for the term of his natural life-第21章
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o future prospects； the little incident was forgotten。 But when； an hour later； Mr。 Frere traversed the passage that led to his bedroom； he found himself confronted by a little figure wrapped in a shawl。 It was his childish enemy
〃I've waited for you； Mr。 Frere；〃 said she； 〃to beg pardon。 I ought not to have struck you； I am a wicked girl。 Don't say no； because I am； and if I don't grow better I shall never go to Heaven。〃
Thus addressing him； the child produced a piece of paper； folded like a letter； from beneath the shawl； and handed it to him。
〃What's this？〃 he asked。 〃Go back to bed； my dear； you'll catch cold。〃
〃It's a written apology； and I sha'n't catch cold； because I've got my stockings on。 If you don't accept it；〃 she added； with an arching of the brows； 〃it is not my fault。 I have struck you； but I apologize。 Being a woman； I can't offer you satisfaction in the usual way。〃
Mr。 Frere stifled the impulse to laugh； and made his courteous adversary a low bow。
〃I accept your apology； Miss Sylvia；〃 said he。
〃Then；〃 returned Miss Sylvia； in a lofty manner； 〃there is nothing more to be said； and I have the honour to bid you good…night； sir。〃
The little maiden drew her shawl close around her with immense dignity； and marched down the passage as calmly as though she had been Amadis of Gaul himself。
Frere； gaining his room choking with laughter； opened the folded paper by the light of the tallow candle； and read； in a quaint； childish hand：
SIR；I have struck you。 I apologize in writing。 Your humble servant to command； SYLVIA VICKERS。
〃I wonder what book she took that out of？〃 he said。 〃'Pon my word she must be a little cracked。 'Gad； it's a queer life for a child in this place； and no mistake。〃
CHAPTER VI。
A LEAP IN THE DARK。
Two or three mornings after the arrival of the Ladybird； the solitary prisoner of the Grummet Rock noticed mysterious movements along the shore of the island settlement。 The prison boats； which had put off every morning at sunrise to the foot of the timbered ranges on the other side of the harbour； had not appeared for some days。 The building of a pier； or breakwater； running from the western point of the settlement； was discontinued； and all hands appeared to be occupied with the newly…built Osprey； which was lying on the slips。 Parties of soldiers also daily left the Ladybird； and assisted at the mysterious work in progress。 Rufus Dawes； walking his little round each day； in vain wondered what this unusual commotion portended。 Unfortunately； no one came to enlighten his ignorance。
A fortnight after this； about the 15th of December； he observed another curious fact。 All the boats on the island put off one morning to the opposite side of the harbour； and in the course of the day a great smoke arose along the side of the hills。 The next day the same was repeated； and on the fourth day the boats returned； towing behind them a huge raft。 This raft； made fast to the side of the Ladybird； proved to be composed of planks； beams； and joists； all of which were duly hoisted up； and stowed in the hold of the brig。
This set Rufus Dawes thinking。 Could it possibly be that the timber…cutting was to be abandoned； and that the Government had hit upon some other method of utilizing its convict labour？ He had hewn timber and built boats； and tanned hides and made shoes。 Was it possible that some new trade was to be initiated？ Before he had settled this point to his satisfaction； he was startled by another boat expedition。 Three boats' crews went down the bay； and returned； after a day's absence； with an addition to their number in the shape of four strangers and a quantity of stores and farming implements。 Rufus Dawes； catching sight of these last； came to the conclusion that the boats had been to Philip's Island； where the 〃garden〃 was established； and had taken off the gardeners and garden produce。 Rufus Dawes decided that the Ladybird had brought a new commandanthis sight； trained by his half…savage life； had already distinguished Mr。 Maurice Frere and that these mysteries were 〃improvements〃 under the new rule。 When he arrived at this point of reasoning； another conjecture； assuming his first to have been correct； followed as a natural consequence。 Lieutenant Frere would be a more severe commandant than Major Vickers。 Now； severity had already reached its height； so far as he was concerned； so the unhappy man took a final resolutionhe would kill himself。 Before we exclaim against the sin of such a determination； let us endeavour to set before us what the sinner had suffered during the past six years。
We have already a notion of what life on a convict ship means； and we have seen through what a furnace Rufus Dawes had passed before he set foot on the barren shore of Hell's Gates。 But to appreciate in its intensity the agony he suffered since that time； we must multiply the infamy of the 'tween decks of the Malabar a hundred fold。 In that prison was at least some ray of light。 All were not abominable； all were not utterly lost to shame and manhood。 Stifling though the prison； infamous the companionship； terrible the memory of past happiness there was yet ignorance of the future； there was yet hope。 But at Macquarie Harbour was poured out the very dregs of this cup of desolation。 The worst had come； and the worst must for ever remain。 The pit of torment was so deep that one could not even see Heaven。 There was no hope there so long as life remained。 Death alone kept the keys of that island prison。
