for the term of his natural life-第22章

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　events　accountedinsisted　that　he　could　make　good　his　flight；　the　unhappy　man　fell　in　the　first　hundred　yards　of　the　terrible　race；　and　was　seized　by　two　volunteers　before　he　could　rise　again。　　His　capture　helped　to　secure　the　brief　freedom　of　his　comrades；　for　Mr。　Troke；　content　with　one　prisoner；　checked　a　pursuit　which　the　nature　of　the　ground　rendered　dangerous；　and　triumphantly　brought　Dawes　back　to　the　settlement　as　his　peace…offering　for　the　negligence　which　had　resulted　in　the　loss　of　the　other　four。　For　this　madness　the　refractory　convict　had　been　condemned　to　the　solitude　of　the　Grummet　Rock。

In　that　dismal　hermitage；　his　mind；　preying　on　itself；　had　become　disordered。　He　saw　visions　and　dreamt　dreams。　　He　would　lie　for　hours　motionless；　staring　at　the　sun　or　the　sea。　　He　held　converse　with　imaginary　beings。　He　enacted　the　scene　with　his　mother　over　again。　　He　harangued　the　rocks；　and　called　upon　the　stones　about　him　to　witness　his　innocence　and　his　sacrifice。　　He　was　visited　by　the　phantoms　of　his　early　friends；　and　sometimes　thought　his　present　life　a　dream。　　Whenever　he　awoke；　however；　he　was　commanded　by　a　voice　within　himself　to　leap　into　the　surges　which　washed　the　walls　of　his　prison；　and　to　dream　these　sad　dreams　no　more。

In　the　midst　of　this　lethargy　of　body　and　brain；　the　unusual　occurrences　along　the　shore　of　the　settlement　roused　in　him　a　still　fiercer　hatred　of　life。　He　saw　in　them　something　incomprehensible　and　terrible；　and　read　in　them　threats　of　an　increase　of　misery。　　Had　he　known　that　the　Ladybird　was　preparing　for　sea；　and　that　it　had　been　already　decided　to　fetch　him　from　the　Rock　and　iron　him　with　the　rest　for　safe　passage　to　Hobart　Town；　he　might　have　paused；　but　he　knew　nothing；　save　that　the　burden　of　life　was　insupportable；　and　that　the　time　had　come　for　him　to　be　rid　of　it。

In　the　meantime；　the　settlement　was　in　a　fever　of　excitement。　In　less　than　three　weeks　from　the　announcement　made　by　Vickers；　all　had　been　got　ready。　　The　Commandant　had　finally　arranged　with　Frere　as　to　his　course　of　action。　　He　would　himself　accompany　the　Ladybird　with　the　main　body。　　His　wife　and　daughter　were　to　remain　until　the　sailing　of　the　Osprey；　which　Mr。　Frerecharged　with　the　task　of　final　destruction　was　to　bring　up　as　soon　as　possible。　　〃I　will　leave　you　a　corporal's　guard；　and　ten　prisoners　as　a　crew；〃　Vickers　said。　　〃You　can　work　her　easily　with　that　number。〃　To　which　Frere；　smiling　at　Mrs。　Vickers　in　a　self…satisfied　way；　had　replied　that　he　could　do　with　five　prisoners　if　necessary；　for　he　knew　how　to　get　double　work　out　of　the　lazy　dogs。

Among　the　incidents　which　took　place　during　the　breaking　up　was　one　which　it　is　necessary　to　chronicle。　　Near　Philip's　Island；　on　the　north　side　of　the　harbour；　is　situated　Coal　Head；　where　a　party　had　been　lately　at　work。　This　party；　hastily　withdrawn　by　Vickers　to　assist　in　the　business　of　devastation；　had　left　behind　it　some　tools　and　timber；　and　at　the　eleventh　hour　a　boat's　crew　was　sent　to　bring　away　the　d閎ris。　The　tools　were　duly　collected；　and　the　pine　logsworth　twenty…five　shillings　apiece　in　Hobart　Townduly　rafted　and　chained。　　The　timber　was　secured；　and　the　convicts；　towing　it　after　them；　pulled　for　the　ship　just　as　the　sun　sank。　　In　the　general　relaxation　of　discipline　and　haste；　the　raft　had　not　been　made　with　as　much　care　as　usual；　and　the　strong　current　against　which　the　boat　was　labouring　assisted　the　negligence　of　the　convicts。　The　logs　began　to　loosen；　and　although　the　onward　motion　of　the　boat　kept　the　chain　taut；　when　the　rowers　slackened　their　exertions　the　mass　parted；　and　Mr。　Troke；　hooking　himself　on　to　the　side　of　the　Ladybird；　saw　a　huge　log　slip　out　from　its　fellows　and　disappear　into　the　darkness。　Gazing　after　it　with　an　indignant　and　disgusted　stare；　as　though　it　had　been　a　refractory　prisoner　who　merited　two　days'　〃solitary〃；　he　thought　he　heard　a　cry　from　the　direction　in　which　it　had　been　borne。　He　would　have　paused　to　listen；　but　all　his　attention　was　needed　to　save　the　timber；　and　to　prevent　the　boat　from　being　swamped　by　the　struggling　mass　at　her　stern。

