for the term of his natural life-第67章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


smagoria　was　swallowed　up　in　the　tumultuous　darkness　of　the　tempest。

Burgesshis　hair　bristling　with　terrorshouted　to　put　the　boat　about；　but　he　might　with　as　much　reason　have　shouted　at　an　avalanche。　The　wind　blew　his　voice　away；　and　emptied　it　violently　into　the　air。　A　snarling　billow　jerked　the　oar　from　his　hand。　　Despite　the　desperate　efforts　of　the　soldiers；　the　boat　was　whirled　up　the　mountain　of　water　like　a　leaf　on　a　water…spout；　and　a　second　flash　of　lightning　showed　them　what　seemed　a　group　of　dolls　struggling　in　the　surf；　and　a　walnut…shell　bottom　upwards　was　driven　by　the　recoil　of　the　waves　towards　them。　For　an　instant　all　thought　that　they　must　share　the　fate　which　had　overtaken　the　unlucky　convicts；　but　Burgess　succeeded　in　trimming　the　boat；　and；　awed　by　the　peril　he　had　so　narrowly　escaped；　gave　the　order　to　return。　As　the　men　set　the　boat's　head　to　the　welcome　line　of　lights　that　marked　the　Neck；　a　black　spot　balanced　upon　a　black　line　was　swept　under　their　stern　and　carried　out　to　sea。　　As　it　passed　them；　this　black　spot　emitted　a　cry；　and　they　knew　that　it　was　one　of　the　shattered　boat's　crew　clinging　to　an　oar。

〃He　was　the　only　one　of　'em　alive；〃　said　Burgess；　bandaging　his　sprained　wrist　two　hours　afterwards　at　the　Neck；　〃and　he's　food　for　the　fishes　by　this　time！〃



He　was　mistaken；　however。　　Fate　had　in　reserve　for　the　crew　of　villains　a　less　merciful　death　than　that　of　drowning。　　Aided　by　the　lightning；　and　that　wonderful　〃good　luck〃　which　urges　villainy　to　its　destruction；　Vetch　beached　the　boat；　and　the　party；　bruised　and　bleeding；　reached　the　upper　portion　of　the　shore　in　safety。　　Of　all　this　number　only　Cox　was　lost。　　He　was　pulling　stroke…oar；　and；　being　something　of　a　laggard；　stood　in　the　way　of　the　Crow；　who；　seeing　the　importance　of　haste　in　preserving　his　own　skin；　plucked　the　man　backwards　by　the　collar；　and　passed　over　his　sprawling　body　to　the　shore。　　Cox；　grasping　at　anything　to　save　himself；　clutched　an　oar；　and　the　next　moment　found　himself　borne　out　with　the　overturned　whale…boat　by　the　under…tow。　　He　was　drifted　past　his　only　hope　of　rescuethe　guard…boatwith　a　velocity　that　forbade　all　attempts　at　rescue；　and　almost　before　the　poor　scoundrel　had　time　to　realize　his　condition；　he　was　in　the　best　possible　way　of　escaping　the　hanging　that　his　comrades　had　so　often　humorously　prophesied　for　him。　Being　a　strong　and　vigorous　villain；　however；　he　clung　tenaciously　to　his　oar；　and　even　unbuckling　his　leather　belt；　passed　it　round　the　slip　of　wood　that　was　his　salvation；　girding　himself　to　it　as　firmly　as　he　was　able。　In　this　condition；　plus　a　swoon　from　exhaustion；　he　was　descried　by　the　helmsman　of　the　Pretty　Mary；　a　few　miles　from　Cape　Surville；　at　daylight　next　morning。　　Blunt；　with　a　wild　hope　that　this　waif　and　stray　might　be　the　lover　of　Sarah　Purfoy；　dead；　lowered　a　boat　and　picked　him　up。　Nearly　bisected　by　the　belt；　gorged　with　salt　water；　frozen　with　cold；　and　having　two　ribs　broken；　the　victim　of　Vetch's　murderous　quickness　retained　sufficient　life　to　survive　Blunt's　remedies　for　nearly　two　hours。　During　that　time　he　stated　that　his　name　was　Cox；　that　he　had　escaped　from　Port　Arthur　with　eight　others；　that　John　Rex　was　the　leader　of　the　expedition；　that　the　others　were　all　drowned；　and　that　he　believed　John　Rex　had　been　retaken。　　Having　placed　Blunt　in　possession　of　these　particulars；　he　further　said　that　it　pricked　him　to　breathe；　cursed　Jemmy　Vetch；　the　settlement；　and　the　sea；　and　so　impenitently　died。　Blunt　smoked　three　pipes；　and　then　altered　the　course　of　the　Pretty　Mary　two　points　to　the　eastward；　and　ran　for　the　coast。　　It　was　possible　that　the　man　for　whom　he　was　searching　had　not　been　retaken；　and　was　even　now　awaiting　his　arrival。　　It　was　clearly　his　dutyhearing　of　the　planned　escape　having　been　actually　attemptednot　to　give　up　the　expedition　while　hope　remained。

