for the term of his natural life-第20章

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n　a　roughly…made　stool；　by　the　side　of　this　stretcher；　sat　a　man；　in　the　grey　dress　（worn　as　a　contrast　to　the　yellow　livery）　of　〃good　conduct〃　prisoners。　This　man　held　between　his　knees　a　basin　containing　gruel；　and　was　apparently　endeavouring　to　feed　the　mass　on　the　pine　logs。

〃Won't　he　eat；　Steve？〃　asked　Vickers。

And　at　the　sound　of　the　Commandant's　voice；　Steve　arose。

〃Dunno　what's　wrong　wi'　'un；　sir；〃　he　said；　jerking　up　a　finger　to　his　forehead。　　〃He　seems　jest　muggy…pated。　　I　can't　do　nothin'　wi'　'un。〃

〃Gabbett！〃

The　intelligent　Troke；　considerately　alive　to　the　wishes　of　his　superior　officers；　dragged　the　mass　into　a　sitting　posture。

Gabbettfor　it　was　hepassed　one　great　hand　over　his　face；　and　leaning　exactly　in　the　position　in　which　Troke　placed　him；　scowled；　bewildered；　at　his　visitors。

〃Well；　Gabbett；〃　says　Vickers；　〃you've　come　back　again；　you　see。　When　will　you　learn　sense；　eh？　　Where　are　your　mates？〃

The　giant　did　not　reply。

〃Do　you　hear　me？　　Where　are　your　mates？〃

〃Where　are　your　mates？〃　　repeated　Troke。

〃Dead；〃　says　Gabbett。

〃All　three　of　them？〃

〃Ay。〃

〃And　how　did　you　get　back？〃

Gabbett；　in　eloquent　silence；　held　out　a　bleeding　foot。

〃We　found　him　on　the　point；　sir；〃　said　Troke；　jauntily　explaining；　〃and　brought　him　across　in　the　boat。　　He　had　a　basin　of　gruel；　but　he　didn't　seem　hungry。〃

〃Are　you　hungry？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Why　don't　you　eat　your　gruel？〃

Gabbett　curled　his　great　lips。

〃I　have　eaten　it。　　Ain't　yer　got　nuffin'　better　nor　that　to　flog　a　man　on？　Ugh！　　yer　a　mean　lot！　　Wot's　it　to　be　this　time；　Major？　　Fifty？〃

And　laughing；　he　rolled　down　again　on　the　logs。

〃A　nice　specimen！〃　said　Vickers；　with　a　hopeless　smile。　〃What　can　one　do　with　such　a　fellow？〃

〃I'd　flog　his　soul　out　of　his　body；〃　said　Frere；　〃if　he　spoke　to　me　like　that！〃

Troke　and　the　others；　hearing　the　statement；　conceived　an　instant　respect　for　the　new…comer。　　He　looked　as　if　he　would　keep　his　word。

The　giant　raised　his　great　head　and　looked　at　the　speaker；　but　did　not　recognize　him。　　He　saw　only　a　strange　facea　visitor　perhaps。　〃You　may　flog；　and　welcome；　master；〃　said　he；　〃if　you'll　give　me　a　fig　o'　tibbacky。〃　Frere　laughed。　　The　brutal　indifference　of　the　rejoinder　suited　his　humour；　and；　with　a　glance　at　Vickers；　he　took　a　small　piece　of　cavendish　from　the　pocket　of　his　pea…jacket；　and　gave　it　to　the　recaptured　convict。　　Gabbett　snatched　it　as　a　cur　snatches　at　a　bone；　and　thrust　it　whole　into　his　mouth。

〃How　many　mates　had　he？〃　asked　Maurice；　watching　the　champing　jaws　as　one　looks　at　a　strange　animal；　and　asking　the　question　as　though　a　〃mate〃　was　something　a　convict　was　born　withlike　a　mole；　for　instance。

