for the term of his natural life-第16章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


backward　sweep　of　the　cutlass；　absolutely　closed　his　eyes　with　terror；　and　surrendered　himself　to　his　fate。

As　Gabbett　balanced　himself　for　the　blow；　the　ship；　which　had　been　rocking　gently　on　a　dull　and　silent　sea；　suddenly　lurchedthe　convict　lost　his　balance；　swayed；　and　fell。　　Ere　he　could　rise　he　was　pinioned　by　twenty　hands。

Authority　was　almost　instantaneously　triumphant　on　the　upper　and　lower　decks。　The　mutiny　was　over。




CHAPTER　XI。

DISCOVERIES　AND　CONFESSIONS。



The　shock　was　felt　all　through　the　vessel；　and　Pine；　who　had　been　watching　the　ironing　of　the　last　of　the　mutineers；　at　once　divined　its　cause。

〃Thank　God！〃　he　cried；　〃there's　a　breeze　at　last！〃　and　as　the　overpowered　Gabbett；　bruised；　bleeding；　and　bound；　was　dragged　down　the　hatchway；　the　triumphant　doctor　hurried　upon　deck　to　find　the　Malabar　plunging　through　the　whitening　water　under　the　influence　of　a　fifteen…knot　breeze。

〃Stand　by　to　reef　topsails！　　Away　aloft；　men；　and　furl　the　royals！〃　cries　Best　from　the　quarter…deck；　and　in　the　midst　of　the　cheery　confusion　Maurice　Frere　briefly　recapitulated　what　had　taken　place；　taking　care；　however；　to　pass　over　his　own　dereliction　of　duty　as　rapidly　as　possible。

Pine　knit　his　brows。　　〃Do　you　think　that　she　was　in　the　plot？〃　he　asked。

〃Not　she！〃　says　Frereeager　to　avert　inquiry。　　〃How　should　she　be？　Plot！　　She's　sickening　of　fever；　or　I'm　much　mistaken。〃

Sure　enough；　on　opening　the　door　of　the　cabin；　they　found　Sarah　Purfoy　lying　where　she　had　fallen　a　quarter　of　an　hour　before。　　The　clashing　of　cutlasses　and　the　firing　of　muskets　had　not　roused　her。

〃We　must　make　a　sick…bay　somewhere；〃　says　Pine；　looking　at　the　senseless　figure　with　no　kindly　glance；　〃though　I　don't　think　she's　likely　to　be　very　bad。　　Confound　her！　　I　believe　that　she's　the　cause　of　all　this。　I'll　find　out；　too；　before　many　hours　are　over；　for　I've　told　those　fellows　that　unless　they　confess　all　about　it　before　to…morrow　morning；　I'll　get　them　six　dozen　a…piece　the　day　after　we　anchor　in　Hobart　Town。　I've　a　great　mind　to　do　it　before　we　get　there。　　Take　her　head；　Frere；　and　we'll　get　her　out　of　this　before　Vickers　comes　up。　　What　a　fool　you　are；　to　be　sure！　　I　knew　what　it　would　be　with　women　aboard　ship。　I　wonder　Mrs。　V。　　hasn't　been　out　before　now。　　Theresteady　past　the　door。　Why；　man；　one　would　think　you　never　had　your　arm　round　a　girl's　waist　before！　Pooh！　　don't　look　so　scaredI　won't　tell。　　Make　haste；　now；　before　that　little　parson　comes。　　Parsons　are　regular　old　women　to　chatter〃；　and　thus　muttering　Pine　assisted　to　carry　Mrs。　Vickers's　maid　into　her　cabin。

〃By　George；　but　she's　a　fine　girl！〃　he　said；　viewing　the　inanimate　body　with　the　professional　eye　of　a　surgeon。　　〃I　don't　wonder　at　you　making　a　fool　of　yourself。　　Chances　are；　you've　caught　the　fever；　though　this　breeze　will　help　to　blow　it　out　of　us；　please　God。　That　old　jackass；　Blunt；　too！he　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　himself；　at　his　age！〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Frere　hastily；　as　he　heard　a　step　approach。　〃What　has　Blunt　to　say　about　her？〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know；〃　returned　Pine。　　〃He　was　smitten　too；　that's　all。　　Like　a　good　many　more；　in　fact。〃

〃A　good　many　more！〃　repeated　the　other；　with　a　pretence　of　carelessness。

〃Yes！〃　laughed　Pine。　　〃Why；　man；　she　was　making　eyes　at　every　man　in　the　ship！　I　caught　her　kissing　a　soldier　once。〃

Maurice　Frere's　cheeks　grew　hot。　　The　experienced　profligate　had　been　taken　in；　deceived；　perhaps　laughed　at。　　All　the　time　he　had　flattered　himself　that　he　was　fascinating　the　black…eyed　maid；　the　black…eyed　maid　had　been　twisting　him　round　her　finger；　and　perhaps　imitating　his　love…making　for　the　gratification　of　her　soldier…lover。　　It　was　not　a　pleasant　thought；　and　yet；　strange　to　say；　the　idea　of　Sarah's　treachery　did　not　make　him　dislike　her。　　There　is　a　sort　of　loveif　love　it　can　be　calledwhich　thrives　under　ill…treatment。　　Nevertheless；　he　cursed　with　some　appearance　of　disgust。

