for the term of his natural life-第54章

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The　Commandant；　roused　from　slumber；　told　Mr。　North　that　Kirkland　might　stop　where　he　was；　and　that　he'd　thank　the　chaplain　not　to　wake　him　up　in　the　middle　of　the　night　because　a　blank　prisoner　set　up　a　blank　howling。

〃But；　my　good　sir；〃　protested　North；　restraining　his　impulse　to　overstep　the　bounds　of　modesty　in　his　language　to　his　superior　officer；　〃you　know　the　character　of　the　men　in　that　ward。　　You　can　guess　what　that　unhappy　boy　has　suffered。〃

〃Impertinent　young　beggar！〃　said　Burgess。　　〃Do　him　good；　curse　him！　Mr。　North；　I'm　sorry　you　should　have　had　the　trouble　to　come　here；　but　will　you　let　me　go　to　sleep？〃

North　returned　to　the　prison　disconsolately；　found　the　dutiful　Hailes　at　his　post；　and　all　quiet。

〃What's　become　of　Kirkland？〃　he　asked。

〃Fretted　hisself　to　sleep；　yer　reverence；〃　said　Hailes；　in　accents　of　parental　concern。　　〃Poor　young　chap！　　It's　hard　for　such　young　'uns。〃

In　the　morning；　Rufus　Dawes；　coming　to　his　place　on　the　chain…gang；　was　struck　by　the　altered　appearance　of　Kirkland。　　His　face　was　of　a　greenish　tint；　and　wore　an　expression　of　bewildered　horror。

〃Cheer　up；　man！〃　said　Dawes；　touched　with　momentary　pity。　〃It's　no　good　being　in　the　mopes；　you　know。〃

〃What　do　they　do　if　you　try　to　bolt？〃　whispered　Kirkland。

〃Kill　you；〃　returned　Dawes；　in　a　tone　of　surprise　at　so　preposterous　a　question。

〃Thank　God！〃　said　Kirkland。

〃Now　then；　Miss　Nancy；〃　said　one　of　the　men；　〃what's　the　matter　with　you！〃　Kirkland　shuddered；　and　his　pale　face　grew　crimson。

〃Oh；〃　he　said；　〃that　such　a　wretch　as　I　should　live！〃

〃Silence！〃　cried　Troke。　　〃No。　44；　if　you　can't　hold　your　tongue　I'll　give　you　something　to　talk　about。　　March！〃

The　work　of　the　gang　that　afternoon　was　the　carrying　of　some　heavy　logs　to　the　water…side；　and　Rufus　Dawes　observed　that　Kirkland　was　exhausted　long　before　the　task　was　accomplished。　　〃They'll　kill　you；　you　little　beggar！〃　said　he；　not　unkindly。　　〃What　have　you　been　doing　to　get　into　this　scrape？〃

〃Have　you　ever　been　in　thatthat　place　I　was　in　last　night？〃　asked　Kirkland。

Rufus　Dawes　nodded。

〃Does　the　Commandant　know　what　goes　on　there？〃

〃I　suppose　so。　　What　does　he　care？〃

〃Care！　　Man；　do　you　believe　in　a　God？〃　〃No；〃　said　Dawes；　〃not　here。　Hold　up；　my　lad。　　If　you　fall；　we　must　fall　over　you；　and　then　you're　done　for。〃

He　had　hardly　uttered　the　words；　when　the　boy　flung　himself　beneath　the　log。　In　another　instant　the　train　would　have　been　scrambling　over　his　crushed　body；　had　not　Gabbett　stretched　out　an　iron　hand；　and　plucked　the　would…be　suicide　from　death。

〃Hold　on　to　me；　Miss　Nancy；〃　said　the　giant；　〃I'm　big　enough　to　carry　double。〃

Something　in　the　tone　or　manner　of　the　speaker　affected　Kirkland　to　disgust；　for；　spurning　the　offered　hand；　he　uttered　a　cry　and　then；　holding　up　his　irons　with　his　hands；　he　started　to　run　for　the　water。

