for the term of his natural life-第26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！



〃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　X。

JOHN　REX'S　REVENGE。



Mrs　Vickers；　pale　and　sick　with　terror；　yet　sustained　by　that　strange　courage　of　which　we　have　before　spoken；　passed　rapidly　under　the　open　skylight；　and　prepared　to　ascend。　　Sylviaher　romance　crushed　by　too　dreadful　reality　clung　to　her　mother　with　one　hand；　and　with　the　other　pressed　close　to　her　little　bosom　the　〃English　History〃。　　In　her　all…absorbing　fear　she　had　forgotten　to　lay　it　down。

〃Get　a　shawl；　ma'am；　or　something；〃　says　Bates；　〃and　a　hat　for　missy。〃

Mrs。　Vickers　looked　back　across　the　space　beneath　the　open　skylight；　and　shuddering；　shook　her　head。　　The　men　above　swore　impatiently　at　the　delay；　and　the　three　hastened　on　deck。

〃Who's　to　command　the　brig　now？〃　asked　undaunted　Bates；　as　they　came　up。

〃I　am；〃　says　John　Rex；　〃and；　with　these　brave　fellows；　I'll　take　her　round　the　world。〃

The　touch　of　bombast　was　not　out　of　place。　　It　jumped　so　far　with　the　humour　of　the　convicts　that　they　set　up　a　feeble　cheer；　at　which　Sylvia　frowned。　Frightened　as　she　was；　the　prison…bred　child　was　as　much　astonished　at　hearing　convicts　cheer　as　a　fashionable　lady　would　be　to　hear　her　footman　quote　poetry。　　Bates；　howeverpractical　and　calm　took　quite　another　view　of　the　case。　　The　bold　project；　so　boldly　avowed；　seemed　to　him　a　sheer　absurdity。　　The　〃Dandy〃　and　a　crew　of　nine　convicts　navigate　a　brig　round　the　world！　　Preposterous；　why；　not　a　man　aboard　could　work　a　reckoning！　　His　nautical　fancy　pictured　the　Osprey　helplessly　rolling　on　the　swell　of　the　Southern　Ocean；　or　hopelessly　locked　in　the　ice　of　the　Antarctic　Seas；　and　he　dimly　guessed　at　the　fate　of　the　deluded　ten。　　Even　if　they　got　safe　to　port；　the　chances　of　final　escape　were　all　against　them；　for　what　account　could　they　give　of　themselves？　Overpowered　by　these　reflections；　the　honest　fellow　made　one　last　effort　to　charm　his　captors　back　to　their　pristine　bondage。

〃Fools！〃　he　cried；　〃do　you　know　what　you　are　about　to　do？　You　will　never　escape。　　Give　up　the　brig；　and　I　will　declare；　before　my　God；　upon　the　Bible；　that　I　will　say　nothing；　but　give　all　good　characters。〃

Lesly　and　another　burst　into　a　laugh　at　this　wild　proposition；　but　Rex；　who　had　weighed　his　chances　well　beforehand；　felt　the　force　of　the　pilot's　speech；　and　answered　seriously。

〃It's　no　use　talking；〃　he　said；　shaking　his　still　handsome　head。　〃We　have　got　the　brig；　and　we　mean　to　keep　her。　　I　can　navigate　her；　though　I　am　no　seaman；　so　you　needn't　talk　further　about　it；　Mr。　Bates。　It's　liberty　we　require。〃

〃What　are　you　going　to　do　with　us？〃　asked　Bates。

〃Leave　you　behind。〃

Bates's　face　blanched。　　〃What；　here？〃

〃Yes。　　It　don't　look　a　picturesque　spot；　does　it？　　And　yet　I've　lived　here　for　some　years〃；　and　he　grinned。

Bates　was　silent。　　The　logic　of　that　grin　was　unanswerable。

〃Come！〃　cried　the　Dandy；　shaking　off　his　momentary　melancholy；　〃look　alive　there！　　Lower　away　the　jolly…boat。　　Mrs。　Vickers；　go　down　to　your　cabin　and　get　anything　you　want。　　I　am　compelled　to　put　you　ashore；　but　I　have　no　wish　to　leave　you　without　clothes。〃　Bates　listened；　in　a　sort　of　dismal　admiration；　at　this　courtly　convict。　He　could　not　have　spoken　like　that　had　life　depended　on　it。　〃Now；　my　little　lady；〃　continued　Rex；　〃run　down　with　your　mamma；　and　don't　be　frightened。〃

Sylvia　flashed　burning　red　at　this　indignity。　　〃Frightened！　If　there　had　been　anybody　else　here　but　women；　you　never　would　have　taken　the　brig。　　Frightened！　　Let　me　pass；　prisoner！〃