〃I'll　take　one　more　look　along；〃　said　he　to　himself。

The　Pretty　Mary；　hugging　the　coast　as　closely　as　she　dared；　crawled　in　the　thin　breeze　all　day；　and　saw　nothing。　　It　would　be　madness　to　land　at　Cape　Surville；　for　the　whole　station　would　be　on　the　alert；　so　Blunt；　as　night　was　falling；　stood　off　a　little　across　the　mouth　of　Pirates'　Bay。　He　was　walking　the　deck；　groaning　at　the　folly　of　the　expedition；　when　a　strange　appearance　on　the　southern　horn　of　the　bay　made　him　come　to　a　sudden　halt。　　There　was　a　furnace　blazing　in　the　bowels　of　the　mountain！　Blunt　rubbed　his　eyes　and　stared。　　He　looked　at　the　man　at　the　helm。　〃Do　you　see　anything　yonder；　Jem？〃

Jema　Sydney　man；　who　had　never　been　round　that　coast　before　briefly　remarked；　〃Lighthouse。〃

Blunt　stumped　into　the　cabin　and　got　out　his　charts。　　No　lighthouse　was　laid　down　there；　only　a　mark　like　an　anchor；　and　a　note；　〃Remarkable　Hole　at　this　Point。〃　A　remarkable　hole　indeed；　a　remarkable　〃lime　kiln〃　would　have　been　more　to　the　purpose！

Blunt　called　up　his　mate；　William　Staples；　a　fellow　whom　Sarah　Purfoy's　gold　had　bought　body　and　soul。　　William　Staples　looked　at　the　waxing　and　waning　glow　for　a　while；　and　then　said；　in　tones　trembling　with　greed；　〃It's　a　fire。　Lie　to；　and　lower　away　the　jolly…boat。　　Old　man；　that's　our　bird　for　a　thousand　pounds！〃

The　Pretty　Mary　shortened　sail；　and　Blunt　and　Staples　got　into　the　jolly…boat。

〃Goin'　a…hoysterin'；　sir？〃　said　one　of　the　crew；　with　a　grin；　as　Blunt　threw　a　bundle　into　the　stern…sheets。

Staples　thrust　his　tongue　into　his　cheek。　　The　object　of　the　voyage　was　now　pretty　well　understood　among　the　carefully　picked　crew。　Blunt　had　not　chosen　men　who　were　likely　to　betray　him；　though；　for　that　matter；　Rex　had　suggested　a　precaution　which　rendered　betrayal　almost　impossible。

〃What's　in　the　bundle；　old　man？〃　asked　Will　Staples；　after　they　had　got　clear　of　the　ship。

〃Clothes；〃　returned　Blunt。　　〃We　can't　bring　him　off；　if　it　is　him；　in　his　canaries。　　He　puts　on　these　duds；　d'ye　see；　sinks　Her　Majesty's　livery；　and　comes　aboard；　a　'shipwrecked　mariner'。〃

〃That's　well　thought　of。　　Whose　notion's　that？　　The　Madam's；　I'll　be　bound。〃

〃Ay。〃

〃She's　a　knowing　one。〃

And　the　sinister　laughter　of　the　pair　floated　across　the　violet　water。

〃Go　easy；　man；〃　said　Blunt；　as　they　neared　the　shore。　　〃They're　all　awake　at　Eaglehawk；　and　if　those　cursed　dogs　give　tongue　there'll　be　a　boat　out　in　a　twinkling。　　It's　lucky　the　wind's　off　shore。〃

Staples　lay　on　his　oar　and　listened。　　The　night　was　moonless；　and　the　ship　had　already　disappeared　from　view。　　They　were　approaching　the　promontory　from　the　south…east；　and　this　isthmus　of　the　guarded　Neck　was　hidden　by　the　outlying　cliff。　　In　the　south…western　angle　of　this　cliff；　about　midway　between　the　summit　and　the　sea；　was　an　arch；　which　vomited　a　red　and　flickering　light；　that　faintly　shone　upon　the　sea　in　the　track　of　the　boat。　　The　light　was　lambent　and　uncertain；　now　sinking　almost　into　insignificance；　and　now　leaping　up　with　a　fierceness　that　caused　a　deep　glow　to　throb　in　the　very　heart　of　the　mountain。　Sometimes　a　black　figure　would　pass　across　this　gigantic　furnace…mouth；　stooping　and　rising；　as　though　feeding　the　fire。　　One　might　have　imagined　that　a　door　in　Vulcan's　Smithy　had　been　left　inadvertently　open；　and　that　the　old　hero　was　forging　arms　for　a　demigod。

Blunt　turned　pale。　　〃It's　no　mortal；〃　he　whispered。　　〃Let's　go　back。〃

〃And　what　will　Madam　say？〃　returned　dare…devil　Will　Staples　who　would　have　plunged　into　Mount　Erebus　had　he　been　paid　for　it。　Thus　appealed　to　in　the　name　of　his　ruling　passion；　Blunt　turned　his　head；　and　the　boat　sped　onward。




