　lay　on　the　stocks　in　the　old　house　at　Hampstead。




CHAPTER　IX。　WOMAN'S　WEAPONS。



The　two　discoverers　of　this　awkward　secret　held　a　council　of　war。　Vickers　was　for　at　once　calling　the　guard；　and　announcing　to　the　prisoners　that　the　plotwhatever　it　might　behad　been　discovered；　but　Pine；　accustomed　to　convict　ships；　overruled　this　decision。

〃You　don't　know　these　fellows　as　well　as　I　do；〃　said　he。　　〃In　the　first　place　there　may　be　no　mutiny　at　all。　　The　whole　thing　is；　perhaps；　some　absurdity　of　that　fellow　Dawesand　should　we　once　put　the　notion　of　attacking　us　into　the　prisoners'　heads；　there　is　no　telling　what　they　might　do。〃

〃But　the　man　seemed　certain；〃　said　the　other。　　〃He　mentioned　my　wife's　maid；　too！〃

〃Suppose　he　did？and；　begad；　I　dare　say　he's　rightI　never　liked　the　look　of　the　girl。　　To　tell　them　that　we　have　found　them　out　this　time　won't　prevent　'em　trying　it　again。　　We　don't　know　what　their　scheme　is　either。　If　it　is　a　mutiny；　half　the　ship's　company　may　be　in　it。　　No；　Captain　Vickers；　allow　me；　as　surgeon…superintendent；　to　settle　our　course　of　action。　You　are　aware　that〃

〃That；　by　the　King's　Regulations；　you　are　invested　with　full　powers；〃　interrupted　Vickers；　mindful　of　discipline　in　any　extremity。　　〃Of　course；　I　merely　suggestedand　I　know　nothing　about　the　girl；　except　that　she　brought　a　good　character　from　her　last　mistressa　Mrs。　Crofton　I　think　the　name　was。　　We　were　glad　to　get　anybody　to　make　a　voyage　like　this。〃

〃Well；〃　says　Pine；　〃look　here。　　Suppose　we　tell　these　scoundrels　that　their　design；　whatever　it　may　be；　is　known。　　Very　good。　They　will　profess　absolute　ignorance；　and　try　again　on　the　next　opportunity；　when；　perhaps；　we　may　not　know　anything　about　it。　　At　all　events；　we　are　completely　ignorant　of　the　nature　of　the　plot　and　the　names　of　the　ringleaders。　　Let　us　double　the　sentries；　and　quietly　get　the　men　under　arms。　　Let　Miss　Sarah　do　what　she　pleases；　and　when　the　mutiny　breaks　out；　we　will　nip　it　in　the　bud；　clap　all　the　villains　we　get　in　irons；　and　hand　them　over　to　the　authorities　in　Hobart　Town。　　I　am　not　a　cruel　man；　sir；　but　we　have　got　a　cargo　of　wild　beasts　aboard；　and　we　must　be　careful。〃

〃But　surely；　Mr。　Pine；　have　you　considered　the　probable　loss　of　life？　Ireallysome　more　humane　course　perhaps？　　Prevention；　you　know〃

Pine　turned　round　upon　him　with　that　grim　practicality　which　was　a　part　of　his　nature。　　〃Have　you　considered　the　safety　of　the　ship；　Captain　Vickers？　　You　know；　or　have　heard　of；　the　sort　of　things　that　take　place　in　these　mutinies。　　Have　you　considered　what　will　befall　those　half…dozen　women　in　the　soldiers'　berths？　　Have　you　thought　of　the　fate　of　your　own　wife　and　child？〃

Vickers　shuddered。

〃Have　it　your　way；　Mr。　Pine；　you　know　best　perhaps。　　But　don't　risk　more　lives　than　you　can　help。〃

〃Be　easy；　sir；〃　says　old　Pine；　〃I　am　acting　for　the　best；　upon　my　soul　I　am。　You　don't　know　what　convicts　are；　or　rather　what　the　law　has　made　'emyet〃

〃Poor　wretches！〃　says　Vickers；　who；　like　many　martinets；　was　in　reality　tender…hearted。　　〃Kindness　might　do　much　for　them。　　After　all；　they　are　our　fellow…creatures。〃

〃Yes；〃　returned　the　other；　〃they　are。　　But　if　you　use　that　argument　to　them　when　they　have　taken　the　vessel；　it　won't　avail　you　much。　　Let　me　manage；　sir；　and　for　God's　sake；　say　nothing　to　anybody。　　Our　lives　may　hang　upon　a　word。〃

Vickers　promised；　and　kept　his　promise　so　far　as　to　chat　cheerily　with　Blunt　and　Frere　at　dinner；　only　writing　a　brief　note　to　his　wife　to　tell　her　that；　whatever　she　heard；　she　was　not　to　stir　from　her　cabin　until　he　came　to　her；　he　knew　that；　with　all　his　wife's　folly；　she　would　obey　unhesitatingly；　when　he　couched　an　order　in　such　terms。