〃Halt！　　you　young　fool；〃　roared　Troke；　raising　his　carbine。　But　Kirkland　kept　steadily　on　for　the　river。　　Just　as　he　reached　it；　however；　the　figure　of　Mr。　North　rose　from　behind　a　pile　of　stones。　Kirkland　jumped　for　the　jetty；　missed　his　footing；　and　fell　into　the　arms　of　the　chaplain。

〃You　young　verminyou　shall　pay　for　this；〃　cries　Troke。　　〃You'll　see　if　you　won't　remember　this　day。〃

〃Oh；　Mr。　North；〃　says　Kirkland；　〃why　did　you　stop　me？　I'd　better　be　dead　than　stay　another　night　in　that　place。〃

〃You'll　get　it；　my　lad；〃　said　Gabbett；　when　the　runaway　was　brought　back。　〃Your　blessed　hide'll　feel　for　this；　see　if　it　don't。〃

Kirkland　only　breathed　harder；　and　looked　round　for　Mr。　North；　but　Mr。　North　had　gone。　　The　new　chaplain　was　to　arrive　that　afternoon；　and　it　was　incumbent　on　him　to　be　at　the　reception。　　Troke　reported　the　ex…bank　clerk　that　night　to　Burgess；　and　Burgess；　who　was　about　to　go　to　dinner　with　the　new　chaplain；　disposed　of　his　case　out　of　hand。　〃Tried　to　bolt；　eh！　　Must　stop　that。　　Fifty　lashes；　Troke。　Tell　Macklewain　to　be　readyor　stay；　I'll　tell　him　myselfI'll　break　the　young　devil's　spirit；　blank　him。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Troke。　　〃Good　evening；　sir。〃

〃Trokepick　out　some　likely　man；　will　you？　That　last　fellow　you　had　ought　to　have　been　tied　up　himself。　　His　flogging　wouldn't　have　killed　a　flea。〃

〃You　can't　get　'em　to　warm　one　another；　your　honour；〃　says　Troke。

〃They　won't　do　it。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　they　will；　though；〃　says　Burgess；　〃or　I'll　know　the　reason　why。　I　won't　have　my　men　knocked　up　with　flogging　these　rascals。　If　the　scourger　won't　do　his　duty；　tie　him　up；　and　give　him　five…and…twenty　for　himself。　　I'll　be　down　in　the　morning　myself　if　I　can。〃

〃Very　good；　your　honour；〃　says　Troke。

Kirkland　was　put　into　a　separate　cell　that　night；　and　Troke；　by　way　of　assuring　him　a　good　night's　rest；　told　him　that　he　was　to　have　〃fifty〃　in　the　morning。　　〃And　Dawes'll　lay　it　on；〃　he　added。　〃He's　one　of　the　smartest　men　I've　got；　and　he　won't　spare　yer；　yer　may　take　your　oath　of　that。〃　




CHAPTER　XIV。

Mr。　NORTH'S　DISPOSITION。



〃You　will　find　this　a　terrible　place；　Mr。　Meekin；〃　said　North　to　his　supplanter；　as　they　walked　across　to　the　Commandant's　to　dinner。　〃It　has　made　me　heartsick。〃　

〃I　thought　it　was　a　little　paradise；〃　said　Meekin。　　〃Captain　Frere　says　that　the　scenery　is　delightful。〃　〃So　it　is；〃　returned　North；　looking　askance；　〃but　the　prisoners　are　not　delightful。〃

〃Poor；　abandoned　wretches；〃　says　Meekin；　〃I　suppose　not。　How　sweet　the　moonlight　sleeps　upon　that　bank！　　Eh！〃

〃Abandoned；　indeed；　by　God　and　manalmost。〃

〃Mr。　North；　Providence　never　abandons　the　most　unworthy　of　His　servants。　Never　have　I　seen　the　righteous　forsaken；　nor　His　seed　begging　their　bread。　In　the　valley　of　the　shadow　of　death　He　is　with　us。　　His　staff；　you　know；　Mr。　North。　　Really；　the　Commandant's　house　is　charmingly　situated！〃

