for the term of his natural life-第43章

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〃THE　NOTORIOUS　DAWES。〃



The　mutineers　of　the　Osprey　had　been　long　since　given　up　as　dead；　and　the　story　of　their　desperate　escape　had　become　indistinct　to　the　general　public　mind。　　Now　that　they　had　been　recaptured　in　a　remarkable　manner；　popular　belief　invested　them　with　all　sorts　of　strange　surroundings。　　They　had　beenaccording　to　reportkings　over　savage　islanders；　chiefs　of　lawless　and　ferocious　pirates；　respectable　married　men　in　Java；　merchants　in　Singapore；　and　swindlers　in　Hong　Kong。　　Their　adventures　had　been　dramatized　at　a　London　theatre；　and　the　popular　novelist　of　that　day　was　engaged　in　a　work　descriptive　of　their　wondrous　fortunes。

John　Rex；　the　ringleader；　was　related；　it　was　said；　to　a　noble　family；　and　a　special　message　had　come　out　to　Sir　John　Franklin　concerning　him。　He　had　every　prospect　of　being　satisfactorily　hung；　however；　for　even　the　most　outspoken　admirers　of　his　skill　and　courage　could　not　but　admit　that　he　had　committed　an　offence　which　was　death　by　the　law。　　The　Crown　would　leave　nothing　undone　to　convict　him；　and　the　already　crowded　prison　was　re…crammed　with　half　a　dozen　life　sentence　men；　brought　up　from　Port　Arthur　to　identify　the　prisoners。　Amongst　this　number　was　stated　to　be　〃the　notorious　Dawes〃。

This　statement　gave　fresh　food　for　recollection　and　invention。　It　was　remembered　that　〃the　notorious　Dawes〃　was　the　absconder　who　had　been　brought　away　by　Captain　Frere；　and　who　owed　such　fettered　life　as　he　possessed　to　the　fact　that　he　had　assisted　Captain　Frere　to　make　the　wonderful　boat　in　which　the　marooned　party　escaped。　It　was　remembered；　also；　how　sullen　and　morose　he　had　been　on　his　trial　five　years　before；　and　how　he　had　laughed　when　the　commutation　of　his　death　sentence　was　announced　to　him。　　The　Hobart　Town　Gazette　published　a　short　biography　of　this　horrible　villaina　biography　setting　forth　how　he　had　been　engaged　in　a　mutiny　on　board　the　convict　ship；　how　he　had　twice　escaped　from　the　Macquarie　Harbour；　how　he　had　been　repeatedly　flogged　for　violence　and　insubordination；　and　how　he　was　now　double…ironed　at　Port　Arthur；　after　two　more　ineffectual　attempts　to　regain　his　freedom。　　Indeed；　the　Gazette；　discovering　that　the　wretch　had　been　originally　transported　for　highway　robbery；　argued　very　ably　it　would　be　far　better　to　hang　such　wild　beasts　in　the　first　instance　than　suffer　them　to　cumber　the　ground；　and　grow　confirmed　in　villainy。　〃Of　what　use　to　society；〃　asked　the　Gazette；　quite　pathetically；　〃has　this　scoundrel　been　during　the　last　eleven　years？〃　And　everybody　agreed　that　he　had　been　of　no　use　whatever。

Miss　Sylvia　Vickers　also　received　an　additional　share　of　public　attention。　Her　romantic　rescue　by　the　heroic　Frere；　who　was　shortly　to　reap　the　reward　of　his　devotion　in　the　good　old　fashion；　made　her　almost　as　famous　as　the　villain　Dawes；　or　his　confederate　monster　John　Rex。　It　was　reported　that　she　was　to　give　evidence　on　the　trial；　together　with　her　affianced　husband；　they　being　the　only　two　living　witnesses　who　could　speak　to　the　facts　of　the　mutiny。　　It　was　reported　also　that　her　lover　was　naturally　most　anxious　that　she　should　not　give　evidence；　as　she　wasan　additional　point　of　romantic　interestaffected　deeply　by　the　illness　consequent　on　the　suffering　she　had　undergone；　and　in　a　state　of　pitiable　mental　confusion　as　to　the　whole　business。　These　reports　caused　the　Court；　on　the　day　of　the　trial；　to　be　crowded　with　spectators；　and　as　the　various　particulars　of　the　marvellous　history　of　this　double　escape　were　detailed；　the　excitement　grew　more　intense。　The　aspect　of　the　four　heavily…ironed　prisoners　caused　a　sensation　which；　in　that　city　of　the　ironed；　was　quite　novel；　and　bets　were　offered　and　taken　as　to　the　line　of　defence　which　they　would　adopt。　　At　first　it　was　thought　that　they　would　throw　themselves　on　the　mercy　of　the　Crown；　seeking；　in　the　very　extravagance　of　their　story；　to　excite　public　sympathy；　but　a　little　study　of　the　demeanour　of　the　chief　prisoner；　John　Rex；　dispelled　that　conjecture。　　Calm；　placid；　and　defiant；　he　seemed　prepared　to　accept　his　fate；　or　to　meet　his　accusers　with　some　plea　which　should　be　sufficient　to　secure　his　acquittal　on　the　capital　charge。　Only　when　he　heard　the　indictment；　setting　forth　that　he　had　〃feloniously　pirated　the　brig　Osprey；〃　he　smiled　a　little。

