for the term of his natural life-第64章

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〃Who　are　going？〃　asked　the　other；　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　ground。　John　Rex　enumerated　the　eight；　and　Dawes　raised　his　head。　　〃I　won't　go。　I　have　had　two　trials　at　it；　I　don't　want　another。　　I　would　advise　you　not　to　attempt　it　either。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃Gabbett　bolted　twice　before；〃　said　Rufus　Dawes；　shuddering　at　the　remembrance　of　the　ghastly　object　he　had　seen　in　the　sunlit　glen　at　Hell's　Gates。　〃Others　went　with　him；　but　each　time　he　returned　alone。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Rex；　struck　by　the　tone　of　his　companion。

〃What　became　of　the　others？〃

〃Died；　I　suppose；〃　said　the　Dandy；　with　a　forced　laugh。

〃Yes；　but　how？　　They　were　all　without　food。　　How　came　the　surviving　monster　to　live　six　weeks？〃

John　Rex　grew　a　shade　paler；　and　did　not　reply。　　He　recollected　the　sanguinary　legend　that　pertained　to　Gabbett's　rescue。　　But　he　did　not　intend　to　make　the　journey　in　his　company；　so；　after　all；　he　had　no　cause　for　fear。　　〃Come　with　me　then；〃　he　said；　at　length。　〃We　will　try　our　luck　together。〃

〃No。　　I　have　resolved。　　I　stay　here。〃

〃And　leave　your　innocence　unproved。〃

〃How　can　I　prove　it？〃　cried　Rufus　Dawes；　roughly　impatient。　〃There　are　crimes　committed　which　are　never　brought　to　light；　and　this　is　one　of　them。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Rex；　rising；　as　if　weary　of　the　discussion；　〃have　it　your　own　way；　then。　　You　know　best。　　The　private　detective　game　is　hard　work。　I；　myself；　have　gone　on　a　wild…goose　chase　before　now。　　There's　a　mystery　about　a　certain　ship…builder's　son　which　took　me　four　months　to　unravel；　and　then　I　lost　the　thread。〃

〃A　ship…builder's　son！　　Who　was　he？〃

John　Rex　paused　in　wonderment　at　the　eager　interest　with　which　the　question　was　put；　and　then　hastened　to　take　advantage　of　this　new　opening　for　conversation。　　〃A　queer　story。　　A　well…known　character　in　my　time　Sir　Richard　Devine。　　A　miserly　old　curmudgeon；　with　a　scapegrace　son。〃

Rufus　Dawes　bit　his　lips　to　avoid　showing　his　emotion。　　This　was　the　second　time　that　the　name　of　his　dead　father　had　been　spoken　in　his　hearing。　　〃I　think　I　remember　something　of　him；〃　he　said；　with　a　voice　that　sounded　strangely　calm　in　his　own　ears。

〃A　curious　story；〃　said　Rex；　plunging　into　past　memories。　〃Amongst　other　matters；　I　dabbled　a　little　in　the　Private　Inquiry　line　of　business；　and　the　old　man　came　to　me。　　He　had　a　son　who　had　gone　abroada　wild　young　dog；　by　all　accountsand　he　wanted　particulars　of　him。〃

〃Did　you　get　them？〃

〃To　a　certain　extent。　　I　hunted　him　through　Paris　into　Brussels；　from　Brussels　to　Antwerp；　from　Antwerp　back　to　Paris。　　I　lost　him　there。　A　miserable　end　to　a　long　and　expensive　search。　　I　got　nothing　but　a　portmanteau　with　a　lot　of　letters　from　his　mother。　　I　sent　the　particulars　to　the　ship…builder；　and　by　all　accounts　the　news　killed　him；　for　he　died　not　long　after。〃

〃And　the　son？〃

〃Came　to　the　queerest　end　of　all。　　The　old　man　had　left　him　his　fortune　a　large　one；　I　believebut　he'd　left　Europe；　it　seems；　for　India；　and　was　lost　in　the　Hydaspes。　　Frere　was　his　cousin。〃

