for the term of his natural life-第7章

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〃It's　hard　to　marry　a　soldier；〃　he　said；　with　a　recruit's　proud　intonation　of　the　word；　〃but　yer　might　do　worse；　miss；　and　I'll　work　for　yer　like　a　slave；　I　will。〃

She　looked　at　him　with　curiosity　and　pleasure。　　Though　her　time　was　evidently　precious；　she　could　not　resist　the　temptation　of　listening　to　praises　of　herself。

〃I　know　you're　above　me；　Miss　Sarah。　　You're　a　lady；　but　I　love　yer；　I　do；　and　you　drives　me　wild　with　yer　tricks。〃

〃Do　I？〃

〃Do　yer？　　Yes；　yer　do。　　What　did　yer　come　an'　make　up　to　me　for；　and　then　go　sweetheartin'　with　them　others？〃

〃What　others？〃

〃Why；　the　cuddy　folkthe　skipper；　and　the　parson；　and　that　Frere。　I　see　yer　walkin'　the　deck　wi'　un　o'　nights。　　Dom　'um；　I'd　put　a　bullet　through　his　red　head　as　soon　as　look　at　un。〃

〃Hush！　　Miles　dearthey'll　hear　you。〃

Her　face　was　all　aglow；　and　her　expanded　nostrils　throbbed。　Beautiful　as　the　face　was；　it　had　a　tigerish　look　about　it　at　that　moment。

Encouraged　by　the　epithet；　Miles　put　his　arm　round　her　slim　waist；　just　as　Blunt　had　done；　but　she　did　not　resent　it　so　abruptly。　Miles　had　promised　more。

〃Hush！〃　she　whispered；　with　admirably…acted　surprise〃I　heard　a　noise！〃　and　as　the　soldier　started　back；　she　smoothed　her　dress　complacently。

〃There　is　no　one！〃　cried　he。

〃Isn't　there？　　My　mistake；　then。　　Now　come　here；　Miles。〃

Miles　obeyed。

〃Who　is　in　the　hospital？〃

〃I　dunno。〃

〃Well；　I　want　to　go　in。〃

Miles　scratched　his　head；　and　grinned。

〃Yer　carn't。〃

〃Why　not？　　You've　let　me　in　before。〃　〃Against　the　doctor's　orders。　He　told　me　special　to　let　no　one　in　but　himself。〃

〃Nonsense。〃

〃It　ain't　nonsense。　　There　was　a　convict　brought　in　to…night；　and　nobody's　to　go　near　him。〃

〃A　convict！〃　She　grew　more　interested。　　〃What's　the　matter　with　him？〃

〃Dunno。　　But　he's　to　be　kep'　quiet　until　old　Pine　comes　down。〃

She　became　authoritative。

〃Come；　Miles；　let　me　go　in。〃

〃Don't　ask　me；　miss。　　It's　against　orders；　and〃

〃Against　orders？　　Why；　you　were　blustering　about　shooting　people　just　now。〃

The　badgered　Miles　grew　angry。　　〃Was　I？　　Bluster　or　no　bluster；　you　don't　go　in。〃　　She　turned　away。　　〃Oh；　very　well。　　If　this　is　all　the　thanks　I　get　for　wasting　my　time　down　here；　I　shall　go　on　deck　again。〃

Miles　became　uneasy。

〃There　are　plenty　of　agreeable　people　there。〃

Miles　took　a　step　after　her。

〃Mr。　Frere　will　let　me　go　in；　I　dare　say；　if　I　ask　him。〃

Miles　swore　under　his　breath。

〃Dom　Mr。　Frere！　　Go　in　if　yer　like；〃　he　said。　　〃I　won't　stop　yer；　but　remember　what　I'm　doin'　of。〃

She　turned　again　at　the　foot　of　the　ladder；　and　came　quickly　back。

〃That's　a　good　lad。　　I　knew　you　would　not　refuse　me〃；　and　smiling　at　the　poor　lad　she　was　befooling；　she　passed　into　the　cabin。

There　was　no　lantern；　and　from　the　partially…blocked　stern　windows　came　only　a　dim；　vaporous　light。　　The　dull　ripple　of　the　water　as　the　ship　rocked　on　the　slow　swell　of　the　sea　made　a　melancholy　sound；　and　the　sick　man's　heavy　breathing　seemed　to　fill　the　air。　　The　slight　noise　made　by　the　opening　door　roused　him；　he　rose　on　his　elbow　and　began　to　mutter。　Sarah　Purfoy　paused　in　the　doorway　to　listen；　but　she　could　make　nothing　of　the　low；　uneasy　murmuring。　　Raising　her　arm；　conspicuous　by　its　white　sleeve　in　the　gloom；　she　beckoned　Miles。

