for the term of his natural life-第61章

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d　with　the　gaolers；　even；　in　the　munificence　of　his　heart；　bestowed　tobacco　on　the　sick。

With　such　graceful　rattlings　of　dry　bones；　they　got　by　and　by　to　Point　Puer；　where　a　luncheon　had　been　provided。

An　unlucky　accident　had　occurred　at　Point　Puer　that　morning；　however；　and　the　place　was　in　a　suppressed　ferment。　　A　refractory　little　thief　named　Peter　Brown；　aged　twelve　years；　had　jumped　off　the　high　rock　and　drowned　himself　in　full　view　of　the　constables。　　These　〃jumpings　off〃　had　become　rather　frequent　lately；　and　Burgess　was　enraged　at　one　happening　on　this　particular　day。　　If　he　could　by　any　possibility　have　brought　the　corpse　of　poor　little　Peter　Brown　to　life　again；　he　would　have　soundly　whipped　it　for　its　impertinence。

〃It　is　most　unfortunate；〃　he　said　to　Frere；　as　they　stood　in　the　cell　where　the　little　body　was　laid；　〃that　it　should　have　happened　to…day。〃

〃Oh；〃　says　Frere；　frowning　down　upon　the　young　face　that　seemed　to　smile　up　at　him。　　〃It　can't　be　helped。　　I　know　those　young　devils。　　They'd　do　it　out　of　spite。　　What　sort　of　a　character　had　he？〃

〃Very　badJohnson；　the　book。〃

Johnson　bringing　it；　the　two　saw　Peter　Brown's　iniquities　set　down　in　the　neatest　of　running　hand；　and　the　record　of　his　punishments　ornamented　in　quite　an　artistic　way　with　flourishes　of　red　ink

〃20th　November；　disorderly　conduct；　12　lashes。　　24th　November；　insolence　to　hospital　attendant；　diet　reduced。　　4th　December；　stealing　cap　from　another　prisoner；　12　lashes。　　15th　December；　absenting　himself　at　roll　call；　two　days'　cells。　　23rd　December；　insolence　and　insubordination；　two　days'　cells。　　8th　January；　insolence　and　insubordination；　12　lashes。　20th　January；　insolence　and　insubordination；　12　lashes。　　22nd　February；　insolence　and　insubordination；　12　lashes　and　one　week's　solitary。　6th　March；　insolence　and　insubordination；　20　lashes。〃

〃That　was　the　last？〃　asked　Frere。

〃Yes；　sir；〃　says　Johnson。

〃And　then　hehumdid　it？〃

〃Just　so；　sir。　　That　was　the　way　of　it。〃

Just　so！　　The　magnificent　system　starved　and　tortured　a　child　of　twelve　until　he　killed　himself。　　That　was　the　way　of　it。

After　luncheon　the　party　made　a　progress。　　Everything　was　most　admirable。　There　was　a　long　schoolroom；　where　such　men　as　Meekin　taught　how　Christ　loved　little　children；　and　behind　the　schoolroom　were　the　cells　and　the　constables　and　the　little　yard　where　they　gave　their　〃twenty　lashes〃。　　Sylvia　shuddered　at　the　array　of　faces。　　From　the　stolid　nineteen　years　old　booby　of　the　Kentish　hop…fields；　to　the　wizened；　shrewd；　ten　years　old　Bohemian　of　the　London　streets；　all　degrees　and　grades　of　juvenile　vice　grinned；　in　untamable　wickedness；　or　snuffed　in　affected　piety。　　〃Suffer　little　children　to　come　unto　Me；　and　forbid　them　not；　for　of　such　is　the　Kingdom　of　Heaven；〃　said；　or　is　reported　to　have　said；　the　Founder　of　our　Established　Religion。　Of　such　it　seemed　that　a　large　number　of　Honourable　Gentlemen；　together　with　Her　Majesty's　faithful　commons　in　Parliament　assembled；　had　done　their　best　to　create　a　Kingdom　of　Hell。

After　the　farce　had　been　played　again；　and　the　children　had　stood　up　and　sat　down；　and　sung　a　hymn；　and　told　how　many　twice　five　were；　and　repeated　their　belief　in　〃One　God　the　Father　Almighty；　maker　of　Heaven　and　Earth〃；　the　party　reviewed　the　workshops；　and　saw　the　church；　and　went　everywhere　but　into　the　room　where　the　body　of　Peter　Brown；　aged　twelve；　lay　starkly　on　its　wooden　bench；　staring　at　the　gaol　roof　which　was　between　it　and　Heaven。

Just　outside　this　room；　Sylvia　met　with　a　little　adventure。　Meekin　had　stopped　behind；　and　Burgess；　being　suddenly　summoned　for　some　official　duty；　Frere　had　gone　with　him；　leaving　his　wife　to　rest　on　a　bench　that；　placed　at　the　summit　of　the　cliff；　overlooked　the　sea。　While　resting　thus；　she　became　aware　of　another　presence；　and；　turning　her　head；　beheld　a　small　boy；　with　his　cap　in　one　hand　and　a　hammer　in　the　other。　　The　appearance　of　the　little　creature；　clad　in　a　uniform　of　grey　cloth　that　was　too　large　for　him；　and　holding　in　his　withered　little　hand　a　hammer　that　was　too　heavy　for　him；　had　something　pathetic　about　it。

