for the term of his natural life-第34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！


ble　buckets　were　obtained。　　One　goatskin　yet　remained；　and　out　of　that　it　was　determined　to　make　a　sail。　　〃The　currents　are　strong；〃　said　Rufus　Dawes；　〃and　we　shall　not　be　able　to　row　far　with　such　oars　as　we　have　got。　　If　we　get　a　breeze　it　may　save　our　lives。〃　It　was　impossible　to　〃step〃　a　mast　in　the　frail　basket　structure；　but　this　difficulty　was　overcome　by　a　simple　contrivance。　From　thwart　to　thwart　two　poles　were　bound；　and　the　mast；　lashed　between　these　poles　with　thongs　of　raw　hide；　was　secured　by　shrouds　of　twisted　fishing　line　running　fore　and　aft。　　Sheets　of　bark　were　placed　at　the　bottom　of　the　craft；　and　made　a　safe　flooring。　　It　was　late　in　the　afternoon　on　the　fourth　day　when　these　preparations　were　completed；　and　it　was　decided　that　on　the　morrow　they　should　adventure　the　journey。　〃We　will　coast　down　to　the　Bar；〃　said　Rufus　Dawes；　〃and　wait　for　the　slack　of　the　tide。　　I　can　do　no　more　now。〃

Sylvia；　who　had　seated　herself　on　a　rock　at　a　little　distance；　called　to　them。　　Her　strength　was　restored　by　the　fresh　meat；　and　her　childish　spirits　had　risen　with　the　hope　of　safety。　The　mercurial　little　creature　had　wreathed　seaweed　about　her　head；　and　holding　in　her　hand　a　long　twig　decorated　with　a　tuft　of　leaves　to　represent　a　wand；　she　personified　one　of　the　heroines　of　her　books。

〃I　am　the　Queen　of　the　Island；〃　she　said　merrily；　〃and　you　are　my　obedient　subjects。　　Pray；　Sir　Eglamour；　is　the　boat　ready？〃

〃It　is；　your　Majesty；〃　said　poor　Dawes。

〃Then　we　will　see　it。　　Come；　walk　in　front　of　me。　　I　won't　ask　you　to　rub　your　nose　upon　the　ground；　like　Man　Friday；　because　that　would　be　uncomfortable。　　Mr。　Frere；　you　don't　play？〃

〃Oh；　yes！〃　says　Frere；　unable　to　withstand　the　charming　pout　that　accompanied　the　words。　　〃I'll　play。　　What　am　I　to　do？〃

〃You　must　walk　on　this　side；　and　be　respectful。　　Of　course　it　is　only　Pretend；　you　know；〃　she　added；　with　a　quick　consciousness　of　Frere's　conceit。　〃Now　then；　the　Queen　goes　down　to　the　Seashore　surrounded　by　her　Nymphs！　There　is　no　occasion　to　laugh；　Mr。　Frere。　　Of　course；　Nymphs　are　very　different　from　you；　but　then　we　can't　help　that。〃

Marching　in　this　pathetically　ridiculous　fashion　across　the　sand；　they　halted　at　the　coracle。　　〃So　that　is　the　boat！〃　says　the　Queen；　fairly　surprised　out　of　her　assumption　of　dignity。　　〃You　are　a　Wonderful　Man；　Mr。　Dawes！〃

Rufus　Dawes　smiled　sadly。　　〃It　is　very　simple。〃

〃Do　you　call　this　simple？〃　says　Frere；　who　in　the　general　joy　had　shaken　off　a　portion　of　his　sulkiness。　　〃By　George；　I　don't！　This　is　ship…building　with　a　vengeance；　this　is。　　There's　no　scheming　about　thisit's　all　sheer　hard　work。〃

〃Yes！〃　echoed　Sylvia；　〃sheer　hard　worksheer　hard　work　by　good　Mr。　Dawes！〃　And　she　began　to　sing　a　childish　chant　of　triumph；　drawing　lines　and　letters　in　the　sand　the　while；　with　the　sceptre　of　the　Queen。

〃Good　Mr。　Dawes！　Good　Mr。　Dawes！　This　is　the　work　of　Good　Mr。　Dawes！〃

Maurice　could　not　resist　a　sneer。

〃See…saw；　Margery　Daw；　Sold　her　bed；　and　lay　upon　straw！〃

said　he。

〃Good　Mr。　Dawes！〃　repeated　Sylvia。　　〃Good　Mr。　Dawes！　　Why　shouldn't　I　say　it？　You　are　disagreeable；　sir。　　I　won't　play　with　you　any　more；〃　and　she　went　off　along　the　sand。