Mr。　North　sighed　again。　　〃You　have　not　been　long　in　the　colony；　Mr。　Meekin。　I　doubtforgive　me　for　expressing　myself　so　freelyif　you　quite　know　of　our　convict　system。〃

〃An　admirable　one！　　A　most　admirable　one！〃　said　Meekin。　　〃There　were　a　few　matters　I　noticed　in　Hobart　Town　that　did　not　quite　please　me　the　frequent　use　of　profane　language　for　instancebut　on　the　whole　I　was　delighted　with　the　scheme。　　It　is　so　complete。〃

North　pursed　up　his　lips。　　〃Yes；　it　is　very　complete；〃　he　said；　〃almost　too　complete。　　But　I　am　always　in　a　minority　when　I　discuss　the　question；　so　we　will　drop　it；　if　you　please。〃

〃If　you　please；〃　said　Meekin　gravely。　　He　had　heard　from　the　Bishop　that　Mr。　North　was　an　ill…conditioned　sort　of　person；　who　smoked　clay　pipes；　had　been　detected　in　drinking　beer　out　of　a　pewter　pot；　and　had　been　heard　to　state　that　white　neck…cloths　were　of　no　consequence。　　The　dinner　went　off　successfully。　　Burgessdesirous；　perhaps；　of　favourably　impressing　the　chaplain　whom　the　Bishop　delighted　to　honourshut　off　his　blasphemy　for　a　while；　and　was　urbane　enough。　　〃You'll　find　us　rough；　Mr。　Meekin；〃　he　said；　〃but　you'll　find　us　'all　there'　when　we're　wanted。　This　is　a　little　kingdom　in　itself。〃

〃Like　B閞anger's？〃　asked　Meekin；　with　a　smile。　　Captain　Burgess　had　never　heard　of　B閞anger；　but　he　smiled　as　if　he　had　learnt　his　words　by　heart。

〃Or　like　Sancho　Panza's　island；〃　said　North。　　〃You　remember　how　justice　was　administered　there？〃

〃Not　at　this　moment；　sir；〃　said　Burgess；　with　dignity。　　He　had　been　often　oppressed　by　the　notion　that　the　Reverend　Mr。　North　〃chaffed〃　him。　〃Pray　help　yourself　to　wine。〃

〃Thank　you；　none；〃　said　North；　filling　a　tumbler　with　water。　〃I　have　a　headache。〃　His　manner　of　speech　and　action　was　so　awkward　that　a　silence　fell　upon　the　party；　caused　by　each　one　wondering　why　Mr。　North　should　grow　confused；　and　drum　his　fingers　on　the　table；　and　stare　everywhere　but　at　the　decanter。　　Meekinever　softly　at　his　ease　was　the　first　to　speak。　　〃Have　you　many　visitors；　Captain　Burgess？〃

〃Very　few。　　Sometimes　a　party　comes　over　with　a　recommendation　from　the　Governor；　and　I　show　them　over　the　place；　but；　as　a　rule；　we　see　no　one　but　ourselves。〃

〃I　asked；〃　said　Meekin；　〃because　some　friends　of　mine　were　thinking　of　coming。〃

〃And　who　may　they　be？〃

〃Do　you　know　Captain　Frere？〃

〃Frere！　　I　should　say　so！〃　returned　Burgess；　with　a　laugh；　modelled　upon　Maurice　Frere's　own。　　〃I　was　quartered　with　him　at　Sarah　Island。　So　he's　a　friend　of　yours；　eh？〃

〃I　had　the　pleasure　of　meeting　him　in　society。　　He　is　just　married；　you　know。〃

〃Is　he？〃　said　Burgess。　　〃The　devil　he　is！　　I　heard　something　about　it；　too。〃

〃Miss　Vickers；　a　charming　young　person。　　They　are　going　to　Sydney；　where　Captain　Frere　has　some　interest；　and　Frere　thinks　of　taking　Port　Arthur　on　his　way　down。〃

