for the term of his natural life-第4章

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〃Touch　your　hat；　you　dog！〃　cries　Frere；　coming　to　the　quarter…railing。　〃Touch　your　damned　hat！　　Do　you　hear？〃

Rufus　Dawes　touched　his　cap；　saluting　in　half　military　fashion。　〃I'll　make　some　of　you　fellows　smart；　if　you　don't　have　a　care；〃　went　on　the　angry　Frere；　half　to　himself。　　〃Insolent　blackguards！〃

And　then　the　noise　of　the　sentry；　on　the　quarter…deck　below　him；　grounding　arms；　turned　the　current　of　his　thoughts。　　A　thin；　tall；　soldier…like　man；　with　a　cold　blue　eye；　and　prim　features；　came　out　of　the　cuddy　below；　handing　out　a　fair…haired；　affected；　mincing　lady；　of　middle　age。　　Captain　Vickers；　of　Mr。　Frere's　regiment；　ordered　for　service　in　Van　Diemen's　Land；　was　bringing　his　lady　on　deck　to　get　an　appetite　for　dinner。

Mrs。　Vickers　was　forty…two　（she　owned　to　thirty…three）；　and　had　been　a　garrison…belle　for　eleven　weary　years　before　she　married　prim　John　Vickers。　The　marriage　was　not　a　happy　one。　　Vickers　found　his　wife　extravagant；　vain；　and　snappish；　and　she　found　him　harsh；　disenchanted；　and　commonplace。　A　daughter；　born　two　years　after　their　marriage；　was　the　only　link　that　bound　the　ill…assorted　pair。　　Vickers　idolized　little　Sylvia；　and　when　the　recommendation　of　a　long　sea…voyage　for　his　failing　health　induced　him　to　exchange　into　the　the；　he　insisted　upon　bringing　the　child　with　him；　despite　Mrs。　Vickers's　reiterated　objections　on　the　score　of　educational　difficulties。　　〃He　could　educate　her　himself；　if　need　be；〃　he　said；　〃and　she　should　not　stay　at　home。〃

So　Mrs。　Vickers；　after　a　hard　struggle；　gave　up　the　point　and　her　dreams　of　Bath　together；　and　followed　her　husband　with　the　best　grace　she　could　muster。　　When　fairly　out　to　sea　she　seemed　reconciled　to　her　fate；　and　employed　the　intervals　between　scolding　her　daughter　and　her　maid；　in　fascinating　the　boorish　young　Lieutenant；　Maurice　Frere。

Fascination　was　an　integral　portion　of　Julia　Vickers's　nature；　admiration　was　all　she　lived　for：　and　even　in　a　convict　ship；　with　her　husband　at　her　elbow；　she　must　flirt；　or　perish　of　mental　inanition。　There　was　no　harm　in　the　creature。　　She　was　simply　a　vain；　middle…aged　woman；　and　Frere　took　her　attentions　for　what　they　were　worth。　Moreover；　her　good　feeling　towards　him　was　useful；　for　reasons　which　will　shortly　appear。

Running　down　the　ladder；　cap　in　hand；　he　offered　her　his　assistance。

〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Frere。　　These　horrid　ladders。　　I　reallyhe；　hequite　tremble　at　them。　　Hot！　　Yes；　dear　me；　most　oppressive。　　John；　the　camp…stool。　Pray；　Mr。　Frereoh；　thank　you！　　Sylvia！　　Sylvia！　　John；　have　you　my　smelling　salts？　　Still　a　calm；　I　suppose？　　These　dreadful　calms！〃

This　semi…fashionable　slip…slop；　within　twenty　yards　of　the　wild　beasts'　den；　on　the　other　side　of　the　barricade；　sounded　strange；　but　Mr。　Frere　thought　nothing　of　it。　　Familiarity　destroys　terror；　and　the　incurable　flirt；　fluttered　her　muslins；　and　played　off　her　second…rate　graces；　under　the　noses　of　the　grinning　convicts；　with　as　much　complacency　as　if　she　had　been　in　a　Chatham　ball…room。　　Indeed；　if　there　had　been　nobody　else　near；　it　is　not　unlikely　that　she　would　have　disdainfully　fascinated　the　'tween…decks；　and　made　eyes　at　the　most　presentable　of　the　convicts　there。

Vickers；　with　a　bow　to　Frere；　saw　his　wife　up　the　ladder；　and　then　turned　for　his　daughter。

She　was　a　delicate…looking　child　of　six　years　old；　with　blue　eyes　and　bright　hair。　　Though　indulged　by　her　father；　and　spoiled　by　her　mother；　the　natural　sweetness　of　her　disposition　saved　her　from　being　disagreeable；　and　the　effects　of　her　education　as　yet　only　showed　themselves　in　a　thousand　imperious　prettinesses；　which　made　her　the　darling　of　the　ship。　　Little　Miss　Sylvia　was　privileged　to　go　anywhere　and　do　anything；　and　even　convictism　shut　its　foul　mouth　in　her　presence。　Running　to　her　father's　side；　the　child　chattered　with　all　the　volubility　of　flattered　self…esteem。　　She　ran　hither　and　thither；　asked　questions；　invented　answers；　laughed；　sang；　gambolled；　peered　into　the　compass…case；　felt　in　the　pockets　of　the　man　at　the　helm；　put　her　tiny　hand　into　the　big　palm　of　the　officer　of　the　watch；　even　ran　down　to　the　quarter…deck　and　pulled　the　coat…tails　of　the　sentry　on　duty。