Vickers　met　them　at　the　door。　　〃Pine；　Blunt　has　the　fever。　　Mr。　Best　found　him　in　his　cabin　groaning。　　Come　and　look　at　him。〃

The　commander　of　the　Malabar　was　lying　on　his　bunk　in　the　betwisted　condition　into　which　men　who　sleep　in　their　clothes　contrive　to　get　themselves。　The　doctor　shook　him；　bent　down　over　him；　and　then　loosened　his　collar。　〃He's　not　sick；〃　he　said；　〃he's　drunk！　　Blunt！　　wake　up！　　Blunt！〃

But　the　mass　refused　to　move。

〃Hallo！〃　says　Pine；　smelling　at　the　broken　tumbler；　〃what's　this？　Smells　queer。　　Rum？　　No。　　Eh！　　Laudanum！　　By　George；　he's　been　hocussed！〃

〃Nonsense！〃

〃I　see　it；〃　slapping　his　thigh。　　〃It's　that　infernal　woman！　　She's　drugged　him；　and　meant　to　do　the　same　for〃（Frere　gave　him　an　imploring　look）〃for　anybody　else　who　would　be　fool　enough　to　let　her　do　it。　　Dawes　was　right；　sir。　She's　in　it；　I'll　swear　she's　in　it。〃

〃What！　　my　wife's　maid？　　Nonsense！〃　said　Vickers。

〃Nonsense！〃　echoed　Frere。

〃It's　no　nonsense。　　That　soldier　who　was　shot；　what's　his　name？Miles；　hebut；　however；　it　doesn't　matter。　　It's　all　over　now。〃　〃The　men　will　confess　before　morning；〃　says　Vickers；　〃and　we'll　see。〃　And　he　went　off　to　his　wife's　cabin。

His　wife　opened　the　door　for　him。　　She　had　been　sitting　by　the　child's　bedside；　listening　to　the　firing；　and　waiting　for　her　husband's　return　without　a　murmur。　Flirt；　fribble；　and　shrew　as　she　was；　Julia　Vickers　had　displayed；　in　times　of　emergency；　that　glowing　courage　which　women　of　her　nature　at　times　possess。　　Though　she　would　yawn　over　any　book　above　the　level　of　a　genteel　love　story；　attempt　to　fascinate；　with　ludicrous　assumption　of　girlishness；　boys　young　enough　to　be　her　sons；　shudder　at　a　frog；　and　scream　at　a　spider；　she　could　sit　throughout　a　quarter　of　an　hour　of　such　suspense　as　she　had　just　undergone　with　as　much　courage　as　if　she　had　been　the　strongest…minded　woman　that　ever　denied　her　sex。　〃Is　it　all　over？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes；　thank　God！〃　said　Vickers；　pausing　on　the　threshold。　　〃All　is　safe　now；　though　we　had　a　narrow　escape；　I　believe。　　How's　Sylvia？〃　The　child　was　lying　on　the　bed　with　her　fair　hair　scattered　over　the　pillow；　and　her　tiny　hands　moving　restlessly　to　and　fro。

〃A　little　better；　I　think；　though　she　has　been　talking　a　good　deal。〃

The　red　lips　parted；　and　the　blue　eyes；　brighter　than　ever；　stared　vacantly　around。　　The　sound　of　her　father's　voice　seemed　to　have　roused　her；　for　she　began　to　speak　a　little　prayer：　〃God　bless　papa　and　mamma；　and　God　bless　all　on　board　this　ship。　　God　bless　me；　and　make　me　a　good　girl；　for　Jesus　Christ's　sake；　our　Lord。　　Amen。〃

The　sound　of　the　unconscious　child's　simple　prayer　had　something　awesome　in　it；　and　John　Vickers；　who；　not　ten　minutes　before；　would　have　sealed　his　own　death　warrant　unhesitatingly　to　preserve　the　safety　of　the　vessel；　felt　his　eyes　fill　with　unwonted　tears。　　The　contrast　was　curious。　From　out　the　midst　of　that　desolate　oceanin　a　fever…smitten　prison　ship；　leagues　from　land；　surrounded　by　ruffians；　thieves；　and　murderers；　the　baby　voice　of　an　innocent　child　called　confidently　on　Heaven。


　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*


Two　hours　afterwardsas　the　Malabar；　escaped　from　the　peril　which　had　menaced　her；　plunged　cheerily　through　the　rippling　waterthe　mutineers；　by　the　spokesman；　Mr。　James　Vetch；　confessed。

〃They　were　very　sorry；　and　hoped　that　their　breach　of　discipline　would　be　forgiven。　　It　was　the　fear　of　the　typhus　which　had　driven　them　to　it。　They　had　no　accomplices　either　in　the　prison　or　out　of　it；　but　they　felt　it　but　right　to　say　that　the　man　who　had　planned　the　mutiny　was　Rufus　Dawes。〃