〃A　strange　fancy　for　a　honeymoon　trip；〃　said　North。

〃Captain　Frere　takes　a　deep　interest　in　all　relating　to　convict　discipline；〃　went　on　Meekin；　unheeding　the　interruption；　〃and　is　anxious　that　Mrs。　Frere　should　see　this　place。〃

〃Yes；　one　oughtn't　to　leave　the　colony　without　seeing　it；〃　says　Burgess；　〃it's　worth　seeing。〃

〃So　Captain　Frere　thinks。　　A　romantic　story；　Captain　Burgess。　He　saved　her　life；　you　know。〃

〃Ah！　　that　was　a　queer　thing；　that　mutiny；〃　said　Burgess。　〃We've　got　the　fellows　here；　you　know。〃

〃I　saw　them　tried　at　Hobart　Town；〃　said　Meekin。　　〃In　fact；　the　ringleader；　John　Rex；　gave　me　his　confession；　and　I　sent　it　to　the　Bishop。〃

〃A　great　rascal；〃　put　in　North。　　〃A　dangerous；　scheming；　coldblooded　villain。〃

〃Well　now！〃　said　Meekin；　with　asperity；　〃I　don't　agree　with　you。　Everybody　seems　to　be　against　that　poor　fellowCaptain　Frere　tried　to　make　me　think　that　his　letters　contained　a　hidden　meaning；　but　I　don't　believe　they　did。　　He　seems　to　me　to　be　truly　penitent　for　his　offencesa　misguided；　but　not　a　hypocritical　man；　if　my　knowledge　of　human　nature　goes　for　anything。〃

〃I　hope　he　is；〃　said　North。　　〃I　wouldn't　trust　him。〃

〃Oh！　　there's　no　fear　of　him；〃　said　Burgess　cheerily；　〃if　he　grows　uproarious；　we'll　soon　give　him　a　touch　of　the　cat。〃

〃I　suppose　severity　is　necessary；〃　returned　Meekin；　〃though　to　my　ears　a　flogging　sounds　a　little　distasteful。　　It　is　a　brutal　punishment。〃

〃It's　a　punishment　for　brutes；〃　said　Burgess；　and　laughed；　pleased　with　the　nearest　approach　to　an　epigram　he　ever　made　in　his　life。

Here　attention　was　called　by　the　strange　behaviour　of　Mr。　North。　He　had　risen；　and；　without　apology；　flung　wide　the　window；　as　though　he　gasped　for　air。　　〃Hullo；　North！　　what's　the　matter？〃

〃Nothing；〃　said　North；　recovering　himself　with　an　effort。　〃A　spasm。　　I　have　these　attacks　at　times。〃　〃Have　some　brandy；〃　said　Burgess。

〃No；　no；　it　will　pass。　　No；　I　say。　　Well；　if　you　insist。〃　And　seizing　the　tumbler　offered　to　him；　he　half…filled　it　with　raw　spirit；　and　swallowed　the　fiery　draught　at　a　gulp。

The　Reverend　Meekin　eyed　his　clerical　brother　with　horror。　The　Reverend　Meekin　was　not　accustomed　to　clergymen　who　wore　black　neckties；　smoked　clay　pipes；　chewed　tobacco；　and　drank　neat　brandy　out　of　tumblers。

〃Ha！〃　said　North；　looking　wildly　round　upon　them。　　〃That's　better。〃

〃Let　us　go　on　to　the　verandah；〃　said　Burgess。　　〃It's　cooler　than　in　the　house。〃

So　they　went　on　to　the　verandah；　and　looked　down　upon　the　lights　of　the　prison；　and　listened　to　the　sea　lapping　the　shore。　　The　Reverend　Mr。　North；　in　this　cool　atmosphere；　seemed　to　recover　himself；　and　conversation　progressed　with　s