for the term of his natural life-第60章

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lt　sick；　he　was　permitted　to　〃report　his　case　to　the　medical　officer〃。　If　he　wanted　to　write　a　letter　he　could　ask　permission　of　the　Commandant；　and　send　the　letter；　open；　through　that　Almighty　Officer；　who　could　stop　it　if　he　thought　necessary。　　If　he　felt　himself　aggrieved　by　any　order；　he　was　〃to　obey　it　instantly；　but　might　complain　afterwards；　if　he　thought　fit；　to　the　Commandant〃。　　In　making　any　complaint　against　an　officer　or　constable　it　was　strictly　ordered　that　a　prisoner　〃must　be　most　respectful　in　his　manner　and　language；　when　speaking　of　or　to　such　officer　or　constable〃。　He　was　held　responsible　only　for　the　safety　of　his　chains；　and　for　the　rest　was　at　the　mercy　of　his　gaoler。　　These　gaolersowning　right　of　search；　entry　into　cells　at　all　hours；　and　other　droits　of　seigneurywere　responsible　only　to　the　Commandant；　who　was　responsible　only　to　the　Governor；　that　is　to　say；　to　nobody　but　God　and　his　own　conscience。　　The　jurisdiction　of　the　Commandant　included　the　whole　of　Tasman's　Peninsula；　with　the　islands　and　waters　within　three　miles　thereof；　and　save　the　making　of　certain　returns　to　head…quarters；　his　power　was　unlimited。

A　word　as　to　the　position　and　appearance　of　this　place　of　punishment。　Tasman's　Peninsula　is；　as　we　have　said　before；　in　the　form　of　an　earring　with　a　double　drop。　　The　lower　drop　is　the　larger；　and　is　ornamented；　so　to　speak；　with　bays。　　At　its　southern　extremity　is　a　deep　indentation　called　Maingon　Bay；　bounded　east　and　west　by　the　organ…pipe　rocks　of　Cape　Raoul；　and　the　giant　form　of　Cape　Pillar。　　From　Maingon　Bay　an　arm　of　the　ocean　cleaves　the　rocky　walls　in　a　northerly　direction。　On　the　western　coast　of　this　sea…arm　was　the　settlement；　in　front　of　it　was　a　little　island　where　the　dead　were　buried；　called　The　Island　of　the　Dead。　Ere　the　in…coming　convict　passed　the　purple　beauty　of　this　convict　Golgotha；　his　eyes　were　attracted　by　a　point　of　grey　rock　covered　with　white　buildings；　and　swarming　with　life。　　This　was　Point　Puer；　the　place　of　confinement　for　boys　from　eight　to　twenty　years　of　age。　　It　was　astonishing　many　honest　folks　averredhow　ungrateful　were　these　juvenile　convicts　for　the　goods　the　Government　had　provided　for　them。　　From　the　extremity　of　Long　Bay；　as　the　extension　of　the　sea…arm　was　named；　a　convict…made　tramroad　ran　due　north；　through　the　nearly　impenetrable　thicket　to　Norfolk　Bay。　In　the　mouth　of　Norfolk　Bay　was　Woody　Island。　　This　was　used　as　a　signal　station；　and　an　armed　boat's　crew　was　stationed　there。　To　the　north　of　Woody　Island　lay　One…tree　Pointthe　southernmost　projection　of　the　drop　of　the　earring；　and　the　sea　that　ran　between　narrowed　to　the　eastward　until　it　struck　on　the　sandy　bar　of　Eaglehawk　Neck。　Eaglehawk　Neck　was　the　link　that　connected　the　two　drops　of　the　earring。　It　was　a　strip　of　sand　four　hundred　and　fifty　yards　across。　On　its　eastern　side　the　blue　waters　of　Pirates'　Bay；　that　is　to　say；　of　the　Southern　Ocean；　poured　their　unchecked　force。　　The　isthmus　emerged　from　a　wild　and　terrible　coast…line；　into　whose　bowels　the　ravenous　sea　had　bored　strange　caverns；　resonant　with　perpetual　roar　of　tortured　billows。　At　one　spot　in　this　wilderness　the　ocean　had　penetrated　the　wall　of　rock　for　two　hundred　feet；　and　in　stormy　weather　the　salt　spray　rose　through　a　perpendicular　shaft　more　than　five　hundred　feet　deep。　This　place　was　called　the　Devil's　Blow…hole。　　The　upper　drop　of　the　earring　was　named　Forrestier's　Peninsula；　and　was　joined　to　the　mainland　by　another　isthmus　called　East　Bay　Neck。　　Forrestier's　Peninsula　was　an　almost　impenetrable　thicket；　growing　to　the　brink　of　a　perpendicular　cliff　of　basalt。