Mr。　Meekin；　sitting　in　the　body　of　the　Court；　felt　his　religious　prejudices　sadly　shocked　by　that　smile。　　〃A　perfect　wild　beast；　my　dear　Miss　Vickers；〃　he　said；　returning；　in　a　pause　during　the　examination　of　the　convicts　who　had　been　brought　to　identify　the　prisoner；　to　the　little　room　where　Sylvia　and　her　father　were　waiting。　　〃He　has　quite　a　tigerish　look　about　him。〃

〃Poor　man！〃　said　Sylvia；　with　a　shudder。

〃Poor！　　My　dear　young　lady；　you　do　not　pity　him？〃

〃I　do；〃　said　Sylvia；　twisting　her　hands　together　as　if　in　pain。　〃I　pity　them　all；　poor　creatures。〃

〃Charming　sensibility！〃　says　Meekin；　with　a　glance　at　Vickers。　〃The　true　woman's　heart；　my　dear　Major。〃

The　Major　tapped　his　fingers　impatiently　at　this　ill…timed　twaddle。　Sylvia　was　too　nervous　just　then　for　sentiment。　　〃Come　here；　Poppet；〃　he　said；　〃and　look　through　this　door。　　You　can　see　them　from　here；　and　if　you　do　not　recognize　any　of　them；　I　can't　see　what　is　the　use　of　putting　you　in　the　box；　though；　of　course；　if　it　is　necessary；　you　must　go。〃

The　raised　dock　was　just　opposite　to　the　door　of　the　room　in　which　they　were　sitting；　and　the　four　manacled　men；　each　with　an　armed　warder　behind　him；　were　visible　above　the　heads　of　the　crowd。　　The　girl　had　never　before　seen　the　ceremony　of　trying　a　man　for　his　life；　and　the　silent　and　antique　solemnities　of　the　business　affected　her；　as　it　affects　all　who　see　it　for　the　first　time。　　The　atmosphere　was　heavy　and　distressing。　　The　chains　of　the　prisoners　clanked　ominously。　The　crushing　force　of　judge；　gaolers；　warders；　and　constables　assembled　to　punish　the　four　men；　appeared　cruel。　　The　familiar　faces；　that　in　her　momentary　glance；　she　recognized；　seemed　to　her　evilly　transfigured。　　Even　the　countenance　of　her　promised　husband；　bent　eagerly　forward　towards　the　witness…box；　showed　tyrannous　and　bloodthirsty。　　Her　eyes　hastily　followed　the　pointing　finger　of　her　father；　and　sought　the　men　in　the　dock。　　Two　of　them　lounged；　sullen　and　inattentive；　one　nervously　chewed　a　straw；　or　piece　of　twig；　pawing　the　dock　with　restless　hand；　the　fourth　scowled　across　the　Court　at　the　witness…box；　which　she　could　not　see。　　The　four　faces　were　all　strange　to　her。

〃No；　papa；〃　she　said；　with　a　sigh　of　relief；　〃I　can't　recognize　them　at　all。〃

As　she　was　turning　from　the　door；　a　voice　from　the　witness…box　behind　her　made　her　suddenly　pale　and　pause　to　look　again。　　The　Court　itself　appeared；　at　that　moment；　affected；　for　a　murmur　ran　through　it；　and　some　official　cried；　〃Silence！〃

The　notorious　criminal；　Rufus　Dawes；　the　desperado　of　Port　Arthur；　the　wild　beast　whom　the　Gazette　had　judged　not　fit　to　live；　had　just　entered　the　witness…box。　　He　was　a　man　of　thirty；　in　the　prime　of　life；　with　a　torso　whose　muscular　grandeur　not　even　the　ill…fitting　yellow　jacket　could　altogether　conceal；　with　strong；　embrowned；　and　nervous　hands；　an　upright　carriage；　and　a　pair　of　fierce；　black　eyes　that　roamed　over　the　Court　hungrily。

Not　all　the　weight　of　the　double　irons　swaying　from　the　leathern　thong　around　his　massive　loins；　could　mar　that　elegance　of　attitude　which　comes　only　from　perfect　muscular　development。　　Not　all　the　frowning　faces　bent　upon　him　could　frown　an　accent　of　respect　into　the　contemptuous　tones　in　which　he　answered　to　his　name；　〃Rufus　Dawes；　prisoner　of　the　Crown〃。

〃Come　away；　my　darling；〃　said　Vickers；　alarmed　at　his　daughter's　blanched　face　and　eager　eyes。

