for the term of his natural life-第65章

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Between　Eaglehawk　and　Signal　Hill　were；　for　the　absconders；　other　dangers。　Along　the　indented　coast　of　Port　Bunche　were　four　constables'　stations。　These　stationsmere　huts　within　signalling　distance　of　each　otherfringed　the　shore；　and　to　avoid　them　it　would　be　necessary　to　make　a　circuit　into　the　scrub。　　Unwilling　as　he　was　to　lose　time；　John　Rex　saw　that　to　attempt　to　run　the　gauntlet　of　these　four　stations　would　be　destruction。　The　safety　of　the　party　depended　upon　the　reaching　of　the　Neck　while　the　guard　was　weakened　by　the　absence　of　some　of　the　men　along　the　southern　shore；　and　before　the　alarm　could　be　given　from　the　eastern　arm　of　the　peninsula。　With　this　view；　he　ranged　his　men　in　single　file；　and；　quitting　the　road　near　Norfolk　Bay；　made　straight　for　the　Neck。　　The　night　had　set　in　with　a　high　westerly　wind；　and　threatened　rain。　　It　was　pitch　dark；　and　the　fugitives　were　guided　only　by　the　dull　roar　of　the　sea　as　it　beat　upon　Descent　Beach。　　Had　it　not　been　for　the　accident　of　a　westerly　gale；　they　would　not　have　had　even　so　much　assistance。

The　Crow　walked　first；　as　guide；　carrying　a　musket　taken　from　Harry。　Then　came　Gabbett；　with　an　axe；　followed　by　the　other　six；　sharing　between　them　such　provisions　as　they　had　obtained　at　Signal　Hill。　　John　Rex；　with　the　carbine；　and　Troke's　pistols；　walked　last。　　It　had　been　agreed　that　if　attacked　they　were　to　run　each　one　his　own　way。　　In　their　desperate　case；　disunion　was　strength。　　At　intervals；　on　their　left；　gleamed　the　lights　of　the　constables'　stations；　and　as　they　stumbled　onward　they　heard　plainer　and　more　plainly　the　hoarse　murmur　of　the　sea；　beyond　which　was　liberty　or　death。

After　nearly　two　hours　of　painful　progress；　Jemmy　Vetch　stopped；　and　whispered　them　to　approach。　　They　were　on　a　sandy　rise。　　To　the　left　was　a　black　objecta　constable's　hut；　to　the　right　was　a　dim　white　line　the　ocean；　in　front　was　a　row　of　lamps；　and　between　every　two　lamps　leapt　and　ran　a　dusky；　indistinct　body。　　Jemmy　Vetch　pointed　with　his　lean　forefinger。　　

〃The　dogs！〃

Instinctively　they　crouched　down；　lest　even　at　that　distance　the　two　sentries；　so　plainly　visible　in　the　red　light　of　the　guard…house　fire；　should　see　them。

〃Well；　bo's；〃　said　Gabbett；　〃what's　to　be　done　now？〃

As　he　spoke；　a　long　low　howl　broke　from　one　of　the　chained　hounds；　and　the　whole　kennel　burst　into　hideous　outcry。　　John　Rex；　who　perhaps　was　the　bravest　of　the　party；　shuddered。　　〃They　have　smelt　us；〃　he　said。　　〃We　must　go　on。〃

Gabbett　spat　in　his　palm；　and　took　firmer　hold　of　the　axe…handle。

〃Right　you　are；〃　he　said。　　〃I'll　leave　my　mark　on　some　of　them　before　this　night's　out！〃

On　the　opposite　shore　lights　began　to　move；　and　the　fugitives　could　hear　the　hurrying　tramp　of　feet。

〃Make　for　the　right…hand　side　of　the　jetty；〃　said　Rex　in　a　fierce　whisper。　〃I　think　I　see　a　boat　there。　　It　is　our　only　chance　now。　　We　can　never　break　through　the　station。　　Are　we　ready？　　Now！　　All　together！〃

Gabbett　was　fast　outstripping　the　others　by　some　three　feet　of　distance。　There　were　eleven　dogs；　two　of　whom　were　placed　on　stages　set　out　in　the　water；　and　they　were　so　chained　that　their　muzzles　nearly　touched。　　The　giant　leapt　into　the　line；　and　with　a　blow　of　his　axe　split　the　skull　of　the　beast　on　his　right　hand。　　This　action　unluckily　took　him　within　reach　of　the　other　dog；　which　seized　him　by　the　thigh。

〃Fire！〃　cried　McNab　from　the　other　side　of　the　lamps。

The　giant　uttered　a　cry　of　rage　and　pain；　and　fell　with　the　dog　under　him。　It　was；　however；　the　dog　who　had　pulled　him　down；　and　the　musket…ball　intended　for　him　struck　Travers　in　the　jaw。　　The　unhappy　villain　fell　like　Virgil's　Dares〃spitting　blood；　teeth；　and　curses。〃