The　cry　had　proceeded　from　Rufus　Dawes。　　From　his　solitary　rock　he　had　watched　the　boat　pass　him　and　make　for　the　Ladybird　in　the　channel；　and　he　had　decidedwith　that　curious　childishness　into　which　the　mind　relapses　on　such　supreme　occasionsthat　the　moment　when　the　gathering　gloom　swallowed　her　up；　should　be　the　moment　when　he　would　plunge　into　the　surge　below　him。　　The　heavily…labouring　boat　grew　dimmer　and　dimmer；　as　each　tug　of　the　oars　took　her　farther　from　him。　　Presently；　only　the　figure　of　Mr。　Troke　in　the　stern　sheets　was　visible；　then　that　also　disappeared；　and　as　the　nose　of　the　timber　raft　rose　on　the　swell　of　the　next　wave；　Rufus　Dawes　flung　himself　into　the　sea。

He　was　heavily　ironed；　and　he　sank　like　a　stone。　　He　had　resolved　not　to　attempt　to　swim；　and　for　the　first　moment　kept　his　arms　raised　above　his　head；　in　order　to　sink　the　quicker。　　But；　as　the　short；　sharp　agony　of　suffocation　caught　him；　and　the　shock　of　the　icy　water　dispelled　the　mental　intoxication　under　which　he　was　labouring；　he　desperately　struck　out；　and；　despite　the　weight　of　his　irons；　gained　the　surface　for　an　instant。　　As　he　did　so；　all　bewildered；　and　with　the　one　savage　instinct　of　self…preservation　predominant　over　all　other　thoughts；　be　became　conscious　of　a　huge　black　mass　surging　upon　him　out　of　the　darkness。　　An　instant's　buffet　with　the　current；　an　ineffectual　attempt　to　dive　beneath　it；　a　horrible　sense　that　the　weight　at　his　feet　was　dragging　him　down；and　the　huge　log；　loosened　from　the　raft；　was　upon　him；　crushing　him　beneath　its　rough　and　ragged　sides。　All　thoughts　of　self…murder　vanished　with　the　presence　of　actual　peril；　and　uttering　that　despairing　cry　which　had　been　faintly　heard　by　Troke；　he　flung　up　his　arms　to　clutch　the　monster　that　was　pushing　him　down　to　death。　The　log　passed　completely　over　him；　thrusting　him　beneath　the　water；　but　his　hand；　scraping　along　the　splintered　side；　came　in　contact　with　the　loop　of　hide　rope　that　yet　hung　round　the　mass；　and　clutched　it　with　the　tenacity　of　a　death　grip。　　In　another　instant　he　got　his　head　above　water；　and　making　good　his　hold；　twisted　himself；　by　a　violent　effort；　across　the　log。

For　a　moment　he　saw　the　lights　from　the　stern　windows　of　the　anchored　vessels　low　in　the　distance；　Grummet　Rock　disappeared　on　his　left；　then；　exhausted；　breathless；　and　bruised；　he　closed　his　eyes；　and　the　drifting　log　bore　him　swiftly　and　silently　away　into　the　darkness。　　


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At　daylight　the　next　morning；　Mr。　Troke；　landing　on　the　prison　rock　found　it　deserted。　　The　prisoner's　cap　was　lying　on　the　edge　of　the　little　cliff；　but　the　prisoner　himself　had　disappeared。　Pulling　back　to　the　Ladybird；　the　intelligent　Troke　pondered　on　the　circumstance；　and　in　delivering　his　report　to　Vickers　mentioned　the　strange　cry　he　had　heard　the　night　before。　〃It's　my　belief；　sir；　that　he　was　trying　to　swim　the　bay；〃　he　said。　〃He　must　ha'　gone　to　the　bottom　anyhow；　for　he　couldn't　swim　five　yards　with　them　irons。〃

Vickers；　busily　engaged　in　getting　under　weigh；　accepted　this　very　natural　supposition　without　question。　　The　prisoner　had　met　his　death　either　by　his　own　act；　or　by　accident。　　It　was　either　a　suicide　or　an　attempt　to　escape；　and　the　former　conduct　of　Rufus　Dawes　rendered　the　latter　explanation　a　more　probable　one。　　In　any　case；　he　was　dead。　As　Mr。　Troke　rightly　surmised；　no　man　could　swim　the　bay　in　irons；　and　when　the　Ladybird；　an　hour　later；　passed　the　Grummet　Rock；　all　on　board　her　believed　that　the　corpse　of　its　late　occupant　was　lying　beneath　the　waves　that　seethed　at　its　base。