〃Three；　sir。〃

〃Three；　eh？　　Well；　give　him　thirty　lashes；　Vickers。〃

〃And　if　I　ha'　had　three　more；〃　growled　Gabbett；　mumbling　at　his　tobacco；　〃you　wouldn't　ha'　had　the　chance。〃

〃What　does　he　say？〃

But　Troke　had　not　heard；　and　the　〃good…conduct〃　man；　shrinking　as　it　seemed；　slightly　from　the　prisoner；　said　he　had　not　heard　either。　The　wretch　himself；　munching　hard　at　his　tobacco；　relapsed　into　his　restless　silence；　and　was　as　though　he　had　never　spoken。

As　he　sat　there　gloomily　chewing；　he　was　a　spectacle　to　shudder　at。　Not　so　much　on　account　of　his　natural　hideousness；　increased　a　thousand…fold　by　the　tattered　and　filthy　rags　which　barely　covered　him。　Not　so　much　on　account　of　his　unshaven　jaws；　his　hare…lip；　his　torn　and　bleeding　feet；　his　haggard　cheeks；　and　his　huge；　wasted　frame。　Not　only　because；　looking　at　the　animal；　as　he　crouched；　with　one　foot　curled　round　the　other；　and　one　hairy　arm　pendant　between　his　knees；　he　was　so　horribly　unhuman；　that　one　shuddered　to　think　that　tender　women　and　fair　children　must；　of　necessity；　confess　to　fellowship　of　kind　with　such　a　monster。　　But　also　because；　in　his　slavering　mouth；　his　slowly　grinding　jaws；　his　restless　fingers；　and　his　bloodshot；　wandering　eyes；　there　lurked　a　hint　of　some　terror　more　awful　than　the　terror　of　starvationa　memory　of　a　tragedy　played　out　in　the　gloomy　depths　of　that　forest　which　had　vomited　him　forth　again；　and　the　shadow　of　this　unknown　horror；　clinging　to　him；　repelled　and　disgusted；　as　though　he　bore　about　with　him　the　reek　of　the　shambles。

〃Come；〃　said　Vickers；　〃Let　us　go　back。　　I　shall　have　to　flog　him　again；　I　suppose。　　Oh；　this　place！　　No　wonder　they　call　it　'Hell's　Gates'。〃

〃You　are　too　soft…hearted；　my　dear　sir；〃　said　Frere；　half…way　up　the　palisaded　path。　　〃We　must　treat　brutes　like　brutes。〃

Major　Vickers；　inured　as　he　was　to　such　sentiments；　sighed。　　〃It　is　not　for　me　to　find　fault　with　the　system；〃　he　said；　hesitating；　in　his　reverence　for　〃discipline〃；　to　utter　all　the　thought；　〃but　I　have　sometimes　wondered　if　kindness　would　not　succeed　better　than　the　chain　and　the　cat。〃

〃Your　old　ideas！〃　laughed　his　companion。　　〃Remember；　they　nearly　cost　us　our　lives　on　the　Malabar。　　No；　no。　　I've　seen　something　of　convictsthough；　to　be　sure；　my　fellows　were　not　so　bad　as　yoursand　there's　only　one　way。　Keep　'em　down；　sir。　　Make　'em　feel　what　they　are。　　They're　there　to　work；　sir。　If　they　won't　work；　flog　'em　until　they　will。　　If　they　work　wellwhy　a　taste　of　the　cat　now　and　then　keeps　'em　in　mind　of　what　they　may　expect　if　they　get　lazy。〃　They　had　reached　the　verandah　now。　The　rising　moon　shone　softly　on　the　bay　beneath　them；　and　touched　with　her　white　light　the　summit　of　the　Grummet　Rock。

