for the term of his natural life-第33章

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　ran　down　to　the　old　goat；　knife　in　hand；　but　before　he　could　reach　him　the　barely…dried　catgut　gave　way；　and　the　old　fellow；　shaking　his　head　with　grotesque　dismay；　made　off　at　full　speed。　　The　others；　however；　were　secured　and　killed。　The　loss　of　the　springe　was　not　a　serious　one；　for　three　traps　remained　unsprung；　and　before　sundown　Rufus　Dawes　had　caught　four　more　goats。　Removing　with　care　the　catgut　that　had　done　such　good　service；　he　dragged　the　carcases　to　the　shore；　and　proceeded　to　pack　them　upon　his　floats。　　He　discovered；　however；　that　the　weight　was　too　great；　and　that　the　water；　entering　through　the　loops　of　the　stitching　in　the　hide；　had　so　soaked　the　rush…grass　as　to　render　the　floats　no　longer　buoyant。　　He　was　compelled；　therefore；　to　spend　two　hours　in　re…stuffing　the　skin　with　such　material　as　he　could　find。　Some　light　and　flock…like　seaweed；　which　the　action　of　the　water　had　swathed　after　the　fashion　of　haybands　along　the　shore；　formed　an　excellent　substitute　for　grass；　and；　having　bound　his　bundle　of　rushes　lengthwise；　with　the　goat…skin　as　a　centre…piece；　he　succeeded　in　forming　a　sort　of　rude　canoe；　upon　which　the　carcases　floated　securely。

He　had　eaten　nothing　since　the　morning；　and　the　violence　of　his　exertions　had　exhausted　him。　　Still；　sustained　by　the　excitement　of　the　task　he　had　set　himself；　he　dismissed　with　fierce　impatience　the　thought　of　rest；　and　dragged　his　weary　limbs　along　the　sand；　endeavouring　to　kill　fatigue　by　further　exertion。　　The　tide　was　now　running　in；　and　he　knew　it　was　imperative　that　he　should　regain　the　further　shore　while　the　current　was　in　his　favour。　　To　cross　from　the　Pilot　Station　at　low　water　was　impossible。　　If　he　waited　until　the　ebb；　he　must　spend　another　day　on　the　shore；　and　he　could　not　afford　to　lose　an　hour。　　Cutting　a　long　sapling；　he　fastened　to　one　end　of　it　the　floating　bundle；　and　thus　guided　it　to　a　spot　where　the　beach　shelved　abruptly　into　deep　water。　It　was　a　clear　night；　and　the　risen　moon　large　and　low；　flung　a　rippling　streak　of　silver　across　the　sea。　　On　the　other　side　of　the　bay　all　was　bathed　in　a　violet　haze；　which　veiled　the　inlet　from　which　he　had　started　in　the　morning。　　The　fire　of　the　exiles；　hidden　behind　a　point　of　rock；　cast　a　red　glow　into　the　air。　　The　ocean　breakers　rolled　in　upon　the　cliffs　outside　the　bar；　with　a　hoarse　and　threatening　murmur；　and　the　rising　tide　rippled　and　lapped　with　treacherous　melody　along　the　sand。　He　touched　the　chill　water　and　drew　back。　　For　an　instant　he　determined　to　wait　until　the　beams　of　morning　should　illumine　that　beautiful　but　treacherous　sea；　and　then　the　thought　of　the　helpless　child；　who　was；　without　doubt；　waiting　and　watching　for　him　on　the　shore；　gave　new　strength　to　his　wearied　frame；　and　fixing　his　eyes　on　the　glow　that；　hovering　above　the　dark　tree…line；　marked　her　presence；　he　pushed　the　raft　before　him　out　into　the　sea。　　The　reeds　sustained　him　bravely；　but　the　strength　of　the　current　sucked　him　underneath　the　water；　and　for　several　seconds　he　feared　that　he　should　be　compelled　to　let　go　his　hold。　　But　his　muscles；　steeled　in　the　slow　fire　of　convict…labour；　withstood　this　last　strain　upon　them；　and；　half…suffocated；　with　bursting　chest　and　paralysed　fingers；　he　preserved　his　position；　until　the　mass；　getting　out　of　the　eddies　along　the　shore…line；　drifted　steadily　down　the　silvery　track　that　led　to　the　settlement。　After　a　few　moments'　rest；　he　set　his　teeth；　and　urged　his　strange　canoe　towards　the　shore。　　Paddling　and　pushing；　he　gradually　edged　it　towards　the　fire…light；　and　at　last；　just　when　his　stiffened　limbs　refused　to　obey　the　impulse　of　his　will；　and　he　began　to　drift　onwards　with　the　onward　tide；　he　felt　his　feet　strike　firm　ground。　Opening　his　eyesclosed　in　the　desperation　of　his　last　efforts　he　found　himself　safe　under　the　lee　of　the　rugged　promontory　which　hid　the　fire。　　It　seemed　that　the　waves；　tired　of　persecuting　him；　had；　with　disdainful　pity；　cast　him　ashore　at　the　goal　of　his　hopes。　Looking　back；　he　for　the　first　time　realized　the　frightful　peril　he　had　escaped；　and　shuddered。　　To　this　shudder　succeeded　a　thrill　of　triumph。　〃Why　had　he　stayed　so　long；　when　escape　was　so　easy？〃　Dragging　the　carcases　above　high…water　mark；　he　rounded　the　little　promontory　and　made　for　the　fire。　The　recollection　of　the　night　when　he　had　first　approached　it　came　upon　him；　and　increased　his　exultation。　　How　different　a　man　was　he　now　from　then！　Passing　up　the　sand；　he　saw　the　stakes　which　he　had　directed　Frere　to　cut　whiten　in　the　moonshine。　　His　officer　worked　for　him！　　In　his　own　brain　alone　lay　the　secret　of　escape！　　HeRufus　Dawesthe　scarred；　degraded　〃prisoner〃；　could　alone　get　these　three　beings　back　to　civilization。　Did　he　refuse　to　aid　them；　they　would　for　ever　remain　in　that　prison；　where　he　had　so　long　suffered。　　The　tables　were　turnedhe　had　become　a　gaoler！　He　had　gained　the　fire　before　the　solitary　watcher　there　heard　his　footsteps；　and　spread　his　hands　to　the　blaze　in　silence。　　He　felt　as　Frere　would　have　felt；　had　their　positions　been　reversed；　disdainful　of　the　man　who　had　stopped　at　home。