CHAPTER　XXVI。

THE　WORK　OF　THE　SEA。



The　lift　of　the　water…spout　had　saved　John　Rex's　life。　　At　the　moment　when　it　struck　him　he　was　on　his　hands　and　knees　at　the　entrance　of　the　cavern。　The　wave；　gushing　upwards；　at　the　same　time　expanded；　laterally；　and　this　lateral　force　drove　the　convict　into　the　mouth　of　the　subterranean　passage。　　The　passage　trended　downwards；　and　for　some　seconds　he　was　rolled　over　and　over；　the　rush　of　water　wedging　him　at　length　into　a　crevice　between　two　enormous　stones；　which　overhung　a　still　more　formidable　abyss。　　Fortunately　for　the　preservation　of　his　hard…fought…for　life；　this　very　fury　of　incoming　water　prevented　him　from　being　washed　out　again　with　the　recoil　of　the　wave。　He　could　hear　the　water　dashing　with　frightful　echoes　far　down　into　the　depths　beyond　him；　but　it　was　evident　that　the　two　stones　against　which　he　had　been　thrust　acted　as　breakwaters　to　the　torrent　poured　in　from　the　outside；　and　repelled　the　main　body　of　the　stream　in　the　fashion　he　had　observed　from　his　position　on　the　ledge。　　In　a　few　seconds　the　cavern　was　empty。

Painfully　extricating　himself；　and　feeling　as　yet　doubtful　of　his　safety；　John　Rex　essayed　to　climb　the　twin…blocks　that　barred　the　unknown　depths　below　him。　　The　first　movement　he　made　caused　him　to　shriek　aloud。　His　left　armwith　which　he　clung　to　the　ropehung　powerless。　Ground　against　the　ragged　entrance；　it　was　momentarily　paralysed。　For　an　instant　the　unfortunate　wretch　sank　despairingly　on　the　wet　and　rugged　floor　of　the　cave；　then　a　terrible　gurgling　beneath　his　feet　warned　him　of　the　approaching　torrent；　and；　collecting　all　his　energies；　he　scrambled　up　the　incline。　　Though　nigh　fainting　with　pain　and　exhaustion；　he　pressed　desperately　higher　and　higher。　　He　heard　the　hideous　shriek　of　the　whirlpool　which　was　beneath　him　grow　louder　and　louder。　He　saw　the　darkness　grow　darker　as　the　rising　water…spout　covered　the　mouth　of　the　cave。　　He　felt　the　salt　spray　sting　his　face；　and　the　wrathful　tide　lick　the　hand　that　hung　over　the　shelf　on　which　he　fell。　　But　that　was　all。　He　was　out　of　danger　at　last！　　And　as　the　thought　blessed　his　senses；　his　eyes　closed；　and　the　wonderful　courage　and　strength　which　had　sustained　the　villain　so　long　exhaled　in　stupor。

When　he　awoke　the　cavern　was　filled　with　the　soft　light　of　dawn。　Raising　his　eyes；　he　beheld；　high　above　his　head；　a　roof　of　rock；　on　which　the　reflection　of　the　sunbeams；　playing　upwards　through　a　pool　of　water；　cast　flickering　colours。　　On　his　right　hand　was　the　mouth　of　the　cave；　on　his　left　a　terrific　abyss；　at　the　bottom　of　which　he　could　hear　the　sea　faintly　lapping　and　washing。　　He　raised　himself　and　stretched　his　stiffened　limbs。　　Despite　his　injured　shoulder；　it　was　imperative　that　he　should　bestir　himself。　　He　knew　not　if　his　escape　had　been　noticed；　or　if　the　cavern　had　another　inlet；　by　which　McNab；　returning；　might　penetrate。　Moreover；　he　was　wet　and　famished。　　To　preserve　the　life　which　he　had　torn　from　the　sea；　he　must　have　fire　and　food。　　First　he　examined　the　crevice　by　which　he　had　entered。　　It　was　shaped　like　an　irregular　triangle；　hollowed　at　the　base　by　the　action　of　the　water　which　in　such　storms　as　that　of　the　preceding　night　was　forced　into　it　by　the　rising　of　the　sea。　John　Rex　dared　not　crawl　too　near　the　edge；　lest　he　should　slide　out　of　the　damp　and　slippery　orifice；　and　be　dashed　upon　the　rocks　at　the　bottom　of　the　Blow…hole。　　Craning　his　neck；　he　could　see；　a　hundred　feet　below　him；　the　sullenly　frothing　water；　gurgling；　spouting；　and　creaming；　in　huge　turbid　eddies；　occasionally　leaping　upwards　as　though　it　longed　for　another　storm　to　send　it　raging　up　to　the　man　who　had　escaped　its　fury。　It　was　impossible　to　get　down　that　way。