According　to　the　usual　custom　on　board　convict　ships；　the　guards　relieved　each　other　every　two　hours；　and　at　six　p。m。　　the　poop　guard　was　removed　to　the　quarter…deck；　and　the　arms　which；　in　the　daytime；　were　disposed　on　the　top　of　the　arm…chest；　were　placed　in　an　arm…rack　constructed　on　the　quarter…deck　for　that　purpose。　　Trusting　nothing　to　Frerewho；　indeed；　by　Pine's　advice；　was；　as　we　have　seen；　kept　in　ignorance　of　the　whole　matterVickers　ordered　all　the　men；　save　those　who　had　been　on　guard　during　the　day；　to　be　under　arms　in　the　barrack；　forbade　communication　with　the　upper　deck；　and　placed　as　sentry　at　the　barrack　door　his　own　servant；　an　old　soldier；　on　whose　fidelity　he　could　thoroughly　rely。　　He　then　doubled　the　guards；　took　the　keys　of　the　prison　himself　from　the　non…commissioned　officer　whose　duty　it　was　to　keep　them；　and　saw　that　the　howitzer　on　the　lower　deck　was　loaded　with　grape。　　It　was　a　quarter　to　seven　when　Pine　and　he　took　their　station　at　the　main　hatchway；　determined　to　watch　until　morning。

At　a　quarter　past　seven；　any　curious　person　looking　through　the　window　of　Captain　Blunt's　cabin　would　have　seen　an　unusual　sight。　That　gallant　commander　was　sitting　on　the　bed…place；　with　a　glass　of　rum　and　water　in　his　hand；　and　the　handsome　waiting…maid　of　Mrs。　Vickers　was　seated　on　a　stool　by　his　side。　　At　a　first　glance　it　was　perceptible　that　the　captain　was　very　drunk。　　His　grey　hair　was　matted　all　ways　about　his　reddened　face；　and　he　was　winking　and　blinking　like　an　owl　in　the　sunshine。　　He　had　drunk　a　larger　quantity　of　wine　than　usual　at　dinner；　in　sheer　delight　at　the　approaching　assignation；　and　having　got　out　the　rum　bottle　for　a　quiet　〃settler〃　just　as　the　victim　of　his　fascinations　glided　through　the　carefully…adjusted　door；　he　had　been　persuaded　to　go　on　drinking。

〃Cuc…come；　Sarah；〃　he　hiccuped。　　〃It's　all　very　fine；　my　lass；　but　you　needn't　be　sohicproud；　you　know。　　I'm　a　plain　sailorplain　s'lor；　Srr'h。　Ph'n'as　Bubblunt；　commander　of　the　Mal…Mal…　Malabar。　Wors'　'sh　good　talkin'？〃

Sarah　allowed　a　laugh　to　escape　her；　and　artfully　protruded　an　ankle　at　the　same　time。　　The　amorous　Phineas　lurched　over；　and　made　shift　to　take　her　hand。

〃You　lovsh　me；　and　Ihiclovsh　you；　Sarah。　　And　a　preshus　tight　little　craft　youhicare。　　Giv'shkiss；　Sarah。〃

Sarah　got　up　and　went　to　the　door。

〃Wotsh　this？　　Goin'！　　Sarah；　don't　go；〃　and　he　staggered　up；　and　with　the　grog　swaying　fearfully　in　one　hand；　made　at　her。

The　ship's　bell　struck　the　half…hour。　　Now　or　never　was　the　time。　Blunt　caught　her　round　the　waist　with　one　arm；　and　hiccuping　with　love　and　rum；　approached　to　take　the　kiss　he　coveted。　　She　seized　the　moment；　surrendered　herself　to　his　embrace；　drew　from　her　pocket　the　laudanum　bottle；　and　passing　her　hand　over　his　shoulder；　poured　half　its　contents　into　the　glass

〃Think　I'mhicdrunk；　do　yer？　　Nunnot　I；　my　wench。〃

〃You　will　be　if　you　drink　much　more。　　Come；　finish　that　and　be　quiet；　or　I'll　go　away。〃

But　she　threw　a　provocation　into　her　glance　as　she　spoke；　which　belied　her　words；　and　which　penetrated　even　the　sodden　intellect　of　poor　Blunt。　He　balanced　himself　on　his　heels　for　a　moment；　and　holding　by　the　moulding　of　the　cabin；　stared　at　her　with　a　fatuous　smile　of　drunken　admiration；　then　looked　at　the　glass　in　his　hand；　hiccuped　with　much　solemnity　thrice；　and；　as　though　struck　with　a　sudden　sense　of　duty　unfulfilled；　swallowed　the　contents　at　a　gulp。　　The　effect　was　almost　instantaneous。　He　dropped　the　tumbler；　lurched　towards　the　woman　at　the　door；　and　then　making　a　half…turn　in　accordance　with　the　motion　of　the　vessel；　fell　into　his　bunk；　and　snored　like　a　grampus。

Sarah　Purfoy　watched　him　for　a　few　minutes；　and　then　having　blown　out　the　light；　stepped　out　of　the　cabin；　and　closed　the　door　behind　her。　The　dusky　gloom　which　had　held　the　deck　on　the　previous　night　enveloped　all　forward　of　the　main…mast。　　A　lantern　swung　in　the　forecastle；　and　swayed　with　the　motion　of　the　ship。　　The　light　at　the　prison　door　threw　a　glow　through　the　open　hatch；　and　in　the　cuddy；　at　her　right　hand；　the　usual　row　of　oil…lamps　burned。　　She　looked　mechanically　for　Vickers；　who　was　ordinarily　there　at　that　hour；　but　the　cuddy　was　empty。　So　much　the　better；　she　thought；　as　she　drew　her　dark　cloak　around　her；　and　tapped　at　Frere's　door。　　As　she　did　so；　a　strange　pain　shot　through　her　temples；　and　her　knees　trembled。　　With　a　strong　effort　she　dispelled　the　dizziness　that　had　almost　overpowered　her；　a