At　last；　tired　of　running　about；　she　took　a　little　striped　leather　ball　from　the　bosom　of　her　frock；　and　calling　to　her　father；　threw　it　up　to　him　as　he　stood　on　the　poop。　　He　returned　it；　and；　shouting　with　laughter；　clapping　her　hands　between　each　throw；　the　child　kept　up　the　game。

The　convictswhose　slice　of　fresh　air　was　nearly　eatenturned　with　eagerness　to　watch　this　new　source　of　amusement。　　Innocent　laughter　and　childish　prattle　were　strange　to　them。　　Some　smiled；　and　nodded　with　interest　in　the　varying　fortunes　of　the　game。　One　young　lad　could　hardly　restrain　himself　from　applauding。　It　was　as　though；　out　of　the　sultry　heat　which　brooded　over　the　ship；　a　cool　breeze　had　suddenly　arisen。

In　the　midst　of　this　mirth；　the　officer　of　the　watch；　glancing　round　the　fast　crimsoning　horizon；　paused　abruptly；　and　shading　his　eyes　with　his　hand；　looked　out　intently　to　the　westward。

Frere；　who　found　Mrs。　Vickers's　conversation　a　little　tiresome；　and　had　been　glancing　from　time　to　time　at　the　companion；　as　though　in　expectation　of　someone　appearing；　noticed　the　action。

〃What　is　it；　Mr。　Best？〃

〃I　don't　know　exactly。　　It　looks　to　me　like　a　cloud　of　smoke。〃　And；　taking　the　glass；　he　swept　the　horizon。

〃Let　me　see；〃　said　Frere；　and　he　looked　also。

On　the　extreme　horizon；　just　to　the　left　of　the　sinking　sun；　rested；　or　seemed　to　rest；　a　tiny　black　cloud。　　The　gold　and　crimson；　splashed　all　about　the　sky；　had　overflowed　around　it；　and　rendered　a　clear　view　almost　impossible。

〃I　can't　quite　make　it　out；〃　says　Frere；　handing　back　the　telescope。　〃We　can　see　as　soon　as　the　sun　goes　down　a　little。〃

Then　Mrs。　Vickers　must；　of　course；　look　also；　and　was　prettily　affected　about　the　focus　of　the　glass；　applying　herself　to　that　instrument　with　much　girlish　giggling；　and　finally　declaring；　after　shutting　one　eye　with　her　fair　hand；　that　positively　she　〃could　see　nothing　but　sky；　and　believed　that　wicked　Mr。　Frere　was　doing　it　on　purpose。〃

By　and　by；　Captain　Blunt　appeared；　and；　taking　the　glass　from　his　officer；　looked　through　it　long　and　carefully。　　Then　the　mizentop　was　appealed　to；　and　declared　that　he　could　see　nothing；　and　at　last　the　sun　went　down　with　a　jerk；　as　though　it　had　slipped　through　a　slit　in　the　sea；　and　the　black　spot；　swallowed　up　in　the　gathering　haze；　was　seen　no　more。

As　the　sun　sank；　the　relief　guard　came　up　the　after　hatchway；　and　the　relieved　guard　prepared　to　superintend　the　descent　of　the　convicts。　At　this　moment　Sylvia　missed　her　ball；　which；　taking　advantage　of　a　sudden　lurch　of　the　vessel；　hopped　over　the　barricade；　and　rolled　to　the　feet　of　Rufus　Dawes；　who　was　still　leaning；　apparently　lost　in　thought；　against　the　side。

The　bright　spot　of　colour　rolling　across　the　white　deck　caught　his　eye；　stooping　mechanically；　he　picked　up　the　ball；　and　stepped　forward　to　return　it。　　The　door　of　the　barricade　was　open　and　the　sentrya　young　soldier；　occupied　in　staring　at　the　relief　guarddid　not　notice　the　prisoner　pass　through　it。　　In　another　instant　he　was　on　the　sacred　quarter…deck。

Heated　with　the　game；　her　cheeks　aglow；　her　eyes　sparkling；　her　golden　hair　afloat；　Sylvia　had　turned　to　leap　after　her　plaything；　but　even　as　she　turned；　from　under　the　shadow　of　the　cuddy　glided　a　rounded　white　arm；　and　a　shapely　hand　caught　the　child　by　the　sash　and　drew　her　back。　　The　next　moment　the　young　man　in　grey　had　placed　the　toy　in　her　hand。

