for the term of his natural life-第47章

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re　happiness。　　In　the　noisome　darkness　of　the　mine；　in　the　glaring　light　of　the　noondaydragging　at　his　loaded　wagon；　he　could　see　her　ever　with　him；　her　calm　eyes　gazing　lovingly　on　his；　as　they　had　gazed　in　the　boat　so　long　ago。　　She　never　seemed　to　grow　older；　she　never　seemed　to　wish　to　leave　him。　　It　was　only　when　his　misery　became　too　great　for　him　to　bear；　and　he　cursed　and　blasphemed；　mingling　for　a　time　in　the　hideous　mirth　of　his　companions；　that　the　little　figure　fled　away。　　Thus　dreaming；　he　had　shaped　out　for　himself　a　sorrowful　comfort；　and　in　his　dream…world　found　a　compensation　for　the　terrible　affliction　of　living。　　Indifference　to　his　present　sufferings　took　possession　of　him；　only　at　the　bottom　of　this　indifference　lurked　a　fixed　hatred　of　the　man　who　had　brought　these　sufferings　upon　him；　and　a　determination　to　demand　at　the　first　opportunity　a　reconsideration　of　that　man's　claims　to　be　esteemed　a　hero。　　It　was　in　this　mood　that　he　had　intended　to　make　the　revelation　which　he　had　made　in　Court；　but　the　intelligence　that　Sylvia　lived　unmanned　him；　and　his　prepared　speech　had　been　usurped　by　a　passionate　torrent　of　complaint　and　invective；　which　convinced　no　one；　and　gave　Frere　the　very　argument　he　needed。　It　was　decided　that　the　prisoner　Dawes　was　a　malicious　and　artful　scoundrel；　whose　only　object　was　to　gain　a　brief　respite　of　the　punishment　which　he　had　so　justly　earned。　　Against　this　injustice　he　had　resolved　to　rebel。　　It　was　monstrous；　he　thought；　that　they　should　refuse　to　hear　the　witness　who　was　so　ready　to　speak　in　his　favour；　infamous　that　they　should　send　him　back　to　his　doom　without　allowing　her　to　say　a　word　in　his　defence。　　But　he　would　defeat　that　scheme。　　He　had　planned　a　method　of　escape；　and　he　would　break　from　his　bonds；　fling　himself　at　her　feet；　and　pray　her　to　speak　the　truth　for　him；　and　so　save　him。　　Strong　in　his　faith　in　her；　and　with　his　love　for　her　brightened　by　the　love　he　had　borne　to　her　dream…image；　he　felt　sure　of　her　power　to　rescue　him　now；　as　he　had　rescued　her　before。　〃If　she　knew　I　was　alive；　she　would　come　to　me；〃　he　said。　〃I　am　sure　she　would。　　Perhaps　they　told　her　that　I　was　dead。〃

Meditating　that　night　in　the　solitude　of　his　cellhis　evil　character　had　gained　him　the　poor　luxury　of　lonelinesshe　almost　wept　to　think　of　the　cruel　deception　that　had　doubtless　been　practised　on　her。　〃They　have　told　her　that　I　was　dead；　in　order　that　she　might　learn　to　forget　me；　but　she　could　not　do　that。　　I　have　thought　of　her　so　often　during　these　weary　years　that　she　must　sometimes　have　thought　of　me。　Five　years！　　She　must　be　a　woman　now。　　My　little　child　a　woman！　Yet　she　is　sure　to　be　childlike；　sweet；　and　gentle。　　How　she　will　grieve　when　she　hears　of　my　sufferings。　　Oh！　　my　darling；　my　darling；　you　are　not　dead！〃　And　then；　looking　hastily　about　him　in　the　darkness；　as　though　fearful　even　there　of　being　seen；　he　pulled　from　out　his　breast　a　little　packet；　and　felt　it　lovingly　with　his　coarse；　toil…worn　fingers；　reverently　raising　it　to　his　lips；　and　dreaming　over　it；　with　a　smile　on　his　face；　as　though　it　were　a　sacred　talisman　that　should　open　to　him　the　doors　of　freedom。




CHAPTER　VIII。

AN　ESCAPE。



A　few　days　after　thison　the　23rd　of　DecemberMaurice　Frere　was　alarmed　by　a　piece　of　startling　intelligence。　　The　notorious　Dawes　had　escaped　from　gaol！