The　malignant　cripple　had　guessed　from　whom　the　information　which　had　led　to　the　failure　of　the　plot　had　been　derived；　and　this　was　his　characteristic　revenge。




CHAPTER　XII。

A　NEWSPAPER　PARAGRAPH。



Extracted　from　the　Hobart　Town　Courier　of　the　12th　November；　1827：

〃The　examination　of　the　prisoners　who　were　concerned　in　the　attempt　upon　the　Malabar　was　concluded　on　Tuesday　last。　　The　four　ringleaders；　Dawes　Gabbett；　Vetch；　and　Sanders；　were　condemned　to　death；　but　we　understand　that；　by　the　clemency　of　his　Excellency　the　Governor；　their　sentence　has　been　commuted　to　six　years　at　the　penal　settlement　of　Macquarie　Harbour。〃



END　OF　BOOK　THE　FIRST






BOOK　II。MACQUARIE　HARBOUR。　　1833。






CHAPTER　I。

THE　TOPOGRAPHY　OF　VAN　DIEMEN'S　LAND。



The　south…east　coast　of　Van　Diemen's　Land；　from　the　solitary　Mewstone　to　the　basaltic　cliffs　of　Tasman's　Head；　from　Tasman's　Head　to　Cape　Pillar；　and　from　Cape　Pillar　to　the　rugged　grandeur　of　Pirates'　Bay；　resembles　a　biscuit　at　which　rats　have　been　nibbling。　　Eaten　away　by　the　continual　action　of　the　ocean　which；　pouring　round　by　east　and　west；　has　divided　the　peninsula　from　the　mainland　of　the　Australasian　continentand　done　for　Van　Diemen's　Land　what　it　has　done　for　the　Isle　of　Wightthe　shore　line　is　broken　and　ragged。　Viewed　upon　the　map；　the　fantastic　fragments　of　island　and　promontory　which　lie　scattered　between　the　South…West　Cape　and　the　greater　Swan　Port；　are　like　the　curious　forms　assumed　by　melted　lead　spilt　into　water。　If　the　supposition　were　not　too　extravagant；　one　might　imagine　that　when　the　Australian　continent　was　fused；　a　careless　giant　upset　the　crucible；　and　spilt　Van　Diemen's　land　in　the　ocean。　　The　coast　navigation　is　as　dangerous　as　that　of　the　Mediterranean。　　Passing　from　Cape　Bougainville　to　the　east　of　Maria　Island；　and　between　the　numerous　rocks　and　shoals　which　lie　beneath　the　triple　height　of　the　Three　Thumbs；　the　mariner　is　suddenly　checked　by　Tasman's　Peninsula；　hanging；　like　a　huge　double…dropped　ear…ring；　from　the　mainland。　　Getting　round　under　the　Pillar　rock　through　Storm　Bay　to　Storing　Island；　we　sight　the　Italy　of　this　miniature　Adriatic。　Between　Hobart　Town　and　Sorrell；　Pittwater　and　the　Derwent；　a　strangely…shaped　point　of　landthe　Italian　boot　with　its　toe　bent　upwardsprojects　into　the　bay；　and；　separated　from　this　projection　by　a　narrow　channel；　dotted　with　rocks；　the　long　length　of　Bruny　Island　makes；　between　its　western　side　and　the　cliffs　of　Mount　Royal；　the　dangerous　passage　known　as　D'Entrecasteaux　Channel。　　At　the　southern　entrance　of　D'Entrecasteaux　Channel；　a　line　of　sunken　rocks；　known　by　the　generic　name　of　the　Actaeon　reef；　attests　that　Bruny　Head　was　once　joined　with　the　shores　of　Recherche　Bay；　while；　from　the　South　Cape　to　the　jaws　of　Macquarie　Harbour；　the　white　water　caused　by　sunken　reefs；　or　the　jagged　peaks　of　single　rocks　abruptly　rising　in　mid　sea；　warn　the　mariner　off　shore。

It　would　seem　as　though　nature；　jealous　of　the　beauties　of　her　silver　Derwent；　had　made　the　approach　to　it　as　dangerous　as　possible；　but　once　through　the　archipelago　of　D'Entrecasteaux　Channel；　or　the　less　dangerous　eastern　passage　of　Storm　Bay；　the　voyage　up　the　river　is　delightful。　From　the　sentinel　solitude　of　the　Iron　Pot　to　the　smiling　banks　of　New　Norfolk；　the　river　winds　in　a　succession　of　reaches；　narrowing　to　a　deep　channel　cleft　between　rugged　and　towering　cliffs。　　A　line　drawn　due　north　from　the　source　of　the　Derwent　would　strike　another　river　winding　out　from　the　northern　part　of　the　island；　as　the　Derwent　winds　out　from　the　south。　The　force　of　the　waves；　expended；　perhaps；　in　destroying　the　isthmus　which；　two　tho