for the term of his natural life-第44章

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The　constable　sniffed　contemptuously　at　this　preposterous　conclusion；　as　who　should　say；　〃If　you　know　all　about　it；　animal；　why　did　you　ask？〃　and　then；　feeling　that　the　fixed　gaze　of　his　interrogator　demanded　some　reply；　added；　〃You　thort　she　was；　I've　no　doubt。　　You　did　your　best　to　make　her　so；　I've　heard。〃

The　convict　raised　both　his　hands　with　sudden　action　of　wrathful　despair；　as　though　he　would　seize　the　other；　despite　the　loaded　muskets；　but；　checking　himself　with　sudden　impulse；　wheeled　round　to　the　Court。

〃Your　Honour！Gentlemen！　　I　want　to　speak。〃

The　change　in　the　tone　of　his　voice；　no　less　than　the　sudden　loudness　of　the　exclamation；　made　the　faces；　hitherto　bent　upon　the　door　through　which　Mr。　Frere　had　passed；　turn　round　again。　　To　many　there　it　seemed　that　the　〃notorious　Dawes〃　was　no　longer　in　the　box；　for；　in　place　of　the　upright　and　defiant　villain　who　stood　there　an　instant　back；　was　a　white…faced；　nervous；　agitated　creature；　bending　forward　in　an　attitude　almost　of　supplication；　one　hand　grasping　the　rail；　as　though　to　save　himself　from　falling；　the　other　outstretched　towards　the　bench。　　〃Your　Honour；　there　has　been　some　dreadful　mistake　made。　　I　want　to　explain　about　myself。　I　explained　before；　when　first　I　was　sent　to　Port　Arthur；　but　the　letters　were　never　forwarded　by　the　Commandant；　of　course；　that's　the　rule；　and　I　can't　complain。　　I've　been　sent　there　unjustly；　your　Honour。　I　made　that　boat；　your　Honour。　　I　saved　the　Major's　wife　and　daughter。　I　was　the　man；　I　did　it　all　myself；　and　my　liberty　was　sworn　away　by　a　villain　who　hated　me。　　I　thought；　until　now；　that　no　one　knew　the　truth；　for　they　told　me　that　she　was　dead。〃　His　rapid　utterance　took　the　Court　so　much　by　surprise　that　no　one　interrupted　him。　　〃I　was　sentenced　to　death　for　bolting；　sir；　and　they　reprieved　me　because　I　helped　them　in　the　boat。　Helped　them！　　Why；　I　made　it！　　She　will　tell　you　so。　　I　nursed　her！　I　carried　her　in　my　arms！　　I　starved　myself　for　her！　　She　was　fond　of　me；　sir。　She　was　indeed。　　She　called　me　'Good　Mr。　Dawes'。〃

At　this；　a　coarse　laugh　broke　out；　which　was　instantly　checked。　The　judge　bent　over　to　ask；　〃Does　he　mean　Miss　Vickers？〃　and　in　this　interval　Rufus　Dawes；　looking　down　into　the　Court；　saw　Maurice　Frere　staring　up　at　him　with　terror　in　his　eyes。　　〃I　see　you；　Captain　Frere；　coward　and　liar！　Put　him　in　the　box；　gentlemen；　and　make　him　tell　his　story。　She'll　contradict　him；　never　fear。　　Oh；　and　I　thought　she　was　dead　all　this　while！〃

The　judge　had　got　his　answer　from　the　clerk　by　this　time。　〃Miss　Vickers　had　been　seriously　ill；　had　fainted　just　now　in　the　Court。　Her　only　memories　of　the　convict　who　had　been　with　her　in　the　boat　were　those　of　terror　and　disgust。　　The　sight　of　him　just　now　had　most　seriously　affected　her。　　The　convict　himself　was　an　inveterate　liar　and　schemer；　and　his　story　had　been　already　disproved　by　Captain　Frere。〃

The　judge；　a　man　inclining　by　nature　to　humanity；　but　forced　by　experience　to　receive　all　statements　of　prisoners　with　caution；　said　all　he　could　say；　and　the　tragedy　of　five　years　was　disposed　of　in　the　following　dialogue：…

JUDGE：　This　is　not　the　place　for　an　accusation　against　Captain　Frere；　nor　the　place　to　argue　upon　your　alleged　wrongs。　　If　you　have　suffered　injustice；　the　authorities　will　hear　your　complaint；　and　redress　it。

RUFUS　DAWES　I　have　complained；　your　Honour。　　I　wrote　letter　after　letter　to　the　Government；　but　they　were　never　sent。　　Then　I　heard　she　was　dead；　and　they　sent　me　to　the　Coal　Mines　after　that；　and　we　never　hear　anything　there。

JUDGE　I　can't　listen　to　you。　　Mr。　Mangles；　have　you　any　more　questions　to　ask　the　witness？

But　Mr。　Mangles　not　having　any　more；　someone　called；　〃Matthew　Gabbett；〃　and　Rufus　Dawes；　still　endeavouring　to　speak；　was　clanked　away　with；　amid　a　buzz　of　remark　and　surmise。