The　whole　deck　burst　into　a　great　laugh　at　this；　and　poor　Mrs。　Vickers　paused；　trembling　for　the　consequences　of　the　child's　temerity。　　To　thus　taunt　the　desperate　convict　who　held　their　lives　in　his　hands　seemed　sheer　madness。　In　the　boldness　of　the　speech　however；　lay　its　safeguard。　Rexwhose　politeness　was　mere　bravadowas　stung　to　the　quick　by　the　reflection　upon　his　courage；　and　the　bitter　accent　with　which　the　child　had　pronounced　the　word　prisoner　（the　generic　name　of　convicts）　made　him　bite　his　lips　with　rage。　　Had　he　had　his　will；　he　would　have　struck　the　little　creature　to　the　deck；　but　the　hoarse　laugh　of　his　companions　warned　him　to　forbear。　　There　is　〃public　opinion〃　even　among　convicts；　and　Rex　dared　not　vent　his　passion　on　so　helpless　an　object。　As　men　do　in　such　cases；　he　veiled　his　anger　beneath　an　affectation　of　amusement。　　In　order　to　show　that　he　was　not　moved　by　the　taunt；　he　smiled　upon　the　taunter　more　graciously　than　ever。

〃Your　daughter　has　her　father's　spirit；　madam；〃　said　he　to　Mrs。　Vickers；　with　a　bow。

Bates　opened　his　mouth　to　listen。　　His　ears　were　not　large　enough　to　take　in　the　words　of　this　complimentary　convict。　　He　began　to　think　that　he　was　the　victim　of　a　nightmare。　　He　absolutely　felt　that　John　Rex　was　a　greater　man　at　that　moment　than　John　Bates。

As　Mrs。　Vickers　descended　the　hatchway；　the　boat　with　Frere　and　the　soldiers　came　within　musket　range；　and　Lesly；　according　to　orders；　fired　his　musket　over　their　heads；　shouting　to　them　to　lay　to　But　Frere；　boiling　with　rage　at　the　manner　in　which　the　tables　had　been　turned　on　him；　had　determined　not　to　resign　his　lost　authority　without　a　struggle。　Disregarding　the　summons；　he　came　straight　on；　with　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　vessel。　　It　was　now　nearly　dark；　and　the　figures　on　the　deck　were　indistinguishable。　　The　indignant　lieutenant　could　but　guess　at　the　condition　of　affairs。　　Suddenly；　from　out　of　the　darkness　a　voice　hailed　him

〃Hold　water！　　back　water！〃　it　cried；　and　was　then　seemingly　choked　in　its　owner's　throat。

The　voice　was　the　property　of　Mr。　Bates。　　Standing　near　the　side；　he　had　observed　Rex　and　Fair　bring　up　a　great　pig　of　iron；　erst　used　as　part　of　the　ballast　of　the　brig；　and　poise　it　on　the　rail。　Their　intention　was　but　too　evident；　and　honest　Bates；　like　a　faithful　watch…dog；　barked　to　warn　his　master。　　Bloodthirsty　Cheshire　caught　him　by　the　throat；　and　Frere；　unheeding；　ran　the　boat　alongside；　under　the　very　nose　of　the　revengeful　Rex。

The　mass　of　iron　fell　half　in…board　upon　the　now　stayed　boat；　and　gave　her　sternway；　with　a　splintered　plank。

〃Villains！〃　cried　Frere；　〃would　you　swamp　us？〃

〃Aye；〃　laughed　Rex；　〃and　a　dozen　such　as　ye！　　The　brig's　ours；　can't　ye　see；　and　we're　your　masters　now！〃

Frere；　stifling　an　exclamation　of　rage；　cried　to　the　bow　to　hook　on；　but　the　bow　had　driven　the　boat　backward；　and　she　was　already　beyond　arm's　length　of　the　brig。　　Looking　up；　he　saw　Cheshire's　savage　face；　and　heard　the　click　of　the　lock　as　he　cocked　his　piece。　　The　two　soldiers；　exhausted　by　their　long　pull；　made　no　effort　to　stay　the　progress　of　the　boat；　and　almost　before　the　swell　caused　by　the　plunge　of　the　mass　of　iron　had　ceased　to　agitate　the　water；　the　deck　of　the　Osprey　had　become　invisible　in　the　darkness。

Frere　struck　his　fist　upon　the　thwart　in　sheer　impotence　of　rage。　〃The　scoundrels！〃　he　said；　between　his　teeth；　〃they've　mastered　us。　What　do　they　mean　to　do　next？〃

The　answer　came　pat　to　the　question。　　From　the　dark　hull　of　the　brig　broke　a　flash　and　a　report；　and　a　musket　ball　cut　the　water　beside　them　with　a　chirping　noise。　　Between　the　black　indistinct　mass　which　represented　the　brig；　and　the　glimmering　water；　was　visible　a　white　speck；　which　gradually　neared　them。

〃Come　alongside　with　ye！〃　hailed　a　voice；　〃or　it　will　be　the　worse　for　ye！〃

〃They　want　to　murder　us；〃　says　Frere。　　〃Give　way；　men！〃

But　the　two　soldiers；　exchanging　glances　one　with　the　other；　pulled　the　boat's　head　round；　and　made　for　the　vessel。　　〃It's　no　use；　Mr。　Frere；〃　said　the　man　nearest　him；　〃we　can　do　no　good　now；　and　they　won't　hurt　us；　I　dare　say。〃