〃What　is　it；　you　mite？〃　asked　Sylvia。

〃We　thought　you　might　have　seen　him；　mum；〃　said　the　little　figure；　opening　its　blue　eyes　with　wonder　at　the　kindness　of　the　tone。　　〃Him！　　Whom？〃

〃Cranky　Brown；　mum；〃　returned　the　child；　〃him　as　did　it　this　morning。　Me　and　Billy　knowed　him；　mum；　he　was　a　mate　of　ours；　and　we　wanted　to　know　if　he　looked　happy。〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　child？〃　said　she；　with　a　strange　terror　at　her　heart；　and　then；　filled　with　pity　at　the　aspect　of　the　little　being；　she　drew　him　to　her；　with　sudden　womanly　instinct；　and　kissed　him。　He　looked　up　at　her　with　joyful　surprise。　　〃Oh！〃　he　said。

Sylvia　kissed　him　again。

〃Does　nobody　ever　kiss　you；　poor　little　man？〃　said　she。

〃Mother　used　to；〃　was　the　reply；　〃but　she's　at　home。　　Oh；　mum；〃　with　a　sudden　crimsoning　of　the　little　face；　〃may　I　fetch　Billy？〃

And　taking　courage　from　the　bright　young　face；　he　gravely　marched　to　an　angle　of　the　rock；　and　brought　out　another　little　creature；　with　another　grey　uniform　and　another　hammer。

〃This　is　Billy；　mum；〃　he　said。　　〃Billy　never　had　no　mother。　　Kiss　Billy。〃

The　young　wife　felt　the　tears　rush　to　her　eyes。　　〃You　two　poor　babies！〃　she　cried。　　And　then；　forgetting　that　she　was　a　lady；　dressed　in　silk　and　lace；　she　fell　on　her　knees　in　the　dust；　and；　folding　the　friendless　pair　in　her　arms；　wept　over　them。

〃What　is　the　matter；　Sylvia？〃　said　Frere；　when　he　came　up。　〃You've　been　crying。〃

〃Nothing；　Maurice；　at　least；　I　will　tell　you　by　and　by。〃

When　they　were　alone　that　evening；　she　told　him　of　the　two　little　boys；　and　he　laughed。　　〃Artful　little　humbugs；〃　he　said；　and　supported　his　argument　by　so　many　illustrations　of　the　precocious　wickedness　of　juvenile　felons；　that　his　wife　was　half　convinced　against　her　will。


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Unfortunately；　when　Sylvia　went　away；　Tommy　and　Billy　put　into　execution　a　plan　which　they　had　carried　in　their　poor　little　heads　for　some　weeks。

〃I　can　do　it　now；〃　said　Tommy。　　〃I　feel　strong。〃

〃Will　it　hurt　much；　Tommy？〃　said　Billy；　who　was　not　so　courageous。

〃Not　so　much　as　a　whipping。〃

〃I'm　afraid！　　Oh；　Tom；　it's　so　deep！　　Don't　leave　me；　Tom！〃

The　bigger　boy　took　his　little　handkerchief　from　his　neck；　and　with　it　bound　his　own　left　hand　to　his　companion's　right。

〃Now　I　can't　leave　you。〃

〃What　was　it　the　lady　that　kissed　us　said；　Tommy？〃

〃Lord；　have　pity　on　them　two　fatherless　children！〃　repeated　Tommy。　〃Let's　say　it　together。〃

And　so　the　two　babies　knelt　on　the　brink　of　the　cliff；　and；　raising　the　bound　hands　together；　looked　up　at　the　sky；　and　ungrammatically　said；　〃Lord　have　pity　on　we　two　fatherless　children！〃　And　then　they　kissed　each　other；　and　〃did　it〃。


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The　intelligence；　transmitted　by　the　ever…active　semaphore；　reached　the　Commandant　in　the　midst　of　dinner；　and　in　his　agitation　he　blurted　it　out。

〃These　are　the　two　poor　things　I　saw　in　the　morning；〃　cried　Sylvia。　〃Oh；　Maurice；　these　two　poor　babies　driven　to　suicide！〃

〃Condemning　their　young　souls　to　everlasting　fire；〃　said　Meekin；　piously。

〃Mr。　Meekin！　　How　can　you　talk　like　that？　　Poor　little　creatures！　Oh；　it's　horrible！　　Maurice；　take　me　away。〃　And　she　burst　into　a　passion　of　weeping。　　〃I　can't　help　it；　ma'am；〃　says　Burgess；　rudely；　ashamed。　〃It　ain't　my　fault。〃