Eaglehawk　Neck　was　the　door　to　the　prison；　and　it　was　kept　bolted。　On　the　narrow　strip　of　land　was　built　a　guard…house；　where　soldiers　from　the　barrack　on　the　mainland　relieved　each　other　night　and　day；　and　on　stages；　set　out　in　the　water　in　either　side；　watch…dogs　were　chained。　The　station　officer　was　charged　〃to　pay　special　attention　to　the　feeding　and　care〃　of　these　useful　beasts；　being　ordered　〃to　report　to　the　Commandant　whenever　any　one　of　them　became　useless〃。　　It　may　be　added　that　the　bay　was　not　innocent　of　sharks。　　Westward　from　Eaglehawk　Neck　and　Woody　Island　lay　the　dreaded　Coal　Mines。　　Sixty　of　the　〃marked　men〃　were　stationed　here　under　a　strong　guard。　　At　the　Coal　Mines　was　the　northernmost　of　that　ingenious　series　of　semaphores　which　rendered　escape　almost　impossible。　The　wild　and　mountainous　character　of　the　peninsula　offered　peculiar　advantages　to　the　signalmen。　　On　the　summit　of　the　hill　which　overlooked　the　guard…towers　of　the　settlement　was　a　gigantic　gum…tree　stump；　upon　the　top　of　which　was　placed　a　semaphore。　　This　semaphore　communicated　with　the　two　wings　of　the　prisonEaglehawk　Neck　and　the　Coal　Minesby　sending　a　line　of　signals　right　across　the　peninsula。　　Thus；　the　settlement　communicated　with　Mount　Arthur；　Mount　Arthur　with　One…tree　Hill；　One…tree　Hill　with　Mount　Communication；　and　Mount　Communication　with　the　Coal　Mines。　On　the　other　side；　the　signals　would　run　thusthe　settlement　to　Signal　Hill；　Signal　Hill　to　Woody　Island；　Woody　Island　to　Eaglehawk。　　Did　a　prisoner　escape　from　the　Coal　Mines；　the　guard　at　Eaglehawk　Neck　could　be　aroused；　and　the　whole　island　informed　of　the　〃bolt〃　in　less　than　twenty　minutes。　With　these　advantages　of　nature　and　art；　the　prison　was　held　to　be　the　most　secure　in　the　world。　　Colonel　Arthur　reported　to　the　Home　Government　that　the　spot　which　bore　his　name　was　a　〃natural　penitentiary〃。　The　worthy　disciplinarian　probably　took　as　a　personal　compliment　the　polite　forethought　of　the　Almighty　in　thus　considerately　providing　for　the　carrying　out　of　the　celebrated　〃Regulations　for　Convict　Discipline〃。




CHAPTER　XXI。

A　VISIT　OF　INSPECTION。



One　afternoon　ever…active　semaphores　transmitted　a　piece　of　intelligence　which　set　the　peninsula　agog。　　Captain　Frere；　having　arrived　from　head…quarters；　with　orders　to　hold　an　inquiry　into　the　death　of　Kirkland；　was　not　unlikely　to　make　a　progress　through　the　stations；　and　it　behoved　the　keepers　of　the　Natural　Penitentiary　to　produce　their　Penitents　in　good　case。　　Burgess　was　in　high　spirits　at　finding　so　congenial　a　soul　selected　for　the　task　of　reporting　upon　him。

〃It's　only　a　nominal　thing；　old　man；〃　Frere　said　to　his　former　comrade；　when　they　met。　　〃That　parson　has　made　meddling；　and　they　want　to　close　his　mouth。〃

〃I　am　glad　to　have　the　opportunity　of　showing　you　and　Mrs。　Frere　the　place；〃　returned　Burgess。　　〃I　must　try　and　make　your　stay　as　pleasant　as　I　can；　though　I'm　afraid　that　Mrs。　Frere　will　not　find　much　to　amuse　her。〃

〃Frankly；　Captain　Burgess；〃　said　Sylvia；　〃I　would　rather　have　gone　straight　to　Sydney。　　My　husband；　however；　was　obliged　to　come；　and　of　course　I　accompanied　him。〃

〃You　will　not　have　much　society；〃　said　Meekin；　who　was　of　the　welcoming　party。　〃Mrs。　Datchett；　the　wife　of　one　of　our　stipendiaries；　is　the　only　lady　here；　and　I　hope　to　have　the　pleasure　of　making　you　acquainted　with　her　this　evening　at　the　Commandant's。　　Mr。　McNab；　whom　you　know；　is　in　command　at　the　Neck；　and　cannot　leave；　or　you　would　have　seen　him。〃

〃I　have　planned　a　little　party；〃　said　Burgess；　〃but　I　fear　that　it　will　not　be　so　successful　as　I　could　wish。〃

〃You　wretched　old　bachelor；〃　said　Frere；　〃you　should　get　married；　like　me。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Burgess；　with　a　bow；　〃that　would　be　difficult。〃

Sylvia　was　compelled　to　smile　at　the　compliment；　made　in　the　presence　of　some　twenty　prisoners；　who　were　carrying　the　various　trunks　and　packages　up　the　hill；　and　she　remarked　that　the　said　prisoners　grinned　at　the　Commandant's　clumsy　courtesy。　　〃I　don't　like　Captain　Burgess；　Maurice；〃　she　said；　in　the　interval　before　dinner。　　〃I　dare　say　he　did　flog　that　poor　fellow　to　death。　　He　looks　as　if　he　could　do　it。〃