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The　trial　progressed　without　further　incident。　　Sylvia　was　not　called；　and；　to　the　astonishment　of　many　of　his　enemies；　Captain　Frere　went　into　the　witness…box　and　generously　spoke　in　favour　of　John　Rex。　〃He　might　have　left　us　to　starve；〃　Frere　said；　〃he　might　have　murdered　us；　we　were　completely　in　his　power。　　The　stock　of　provisions　on　board　the　brig　was　not　a　large　one；　and　I　consider　that；　in　dividing　it　with　us；　he　showed　great　generosity　for　one　in　his　situation。〃　This　piece　of　evidence　told　strongly　in　favour　of　the　prisoners；　for　Captain　Frere　was　known　to　be　such　an　uncompromising　foe　to　all　rebellious　convicts　that　it　was　understood　that　only　the　sternest　sense　of　justice　and　truth　could　lead　him　to　speak　in　such　terms。　　The　defence　set　up　by　Rex；　moreover；　was　most　ingenious。　He　was　guilty　of　absconding；　but　his　moderation　might　plead　an　excuse　for　that。　His　only　object　was　his　freedom；　and；　having　gained　it；　he　had　lived　honestly　for　nearly　three　years；　as　he　could　prove。　　He　was　charged　with　piratically　seizing　the　brig　Osprey；　and　he　urged　that　the　brig　Osprey；　having　been　built　by　convicts　at　Macquarie　Harbour；　and　never　entered　in　any　shipping　list；　could　not　be　said　to　be　〃piratically　seized〃；　in　the　strict　meaning　of　the　term。　　The　Court　admitted　the　force　of　this　objection；　and；　influenced　doubtless　by　Captain　Frere's　evidence；　the　fact　that　five　years　had　passed　since　the　mutiny；　and　that　the　two　men　most　guilty　（Cheshire　and　Barker）　had　been　executed　in　England；　sentenced　Rex　and　his　three　companions　to　transportation　for　life　to　the　penal　settlements　of　the　colony。




CHAPTER　V。

MAURICE　FRERE'S　GOOD　ANGEL。



At　this　happy　conclusion　to　his　labours；　Frere　went　down　to　comfort　the　girl　for　whose　sake　he　had　suffered　Rex　to　escape　the　gallows。　On　his　way　he　was　met　by　a　man　who　touched　his　hat；　and　asked　to　speak　with　him　an　instant。　　This　man　was　past　middle　age；　owned　a　red　brandy…beaten　face；　and　had　in　his　gait　and　manner　that　nameless　something　that　denotes　the　seaman。

〃Well；　Blunt；〃　says　Frere；　pausing　with　the　impatient　air　of　a　man　who　expects　to　hear　bad　news；　〃what　is　it　now？〃

〃Only　to　tell　you　that　it　is　all　right；　sir；〃　says　Blunt。　〃She's　come　aboard　again　this　morning。〃

〃Come　aboard　again！〃　ejaculated　Frere。　　〃Why；　I　didn't　know　that　she　had　been　ashore。　　Where　did　she　go？〃　He　spoke　with　an　air　of　confident　authority；　and　Bluntno　longer　the　bluff　tyrant　of　old　seemed　to　quail　before　him。　　The　trial　of　the　mutineers　of　the　Malabar　had　ruined　Phineas　Blunt。　　Make　what　excuses　he　might；　there　was　no　concealing　the　fact　that　Pine　found　him　drunk　in　his　cabin　when　he　ought　to　have　been　attending　to　his　duties　on　deck；　and　the　〃authorities〃　could　not；　or　would　not；　pass　over　such　a　heinous　breach　of　discipline。　　Captain　Bluntwho；　of　course；　had　his　own　version　of　the　storythus　deprived　of　the　honour　of　bringing　His　Majesty's　prisoners　to　His　Majesty's　colonies　of　New　South　Wales　and　Van　Diemen's　Land；　went　on　a　whaling　cruise　to　the　South　Seas。　The　influence　which　Sarah　Purfoy　had　acquired　over　him　had；　however；　irretrievably　injured　him。　　It　was　as　though　she　had　poisoned　his　moral　nature　by　the　influence　of　a　clever　and　wicked　woman　over　a　sensual　and　dull…witted　man。　　Blunt　gradually　sank　lower　and　lower。　He　became　a　drunkard；　and　was　known　as　a　man　with　a　〃grievance　against　the　Government〃。　　Captain　Frere；　having　had　occasion　for　him　in　some　capacity；　had　become　in　a　manner　his　patron；　and　had　got　him　the　command　of　a　schooner　trading　from　Sydney。　　On　getting　this　commandnot　without　some　wry　faces　on　the　part　of　the　owner　resident　in　Hobart　TownBlunt　had　taken　the　temperance　pledge　for　the　space　of　twelve　months；　and　was　a　miserable　dog　in　consequence。　　He　was；　however；　a　faithful　henchman；　for　he　hoped　by　Frere's　means　to　get　some　〃Government　billet〃the　grand　object　of　all　colonial　sea　captains　of　that　epoch。