〃Poor　little　child；〃　said　Rufus　Dawes。　　〃You　speak　too　harshly　to　her。〃

Frerenow　that　the　boat　was　madehad　regained　his　self…confidence。　Civilization　seemed　now　brought　sufficiently　close　to　him　to　warrant　his　assuming　the　position　of　authority　to　which　his　social　position　entitled　him。　　〃One　would　think　that　a　boat　had　never　been　built　before　to　hear　her　talk；〃　he　said。　　〃If　this　washing…basket　had　been　one　of　my　old　uncle's　three…deckers；　she　couldn't　have　said　much　more。　By　the　Lord！〃　he　added；　with　a　coarse　laugh；　〃I　ought　to　have　a　natural　talent　for　ship…building；　for　if　the　old　villain　hadn't　died　when　he　did；　I　should　have　been　a　ship…builder　myself。〃

Rufus　Dawes　turned　his　back　at　the　word　〃died〃；　and　busied　himself　with　the　fastenings　of　the　hides。　　Could　the　other　have　seen　his　face；　he　would　have　been　struck　by　its　sudden　pallor。

〃Ah！〃　continued　Frere；　half　to　himself；　and　half　to　his　companion；　〃that's　a　sum　of　money　to　lose；　isn't　it？〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　the　convict；　without　turning　his　face。

〃Mean！　　Why；　my　good　fellow；　I　should　have　been　left　a　quarter　of　a　million　of　money；　but　the　old　hunks　who　was　going　to　give　it　to　me　died　before　he　could　alter　his　will；　and　every　shilling　went　to　a　scapegrace　son；　who　hadn't　been　near　the　old　man　for　years。　　That's　the　way　of　the　world；　isn't　it？〃

Rufus　Dawes；　still　keeping　his　face　away；　caught　his　breath　as　if　in　astonishment；　and　then；　recovering　himself；　he　said　in　a　harsh　voice；　〃A　fortunate　fellowthat　son！〃

〃Fortunate！〃　cries　Frere；　with　another　oath。　　〃Oh　yes；　he　was　fortunate！　He　was　burnt　to　death　in　the　Hydaspes；　and　never　heard　of　his　luck。　His　mother　has　got　the　money；　though。　　I　never　saw　a　shilling　of　it。〃　And　then；　seemingly　displeased　with　himself　for　having　allowed　his　tongue　to　get　the　better　of　his　dignity；　he　walked　away　to　the　fire；　musing；　doubtless；　on　the　difference　between　Maurice　Frere；　with　a　quarter　of　a　million；　disporting　himself　in　the　best　society　that　could　be　procured；　with　command　of　dog…carts；　prize…fighters；　and　gamecocks　galore；　and　Maurice　Frere；　a　penniless　lieutenant；　marooned　on　the　barren　coast　of　Macquarie　Harbour；　and　acting　as　boat…builder　to　a　runaway　convict。

Rufus　Dawes　was　also　lost　in　reverie。　　He　leant　upon　the　gunwale　of　the　much…vaunted　boat；　and　his　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the　sea；　weltering　golden　in　the　sunset；　but　it　was　evident　that　he　saw　nothing　of　the　scene　before　him。　　Struck　dumb　by　the　sudden　intelligence　of　his　fortune；　his　imagination　escaped　from　his　control；　and　fled　away　to　those　scenes　which　he　had　striven　so　vainly　to　forget。　He　was　looking　far　awayacross　the　glittering　harbour　and　the　wide　sea　beyond　itlooking　at　the　old　house　at　Hampstead；　with　its　well…remembered　gloomy　garden。　　He　pictured　himself　escaped　from　this　present　peril；　and　freed　from　the　sordid　thraldom　which　so　long　had　held　him。　He　saw　himself　returning；　with　some　plausible　story　of　his　wanderings；　to　take　possession　of　the　wealth　which　was　hissaw　himself　living　once　more；　rich；　free；　and　respected；　in　the　world　from　which　he　had　been　so　long　an　exile。　　He　saw　his　mother's　sweet　pale　face；　the　light　of　a　happy　home　circle。　　He　saw　himselfreceived　with　tears　of　joy　and　marvelling　affectionentering　into　this　home　circle　as　one　risen　from　the　dead。　　A　new　life　opened　radiant　before　him；　and　he　was　lost　in　the　contemplation　of　his　own　happiness。

So　absorbed　was　he　that　he　did　not　hear　the　light　footstep　of　the　child　across　the　sand。　　Mrs。　Vickers；　having　been　told　of　the　success　which　had　crowned　the　convict's　efforts；　had　overcome　her　weakness　so　far　as　to　hobble　down　the　beach　to　the　boat；　and　now；　heralded　by　Sylvia；　approached；　leaning　on　the　arm　of　Maurice　Frere。

〃Mamma　has　come　to　see　the　boat；　Mr。　Dawes！〃　cries　Sylvia；　but　Dawes　did　not　hear。