〃That　is　the　general　opinion；　I　know；〃　returned　Vickers。　〃But　consider　the　life　they　lead。　　Good　God！〃　he　added；　with　sudden　vehemence；　as　Frere　paused　to　look　at　the　bay。　　〃I'm　not　a　cruel　man；　and　never；　I　believe；　inflicted　an　unmerited　punishment；　but　since　I　have　been　here　ten　prisoners　have　drowned　themselves　from　yonder　rock；　rather　than　live　on　in　their　misery。　　Only　three　weeks　ago；　two　men；　with　a　wood…cutting　party　in　the　hills；　having　had　some　words　with　the　overseer；　shook　hands　with　the　gang；　and　then；　hand　in　hand；　flung　themselves　over　the　cliff。　It's　horrible　to　think　of！〃

〃They　shouldn't　get　sent　here；〃　said　practical　Frere。　　〃They　knew　what　they　had　to　expect。　　Serve　'em　right。〃

〃But　imagine　an　innocent　man　condemned　to　this　place！〃

〃I　can't；〃　said　Frere；　with　a　laugh。　　〃Innocent　man　be　hanged！　They're　all　innocent；　if　you'd　believe　their　own　stories。　Hallo！　what's　that　red　light　there？〃

〃Dawes's　fire；　on　Grummet　Rock；〃　says　Vickers；　going　in；　〃the　man　I　told　you　about。　　Come　in　and　have　some　brandy…and…water；　and　we'll　shut　the　door　in　place。〃




CHAPTER　V。

SYLVIA。



〃Well；〃　said　Frere；　as　they　went　in；　〃you'll　be　out　of　it　soon。　You　can　get　all　ready　to　start　by　the　end　of　the　month；　and　I'll　bring　on　Mrs。　Vickers　afterwards。〃

〃What　is　that　you　say　about　me？〃　asked　the　sprightly　Mrs。　Vickers　from　within。　〃You　wicked　men；　leaving　me　alone　all　this　time！〃

〃Mr。　Frere　has　kindly　offered　to　bring　you　and　Sylvia　after　us　in　the　Osprey。　I　shall；　of　course；　have　to　take　the　Ladybird。〃

〃You　are　most　kind；　Mr。　Frere；　really　you　are；〃　says　Mrs。　Vickers；　a　recollection　of　her　flirtation　with　a　certain　young　lieutenant；　six　years　before；　tinging　her　cheeks。　　〃It　is　really　most　considerate　of　you。　Won't　it　be　nice；　Sylvia；　to　go　with　Mr。　Frere　and　mamma　to　Hobart　Town？〃

〃Mr。　Frere；〃　says　Sylvia；　coming　from　out　a　corner　of　the　room；　〃I　am　very　sorry　for　what　I　said　just　now。　　Will　you　forgive　me？〃

She　asked　the　question　in　such　a　prim；　old…fashioned　way；　standing　in　front　of　him；　with　her　golden　locks　streaming　over　her　shoulders；　and　her　hands　clasped　on　her　black　silk　apron　（Julia　Vickers　had　her　own　notions　about　dressing　her　daughter）；　that　Frere　was　again　inclined　to　laugh。

〃Of　course　I'll　forgive　you；　my　dear；〃　he　said。　　〃You　didn't　mean　it；　I　know。〃

〃Oh；　but　I　did　mean　it；　and　that's　why　I'm　sorry。　　I　am　a　very　naughty　girl　sometimes；　though　you　wouldn't　think　so〃　（this　with　a　charming　consciousness　of　her　own　beauty）；　〃especially　with　Roman　history。　　I　don't　think　the　Romans　were　half　as　brave　as　the　Carthaginians；　do　you；　Mr。　Frere？〃

Maurice；　somewhat　staggered　by　this　question；　could　only　ask；　〃Why　not？〃

〃Well；　I　don't　like　them　half　so　well　myself；〃　says　Sylvia；　with　feminine　disdain　of　reasons。　　〃They　always　had　so　many　soldiers；　though　the　others　were　so　cruel　when　they　conquered。〃

〃Were　they？〃　says　Frere。

〃Were　they！　　Goodness　gracious；　yes！　　Didn't　they　cut　poor　Regulus's　eyelids　off；　and　roll　him　down　hill　in　a　barrel　full　of　nails？　　What　do　you　call　that；　I　should　like　to　know？〃　and　Mr。　Frere；　shaking　his　red　head　with　vast　assumption　of　classical　learning；　could　not　but　concede　that　that　was　not　kind　on　the　part　of　the　Carthaginians。