Maurice　Frere；　descending　the　poop　ladder；　had　not　witnessed　this　little　incident；　on　reaching　the　deck；　he　saw　only　the　unexplained　presence　of　the　convict　uniform。

〃Thank　you；〃　said　a　voice；　as　Rufus　Dawes　stooped　before　the　pouting　Sylvia。

The　convict　raised　his　eyes　and　saw　a　young　girl　of　eighteen　or　nineteen　years　of　age；　tall；　and　well　developed；　who；　dressed　in　a　loose…sleeved　robe　of　some　white　material；　was　standing　in　the　doorway。　　She　had　black　hair；　coiled　around　a　narrow　and　flat　head；　a　small　foot；　white　skin；　well…shaped　hands；　and　large　dark　eyes；　and　as　she　smiled　at　him；　her　scarlet　lips　showed　her　white　even　teeth。

He　knew　her　at　once。　　She　was　Sarah　Purfoy；　Mrs。　Vickers's　maid；　but　he　never　had　been　so　close　to　her　before；　and　it　seemed　to　him　that　he　was　in　the　presence　of　some　strange　tropical　flower；　which　exhaled　a　heavy　and　intoxicating　perfume。

For　an　instant　the　two　looked　at　each　other；　and　then　Rufus　Dawes　was　seized　from　behind　by　his　collar；　and　flung　with　a　shock　upon　the　deck。

Leaping　to　his　feet；　his　first　impulse　was　to　rush　upon　his　assailant；　but　he　saw　the　ready　bayonet　of　the　sentry　gleam；　and　he　checked　himself　with　an　effort；　for　his　assailant　was　Mr。　Maurice　Frere。

〃What　the　devil　do　you　do　here？〃　asked　the　gentleman　with　an　oath。　〃You　lazy；　skulking　hound；　what　brings　you　here？　　If　I　catch　you　putting　your　foot　on　the　quarter…deck　again；　I'll　give　you　a　week　in　irons！〃

Rufus　Dawes；　pale　with　rage　and　mortification；　opened　his　mouth　to　justify　himself；　but　he　allowed　the　words　to　die　on　his　lips。　What　was　the　use？　　〃Go　down　below；　and　remember　what　I've　told　you；〃　cried　Frere；　and　comprehending　at　once　what　had　occurred；　he　made　a　mental　minute　of　the　name　of　the　defaulting　sentry。

The　convict；　wiping　the　blood　from　his　face；　turned　on　his　heel　without　a　word；　and　went　back　through　the　strong　oak　door　into　his　den。　Frere　leant　forward　and　took　the　girl's　shapely　hand　with　an　easy　gesture；　but　she　drew　it　away；　with　a　flash　of　her　black　eyes。

〃You　coward！〃　she　said。

The　stolid　soldier　close　beside　them　heard　it；　and　his　eye　twinkled。　Frere　bit　his　thick　lips　with　mortification；　as　he　followed　the　girl　into　the　cuddy。　　Sarah　Purfoy；　however；　taking　the　astonished　Sylvia　by　the　hand；　glided　into　her　mistress's　cabin　with　a　scornful　laugh；　and　shut　the　door　behind　her。




CHAPTER　II。

SARAH　PURFOY。



Convictism　having　been　safely　got　under　hatches；　and　put　to　bed　in　its　Government　allowance　of　sixteen　inches　of　space　per　man；　cut　a　little　short　by　exigencies　of　shipboard；　the　cuddy　was　wont　to　pass　some　not　unpleasant　evenings。　　Mrs。　Vickers；　who　was　poetical　and　owned　a　guitar；　was　also　musical　and　sang　to　it。　　Captain　Blunt　was　a　jovial；　coarse　fellow；　Surgeon　Pine　had　a　mania　for　story…telling；　while　if　Vickers　was　sometimes　dull；　Frere　was　always　hearty。　Moreover；　the　table　was　well　served；　and　what　with　dinner；　tobacco；　whist；　music；　and　brandy　and　water；　the　sultry　evenings　passed　away　with　a　rapidity　of　which　the　wild　beasts　'tween　decks；　cooped　by　sixes　in　berths　of　a　mere　five　feet　square；　had　no　conception。

On　this　particular　evening；　however；　the　cuddy　was　dull。　Dinner　fell　flat；　and　conversation　languished。

〃No　signs　of　a　breeze；　Mr。　Best？〃　asked　Blunt；　as　the　first　officer　came　in　and　took　his　seat。

〃None；　sir。〃

〃Thesehe；　he！awful　calms；〃　says　Mrs。　Vickers。　　〃A　week；　is　it　not；　Captain　Blunt？〃

〃Thirteen　days；　mum；〃　growled　Blunt。

〃I　remember；　off　the　Coromandel　coast；〃　put　in　cheerful　Pine；　〃when　we　had　the　plague　in　the　Rattlesnake〃

〃Captain　Vickers；　another　glass　of　wine？〃　cried　Blunt；　hastening　to　cut　the　anecdote　short。

〃T