Gabbett　clutched　the　mastiff's　throat　with　iron　hand；　and　forced　him　to　loose　his　hold；　then；　bellowing　with　fury；　seized　his　axe　and　sprang　forward；　mangled　as　he　was；　upon　the　nearest　soldier。　Jemmy　Vetch　had　been　beforehand　with　him。　　Uttering　a　low　snarl　of　hate；　he　fired；　and　shot　the　sentry　through　the　breast。　　The　others　rushed　through　the　now　broken　cordon；　and　made　headlong　for　the　boat。

〃Fools！〃　cried　Rex　behind　them。　　〃You　have　wasted　a　shot！　　LOOK　TO　YOUR　LEFT！〃

Burgess；　hurried　down　the　tramroad　by　his　men；　had　tarried　at　Signal　Hill　only　long　enough　to　loose　the　surprised　guard　from　their　bonds；　and　taking　the　Woody　Island　boat　was　pulling　with　a　fresh　crew　to　the　Neck。　The　reinforcement　was　not　ten　yards　from　the　jetty。

The　Crow　saw　the　danger；　and；　flinging　himself　into　the　water；　desperately　seized　McNab's　boat。

〃In　with　you　for　your　lives！〃　he　cried。　　Another　volley　from　the　guard　spattered　the　water　around　the　fugitives；　but　in　the　darkness　the　ill…aimed　bullets　fell　harmless。　　Gabbett　swung　himself　over　the　sheets；　and　seized　an　oar。

〃Cox；　Bodenham；　Greenhill！　　Now；　push　her　off！　　Jump；　Tom；　jump！〃　and　as　Burgess　leapt　to　land；　Cornelius　was　dragged　over　the　stern；　and　the　whale…boat　floated　into　deep　water。

McNab；　seeing　this；　ran　down　to　the　water…side　to　aid　the　Commandant。

〃Lift　her　over　the　Bar；　men！〃　he　shouted。　　〃With　a　willSo！〃　And；　raised　in　twelve　strong　arms；　the　pursuing　craft　slid　across　the　isthmus。

〃We've　five　minutes'　start；〃　said　Vetch　coolly；　as　he　saw　the　Commandant　take　his　place　in　the　stern　sheets。　　〃Pull　away；　my　jolly　boys；　and　we'll　best　'em　yet。〃

The　soldiers　on　the　Neck　fired　again　almost　at　random；　but　the　blaze　of　their　pieces　only　served　to　show　the　Commandant's　boat　a　hundred　yards　astern　of　that　of　the　mutineers；　which　had　already　gained　the　deep　water　of　Pirates'　Bay。

Then；　for　the　first　time；　the　six　prisoners　became　aware　that　John　Rex　was　not　among　them。




CHAPTER　XXIV。

IN　THE　NIGHT。



John　Rex　had　put　into　execution　the　first　part　of　his　scheme。

At　the　moment　when；　seeing　Burgess's　boat　near　the　sand…spit；　he　had　uttered　the　warning　cry　heard　by　Vetch；　he　turned　back　into　the　darkness；　and　made　for　the　water's　edge　at　a　point　some　distance　from　the　Neck。　　His　desperate　hope　was　that；　the　attention　of　the　guard　being　concentrated　on　the　escaping　boat；　he　might；　favoured　by　the　darkness　and　the　confusionswim　to　the　peninsula。　　It　was　not　a　very　marvellous　feat　to　accomplish；　and　he　had　confidence　in　his　own　powers。　　Once　safe　on　the　peninsula；　his　plans　were　formed。　　But；　owing　to　the　strong　westerly　wind；　which　caused　an　incoming　tide　upon　the　isthmus；　it　was　necessary　for　him　to　attain　some　point　sufficiently　far　to　the　southward　to　enable　him；　on　taking　the　water；　to　be　assisted；　not　impeded；　by　the　current。　With　this　view；　he　hurried　over　the　sandy　hummocks　at　the　entrance　to　the　Neck；　and　ran　backwards　towards　the　sea。　　In　a　few　strides　he　had　gained　the　hard　and　sandy　shore；　and；　pausing　to　listen；　heard　behind　him　the　sound　of　footsteps。　　He　was　pursued。　　The　footsteps　stopped；　and　then　a　voice　cried

〃Surrender！〃

It　was　McNab；　who；　seeing　Rex's　retreat；　had　daringly　followed　him。　John　Rex　drew　from　his　breast　Troke's　pistol　and　waited。

〃Surrender！〃　cried　the　voice　again；　and　the　footsteps　advanced　two　paces。

At　the　instant　that　Rex　raised　the　weapon　to　fire；　a　vivid　flash　of　lightning　showed　him；　on　his　right　hand；　on　the　ghastly　and　pallid　ocean；　two　boats；　the　hindermost　one　apparently　within　a　few　yards　of　him。　The　men　looked　like　corpses。　　In　the　distance　rose　Cape　Surville；　and　beneath　Cape　Surville　was　the　hungry　sea。　　The　scene　vanished　in　an　instantswallowed　up　almost　before　he　had　realized　it。　But　the　shock　it　gave　him　made　him　miss　his　aim；　and；　flinging　away　the　pistol　with　a　curse；　he　turned　down　the　path　and　fled。　　McNab　followed。