Captain　Frere　had　inspected　the　prison　that　very　afternoon；　and　it　had　seemed　to　him　that　the　hammers　had　never　fallen　so　briskly；　nor　the　chains　clanked　so　gaily；　as　on　the　occasion　of　his　visit。　〃Thinking　of　their　Christmas　holiday；　the　dogs！〃　he　had　said　to　the　patrolling　warder。　　〃Thinking　about　their　Christmas　pudding；　the　luxurious　scoundrels！〃　and　the　convict　nearest　him　had　laughed　appreciatively；　as　convicts　and　schoolboys　do　laugh　at　the　jests　of　the　man　in　authority。　　All　seemed　contentment。　　Moreover；　he　hadby　way　of　a　pleasant　stroke　of　wittormented　Rufus　Dawes　with　his　ill…fortune。　〃The　schooner　sails　to…morrow；　my　man；〃　he　had　said；　〃you'll　spend　your　Christmas　at　the　mines。〃　And　congratulated　himself　upon　the　fact　that　Rufus　Dawes　merely　touched　his　cap；　and　went　on　with　his　stone…cracking　in　silence。　　Certainly　double　irons　and　hard　labour　were　fine　things　to　break　a　man's　spirit。　　So　that；　when　in　the　afternoon　of　that　same　day　he　heard　the　astounding　news　that　Rufus　Dawes　had　freed　himself　from　his　fetters；　climbed　the　gaol　wall　in　broad　daylight；　run　the　gauntlet　of　Macquarie　Street；　and　was　now　supposed　to　be　safely　hidden　in　the　mountains；　he　was　dumbfounded。

〃How　the　deuce　did　he　do　it；　Jenkins？〃　he　asked；　as　soon　as　he　reached　the　yard。

〃Well；　I'm　blessed　if　I　rightly　know；　your　honour；〃　says　Jenkins。　〃He　was　over　the　wall　before　you　could　say　'knife'。　　Scott　fired　and　missed　him；　and　then　I　heard　the　sentry's　musket；　but　he　missed　him；　too。〃

〃Missed　him！〃　cries　Frere。　　〃Pretty　fellows　you　are；　all　of　you！　I　suppose　you　couldn't　hit　a　haystack　at　twenty　yards？　Why；　the　man　wasn't　three　feet　from　the　end　of　your　carbine！〃

The　unlucky　Scott；　standing　in　melancholy　attitude　by　the　empty　irons；　muttered　something　about　the　sun　having　been　in　his　eyes。　〃I　don't　know　how　it　was；　sir。　　I　ought　to　have　hit　him；　for　certain。　I　think　I　did　touch　him；　too；　as　he　went　up　the　wall。〃

A　stranger　to　the　customs　of　the　place　might　have　imagined　that　he　was　listening　to　a　conversation　about　a　pigeon　match。

〃Tell　me　all　about　it；〃　says　Frere；　with　an　angry　curse。　〃I　was　just　turning；　your　honour；　when　I　hears　Scott　sing　out　'Hullo！'　and　when　I　turned　round；　I　saw　Dawes's　irons　on　the　ground；　and　him　a…scrambling　up　the　heap　o'　stones　yonder。　　The　two　men　on　my　right　jumped　up；　and　I　thought　it　was　a　made…up　thing　among　'em；　so　I　covered　'em　with　my　carbine；　according　to　instructions；　and　called　out　that　I'd　shoot　the　first　that　stepped　out。　　Then　I　heard　Scott's　piece；　and　the　men　gave　a　shout　like。　　When　I　looked　round；　he　was　gone。〃

〃Nobody　else　moved？〃

〃No；　sir。　　I　was　confused　at　first；　and　thought　they　were　all　in　it；　but　Parton　and　Haines　they　runs　in　and　gets　between　me　and　the　wall；　and　then　Mr。　Short　he　come；　and　we　examined　their　irons。〃

〃All　right？〃

〃All　right；　your　honour；　and　they　all　swore　they　knowed　nothing　of　it。　I　know　Dawes's　irons　was　all　right　when　he　went　to　dinner。〃

Frere　stopped　and　examined　the　empty　fetters。　　〃All　right　be　hanged；〃　he　said。　〃If　you　don't　know　your　duty　better　than　this；　the　sooner　you　go　somewhere　else　the　better；　my　man。　　Look　here！〃

The　two　ankle　fetters　were　severed。　　One　had　been　evidently　filed　through；　and　the　other　broken　transversely。　　The　latter　was　bent；　as　from　a　violent　blow。

〃Don't　know　where　he　got　the　file　from；〃　said　Warder　Short。

〃Know！　　Of　course　you　don't　know。　　You　men　never　do　know　anything　until　the　mischief's　done。　　You　want　me　here　for　a　month　or　so。　I'd　teach　you　your　duty！　　Don't　knowwith　things　like　this　lying　about？　I　wonder　the　whole　yard　isn't　loose　and　dining　with　the　Governor。〃

〃This〃　was　a　fragment　of　delft　pottery　which　Frere's　quick　eye　had　detected　among　the　broken　metal。

〃I'd　cut　the　biggest　iron　you've　got　with　this；　and　so　would　he　and　plenty　more；　I'll　go　bail。　　You　ought　to　have　lived　with　me　at　Sarah　Island；　Mr。　Short。　　Don't　know！〃

〃Well；　Captain　Frere；　it's　an　accident；〃　says　Short；　〃and　can't　be　helped　now。〃

〃An　accident！〃　roared　Frere。　　〃What　business　have　you　with　accidents？　How；　in　the　devil's　name；　you　let　the　man　get　over　the　wall；　I　don't　know。〃