〃Well；　sir；　she　went　ashore　to　see　a　friend；〃　says　Blunt；　looking　at　the　sky　and　then　at　the　earth。

〃What　friend？〃

〃Thethe　prisoner；　sir。〃

〃And　she　saw　him；　I　suppose？〃

〃Yes；　but　I　thought　I'd　better　tell　you；　sir；〃　says　Blunt。

〃Of　course；　quite　right；〃　returned　the　other；　〃you　had　better　start　at　once。　It's　no　use　waiting。〃

〃As　you　wish；　sir。　　I　can　sail　to…morrow　morningor　this　evening；　if　you　like。〃

〃This　evening；〃　says　Frere；　turning　away；　〃as　soon　as　possible。〃

〃There's　a　situation　in　Sydney　I've　been　looking　after；〃　said　the　other；　uneasily；　〃if　you　could　help　me　to　it。〃

〃What　is　it？〃

〃The　command　of　one　of　the　Government　vessels；　sir。〃

〃Well；　keep　sober；　then；〃　says　Frere；　〃and　I'll　see　what　I　can　do。　And　keep　that　woman's　tongue　still　if　you　can。〃

The　pair　looked　at　each　other；　and　Blunt　grinned　slavishly。

〃I'll　do　my　best。〃　　〃Take　care　you　do；〃　returned　his　patron；　leaving　him　without　further　ceremony。

Frere　found　Vickers　in　the　garden；　and　at　once　begged　him　not　to　talk　about　the　〃business〃　to　his　daughter。

〃You　saw　how　bad　she　was　to…day；　Vickers。　　For　goodness　sake　don't　make　her　ill　again。〃

〃My　dear　sir；〃　says　poor　Vickers；　〃I　won't　refer　to　the　subject。　She's　been　very　unwell　ever　since。　　Nervous　and　unstrung。　　Go　in　and　see　her。〃

So　Frere　went　in　and　soothed　the　excited　girl；　with　real　sorrow　at　her　suffering。

〃It's　all　right　now；　Poppet；〃　he　said　to　her。　　〃Don't　think　of　it　any　more。　Put　it　out　of　your　mind；　dear。〃

〃It　was　foolish　of　me；　Maurice；　I　know；　but　I　could　not　help　it。　The　sound　ofofthat　man's　voice　seemed　to　bring　back　to　me　some　great　pity　for　something　or　someone。　　I　don't　explain　what　I　mean；　I　know；　but　I　felt　that　I　was　on　the　verge　of　remembering　a　story　of　some　great　wrong；　just　about　to　hear　some　dreadful　revelation　that　should　make　me　turn　from　all　the　people　whom　I　ought　most　to　love。　　Do　you　understand？〃

〃I　think　I　know　what　you　mean；〃　says　Frere；　with　averted　face。　〃But　that's　all　nonsense；　you　know。〃

〃Of　course；〃　returned　she；　with　a　touch　of　her　old　childish　manner　of　disposing　of　questions　out　of　hand。　　〃Everybody　knows　it's　all　nonsense。　But　then　we　do　think　such　things。　　It　seems　to　me　that　I　am　double；　that　I　have　lived　somewhere　before；　and　have　had　another　lifea　dream…life。〃

〃What　a　romantic　girl　you　are；〃　said　the　other；　dimly　comprehending　her　meaning。　　〃How　could　you　have　a　dream…life？〃

〃Of　course；　not　really；　stupid！　　But　in　thought；　you　know。　I　dream　such　strange　things　now　and　then。　　I　am　always　falling　down　precipices　and　into　cataracts；　and　being　pushed　into　great　caverns　in　enormous　rocks。　Horrible　dreams！〃

〃Indigestion；〃　returned　Frere。　　〃You　don't　take　exercise　enough。　You　shouldn't　read　so　much。　　Have　a　good　five…mile　walk。〃

〃And　in　these　dreams；〃　continued　Sylvia；　not　heeding　his　interruption；　〃there　is　one　strange　thing。　　You　are　always　there；　Maurice。〃

〃Come；　that's　all　right；〃　says　Maurice。

〃Ah；　but　not　kind　and　good　as　you　are；　Captain　Bruin；　but　scowling；　and　threatening；　and　angry；　so　that　I　am　afraid　of　you。〃

〃But　that　is　only　a　dream；　darling。〃

〃Yes；　but〃　playing　with　the　button　of　his　coat。

〃But　what？〃

〃But　you　looked　just　so　to…day　in　the　Court；　Maurice；　and　I　think　that's　what　made　me　so　silly。〃

〃My　darling！　　There；　hushdon't　cry！〃

But　she　had　burst　into　a　passion　of　sobs　and　tears；　that　shook　her　slight　figure　in　his　arms。

〃Oh；　Maurice；　I　am　a　wicked　gi