〃Nonsense！〃　said　Maurice；　pettishly；　〃he's　a　good　fellow　enough。　Besides；　I've　seen　the　doctor's　certificate。　　It's　a　trumped…up　story。　I　can't　understand　your　absurd　sympathy　with　prisoners。〃

〃Don't　they　sometimes　deserve　sympathy？〃

〃No；　certainly　nota　set　of　lying　scoundrels。　　You　are　always　whining　over　them；　Sylvia。　　I　don't　like　it；　and　I've　told　you　before　about　it。〃

Sylvia　said　nothing。　　Maurice　was　often　guilty　of　these　small　brutalities；　and　she　had　learnt　that　the　best　way　to　meet　them　was　by　silence。　Unfortunately；　silence　did　not　mean　indifference；　for　the　reproof　was　unjust；　and　nothing　stings　a　woman's　fine　sense　like　an　injustice。　Burgess　had　prepared　a　feast；　and　the　〃Society〃　of　Port　Arthur　was　present。　Father　Flaherty；　Meekin；　Doctor　Macklewain；　and　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Datchett　had　been　invited；　and　the　dining…room　was　resplendent　with　glass　and　flowers。

〃I've　a　fellow　who　was　a　professional　gardener；〃　said　Burgess　to　Sylvia　during　the　dinner；　〃and　I　make　use　of　his　talents。〃

〃We　have　a　professional　artist　also；〃　said　Macklewain；　with　a　sort　of　pride。　〃That　picture　of　the　'Prisoner　of　Chillon'　yonder　was　painted　by　him。　A　very　meritorious　production；　is　it　not？〃

〃I've　got　the　place　full　of　curiosities；〃　said　Burgess；　〃quite　a　collection。　I'll　show　them　to　you　to…morrow。　　Those　napkin　rings　were　made　by　a　prisoner。〃

〃Ah！〃　cried　Frere；　taking　up　the　daintily…carved　bone；　〃very　neat！〃

〃That　is　some　of　Rex's　handiwork；〃　said　Meekin。　　〃He　is　very　clever　at　these　trifles。　　He　made　me　a　paper…cutter　that　was　really　a　work　of　art。〃

〃We　will　go　down　to　the　Neck　to…morrow　or　next　day；　Mrs。　Frere；〃　said　Burgess；　〃and　you　shall　see　the　Blow…hole。　　It　is　a　curious　place。〃

〃Is　it　far？〃　asked　Sylvia。

〃Oh　no！　　We　shall　go　in　the　train。〃

〃The　train！〃

〃Yesdon't　look　so　astonished。　　You'll　see　it　to…morrow。　　Oh；　you　Hobart　Town　ladies　don't　know　what　we　can　do　here。〃

〃What　about　this　Kirkland　business？〃　Frere　asked。　　〃I　suppose　I　can　have　half　an　hour　with　you　in　the　morning；　and　take　the　depositions？〃

〃Any　time　you　like；　my　dear　fellow；〃　said　Burgess。　　〃It's　all　the　same　to　me。〃

〃I　don't　want　to　make　more　fuss　than　I　can　help；〃　Frere　said　apologetically　the　dinner　had　been　good〃but　I　must　send　these　people　up　a　'full；　true　and　particular'；　don't　you　know。〃

〃Of　course；〃　cried　Burgess；　with　friendly　nonchalance。　　〃That's　all　right。　I　want　Mrs。　Frere　to　see　Point　Puer。〃

〃Where　the　boys　are？〃　asked　Sylvia。

〃Exactly。　　Nearly　three　hundred　of　'em。　　We'll　go　down　to…morrow；　and　you　shall　be　my　witness；　Mrs。　Frere；　as　to　the　way　they　are　treated。〃

〃Indeed；〃　said　Sylvia；　protesting；　〃I　would　rather　not。　　II　don't　take　the　interest　in　these　things　that　I　ought；　perhaps。　They　are　very　dreadful　to　me。〃

〃Nonsense！〃　said　Frere；　with　a　scowl。　　〃We'll　come；　Burgess；　of　course。〃　The　next　two　days　were　devoted　to　sight…seeing。　　Sylvia　was　taken　through　the　hospital　and　the　workshops；　shown　the　semaphores；　and　shut　up　by　Maurice　in　a　〃dark　cell〃。　　Her　husband　and　Burgess　seemed　to　treat　the　prison　like　a　tame　animal；　whom　they　could　handle　at　their　leisure；　and　whose　natural　ferocity　was　kept　in　check　by　their　superior　intelligence。　　This　bringing　of　a　young　and　pretty　woman　into　immediate　contact　with　bolts　and　bars　had　about　it　an　incongruity　which　pleased　them。　　Maurice　penetrated　everywhere；　questioned　the　prisoners；　jested　with　the　gaolers；　even；　in　the　munificence　of　his　heart；　bestowed　tobacco　on　the　sick。

With　suc