〃You　dogs；　you　are　in　league　with　them；〃　bursts　out　Frere；　purple　with　indignation。　　〃Do　you　mutiny？〃

〃Come；　come；　sir；〃　returned　the　soldier；　sulkily；　〃this　ain't　the　time　to　bully；　and；　as　for　mutiny；　why；　one　man's　about　as　good　as　another　just　now。〃

This　speech　from　the　lips　of　a　man　who；　but　a　few　minutes　before；　would　have　risked　his　life　to　obey　orders　of　his　officer；　did　more　than　an　hour's　reasoning　to　convince　Maurice　Frere　of　the　hopelessness　of　resistance。　　His　authorityborn　of　circumstance；　and　supported　by　adventitious　aidhad　left　him。　　The　musket　shot　had　reduced　him　to　the　ranks。　　He　was　now　no　more　than　anyone　else；　indeed；　he　was　less　than　many；　for　those　who　held　the　firearms　were　the　ruling　powers。　With　a　groan　he　resigned　himself　to　his　fate；　and　looking　at　the　sleeve　of　the　undress　uniform　he　wore；　it　seemed　to　him　that　virtue　had　gone　out　of　it。　　When　they　reached　the　brig；　they　found　that　the　jolly…boat　had　been　lowered　and　laid　alongside。　　In　her　were　eleven　persons；　Bates　with　forehead　gashed；　and　hands　bound；　the　stunned　Grimes；　Russen　and　Fair　pulling；　Lyon；　Riley；　Cheshire；　and　Lesly　with　muskets；　and　John　Rex　in　the　stern　sheets；　with　Bates's　pistols　in　his　trousers'　belt；　and　a　loaded　musket　across　his　knees。　　The　white　object　which　had　been　seen　by　the　men　in　the　whale…boat　was　a　large　white　shawl　which　wrapped　Mrs。　Vickers　and　Sylvia。

Frere　muttered　an　oath　of　relief　when　he　saw　this　white　bundle。　He　had　feared　that　the　child　was　injured。　　By　the　direction　of　Rex　the　whale…boat　was　brought　alongside　the　jolly…boat；　and　Cheshire　and　Lesly　boarded　her。　　Lesly　then　gave　his　musket　to　Rex；　and　bound　Frere's　hands　behind　him；　in　the　same　manner　as　had　been　done　for　Bates。　Frere　attempted　to　resist　this　indignity；　but　Cheshire；　clapping　his　musket　to　his　ear；　swore　he　would　blow　out　his　brains　if　he　uttered　another　syllable；　Frere；　catching　the　malignant　eye　of　John　Rex；　remembered　how　easily　a　twitch　of　the　finger　would　pay　off　old　scores；　and　was　silent。　〃Step　in　here；　sir；　if　you　please；〃　said　Rex；　with　polite　irony。　〃I　am　sorry　to　be　compelled　to　tie　you；　but　I　must　consult　my　own　safety　as　well　as　your　convenience。〃　Frere　scowled；　and；　stepping　awkwardly　into　the　jolly…boat；　fell。　　Pinioned　as　he　was；　he　could　not　rise　without　assistance；　and　Russen　pulled　him　roughly　to　his　feet　with　a　coarse　laugh。　　In　his　present　frame　of　mind；　that　laugh　galled　him　worse　than　his　bonds。

Poor　Mrs。　Vickers；　with　a　woman's　quick　instinct；　saw　this；　and；　even　amid　her　own　trouble；　found　leisure　to　console　him。　　〃The　wretches！〃　she　said；　under　her　breath；　as　Frere　was　flung　down　beside　her；　〃to　subject　you　to　such　indignity！〃　Sylvia　said　nothing；　and　seemed　to　shrink　from　the　lieutenant。　　Perhaps　in　her　childish　fancy　she　had　pictured　him　as　coming　to　her　rescue；　armed　cap…a…pie；　and　clad　in　dazzling　mail；　or；　at　the　very　least；　as　a　muscular　hero；　who　would　settle　affairs　out　of　hand　by　sheer　personal　prowess。　If　she　had　entertained　any　such　notion；　the　reality　must　have　struck　coldly　upon　her　senses。　　Mr。　Frere；　purple；　clumsy；　and　bound；　was　not　at　all　heroic。

〃Now；　my　lads；〃　says　Rexwho　seemed　to　have　endured　the　cast…off　authority　of　Frere〃we　give　you　your　choice。　　Stay　at　Hell's　Gates；　or　come　with　us！〃

The　soldiers　paused；　irresolute。　　To　join　the　mutineers　meant　a　certainty　of　hard　work；　with　a　chance　of　ultimate　hanging。　Yet　to　stay　with　the　prisoners　wasas　far　as　they　could　see　to　incur　the　inevitable　fate　of　starvation　on　a　barren　coast。　As　is　often　the　case　o