〃Wait；〃　she　said　impatiently；　listening　for　the　voice　whose　owner　she　could　not　see。　　〃Rufus　Dawes！　　Oh；　I　have　heard　that　name　before！〃

〃You　are　a　prisoner　of　the　Crown　at　the　penal　settlement　of　Port　Arthur？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃For　life？〃

〃For　life。〃

Sylvia　turned　to　her　father　with　breathless　inquiry　in　her　eyes。　〃Oh；　papa！　　who　is　that　speaking？　I　know　the　name！　　the　voice！〃

〃That　is　the　man　who　was　with　you　in　the　boat；　dear；〃　says　Vickers　gravely。　〃The　prisoner。〃

The　eager　light　died　out　of　her　eyes；　and　in　its　place　came　a　look　of　disappointment　and　pain。　　〃I　thought　it　was　a　good　man；〃　she　said；　holding　by　the　edge　of　the　doorway。　　〃It　sounded　like　a　good　voice。〃

And　then　she　pressed　her　hands　over　her　eyes　and　shuddered。　　〃There；　there；〃　says　Vickers　soothingly；　〃don't　be　afraid；　Poppet；　he　can't　hurt　you　now。〃

〃No；　ha！　　ha！〃　says　Meekin；　with　great　display　of　off…hand　courage；　〃the　villain's　safe　enough　now。〃

The　colloquy　in　the　Court　went　on。　　〃Do　you　know　the　prisoners　in　the　dock？〃

〃Yes。〃　〃Who　are　they？〃

〃John　Rex；　Henry　Shiers；　James　Lesly；　and；　andI'm　not　sure　about　the　last　man。〃　〃You　are　not　sure　about　the　last　man。　　Will　you　swear　to　the　three　others？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃You　remember　them　well？〃

〃I　was　in　the　chain…gang　at　Macquarie　Harbour　with　them　for　three　years。〃　Sylvia；　hearing　this　hideous　reason　for　acquaintance；　gave　a　low　cry；　and　fell　into　her　father's　arms。

〃Oh；　papa；　take　me　away！　　I　feel　as　if　I　was　going　to　remember　something　terrible！〃

Amid　the　deep　silence　that　prevailed；　the　cry　of　the　poor　girl　was　distinctly　audible　in　the　Court；　and　all　heads　turned　to　the　door。　In　the　general　wonder　no　one　noticed　the　change　that　passed　over　Rufus　Dawes。　His　face　flushed　scarlet；　great　drops　of　sweat　stood　on　his　forehead；　and　his　black　eyes　glared　in　the　direction　from　whence　the　sound　came；　as　though　they　would　pierce　the　envious　wood　that　separated　him　from　the　woman　whose　voice　he　had　heard。　　Maurice　Frere　sprang　up　and　pushed　his　way　through　the　crowd　under　the　bench。

〃What's　this？〃　he　said　to　Vickers；　almost　brutally。　　〃What　did　you　bring　her　here　for？　　She　is　not　wanted。　　I　told　you　that。〃

〃I　considered　it　my　duty；　sir；〃　says　Vickers；　with　stately　rebuke。

〃What　has　frightened　her？　　What　has　she　heard？　　What　has　she　seen？〃　asked　Frere；　with　a　strangely　white　face。　　〃Sylvia；　Sylvia！〃

She　opened　her　eyes　at　the　sound　of　his　voice。　　〃Take　me　home；　papa；　I'm　ill。　Oh；　what　thoughts！〃

〃What　does　she　mean？〃　cried　Frere；　looking　in　alarm　from　one　to　the　other。

〃That　ruffian　Dawes　frightened　her；〃　said　Meekin。　　〃A　gush　of　recollection；　poor　child。　　There；　there；　calm　yourself；　Miss　Vickers。　　He　is　quite　safe。〃

〃Frightened　her；　eh？〃　〃Yes；〃　said　Sylvia　faintly；　〃he　frightened　me；　Maurice。　I　needn't　stop　any　longer；　dear；　need　I？〃

〃No；〃　says　Frere；　the　cloud　passing　from　his　face。　　〃Major；　I　beg　your　pardon；　but　I　was　hasty。　　Take　her　home　at　once。　　This　sort　of　thing　is　too　much　for　her。〃　And　so　he　went　back　to　his　place；　wiping　his　brow；　and　breathing　hard；　as　one　who　had　just　escaped　from　some　near　peril。

Rufus　Dawes　had　remained　in　the　same　attitude　until　the　figure　of　Frere；　passing　through　the　doorway；　roused　him。　　〃Who　is　she？〃　he　said；　in　a　low；　hoarse　voice；　to　the　constable　behind　him。　　〃Miss　Vickers；〃　said　the　man　shortly；　flinging　the　information　at　him　as　one　might　fling　a　bone　to　a　dangerous　dog。

〃Miss　Vickers；〃　repeated　the　convict；　still　staring　in　a　sort　of　bewildered　agony。　　〃They　told　me　she　was　dead！〃

The　constab