for the term of his natural life-第27章

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n　a　barren　coast。　As　is　often　the　case　on　such　occasions；　a　trifle　sufficed　to　turn　the　scale。　The　wounded　Grimes；　who　was　slowly　recovering　from　his　stupor；　dimly　caught　the　meaning　of　the　sentence；　and　in　his　obfuscated　condition　of　intellect　must　needs　make　comment　upon　it。　　〃Go　with　him；　ye　beggars！；〃　said　he；　〃and　leave　us　honest　men！　　Oh；　ye'll　get　a　tying…up　for　this。〃

The　phrase　〃tying…up〃　brought　with　it　recollection　of　the　worst　portion　of　military　discipline；　the　cat；　and　revived　in　the　minds　of　the　pair　already　disposed　to　break　the　yoke　that　sat　so　heavily　upon　them；　a　train　of　dismal　memories。　　The　life　of　a　soldier　on　a　convict　station　was　at　that　time　a　hard　one。　　He　was　often　stinted　in　rations；　and　of　necessity　deprived　of　all　rational　recreation；　while　punishment　for　offences　was　prompt　and　severe。　　The　companies　drafted　to　the　penal　settlements　were　not　composed　of　the　best　material；　and　the　pair　had　good　precedent　for　the　course　they　were　about　to　take。

〃Come；〃　says　Rex；　〃I　can't　wait　here　all　night。　　The　wind　is　freshening；　and　we　must　make　the　Bar。　　Which　is　it　to　be？〃

〃We'll　go　with　you！〃　says　the　man　who　had　pulled　the　stroke　in　the　whale…boat；　spitting　into　the　water　with　averted　face。　　Upon　which　utterance　the　convicts　burst　into　joyous　oaths；　and　the　pair　were　received　with　much　hand…shaking。

Then　Rex；　with　Lyon　and　Riley　as　a　guard；　got　into　the　whale　boat；　and　having　loosed　the　two　prisoners　from　their　bonds；　ordered　them　to　take　the　place　of　Russen　and　Fair。　　The　whale…boat　was　manned　by　the　seven　mutineers；　Rex　steering；　Fair；　Russen；　and　the　two　recruits　pulling；　and　the　other　four　standing　up；　with　their　muskets　levelled　at　the　jolly…boat。　　Their　long　slavery　had　begotten　such　a　dread　of　authority　in　these　men　that　they　feared　it　even　when　it　was　bound　and　menaced　by　four　muskets。　　〃Keep　your　distance！〃　shouted　Cheshire；　as　Frere　and　Bates；　in　obedience　to　orders；　began　to　pull　the　jolly…boat　towards　the　shore；　and　in　this　fashion　was　the　dismal　little　party　conveyed　to　the　mainland。

It　was　night　when　they　reached　it；　but　the　clear　sky　began　to　thrill　with　a　late　moon　as　yet　unrisen；　and　the　waves；　breaking　gently　upon　the　beach；　glimmered　with　a　radiance　born　of　their　own　motion。　　Frere　and　Bates；　jumping　ashore；　helped　out　Mrs。　Vickers；　Sylvia；　and　the　wounded　Grimes。　This　being　done　under　the　muzzles　of　the　muskets；　Rex　commanded　that　Bates　and　Frere　should　push　the　jolly…boat　as　far　as　they　could　from　the　shore；　and　Riley　catching　her　by　a　boat…hook　as　she　came　towards　them；　she　was　taken　in　tow。

〃Now；　boys；〃　says　Cheshire；　with　a　savage　delight；　〃three　cheers　for　old　England　and　Liberty！〃

Upon　which　a　great　shout　went　up；　echoed　by　the　grim　hills　which　had　witnessed　so　many　miseries。

To　the　wretched　five；　this　exultant　mirth　sounded　like　a　knell　of　death。　〃Great　God！〃　cried　Bates；　running　up　to　his　knees　in　water　after　the　departing　boats；　〃would　you　leave　us　here　to　starve？〃

