for the term of his natural life-第25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！


e　report　of　another　musket　shot　echoed　among　the　hills；　and　something　dark　fell　from　the　side　of　the　vessel　into　the　water。　Frere；　with　an　imprecation　of　mingled　alarm　and　indignation；　sprang　to　his　feet；　and　shading　his　eyes　with　his　hand；　looked　towards　the　brig。　　The　soldiers；　resting　on　their　oars；　imitated　his　gesture；　and　the　whale…boat；　thus　thrown　out　of　trim；　rocked　from　side　to　side　dangerously。　　A　moment's　anxious　pause；　and　then　another　musket　shot；　followed　by　a　woman's　shrill　scream；　explained　all。　　The　prisoners　had　seized　the　brig。　　〃Give　way！〃　cried　Frere；　pale　with　rage　and　apprehension；　and　the　soldiers；　realizing　at　once　the　full　terror　of　their　position；　forced　the　heavy　whale…boat　through　the　water　as　fast　as　the　one　miserable　pair　of　oars　could　take　her。


　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*


Mr。　Bates；　affected　by　the　insidious　influence　of　the　hour；　and　lulled　into　a　sense　of　false　security；　had　gone　below　to　tell　his　little　playmate　that　she　would　soon　be　on　her　way　to　the　Hobart　Town　of　which　she　had　heard　so　much；　and；　taking　advantage　of　his　absence；　the　soldier　not　on　guard　went　to　the　forecastle　to　hear　the　prisoners　singing。　He　found　the　ten　together；　in　high　good　humour；　listening　to　a　〃shanty〃　sung　by　three　of　their　number。　　The　voices　were　melodious　enough；　and　the　words　of　the　dittychanted　by　many　stout　fellows　in　many　a　forecastle　before　and　sinceof　that　character　which　pleases　the　soldier　nature。　Private　Grimes　forgot　all　about　the　unprotected　state　of　the　deck；　and　sat　down　to　listen。

While　he　listened；　absorbed　in　tender　recollections；　James　Lesly；　William　Cheshire；　William　Russen；　John　Fair；　and　James　Barker　slipped　to　the　hatchway　and　got　upon　the　deck。　　Barker　reached　the　aft　hatchway　as　the　soldier　who　was　on　guard　turned　to　complete　his　walk；　and　passing　his　arm　round　his　neck；　pulled　him　down　before　he　could　utter　a　cry。　　In　the　confusion　of　the　moment　the　man　loosed　his　grip　of　the　musket　to　grapple　with　his　unseen　antagonist；　and　Fair；　snatching　up　the　weapon；　swore　to　blow　out　his　brains　if　he　raised　a　finger。　Seeing　the　sentry　thus　secured；　Cheshire；　as　if　in　pursuance　of　a　preconcerted　plan；　leapt　down　the　after　hatchway；　and　passed　up　the　muskets　from　the　arm…racks　to　Lesly　and　Russen。　　There　were　three　muskets　in　addition　to　the　one　taken　from　the　sentry；　and　Barker；　leaving　his　prisoner　in　charge　of　Fair；　seized　one　of　them；　and　ran　to　the　companion　ladder。　Russen；　left　unarmed　by　this　manoeuvre；　appeared　to　know　his　own　duty。　He　came　back　to　the　forecastle；　and　passing　behind　the　listening　soldier；　touched　the　singer　on　the　shoulder。　　This　was　the　appointed　signal；　and　John　Rex；　suddenly　terminating　his　song　with　a　laugh；　presented　his　fist　in　the　face　of　the　gaping　Grimes。　　〃No　noise！〃　he　cried。　　〃The　brig's　ours〃；　and　ere　Grimes　could　reply；　he　was　seized　by　Lyon　and　Riley；　and　bound　securely。

〃Come　on；　lads！〃　says　Rex；　〃and　pass　the　prisoner　down　here。　We've　got　her　this　time；　I'll　go　bail！〃　In　obedience　to　this　order；　the　now　gagged　sentry　was　flung　down　the　fore　hatchway；　and　the　hatch　secured。　〃Stand　on　the　hatchway；　Porter；〃　cries　Rex　again；　〃and　if　those　fellows　come　up；　knock　'em　down　with　a　handspoke。　　Lesly　and　Russen；　forward　to　the　companion　ladder！　　Lyon；　keep　a　look…out　for　the　boat；　and　if　she　comes　too　near；　fire！〃

As　he　spoke　the　report　of　the　first　musket　rang　out。　　Barker　had　apparently　fired　up　the　companion　hatchway。　　


　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*


When　Mr。　Bates　had　gone　below；　he　found　Sylvia　curled　upon　the　cushions　of　the　state…room；　reading。　　〃Well；　missy！〃　he　said；　〃we'll　soon　be　on　our　way　to　papa。〃

Sylvia　answered　by　asking　a　question　altogether　foreign　to　the　subject。　〃Mr。　Bates；〃　said　she；　pushing　the　hair　out　of　her　blue　eyes；　〃what's　a　coracle？〃