〃Ah！〃

〃By　Gad；　it　annoys　me　when　I　think　of　it；〃　continued　Rex；　feeling；　by　force　of　memory；　once　more　the　adventurer　of　fashion。　　〃With　the　resources　I　had；　too。　　Oh；　a　miserable　failure！　　The　days　and　nights　I've　spent　walking　about　looking　for　Richard　Devine；　and　never　catching　a　glimpse　of　him。　The　old　man　gave　me　his　son's　portrait；　with　full　particulars　of　his　early　life；　and　I　suppose　I　carried　that　ivory　gimcrack　in　my　breast　for　nearly　three　months；　pulling　it　out　to　refresh　my　memory　every　half…hour。　By　Gad；　if　the　young　gentleman　was　anything　like　his　picture；　I　could　have　sworn　to　him　if　I'd　met　him　in　Timbuctoo。〃

〃Do　you　think　you'd　know　him　again？〃　asked　Rufus　Dawes　in　a　low　voice；　turning　away　his　head。

There　may　have　been　something　in　the　attitude　in　which　the　speaker　had　put　himself　that　awakened　memory；　or　perhaps　the　subdued　eagerness　of　the　tone；　contrasting　so　strangely　with　the　comparative　inconsequence　of　the　theme；　that　caused　John　Rex's　brain　to　perform　one　of　those　feats　of　automatic　synthesis　at　which　we　afterwards　wonder。　　The　profligate　son　the　likeness　to　the　portraitthe　mystery　of　Dawes's　life！　These　were　the　links　of　a　galvanic　chain。　　He　closed　the　circuit；　and　a　vivid　flash　revealed　to　himTHE　MAN。

Warder　Troke；　coming　up；　put　his　hand　on　Rex's　shoulder。　〃Dawes；〃　he　said；　〃you're　wanted　at　the　yard〃；　and　then；　seeing　his　mistake；　added　with　a　grin；　〃Curse　you　two；　you're　so　much　alike　one　can't　tell　t'other　from　which。〃

Rufus　Dawes　walked　off　moodily；　but　John　Rex's　evil　face　turned　pale；　and　a　strange　hope　made　his　heart　leap。　　〃Gad；　Troke's　right；　we　are　alike。　I'll　not　press　him　to　escape　any　more。〃




CHAPTER　XXIII。

RUNNING　THE　GAUNTLET。



The　Pretty　Maryas　ugly　and　evil…smelling　a　tub　as　ever　pitched　under　a　southerly　bursterhad　been　lying　on　and　off　Cape　Surville　for　nearly　three　weeks。　　Captain　Blunt　was　getting　wearied。　He　made　strenuous　efforts　to　find　the　oyster…beds　of　which　he　was　ostensibly　in　search；　but　no　success　attended　his　efforts。　In　vain　did　he　take　boat　and　pull　into　every　cove　and　nook　between　the　Hippolyte　Reef　and　Schouten's　Island。　　In　vain　did　he　run　the　Pretty　Mary　as　near　to　the　rugged　cliffs　as　he　dared　to　take　her；　and　make　perpetual　expeditions　to　the　shore。　　In　vain　did　hein　his　eagerness　for　the　interests　of　Mrs。　Purfoyclamber　up　the　rocks；　and　spend　hours　in　solitary　soundings　in　Blackman's　Bay。　　He　never　found　an　oyster。　〃If　I　don't　find　something　in　three　or　four　days　more；〃　said　he　to　his　mate；　〃I　shall　go　back　again。　　It's　too　dangerous　cruising　here。〃


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On　the　same　evening　that　Captain　Blunt　made　this　resolution；　the　watchman　at　Signal　Hill　saw　the　arms　of　the　semaphore　at　the　settlement　make　three　motions；　thus：