The　only　answer　was　the　jerk　and　dip　of　the　retreating　oars。




CHAPTER　XI。

LEFT　AT　〃HELL'S　GATES。〃



There　is　no　need　to　dwell　upon　the　mental　agonies　of　that　miserable　night。　Perhaps；　of　all　the　five；　the　one　least　qualified　to　endure　it　realized　the　prospect　of　suffering　most　acutely。　　Mrs。　Vickers　lay…figure　and　noodle　as　she　washad　the　keen　instinct　of　approaching　danger；　which　is　in　her　sex　a　sixth　sense。　　She　was　a　woman　and　a　mother；　and　owned　a　double　capacity　for　suffering。　　Her　feminine　imagination　pictured　all　the　horrors　of　death　by　famine；　and　having　realized　her　own　torments；　her　maternal　love　forced　her　to　live　them　over　again　in　the　person　of　her　child。　　Rejecting　Bates's　offer　of　a　pea…jacket　and　Frere's　vague　tenders　of　assistance；　the　poor　woman　withdrew　behind　a　rock　that　faced　the　sea；　and；　with　her　daughter　in　her　arms；　resigned　herself　to　her　torturing　thoughts。　　Sylvia；　recovered　from　her　terror；　was　almost　content；　and；　curled　in　her　mother's　shawl；　slept。　To　her　little　soul　this　midnight　mystery　of　boats　and　muskets　had　all　the　flavour　of　a　romance。　　With　Bates；　Frere；　and　her　mother　so　close　to　her；　it　was　impossible　to　be　afraid；　besides；　it　was　obvious　that　papathe　Supreme　Being　of　the　settlementmust　at　once　return　and　severely　punish　the　impertinent　prisoners　who　had　dared　to　insult　his　wife　and　child；　and　as　Sylvia　dropped　off　to　sleep；　she　caught　herself；　with　some　indignation；　pitying　the　mutineers　for　the　tremendous　scrape　they　had　got　themselves　into。　　How　they　would　be　flogged　when　papa　came　back！　In　the　meantime　this　sleeping　in　the　open　air　was　novel　and　rather　pleasant。

Honest　Bates　produced　a　piece　of　biscuit；　and；　with　all　the　generosity　of　his　nature；　suggested　that　this　should　be　set　aside　for　the　sole　use　of　the　two　females；　but　Mrs。　Vickers　would　not　hear　of　it。　〃We　must　all　share　alike；〃　said　she；　with　something　of　the　spirit　that　she　knew　her　husband　would　have　displayed　under　like　circumstance；　and　Frere　wondered　at　her　apparent　strength　of　mind。　　Had　he　been　gifted　with　more　acuteness；　he　would　not　have　wondered；　for　when　a　crisis　comes　to　one　of　two　persons　who　have　lived　much　together；　the　influence　of　the　nobler　spirit　makes　itself　felt。　　Frere　had　a　tinder…box　in　his　pocket；　and　he　made　a　fire　with　some　dry　leaves　and　sticks。　　Grimes　fell　asleep；　and　the　two　men　sitting　at　their　fire　discussed　the　chances　of　escape。　Neither　liked　to　openly　broach　the　supposition　that　they　had　been　finally　deserted。　　It　was　concluded　between　them　that　unless　the　brig　sailed　in　the　nightand　the　now　risen　moon　showed　her　yet　lying　at　anchor　the　convicts　would　return　and　bring　them　food。　　This　supposition　proved　correct；　for　about　an　hour　after　daylight　they　saw　the　whale…boat　pulling　towards　them。

A　discussion　had　arisen　amongst　the　mutineers　as　to　the　propriety　of　at　once　making　sail；　but　Barker；　who　had　been　one　of　the　pilot…boat　crew；　and　knew　the　dangers　of　the　Bar；　vowed　that　he　would　not　undertake　to　steer　the　brig　through　the　Gates　until　morning；　and　so　the　boats　being　secured　astern；　a　strict　watch　was　set；　lest　the　helpless　Bates　should　attempt　to　rescue　the　vessel。　　During　the　eveningthe　excitement　attendant　upon　the　outbreak　having　passed　away；　and　the　magnitude　of　the　task　before　them　being　more　fully　apparent　to　their　mindsa　feeling　of　pity　for　the　unfortunate　party　on　the　mainland　took　possession　of　them。　It　was　quite　possible　that　the　Osprey　might　be　recaptured；　in　which　case　five　useless　murders　would　have　been　committed；　and　however　callous　in　bloodshed　were　the　majority　of　the　ten；　not　one　among　them　could　contemplate　in　cold　blood；　without　a　twinge　of　remorse；　the　death　of　the　harmless　child　of　the　Commandant。

John　Rex；　seeing　how　matters　were　going；　made　haste　to　take　to　himself　the　credit　of　mercy。　　He　ruled；　and　had　always　ruled；　his　ruffians　not　so　much　by　suggesting　to　them　the　course　they　should　take；　as　by　leading　them　on　the　way　they　had　already　chosen　for　themselves。　〃I　propose；〃　said　he；　〃that　we　divide　the　provisions。　　There　are　five　of　them　and　twelve　of　us。　　Then　nobody　can　blame　us。〃

〃Ay；〃　said　Porter；　mindful　of　a　similar　exploit；　〃and　if　we're　taken；　they　can　tell　what　we　have　done。　　Don't　let　our　affair　be　like　that　of　the　Cypress；　to　leave　them　to　starve。〃　〃Ay；　ay；〃　says　Barker；　〃you're　right！　　When　Fergusson　was　topped　at　Hobart　Town；　I　heard　old　Troke　say　that　if　he'd　not　refused　to　set　the　tucker　ashore；　he　might　ha'　got　off　with　a　whole　skin。〃