The　path　had　been　made　by　frequent　passage　from　the　station；　and　Rex　found　it　tolerably　easy　running。　　He　had　acquiredlike　most　men　who　live　much　in　the　darkthat　cat…like　perception　of　obstacles　which　is　due　rather　to　increased　sensitiveness　of　touch　than　increased　acuteness　of　vision。　　His　feet　accommodated　themselves　to　the　inequalities　of　the　ground；　his　hands　instinctively　outstretched　themselves　towards　the　overhanging　boughs；　his　head　ducked　of　its　own　accord　to　any　obtrusive　sapling　which　bent　to　obstruct　his　progress。　His　pursuer　was　not　so　fortunate。　　Twice　did　John　Rex　laugh　mentally；　at　a　crash　and　scramble　that　told　of　a　fall；　and　oncein　a　valley　where　trickled　a　little　stream　that　he　had　cleared　almost　without　an　effort　he　heard　a　splash　that　made　him　laugh　outright。　　The　track　now　began　to　go　uphill；　and　Rex　redoubled　his　efforts；　trusting　to　his　superior　muscular　energy　to　shake　off　his　pursuer。　　He　breasted　the　rise；　and　paused　to　listen。　　The　crashing　of　branches　behind　him　had　ceased；　and　it　seemed　that　he　was　alone。

He　had　gained　the　summit　of　the　cliff。　　The　lights　of　the　Neck　were　invisible。　Below　him　lay　the　sea。　　Out　of　the　black　emptiness　came　puffs　of　sharp　salt　wind。　　The　tops　of　the　rollers　that　broke　below　were　blown　off　and　whirled　away　into　the　nightwhite　patches；　swallowed　up　immediately　in　the　increasing　darkness。　　From　the　north　side　of　the　bay　was　borne　the　hoarse　roar　of　the　breakers　as　they　dashed　against　the　perpendicular　cliffs　which　guarded　Forrestier's　Peninsula。　　At　his　feet　arose　a　frightful　shrieking　and　whistling；　broken　at　intervals　by　reports　like　claps　of　thunder。　Where　was　he？　Exhausted　and　breathless；　he　sank　down　into　the　rough　scrub　and　listened。　　All　at　once；　on　the　track　over　which　he　had　passed；　he　heard　a　sound　that　made　him　bound　to　his　feet　in　deadly　fear　the　bay　of　a　dog！

He　thrust　his　hand　to　his　breast　for　the　remaining　pistol；　and　uttered　a　cry　of　alarm。　　He　had　dropped　it。　　He　felt　round　about　him　in　the　darkness　for　some　stick　or　stone　that　might　serve　as　a　weapon。　In　vain。　　His　fingers　clutched　nothing　but　prickly　scrub　and　coarse　grass。　The　sweat　ran　down　his　face。　　With　staring　eyeballs；　and　bristling　hair；　he　stared　into　the　darkness；　as　if　he　would　dissipate　it　by　the　very　intensity　of　his　gaze。　　The　noise　was　repeated；　and；　piercing　through　the　roar　of　wind　and　water；　above　and　below　him；　seemed　to　be　close　at　hand。　He　heard　a　man's　voice　cheering　the　dog　in　accents　that　the　gale　blew　away　from　him　before　he　could　recognize　them。　　It　was　probable　that　some　of　the　soldiers　had　been　sent　to　the　assistance　of　McNab。　　Capture；　then；　was　certain。　　In　his　agony；　the　wretched　man　almost　promised　himself　repentance；　should　he　escape　this　peril。　　The　dog；　crashing　through　the　underwood；　gave　one　short；　sharp　howl；　and　then　ran　mute。

The　darkness　had　increased　the　gale。　　The　wind；　ravaging　the　hollow　heaven；　had　spread　between　the　lightnings　and　the　sea　an　impenetrable　curtain　of　black　cloud。　　It　seemed　possible　to　seize　upon　this　curtain　and　draw　its　edge　yet　closer；　so　dense　was　it。　　The　white　and　raging　waters　were　blotted　out；　and　even　the　lightning　seemed　unable　to　penetrate　that　intense　blackness。　　A　large；　warm　drop　of　rain　fell　upon　Rex's　outstretched　hand；　and　far　overhead　rumbled　a　wrathful　peal　of　thunder。　The　shrieking　which　he　had　heard　a　few　moments　ago　had　ceased；　but　every　now　and　then　dull　but　immense　shocks；　as　of　some　mighty　bird　flapping　the　cliff　with　monstrous　wings；　reverberated　around　him；　and　shook　the　ground　where　he　stood。　　He　looked　towards　the　ocean；　and　a　tall　misty　Formwhite　against　the　all…pervading　blackness　beckoned　and　bowe