The　semaphore　was　furnished　with　three　revolving　arms；　fixed　one　above　the　other。　　The　upper　one　denoted　units；　and　had　six　motions；　indicating　ONE　to　SIX。　　The　middle　one　denoted　tens；　TEN　to　SIXTY。　The　lower　one　marked　hundreds；　from　ONE　HUNDRED　to　SIX　HUNDRED。

The　lower　and　upper　arms　whirled　out。　　That　meant　THREE　HUNDRED　AND　SIX。

A　ball　ran　up　to　the　top　of　the　post。　　That　meant　ONE　THOUSAND。

Number　1306；　or；　being　interpreted；　〃PRISONERS　ABSCONDED〃。

〃By　George；　Harry；〃　said　Jones；　the　signalman；　〃there's　a　bolt！〃

The　semaphore　signalled　again：　〃Number　1411〃。

〃WITH　ARMS！〃　Jones　said；　translating　as　he　read。　　〃Come　here；　Harry！　here's　a　go！〃

But　Harry　did　not　reply；　and；　looking　down；　the　watchman　saw　a　dark　figure　suddenly　fill　the　doorway。　　The　boasted　semaphore　had　failed　this　time；　at　all　events。　　The　〃bolters〃　had　arrived　as　soon　as　the　signal！

The　man　sprang　at　his　carbine；　but　the　intruder　had　already　possessed　himself　of　it。　　〃It's　no　use　making　a　fuss；　Jones！　There　are　eight　of　us。　　Oblige　me　by　attending　to　your　signals。〃

Jones　knew　the　voice。　　It　was　that　of　John　Rex。　　〃Reply；　can't　you？〃　said　Rex　coolly。　　〃Captain　Burgess　is　in　a　hurry。〃　The　arms　of　the　semaphore　at　the　settlement　were；　in　fact；　gesticulating　with　comical　vehemence。

Jones　took　the　strings　in　his　hands；　and；　with　his　signal…book　open　before　him；　was　about　to　acknowledge　the　message；　when　Rex　stopped　him。　〃Send　this　message；〃　he　said。　　〃NOT　SEEN！　　SIGNAL　SENT　TO　EAGLEHAWK！〃

Jones　paused　irresolutely。　　He　was　himself　a　convict；　and　dreaded　the　inevitable　cat　that　he　knew　would　follow　this　false　message。　〃If　they　finds　me　out〃　he　said。　　Rex　cocked　the　carbine　with　so　decided　a　meaning　in　his　black　eyes　that　Joneswho　could　be　brave　enough　on　occasionsbanished　his　hesitation　at　once；　and　began　to　signal　eagerly。　　There　came　up　a　clinking　of　metal；　and　a　murmur　from　below。　〃What's　keepin'　yer；　Dandy？〃

〃All　right。　　Get　those　irons　off；　and　then　we'll　talk；　boys。　I'm　putting　salt　on　old　Burgess's　tail。〃　The　rough　jest　was　received　with　a　roar；　and　Jones；　looking　momentarily　down　from　his　window　on　the　staging；　saw；　in　the　waning　light；　a　group　of　men　freeing　themselves　from　their　irons　with　a　hammer　taken　from　the　guard…house；　while　two；　already　freed；　were　casting　buckets　of　water　on　the　beacon　wood…pile。　The　sentry　was　lying　bound　at　a　little　distance。

〃Now；〃　said　the　leader　of　this　surprise　party；　〃signal　to　Woody　Island。〃　Jones　perforce　obeyed。　　〃Say；　'AN　ESCAPE　AT　THE　MINES！　　WATCH　ONE…TREE　POINT！　SEND　ON　TO　EAGLEHAWK！'　Quick　now！〃

Jonescomprehending　at　once　the　force　of　this　manoeuvre；　which　would　have　the　effect　of　distracting　attention　from　the　Neckexecuted　the　order　with　a　grin。　　〃You're　a　knowing　one；　Dandy　Jack；〃　said　he。