〃You　are　a　great　scholar；　Miss　Sylvia；〃　he　remarked；　with　a　consciousness　that　this　self…possessed　girl　was　rapidly　taking　him　out　of　his　depth。

〃Are　you　fond　of　reading？〃

〃Very。〃

〃And　what　books　do　you　read？〃

〃Oh；　lots！　　'Paul　and　Virginia〃；　and　'Paradise　Lost'；　and　'Shakespeare's　Plays'；　and　'Robinson　Crusoe'；　and　'Blair's　Sermons'；　and　'The　Tasmanian　Almanack'；　and　'The　Book　of　Beauty'；　and　'Tom　Jones'。〃

〃A　somewhat　miscellaneous　collection；　I　fear；〃　said　Mrs。　Vickers；　with　a　sickly　smileshe；　like　Gallio；　cared　for　none　of　these　things　〃but　our　little　library　is　necessarily　limited；　and　I　am　not　a　great　reader。　John；　my　dear；　Mr。　Frere　would　like　another　glass　of　brandy…and…water。　Oh；　don't　apologize；　I　am　a　soldier's　wife；　you　know。　　Sylvia；　my　love；　say　good…night　to　Mr。　Frere；　and　retire。〃

〃Good…night；　Miss　Sylvia。　　Will　you　give　me　a　kiss？〃

〃No！〃

〃Sylvia；　don't　be　rude！〃

〃I'm　not　rude；〃　cries　Sylvia；　indignant　at　the　way　in　which　her　literary　confidence　had　been　received。　　〃He's　rude！　　I　won't　kiss　you。　Kiss　you　indeed！　　My　goodness　gracious！〃

〃Won't　you；　you　little　beauty？〃　cried　Frere；　suddenly　leaning　forward；　and　putting　his　arm　round　the　child。　　〃Then　I　must　kiss　you！〃

To　his　astonishment；　Sylvia；　finding　herself　thus　seized　and　kissed　despite　herself；　flushed　scarlet；　and；　lifting　up　her　tiny　fist；　struck　him　on　the　cheek　with　all　her　force。

The　blow　was　so　sudden；　and　the　momentary　pain　so　sharp；　that　Maurice　nearly　slipped　into　his　native　coarseness；　and　rapped　out　an　oath。

〃My　dear　Sylvia！〃　cried　Vickers；　in　tones　of　grave　reproof。

But　Frere　laughed；　caught　both　the　child's　hands　in　one　of　his　own；　and　kissed　her　again　and　again；　despite　her　struggles。　　〃There！〃　he　said；　with　a　sort　of　triumph　in　his　tone。　　〃You　got　nothing　by　that；　you　see。〃

Vickers　rose；　with　annoyance　visible　on　his　face；　to　draw　the　child　away；　and　as　he　did　so；　she；　gasping　for　breath；　and　sobbing　with　rage；　wrenched　her　wrist　free；　and　in　a　storm　of　childish　passion　struck　her　tormentor　again　and　again。　　〃Man！〃　she　cried；　with　flaming　eyes；　〃Let　me　go！　　I　hate　you！　　I　hate　you！　　I　hate　you！〃

〃I　am　very　sorry　for　this；　Frere；〃　said　Vickers；　when　the　door　was　closed　again。　　〃I　hope　she　did　not　hurt　you。〃

〃Not　she！　　I　like　her　spirit。　　Ha；　ha！　　That's　the　way　with　women　all　the　world　over。　　Nothing　like　showing　them　that　they've　got　a　master。〃

Vickers　hastened　to　turn　the　conversation；　and；　amid　recollections　of　old　days；　and　speculations　as　to　future　prospects；　the　little　incident　was　forgotten。　But　when；　an　hour　later；　Mr。　Frere　traversed