Frere；　starting；　cried；　〃It　is　you！　　Have　you　succeeded？〃

Rufus　Dawes　nodded。

〃What！　　Did　you　catch　them？〃

〃There　are　four　carcases　down　by　the　rocks。　　You　can　have　meat　for　breakfast　to…morrow！〃

The　child；　at　the　sound　of　the　voice；　came　running　down　from　the　hut。　〃Oh；　Mr。　Dawes！　　I　am　so　glad！　　We　were　beginning　to　despairmamma　and　I。〃

Dawes　snatched　her　from　the　ground；　and　bursting　into　a　joyous　laugh；　swung　her　into　the　air。　　〃Tell　me；〃　he　cried；　holding　up　the　child　with　two　dripping　arms　above　him；　〃what　you　will　do　for　me　if　I　bring　you　and　mamma　safe　home　again？〃

〃Give　you　a　free　pardon；〃　says　Sylvia；　〃and　papa　shall　make　you　his　servant！〃　Frere　burst　out　laughing　at　this　reply；　and　Dawes；　with　a　choking　sensation　in　his　throat；　put　the　child　upon　the　ground　and　walked　away。

This　was　in　truth　all　he　could　hope　for。　　All　his　scheming；　all　his　courage；　all　his　peril；　would　but　result　in　the　patronage　of　a　great　man　like　Major　Vickers。　　His　heart；　big　with　love；　with　self…denial；　and　with　hopes　of　a　fair　future；　would　have　this　flattering　unction　laid　to　it。　He　had　performed　a　prodigy　of　skill　and　daring；　and　for　his　reward　he　was　to　be　made　a　servant　to　the　creatures　he　had　protected。　Yet　what　more　could　a　convict　expect？　　Sylvia　saw　how　deeply　her　unconscious　hand　had　driven　the　iron；　and　ran　up　to　the　man　she　had　wounded。　　〃And；　Mr。　Dawes；　remember　that　I　shall　love　you　always。〃　The　convict；　however；　his　momentary　excitement　over；　motioned　her　away；　and　she　saw　him　stretch　himself　wearily　under　the　shadow　of　a　rock。




CHAPTER　XV。

THE　CORACLE。



In　the　morning；　however；　Rufus　Dawes　was　first　at　work；　and　made　no　allusion　to　the　scene　of　the　previous　evening。　　He　had　already　skinned　one　of　the　goats；　and　he　directed　Frere　to　set　to　work　upon　another。　　〃Cut　down　the　rump　to　the　hock；　and　down　the　brisket　to　the　knee；〃　he　said。　　〃I　want　the　hides　as　square　as　possible。〃　By　dint　of　hard　work　they　got　the　four　goats　skinned；　and　the　entrails　cleaned　ready　for　twisting；　by　breakfast　time；　and　having　broiled　some　of　the　flesh；　made　a　hearty　meal。　　Mrs。　Vickers　being　no　better；　Dawes　went　to　see　her；　and　seemed　to　have　made　friends　again　with　Sylvia；　for　he　came　out　of　the　hut　with　the　child's　hand　in　his。　Frere；　who　was　cutting　the　meat　in　long　strips　to　dry　in　the　sun；　saw　this；　and　it　added　fresh　fuel　to　the　fire　in　his　unreasonable　envy　and　jealousy。　　However；　he　said　nothing；　for　his　enemy　had　not　yet　shown　him　how　the　boat　was　to　be　made。　　Before　midday；　however；　he　was　a　partner　in　the　secret；　which；　after　all；　was　a　very　simple　one。