〃He　ran　up　that　stone　heap；〃　says　Scott；　〃and　seemed　to　me　to　jump　at　the　roof　of　the　shed。　　I　fired　at　him；　and　he　swung　his　legs　over　the　top　of　the　wall　and　dropped。〃

Frere　measured　the　distance　from　his　eye；　and　an　irrepressible　feeling　of　admiration；　rising　out　of　his　own　skill　in　athletics；　took　possession　of　him　for　an　instant。

〃By　the　Lord　Harry；　but　it's　a　big　jump！〃　he　said；　and　then　the　instinctive　fear　with　which　the　consciousness　of　the　hideous　wrong　he　had　done　the　now　escaped　convict　inspired　him；　made　him　add：　〃A　desperate　villain　like　that　wouldn't　stick　at　a　murder　if　you　pressed　him　hard。　　Which　way　did　he　go？〃

〃Right　up　Macquarie　Street；　and　then　made　for　the　mountain。　There　were　few　people　about；　but　Mr。　Mays；　of　the　Star　Hotel；　tried　to　stop　him；　and　was　knocked　head　over　heels。　　He　says　the　fellow　runs　like　a　deer。〃

〃We'll　have　the　reward　out　if　we　don't　get　him　to…night；〃　says　Frere；　turning　away；　〃and　you'd　better　put　on　an　extra　warder。　　This　sort　of　game　is　catching。〃　And　he　strode　away　to　the　Barracks。

From　right　to　left；　from　east　to　west；　through　the　prison　city　flew　the　signal　of　alarm；　and　the　patrol；　clattering　out　along　the　road　to　New　Norfolk；　made　hot　haste　to　strike　the　trail　of　the　fugitive。　But　night　came　and　found　him　yet　at　large；　and　the　patrol　returning；　weary　and　disheartened；　protested　that　he　must　be　lying　hid　in　some　gorge　of　the　purple　mountain　that　overshadowed　the　town；　and　would　have　to　be　starved　into　submission。　　Meanwhile　the　usual　message　ran　through　the　island；　and　so　admirable　were　the　arrangements　which　Arthur　the　reformer　had　initiated；　that；　before　noon　of　the　next　day；　not　a　signal　station　on　the　coast　but　knew　that　No。　　8942；　etc。；　etc。；　prisoner　for　life；　was　illegally　at　large。　This　intelligence；　further　aided　by　a　paragraph　in　the　Gazette　anent　the　〃Daring　Escape〃；　noised　abroad；　the　world　cared　little　that　the　Mary　Jane；　Government　schooner；　had　sailed　for　Port　Arthur　without　Rufus　Dawes。

But　two　or　three　persons　cared　a　good　deal。　　Major　Vickers；　for　one；　was　indignant　that　his　boasted　security　of　bolts　and　bars　should　have　been　so　easily　defied；　and　in　proportion　to　his　indignation　was　the　grief　of　Messieurs　Jenkins；　Scott；　and　Co。；　suspended　from　office；　and　threatened　with　absolute　dismissal。　　Mr。　Meekin　was　terribly　frightened　at　the　fact　that　so　dangerous　a　monster　should　be　roaming　at　large　within　reach　of　his　own　saintly　person。　　Sylvia　had　shown　symptoms　of　nervous　terror；　none　the　less　injurious　because　carefully　repressed；　and　Captain　Maurice　Frere　was　a　prey　to　the　most　cruel　anxiety。　He　had　ridden　off　at　a　hand…gallop　within　ten　minutes　after　he　had　reached　the　Barracks；　and　had　spent　the　few　hours　of　remaining　daylight　in　scouring　the　country　along　the　road　to　the　North。　　At　dawn　the　next　day　he　was　away　to　the　mountain；　and　with　a　black…tracker　at　his　heels；　explored　as　much　of　that　wilderness　of　gully　and　chasm　as　nature　permitted　to　him。　　He　had　offered　to　double　the　reward；　and　had　examined　a　number　of　suspicious　persons。　　It　was　known　that　he　had　been　inspecting　the　prison　a　few　hours　before　the　escape　took　place；　and　his　efforts　were　therefore　attributed　to　zeal；　not　unmixed　with　chagrin。　〃Our　dear　friend　feels　his　reputation　at　stake；〃　the　future　chaplain　of　Port　Arthur　said　to　Sylvia　at　the　Christmas　dinner。　　〃He　is　so　proud　of　his　knowledge　of　these　unhappy　men　that　he　dislikes　to　be　outwitted　by　any　of　them。〃

Notwithstanding　all　this；　however；　Dawes　had　disappeared。　The　fat　landlord　of　the　Star　Hotel　was　the　last　person　who　saw　him；　and　the　flying　yellow　figure　seemed　to　have　been　as　completely　swallowed　up　by　the　warm　summer's　afternoon　as　if　it　had　run　headlong　into　the　blackest　night　that　ever　hung　above　the　earth。




CHAP