〃She's　nervous；〃　says　Frere；　leading　her　away。　　〃You　must　excuse　her。　Come　and　lie　down；　dearest。〃

〃I　will　not　stay　here　longer；〃　said　she。　　〃Let　us　go　to…morrow。〃

〃We　can't；〃　said　Frere。

〃Oh；　yes；　we　can。　　I　insist。　　Maurice；　if　you　love　me；　take　me　away。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Maurice；　moved　by　her　evident　grief；　〃I'll　try。〃

He　spoke　to　Burgess。　　〃Burgess；　this　matter　has　unsettled　my　wife；　so　that　she　wants　to　leave　at　once。　　I　must　visit　the　Neck；　you　know。　How　can　we　do　it？〃

〃Well；〃　says　Burgess；　〃if　the　wind　only　holds；　the　brig　could　go　round　to　Pirates'　Bay　and　pick　you　up。　　You'll　only　be　a　night　at　the　barracks。〃

〃I　think　that　would　be　best；〃　said　Frere。　　〃We'll　start　to…morrow；　please；　and　if　you'll　give　me　a　pen　and　ink　I'll　be　obliged。〃

〃I　hope　you　are　satisfied；〃　said　Burgess。

〃Oh　yes；　quite；〃　said　Frere。　　〃I　must　recommend　more　careful　supervision　at　Point　Puer；　though。　　It　will　never　do　to　have　these　young　blackguards　slipping　through　our　fingers　in　this　way。〃

So　a　neatly　written　statement　of　the　occurrence　was　appended　to　the　ledgers　in　which　the　names　of　William　Tomkins　and　Thomas　Grove　were　entered。　Macklewain　held　an　inquest；　and　nobody　troubled　about　them　any　more。　Why　should　they？　　The　prisons　of　London　were　full　of　such　Tommys　and　Billys。


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Sylvia　passed　through　the　rest　of　her　journey　in　a　dream　of　terror。　The　incident　of　the　children　had　shaken　her　nerves；　and　she　longed　to　be　away　from　the　place　and　its　associations。　　Even　Eaglehawk　Neck　with　its　curious　dog　stages　and　its　〃natural　pavement〃；　did　not　interest　her。　McNab's　blandishments　were　wearisome。　　She　shuddered　as　she　gazed　into　the　boiling　abyss　of　the　Blow…hole；　and　shook　with　fear　as　the　Commandant's　〃train〃　rattled　over　the　dangerous　tramway　that　wound　across　the　precipice　to　Long　Bay。　　The　〃train〃　was　composed　of　a　number　of　low　wagons　pushed　and　dragged　up　the　steep　inclines　by　convicts；　who　drew　themselves　up　in　the　wagons　when　the　trucks　dashed　down　the　slope；　and　acted　as　drags。　　Sylvia　felt　degraded　at　being　thus　drawn　by　human　beings；　and　trembled　when　the　lash　cracked；　and　the　convicts　answered　to　the　sting　like　cattle。　　Moreover；　there　was　among　the　foremost　of　these　beasts　of　burden　a　face　that　had　dimly　haunted　her　girlhood；　and　only　lately　vanished　from　her　dreams。　　This　face　looked　on　hershe　thoughtwith　bitterest　loathing　and　scorn；　and　she　felt　relieved　when　at　the　midday　halt　its　owner　was　ordered　to　fall　out　from　the　rest；　and　was　with　four　others　re…chained　for　the　homeward　journey。　　Frere；　struck　with　the　appearance　of　the　five；　said；　〃By　Jove；　Poppet；　there　are　our　old　friends　Rex　and　Dawes；　and　the　others。　　They　won't　let　'em　come　all　the　way；　because　they　are　such　a　desperate　lot；　they　might　make　a　rush　for　it。〃　Sylvia　comprehended　now　the　face　was　the　face　of　Dawes；　and　as　she　looked　after　him；　she　saw　him　suddenly　raise　his　hands　above　his　head　with　a　motion　that　terrified　her。　She　felt　for　an　instant　a　great　shock　of　pitiful　recollection。　Staring　at　the　group；　she　strove　to　recall　when　and　how　Rufus　Dawes；　the　wretch　from　whose　clutches　her　husband　had　saved　her；　had　ever　merited　her　pity；　but　her　clouded　memory　could　not　complete　the　picture；　and　as　the　wagons　swept　round　a　curve；　and　the　group　disappeared；　she　awoke　from　her　reverie　with　a　sigh。

〃Maurice；〃　she　whispered；　〃how　is　it　that　the　sight　of　that　man　always　makes　me　sad？〃

Her　husband　frowned；　and　then；　caressing　her；　bade　her　forget　the　man　and　the　place　and　her　fears。　　〃I　was　wrong　to　have　insisted　on　your　coming；〃　he　said。　　They　stood　on　the　deck　of　the　Sydney…bound　vessel　the　next　morning；　and　watched　the　〃Natural　Penitentiary〃　grow　dim　in　the　distan