Is it possible to imagine； even for a moment； what an innocent man； gifted with ambition； endowed with power to love and to respect； must have suffered during one week of such punishment？ We ordinary men； leading ordinary liveswalking； riding； laughing； marrying and giving in marriagecan form no notion of such misery as this。 Some dim ideas we may have about the sweetness of liberty and the loathing that evil company inspires； but that is all。 We know that were we chained and degraded； fed like dogs； employed as beasts of burden； driven to our daily toil with threats and blows； and herded with wretches among whom all that savours of decency and manliness is held in an open scorn； we should die； perhaps； or go mad。 But we do not know； and can never know； how unutterably loathsome life must become when shared with such beings as those who dragged the tree…trunks to the banks of the Gordon； and toiled； blaspheming； in their irons； on the dismal sandpit of Sarah Island。 No human creature could describe to what depth of personal abasement and self…loathing one week of such a life would plunge him。 Even if he had the power to write； he dared not。 As one whom in a desert； seeking for a face； should come to a pool of blood； and seeing his own reflection； flyso would such a one hasten from the contemplation of his own degrading agony。 Imagine such torment endured for six years！
Ignorant that the sights and sounds about him were symptoms of the final abandonment of the settlement； and that the Ladybird was sent down to bring away the prisoners； Rufus Dawes decided upon getting rid of that burden of life which pressed upon him so heavily。 For six years he had hewn wood and drawn water； for six years he had hoped against hope； for six years he had lived in the valley of the shadow of Death。 He dared not recapitulate to himself what he had suffered。 Indeed； his senses were deadened and dulled by torture。 He cared to remember only one thingthat he was a Prisoner for Life。 In vain had been his first dream of freedom。 He had done his best； by good conduct； to win release； but the villainy of Vetch and Rex had deprived him of the fruit of his labour。 Instead of gaining credit by his exposure of the plot on board the Malabar； he was himself deemed guilty； and condemned； despite his asseverations of innocence。 The knowledge of his 〃treachery〃for so it was deemed among his associates while it gained for him no credit with the authorities； procured for him the detestation and ill…will of the monsters among whom he found himself。 On his arrival at Hell's Gates he was a marked mana Pariah among those beings who were Pariahs to all the world beside。 Thrice his life was attempted； but he was not then quite tired of living； and he defended it。 This defence was construed by an overseer into a brawl； and the irons from which he had been relieved were replaced。 His strengthbrute attribute that alone could avail himmade him respected after this； and he was left at peace。 At first this treatment was congenial to his temperament； but by and by it became annoying； then painful； then almost unendurable。 Tugging at his oar； digging up to his waist in slime； or bending beneath his burden of pine wood； he looked greedily for some excuse to be addressed。 He would take double weight when forming part of the human caterpillar along whose back lay a pine tree； for a word of fellowship。 He would work double tides to gain a kindly sentence from a comrade。 In his utter desolation he agonized for the friendship of robbers and murderers。 Then the reaction came； and he hated the very sound of their voices。 He never spoke； and refused to answer when spoken to。 He would even take his scanty supper alone； did his chain so permit him。 He gained the reputation of a sullen； dangerous； half…crazy ruffian。 Captain Barton； the superintendent； took pity on him； and made him his gardener。 He accepted the pity for a week or so； and then Barton； coming down one morning； found the few shrubs pulled up by the roots； the flower…beds trampled into barrenness； and his gardener sitting on the ground among the fragments of his gardening tools。 For this act of wanton mischief he was flogged。 At the triangles his behaviour was considered curious。 He wept and prayed to be released； fell on his knees to Barton； and implored pardon。 Barton would not listen； and at the first blow the prisoner was silent。 From that time he became more sullen than ever； only at times he was observed； when alone； to fling himself on the ground and cry like a child。 It was generally thought that his brain was affected。
When Vickers came； Dawes sought an interview； and begged to be sent back to Hobart Town。 This was refused； of course； but he was put to work on the Osprey。 After working there for some time； and being released from his irons； he concealed himself on the slip； and in the evening swam across the harbour。 He was pursued； retaken； and flogged。 Then he ran the dismal round of punishment。 He burnt lime； dragged timber； and tugged at the oar。 The heaviest and most degrading tasks were always his。 Shunned and hated by his companions； feared by the convict overseers； and regarded with unfriendly eyes by the authorities； Rufus Dawes was at the very bottom of that abyss of woe into which he had voluntarily cast himself。 Goaded to desperation by his own thoughts； he had joined with Gabbett and the unlucky three in their desperate attempt to escape； but； as Vickers stated； he had been captured almost instantly。 He was lamed by the heavy irons he wore； and though Gabbett with a strange eagerness for which after events accountedinsisted that he could make good his flight； the unhappy man fell in the first hund