Rufus　Dawes　took　two　of　the　straightest　and　most　tapered　of　the　celery…top　pines　which　Frere　had　cut　on　the　previous　day；　and　lashed　them　tightly　together；　with　the　butts　outwards。　　He　thus　produced　a　spliced　stick　about　twelve　feet　long。　　About　two　feet　from　either　end　he　notched　the　young　tree　until　he　could　bend　the　extremities　upwards；　and　having　so　bent　them；　he　secured　the　bent　portions　in　their　places　by　means　of　lashings　of　raw　hide。　　The　spliced　trees　now　presented　a　rude　outline　of　the　section　of　a　boat；　having　the　stem；　keel；　and　stern　all　in　one　piece。　　This　having　been　placed　lengthwise　between　the　stakes；　four　other　poles；　notched　in　two　places；　were　lashed　from　stake　to　stake；　running　crosswise　to　the　keel；　and　forming　the　knees。　　Four　saplings　were　now　bent　from　end　to　end　of　the　upturned　portions　of　the　keel　that　represented　stem　and　stern。　　Two　of　these　four　were　placed　above；　as　gunwales；　two　below　as　bottom　rails。　　At　each　intersection　the　sticks　were　lashed　firmly　with　fishing　line。　　The　whole　framework　being　complete；　the　stakes　were　drawn　out；　and　there　lay　upon　the　ground　the　skeleton　of　a　boat　eight　feet　long　by　three　broad。

Frere；　whose　hands　were　blistered　and　sore；　would　fain　have　rested；　but　the　convict　would　not　hear　of　it。　　〃Let　us　finish；〃　he　said　regardless　of　his　own　fatigue；　〃the　skins　will　be　dry　if　we　stop。〃

〃I　can　work　no　more；〃　says　Frere　sulkily；　〃I　can't　stand。　You've　got　muscles　of　iron；　I　suppose。　　I　haven't。〃

〃They　made　me　work　when　I　couldn't　stand；　Maurice　Frere。　　It　is　wonderful　what　spirit　the　cat　gives　a　man。　　There's　nothing　like　work　to　get　rid　of　aching　musclesso　they　used　to　tell　me。〃

〃Well；　what's　to　be　done　now？〃

〃Cover　the　boat。　　There；　you　can　set　the　fat　to　melt；　and　sew　these　hides　together。　　Two　and　two；　do　you　see？　　and　then　sew　the　pair　at　the　necks。　　There　is　plenty　of　catgut　yonder。〃

〃Don't　talk　to　me　as　if　I　was　a　dog！〃　says　Frere　suddenly。　〃Be　civil；　can't　you。〃

But　the　other；　busily　trimming　and　cutting　at　the　projecting　pieces　of　sapling；　made　no　reply。　　It　is　possible　that　he　thought　the　fatigued　lieutenant　beneath　his　notice。　　About　an　hour　before　sundown　the　hides　were　ready；　and　Rufus　Dawes；　having　in　the　meantime　interlaced　the　ribs　of　the　skeleton　with　wattles；　stretched　the　skins　over　it；　with　the　hairy　side　inwards。　Along　the　edges　of　this　covering　he　bored　holes　at　intervals；　and　passing　through　these　holes　thongs　of　twisted　skin；　he　drew　the　whole　to　the　top　rail　of　the　boat。　　One　last　precaution　remained。　Dipping　the　pannikin　into　the　melted　tallow；　he　plentifully　anointed　the　seams　of　the　sewn　skins。　　The　boat；　thus　turned　topsy…turvy；　looked　like　a　huge　walnut　shell　covered　with　red　and　reeking　hide；　or　the　skull　of　some　Titan　who　had　been　scalped。　　〃There！〃　cried　Rufus　Dawes；　triumphant。　〃Twelve　hours　in　the　sun　to　tighten　the　hides；　and　she'll　swim　like　a　duck。〃

The　next　day　was　spent　in　minor　preparations。　　The　jerked　goat…meat　was　packed　securely　into　as　small　a　compass　as　possible。　　The　rum　barrel　was　filled　with　water；　and　water　bags　were　improvised　out　of　portions　of　the　intestines　of　the　goats。　　Rufus　Dawes；　having　filled　these　last　with　water；　ran　a　wooden　skewer　through　their　mouths；　and　twisted　it　tight；　tourniquet　fashion。　　He　also　stripped　cylindrical　pieces　of　bark；　and　having　sewn　each　cylinder　at　the　side；　fitted　to　it　a　bottom　of　the　same　material；　and　caulked　the　seams　with　gum　and　pine…tree　resin。　Thus　four　tolerable　buckets　were　obtained。　　One　goatskin　yet　remained；　and　out　of　that　it　was　determined　to　make　a　s