〃A　which？〃　asked　Mr。　Bates。

〃A　coracle。　　C…o…r…a…c…l…e；〃　said　she；　spelling　it　slowly。　　〃I　want　to　know。〃

The　bewildered　Bates　shook　his　head。　　〃Never　heard　of　one；　missy；〃　said　he；　bending　over　the　book。　　〃What　does　it　say？〃

〃'The　Ancient　Britons；'〃　said　Sylvia；　reading　gravely；　〃'were　little　better　than　Barbarians。　　They　painted　their　bodies　with　Woad'that's　blue　stuff；　you　know；　Mr。　Bates'and；　seated　in　their　light　coracles　of　skin　stretched　upon　slender　wooden　frames；　must　have　presented　a　wild　and　savage　appearance。'〃

〃Hah；〃　said　Mr。　Bates；　when　this　remarkable　passage　was　read　to　him；　〃that's　very　mysterious；　that　is。　　A　corricle；　a　cory　〃a　bright　light　burst　upon　him。　　〃A　curricle　you　mean；　missy！　　It's　a　carriage！　I've　seen　'em　in　Hy'　Park；　with　young　bloods　a…drivin'　of　'em。〃

〃What　are　young　bloods？〃　asked　Sylvia；　rushing　at　this　〃new　opening〃。

〃Oh；　nobs！　　Swell　coves；　don't　you　know；〃　returned　poor　Bates；　thus　again　attacked。　　〃Young　men　o'　fortune　that　is；　that's　given　to　doing　it　grand。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　Sylvia；　waving　her　little　hand　graciously。　　〃Noblemen　and　Princes　and　that　sort　of　people。　　Quite　so。　　But　what　about　coracle？〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　humbled　Bates；　〃I　think　it's　a　carriage；　missy。　A　sort　of　Pheayton；　as　they　call　it。〃

Sylvia；　hardly　satisfied；　returned　to　the　book。　　It　was　a　little　mean…looking　volumea　〃Child's　History　of　England〃and　after　perusing　it　awhile　with　knitted　brows；　she　burst　into　a　childish　laugh。

〃Why；　my　dear　Mr。　Bates！〃　she　cried；　waving　the　History　above　her　head　in　triumph；　〃what　a　pair　of　geese　we　are！　　A　carriage！　　Oh　you　silly　man！　It's　a　boat！〃

〃Is　it？〃　said　Mr。　Bates；　in　admiration　of　the　intelligence　of　his　companion。　〃Who'd　ha'　thought　that　now？　　Why　couldn't　they　call　it　a　boat　at　once；　then；　and　ha'　done　with　it？〃　and　he　was　about　to　laugh　also；　when；　raising　his　eyes；　he　saw　in　the　open　doorway　the　figure　of　James　Barker；　with　a　musket　in　his　hand。

〃Hallo！　　What's　this？　　What　do　you　do　here；　sir？〃

〃Sorry　to　disturb　yer；〃　says　the　convict；　with　a　grin；　〃but　you　must　come　along　o'　me；　Mr。　Bates。〃

Bates；　at　once　comprehending　that　some　terrible　misfortune　had　occurred；　did　not　lose　his　presence　of　mind。　　One　of　the　cushions　of　the　couch　was　under　his　right　hand；　and　snatching　it　up　he　flung　it　across　the　little　cabin　full　in　the　face　of　the　escaped　prisoner。　The　soft　mass　struck　the　man　with　force　sufficient　to　blind　him　for　an　instant。　The　musket　exploded　harmlessly　in　the　air；　and　ere　the　astonished　Barker　could　recover　his　footing；　Bates　had　hurled　him　out　of　the　cabin；　and　crying　〃Mutiny！〃　locked　the　cabin　door　on　the　inside。

The　noise　brought　out　Mrs。　Vickers　from　her　berth；　and　the　poor　little　student　of　English　history　ran　into　her　arms。

〃Good　Heavens；　Mr。　Bates；　what　is　it？〃

Bates；　furious　with　rage；　so　far　forgot　himself　as　to　swear。　〃It's　a　mutiny；　ma'am；〃　said　he。　　〃Go　back　to　your　cabin　and　lock　the　door。　Those　bloody　villains　have　risen　on　us！〃　Julia　Vickers　felt　her　heart　grow　sick。　　Was　she　never　to　escape　out　of　this　dreadful　life？　〃Go　into　your　cabin；　ma'am；〃　says　Bates　again；　〃and　don't　move　a　finger　till　I　tell　ye。　　Maybe　it　ain't　so　bad　as　it　looks；　I've　got　my　pistols　with　me；　thank　God；　and　Mr。　Frere'll　hear　the　shot　anyway。　　Mutiny？　　On　deck　there！〃　he　cried　at　the　full　pitch　of　his　voice；　and　his　brow　grew　damp　with　dismay　when　a　mocking　laugh　from　above　was　the　only　response。