CHAPTER　VII。

THE　LAST　OF　MACQUARIE　HARBOUR。



Rufus　Dawes　was　believed　to　be　dead　by　the　party　on　board　the　Ladybird；　and　his　strange　escape　was　unknown　to　those　still　at　Sarah　Island。　Maurice　Frere；　if　he　bestowed　a　thought　upon　the　refractory　prisoner　of　the　Rock；　believed　him　to　be　safely　stowed　in　the　hold　of　the　schooner；　and　already　half…way　to　Hobart　Town；　while　not　one　of　the　eighteen　persons　on　board　the　Osprey　suspected　that　the　boat　which　had　put　off　for　the　marooned　man　had　returned　without　him。　　Indeed　the　party　had　little　leisure　for　thought；　Mr。　Frere；　eager　to　prove　his　ability　and　energy；　was　making　strenuous　exertions　to　get　away；　and　kept　his　unlucky　ten　so　hard　at　work　that　within　a　week　from　the　departure　of　the　Ladybird　the　Osprey　was　ready　for　sea。　　Mrs。　Vickers　and　the　child；　having　watched　with　some　excusable　regret　the　process　of　demolishing　their　old　home；　had　settled　down　in　their　small　cabin　in　the　brig；　and　on　the　evening　of　the　11th　of　January；　Mr。　Bates；　the　pilot；　who　acted　as　master；　informed　the　crew　that　Lieutenant　Frere　had　given　orders　to　weigh　anchor　at　daybreak。

At　daybreak　accordingly　the　brig　set　sail；　with　a　light　breeze　from　the　south…west；　and　by　three　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　anchored　safely　outside　the　Gates。　　Unfortunately　the　wind　shifted　to　the　north…west；　which　caused　a　heavy　swell　on　the　bar；　and　prudent　Mr。　Bates；　having　consideration　for　Mrs。　Vickers　and　the　child；　ran　back　ten　miles　into　Wellington　Bay；　and　anchored　there　again　at　seven　o'clock　in　the　morning。　　The　tide　was　running　strongly；　and　the　brig　rolled　a　good　deal。　　Mrs。　Vickers　kept　to　her　cabin；　and　sent　Sylvia　to　entertain　Lieutenant　Frere。　　Sylvia　went；　but　was　not　entertaining。　　She　had　conceived　for　Frere　one　of　those　violent　antipathies　which　children　sometimes　own　without　reason；　and　since　the　memorable　night　of　the　apology　had　been　barely　civil　to　him。　In　vain　did　he　pet　her　and　compliment　her；　she　was　not　to　be　flattered　into　liking　him。　　〃I　do　not　like　you；　sir；〃　she　said　in　her　stilted　fashion；　〃but　that　need　make　no　difference　to　you。　　You　occupy　yourself　with　your　prisoners；　I　can　amuse　myself　without　you；　thank　you。〃　〃Oh；　all　right；〃　said　Frere；　〃I　don't　want　to　interfere〃；　but　he　felt　a　little　nettled　nevertheless。　　On　this　particular　evening　the　young　lady　relaxed　her　severity　of　demeanour。　　Her　father　away；　and　her　mother　sick；　the　little　maiden　felt　lonely；　and　as　a　last　resource　accepted　her　mother's　commands　and　went　to　Frere。　　He　was　walking　up　and　down　the　deck；　smoking。

〃Mr。　Frere；　I　am　sent　to　talk　to　you。〃

〃Are　you？　　All　rightgo　on。〃

〃Oh　dear；　no。　　It　is　the　gentleman's　place　to　entertain。　　Be　amusing！〃

〃Come　and　sit　down　then；〃　said　Frere；　who　was　in　good　humour　at　the　success　of　his　arrangements。　　〃What　shall　we　talk　about？〃

〃You　stupid　man！　　As　if　I　knew！　　It　is　your　place　to　talk。　Tell　me　a　fairy　story。〃

〃'Jack　and　the　Beanstalk'？〃　suggested　Frere。

〃Jack　and　the　grandmother！　　Nonsense。　　Make　one　up　out　of　your　head；　you　know。〃

Frere　laughed。

〃I　can't；〃　he　said。　　〃I　never　did　such　a　thing　in　my　life。〃

〃Then　why　not　begin？　　I　shall　go　away　if　you　don't　begin。〃

Frere　rubbed　his　brows。　　〃Well；　have　you　readhave　you　read　'Robinson　Crusoe？'〃as　if　the　idea　was　a　brilliant　one。

〃Of　course　I　have；〃　returned　Sylvia；　pouting。　　〃Read　it？yes。　Everybody's　read　'Robinson　Crusoe！'〃

〃Oh；　have　they？　　Well；　I　didn't　know；　let　me　see　now。〃　And　pulling　hard　at　his　pipe；　he　plunged　into　literary　reflection。

Sylvia；　sitting　be