Thus　urged；　by　self…interest；　as　well　as　sentiment；　to　mercy；　the　provision　was　got　upon　deck　by　daylight；　and　a　division　was　made。　The　soldiers；　with　generosity　born　of　remorse；　were　for　giving　half　to　the　marooned　men；　but　Barker　exclaimed　against　this。　　〃When　the　schooner　finds　they　don't　get　to　headquarters；　she's　bound　to　come　back　and　look　for　'em；〃　said　he；　〃and　we'll　want　all　the　tucker　we　can　get；　maybe；　afore　we　sights　land。〃

This　reasoning　was　admitted　and　acted　upon。　　There　was　in　the　harness…cask　about　fifty　pounds　of　salt　meat；　and　a　third　of　this　quantity；　together　with　half　a　small　sack　of　flour；　some　tea　and　sugar　mixed　together　in　a　bag；　and　an　iron　kettle　and　pannikin；　was　placed　in　the　whale…boat。　Rex；　fearful　of　excesses　among　his　crew；　had　also　lowered　down　one　of　the　two　small　puncheons　of　rum　which　the　store…room　contained。　Cheshire　disputed　this；　and　stumbling　over　a　goat　that　had　been　taken　on　board　from　Philip's　Island；　caught　the　creature　by　the　leg；　and　threw　it　into　the　sea；　bidding　Rex　take　that　with　him　also。　　Rex　dragged　the　poor　beast　into　the　boat；　and　with　this　miscellaneous　cargo　pushed　off　to　the　shore。　The　poor　goat；　shivering；　began　to　bleat　piteously；　and　the　men　laughed。　To　a　stranger　it　would　have　appeared　that　the　boat　contained　a　happy　party　of　fishermen；　or　coast　settlers；　returning　with　the　proceeds　of　a　day's　marketing。

Laying　off　as　the　water　shallowed；　Rex　called　to　Bates　to　come　for　the　cargo；　and　three　men　with　muskets　standing　up　as　before；　ready　to　resist　any　attempt　at　capture；　the　provisions；　goat　and　all；　were　carried　ashore。　〃There！〃　says　Rex；　〃you　can't　say　we've　used　you　badly；　for　we've　divided　the　provisions。〃　　The　sight　of　this　almost　unexpected　succour　revived　the　courage　of　the　five；　and　they　felt　grateful。　After　the　horrible　anxiety　they　had　endured　all　that　night；　they　were　prepared　to　look　with　kindly　eyes　upon　the　men　who　had　come　to　their　assistance。

〃Men；〃　said　Bates；　with　something　like　a　sob　in　his　voice；　〃I　didn't　expect　this。　　You　are　good　fellows；　for　there　ain't　much　tucker　aboard；　I　know。〃

〃Yes；〃　affirmed　Frere；　〃you're　good　fellows。〃

Rex　burst　into　a　savage　laugh。　　〃Shut　your　mouth；　you　tyrant；〃　said　he；　forgetting　his　dandyism　in　the　recollection　of　his　former　suffering。　〃It　ain't　for　your　benefit。　　You　may　thank　the　lady　and　the　child　for　it。〃

Julia　Vickers　hastened　to　propitiate　the　arbiter　of　her　daughter's　fate。　〃We　are　obliged　to　you；〃　she　said；　with　a　touch　of　quiet　dignity　resembling　her　husband's；　〃and　if　I　ever　get　back　safely；　I　will　take　care　that　your　kindness　shall　be　known。〃

The　swindler　and　forger　took　off　his　leather　cap　with　quite　an　air。　It　was　five　years　since　a　lady　had　spoken　to　him；　and　the　old　time　when　he　was　Mr。　Lionel　Crofton；　a　〃gentleman　sportsman〃；　came　back　again　for　an　instant。　　At　that　moment；　with　liberty　in　his　hand；　and　fortune　all　before　him；　he　felt　his　self…respect　return；　and　he　looked　the　lady　in　the　face　without　flinching。

〃I　sincerely　trust；　madam；〃　said　he；　〃that　you　will　get　back　safely。　May　I　hope　for　your　good　wishes　for　myself　and　my　companions？〃

Listening；　Bates　burst　into　a　roar　of　astonished　enthusiasm。　〃What　a　dog　it　is！〃　he　cried。　　〃John　Rex；　John　Rex；　you　were　never　made　to　be　a　convict；　man！〃

Rex　smiled。　　〃Good…bye；　Mr。　Bates；　and　God　preserve　you！〃

〃Good…bye；〃　says　Bates；　rubbing　his　hat　off　his　face；　〃and　IIdamme；　I　hope　you'll　get　safe　offthere！　　for　liberty's　sweet　to　every　man。〃

〃Good…bye；　prisoners！〃　says　Sylvia；　waving　her　handkerchief；　〃and　I　hope　they　won't　catch　you；　too。〃

So；　with　cheers　and　waving　of　handkerchiefs；　the　boat　departed。

In　the　emotion　which　the　apparently　disinterested　conduct　of　John　Rex　had　occasioned　the　exiles；　all　earnest　thought　of　their　own　position　had　vanished；