John　Rex　acknowledged　the　compliment　by　uncocking　the　carbine。　〃Hold　out　your　hands！Jemmy　Vetch！〃　〃Ay；　ay；〃　replied　the　Crow；　from　beneath。　〃Come　up　and　tie　our　friend　Jones。　　Gabbett；　have　you　got　the　axes？〃　〃There's　only　one；〃　said　Gabbett；　with　an　oath。　　〃Then　bring　that；　and　any　tucker　you　can　lay　your　hands　on。　　Have　you　tied　him？　On　we　go　then。〃　And　in　the　space　of　five　minutes　from　the　time　when　unsuspecting　Harry　had　been　silently　clutched　by　two　forms；　who　rushed　upon　him　out　of　the　shadows　of　the　huts；　the　Signal　Hill　Station　was　deserted。

At　the　settlement　Burgess　was　foaming。　　Nine　men　to　seize　the　Long　Bay　boat；　and　get　half　an　hour's　start　of　the　alarm　signal；　was　an　unprecedented　achievement！　　What　could　Warder　Troke　have　been　about！　　Warder　Troke；　however；　found　eight　hours　afterwards；　disarmed；　gagged；　and　bound　in　the　scrub；　had　been　guilty　of　no　negligence。　　How　could　he　tell　that；　at　a　certain　signal　from　Dandy　Jack；　the　nine　men　he　had　taken　to　Stewart's　Bay　would　〃rush〃　him；　and；　before　he　could　draw　a　pistol；　truss　him　like　a　chicken？　The　worst　of　the　gang；　Rufus　Dawes；　had　volunteered　for　the　hated　duties　of　pile…driving；　and　Troke　had　felt　himself　secure。　　How　could　he　possibly　guess　that　there　was　a　plot；　in　which　Rufus　Dawes；　of　all　men；　had　refused　to　join？

Constables；　mounted　and　on　foot；　were　despatched　to　scour　the　bush　round　the　settlement。　　Burgess；　confident　from　the　reply　of　the　Signal　Hill　semaphore；　that　the　alarm　had　been　given　at　Eaglehawk　Isthmus；　promised　himself　the　re…capture　of　the　gang　before　many　hours；　and；　giving　orders　to　keep　the　communications　going；　retired　to　dinner。　His　convict　servants　had　barely　removed　the　soup　when　the　result　of　John　Rex's　ingenuity　became　manifest。

The　semaphore　at　Signal　Hill　had　stopped　working。

〃Perhaps　the　fools　can't　see；〃　said　Burgess。　　〃Fire　the　beaconand　saddle　my　horse。〃　The　beacon　was　fired。　　All　right　at　Mount　Arthur；　Mount　Communication；　and　the　Coal　Mines。　　To　the　westward　the　line　was　clear。　But　at　Signal　Hill　was　no　answering　light。　　Burgess　stamped　with　rage。　〃Get　me　my　boat's　crew　ready；　and　tell　the　Mines　to　signal　to　Woody　Island。〃　As　he　stood　on　the　jetty；　a　breathless　messenger　brought　the　reply。　〃A　BOAT'S　CREW　GONE　TO　ONE…TREE　POINT！　　FIVE　MEN　SENT　FROM　EAGLEHAWK　IN　OBEDIENCE　TO　ORDERS！〃　Burgess　understood　it　at　once。　　The　fellows　had　decoyed　the　Eaglehawk　guard。　　〃Give　way；　men！〃　And　the　boat；　shooting　into　the　darkness；　made　for　Long　Bay。　　〃I　won't　be　far　behind　'em；〃　said　the　Commandant；　〃at　any　rate。〃



Between　Eaglehawk　and　Signal　Hill　were；　for　the　absconders；　other　dangers。　Along　the　indented　coast　of　Port　Bunc