The　child　reiterated　her　words；　but　still　the　silent　figure　did　not　reply。

〃Mr。　Dawes！〃　she　cried　again；　and　pulled　him　by　the　coat…sleeve。

The　touch　aroused　him；　and　looking　down；　he　saw　the　pretty；　thin　face　upturned　to　his。　　Scarcely　conscious　of　what　he　did；　and　still　following　out　the　imagining　which　made　him　free；　wealthy；　and　respected；　he　caught　the　little　creature　in　his　armsas　he　might　have　caught　his　own　daughterand　kissed　her。　　Sylvia　said　nothing；　but　Mr。　Frerearrived；　by　his　chain　of　reasoning；　at　quite　another　conclusion　as　to　the　state　of　affairswas　astonished　at　the　presumption　of　the　man。　The　lieutenant　regarded　himself　as　already　reinstated　in　his　old　position；　and　with　Mrs。　Vickers　on　his　arm；　reproved　the　apparent　insolence　of　the　convict　as　freely　as　he　would　have　done　had　they　both　been　at　his　own　little　kingdom　of　Maria　Island。　　〃You　insolent　beggar！〃　he　cried。　　〃Do　you　dare！　　Keep　your　place；　sir！〃

The　sentence　recalled　Rufus　Dawes　to　reality。　　His　place　was　that　of　a　convict。　What　business　had　he　with　tenderness　for　the　daughter　of　his　master？　Yet；　after　all　he　had　done；　and　proposed　to　do；　this　harsh　judgment　upon　him　seemed　cruel。　　He　saw　the　two　looking　at　the　boat　he　had　built。　He　marked　the　flush　of　hope　on　the　cheek　of　the　poor　lady；　and　the　full…blown　authority　that　already　hardened　the　eye　of　Maurice　Frere；　and　all　at　once　he　understood　the　result　of　what　he　had　done。　He　had；　by　his　own　act；　given　himself　again　to　bondage。　　As　long　as　escape　was　impracticable；　he　had　been　useful；　and　even　powerful。　Now　he　had　pointed　out　the　way　of　escape；　he　had　sunk　into　the　beast　of　burden　once　again。　　In　the　desert　he　was　〃Mr。〃　Dawes；　the　saviour；　in　civilized　life　he　would　become　once　more　Rufus　Dawes；　the　ruffian；　the　prisoner；　the　absconder。　　He　stood　mute；　and　let　Frere　point　out　the　excellences　of　the　craft　in　silence；　and　then；　feeling　that　the　few　words　of　thanks　uttered　by　the　lady　were　chilled　by　her　consciousness　of　the　ill…advised　freedom　he　had　taken　with　the　child；　he　turned　on　his　heel；　and　strode　up　into　the　bush。

〃A　queer　fellow；〃　said　Frere；　as　Mrs。　Vickers　followed　the　retreating　figure　with　her　eyes。　　〃Always　in　an　ill　temper。〃　〃Poor　man！　　He　has　behaved　very　kindly　to　us；〃　said　Mrs。　Vickers。　　Yet　even　she　felt　the　change　of　circumstance；　and　knew　that；　without　any　reason　she　could　name；　her　blind　trust　and　hope　in　the　convict　who　had　saved　their　lives　had　been　transformed　into　a　patronizing　kindliness　which　was　quite　foreign　to　esteem　or　affection。

〃Come；　let　us　have　some　supper；〃　says　Frere。　　〃The　last　we　shall　eat　here；　I　hope。　　He　will　come　back　when　his　fit　of　sulks　is　over。〃

But　he　did　not　come　back；　and；　after　a　few　expressions　of　wonder　at　his　absence；　Mrs。　Vickers　and　her　daughter；　rapt　in　the　hopes　and　fears　of　the　morrow；　almost　forgot　that　he　had　left　them。　　With　marvellous　credulity　they　looked　upon　the　terrible　stake　they　were　about　to　play　for　as　already　won。　The　possession　of　the　boat　seemed　to　them　so　wonderful；　that　the　perils　of　the　voyage　they　were　to　make　in　it　were　altogether　lost　sight　of。　　As　for　Maurice　Frere；　he　was　rejoiced　that　the　convict　was　out　of　the　way。　　He　wished　that　he　was　out　of　the　way　altogether。




CHAPTER　XVI。

THE　WRITING　ON　THE　SAND。



Having　got　out　of　eye…shot　of　the　ungrateful　creatures　he　had　befriended；　Rufus　Dawes　threw　himself　upon　the　ground　in　an　agony　of　mingled　rage　and　regret。　　For　the　first　time　for　six　years　he　had　tasted　the　happiness　of　doing　good；　the　delight　of　self…abnegation。　　For　the　first　time　for　six　years　he　had　broken　through　the　selfish　misanthropy　he　had　taught　himself。　　And　this　was　his　reward！　　He　had　held　his　temper　in　check；　in　order　that　it　might　not　offend　others。　　He　had　banished　the　galling　memory　of　his　degradation；　lest　haply　some　shadow　of　it　might　seem　to　fall　upon　the　fair　child　whose　lot　had　been　so　strangely　cast　with　his。　He　had　stifled　the　agony　he　suffered；　lest　its　expression　should　give　pain　to　those　who　seemed　to　feel　for　him。　　He　had　forborne　retaliation；　when　retaliation　would　have　been　most　sweet。　　Having　all　these　years　waited　and　watched　for　a　chance　to　strike　his　persecutors；　he　had　held　his　hand　now　that　an　unlooked…for　accident　had　placed　the　wea