Thrusting　the　woman　and　child　into　the　state　berth；　the　bewildered　pilot　cocked　a　pistol；　and　snatching　a　cutlass　from　the　arm　stand　fixed　to　the　butt　of　the　mast　which　penetrated　the　cabin；　he　burst　open　the　door　with　his　foot；　and　rushed　to　the　companion　ladder。　　Barker　had　retreated　to　the　deck；　and　for　an　instant　he　thought　the　way　was　clear；　but　Lesly　and　Russen　thrust　him　back　with　the　muzzles　of　the　loaded　muskets。　　He　struck　at　Russen　with　the　cutlass；　missed　him；　and；　seeing　the　hopelessness　of　the　attack；　was　fain　to　retreat。

In　the　meanwhile；　Grimes　and　the　other　soldier　had　loosed　themselves　from　their　bonds；　and；　encouraged　by　the　firing；　which　seemed　to　them　a　sign　that　all　was　not　yet　lost；　made　shift　to　force　up　the　forehatch。　Porter；　whose　courage　was　none　of　the　fiercest；　and　who　had　been　for　years　given　over　to　that　terror　of　discipline　which　servitude　induces；　made　but　a　feeble　attempt　at　resistance；　and　forcing　the　handspike　from　him；　the　sentry；　Jones；　rushed　aft　to　help　the　pilot。　　As　Jones　reached　the　waist；　Cheshire；　a　cold…blooded　blue…eyed　man；　shot　him　dead。　Grimes　fell　over　the　corpse；　and　Cheshire；　clubbing　the　musket　had　he　another　barrel　he　would　have　firedcoolly　battered　his　head　as　he　lay；　and　then；　seizing　the　body　of　the　unfortunate　Jones　in　his　arms；　tossed　it　into　the　sea。　　〃Porter；　you　lubber！〃　he　cried；　exhausted　with　the　effort　to　lift　the　body；　〃come　and　bear　a　hand　with　this　other　one！〃　Porter　advanced　aghast；　but　just　then　another　occurrence　claimed　the　villain's　attention；　and　poor　Grimes's　life　was　spared　for　that　time。

Rex；　inwardly　raging　at　this　unexpected　resistance　on　the　part　of　the　pilot；　flung　himself　on　the　skylight；　and　tore　it　up　bodily。　　As　he　did　so；　Barker；　who　had　reloaded　his　musket；　fired　down　into　the　cabin。　The　ball　passed　through　the　state…room　door；　and　splintering　the　wood；　buried　itself　close　to　the　golden　curls　of　poor　little　Sylvia。　It　was　this　hair's…breadth　escape　which　drew　from　the　agonized　mother　that　shriek　which；　pealing　through　the　open　stern　window；　had　roused　the　soldiers　in　the　boat。

Rex；　who；　by　the　virtue　of　his　dandyism；　yet　possessed　some　abhorrence　of　useless　crime；　imagined　that　the　cry　was　one　of　pain；　and　that　Barker's　bullet　had　taken　deadly　effect。　　〃You've　killed　the　child；　you　villain！〃　he　cried。

〃What's　the　odds？〃　asked　Barker　sulkily。　　〃She　must　die　any　way；　sooner　or　later。〃

Rex　put　his　head　down　the　skylight；　and　called　on　Bates　to　surrender；　but　Bates　only　drew　his　other　pistol。　　〃Would　you　commit　murder？〃　he　asked；　looking　round　with　desperation　in　his　glance。

〃No；　no；〃　cried　some　of　the　men；　willing　to　blink　the　death　of　poor　Jones。　〃It's　no　use　making　things　worse　than　they　are。　　Bid　him　come　up；　and　we'll　do　him　no　harm。〃　〃Come　up；　Mr。　Bates；〃　says　Rex；　〃and　I　give　you　my　word　you　sha'n't　be　injured。〃

〃Will　you　set　the　major's　lady　and　child　ashore；　then？〃　asked　Bates；　sturdily　facing　the　scowling　brows　above　him。

〃Yes。〃

〃Without　injury？〃　continued　the　other；　bargaining；　as　it　were；　at　the　very　muzzles　of　the　muskets。

〃Ay；　ay！　　It's　all　right！〃　returned　Russen。　　〃It's　our　liberty　we　want；　that's　all。〃

Bates；　hoping　against　hope　for　the　return　of　the　boat；　endeavoured　to　gain　time。　　〃Shut　down　the　skylight；　then；〃　said　he；　with　the　ghost　of　an　authority　in　his　voice；　〃until　I　ask　the　lady。〃

This；　however；　John　Rex　refused　to　do。　　〃You　can　ask　well　enough　where　you　are；〃　he　said。

But　there　was　no　need　for　Mr。　Bates　to　put　a　question。　The　door　of　the　state…room　opened；　and　Mrs。　Vickers　appeared；　trembling；　with　Sylvia　by　her　side。　　〃Accept；　Mr。　Bates；〃　she　said；　〃since　it　must　be　so。　　We　should　gain　nothing　by　refusing。　We　are　at　their　mercyGod　help　us！〃

〃Amen　to　that；〃　says　Bates　under　his　breath；　and　then　aloud；　〃We　agree　！〃

〃Put　your　pistols　on　the　table；　and　come　up；　then；〃　says　Rex；　covering　the　table　with　his　musket　as　he　spoke。　　〃And　nobody　shall　hurt　you。〃　




CHAPTER