〃The　lantern；〃　she　whispered；　〃bring　me　the　lantern！〃

He　unhooked　it　from　the　rope　where　it　swung；　and　brought　it　towards　her。　At　that　moment　the　man　in　the　bunk　sat　up　erect；　and　twisted　himself　towards　the　light。　　〃Sarah！〃　he　cried；　in　shrill　sharp　tones。　〃Sarah！〃　and　swooped　with　a　lean　arm　through　the　dusk；　as　though　to　seize　her。

The　girl　leapt　out　of　the　cabin　like　a　panther；　struck　the　lantern　out　of　her　lover's　hand；　and　was　back　at　the　bunk…head　in　a　moment。　The　convict　was　a　young　man　of　about　four…and…twenty。　His　handsclutched　convulsively　now　on　the　blanketswere　small　and　well…shaped；　and　the　unshaven　chin　bristled　with　promise　of　a　strong　beard。　His　wild　black　eyes　glared　with　all　the　fire　of　delirium；　and　as　he　gasped　for　breath；　the　sweat　stood　in　beads　on　his　sallow　forehead。

The　aspect　of　the　man　was　sufficiently　ghastly；　and　Miles；　drawing　back　with　an　oath；　did　not　wonder　at　the　terror　which　had　seized　Mrs。　Vickers's　maid。　　With　open　mouth　and　agonized　face；　she　stood　in　the　centre　of　the　cabin；　lantern　in　hand；　like　one　turned　to　stone；　gazing　at　the　man　on　the　bed。

〃Ecod；　he　be　a　sight！〃　says　Miles；　at　length。　　〃Come　away；　miss；　and　shut　the　door。　　He's　raving；　I　tell　yer。〃

The　sound　of　his　voice　recalled　her。

She　dropped　the　lantern；　and　rushed　to　the　bed。

〃You　fool；　he's　choking；　can't　you　see？　　Water！　　give　me　water！〃

And　wreathing　her　arms　around　the　man's　head；　she　pulled　it　down　on　her　bosom；　rocking　it　there；　half　savagely；　to　and　fro。

Awed　into　obedience　by　her　voice；　Miles　dipped　a　pannikin　into　a　small　puncheon；　cleated　in　the　corner　of　the　cabin；　and　gave　it　her；　and；　without　thanking　him；　she　placed　it　to　the　sick　prisoner's　lips。　He　drank　greedily；　and　closed　his　eyes　with　a　grateful　sigh。

Just　then　the　quick　ears　of　Miles　heard　the　jingle　of　arms。　〃Here's　the　doctor　coming；　miss！〃　he　cried。　　〃I　hear　the　sentry　saluting。　Come　away！　　Quick！〃

She　seized　the　lantern；　and；　opening　the　horn　slide；　extinguished　it。

〃Say　it　went　out；〃　she　said　in　a　fierce　whisper；　〃and　hold　your　tongue。　Leave　me　to　manage。〃

She　bent　over　the　convict　as　if　to　arrange　his　pillow；　and　then　glided　out　of　the　cabin；　just　as　Pine　descended　the　hatchway。

〃Hallo！〃　cried　he；　stumbling；　as　he　missed　his　footing；　〃where's　the　light？〃

〃Here；　sir；〃　says　Miles；　fumbling　with　the　lantern。　　〃It's　all　right；　sir。　It　went　out；　sir。〃

〃Went　out！　　What　did　you　let　it　go　out　for；　you　blockhead！〃　growled　the　unsuspecting　Pine。　　〃Just　like　you　boobies！　　What　is　the　use　of　a　light　if　it　'goes　out'；　eh？〃　As　he　groped　his　way；　with　outstretched　arms；　in　the　darkness；　Sarah　Purfoy　slipped　past　him　unnoticed；　and　gained　the　upper　deck。




CHAPTER　V。

THE　BARRACOON。



In　the　prison　of　the　'tween　decks　reigned　a　darkness　pregnant　with　murmurs。　The　sentry　at　the　entrance　to　the　hatchway　was　supposed　to　〃prevent　the　prisoners　from　making　a　noise；〃　but　he　put　a　very　liberal　interpretation　upon　the　clause；　and　so　long　as　the　prisoners　refrained　from　shouting；　yelling；　and　fightingeccentricities　in　which　they　sometimes　indulgedhe　did　not　disturb　them。　　This　course　of　conduct　was　dictated　by　prudence；　no　less　than　by　convenience；　for　one　sentry　was　but　little　over　so　many；　and　the　convicts；　if　pressed　too　hard；　would　raise　a　sort　of　bestial　boo…hoo；　in　which　all　voices　were　confounded；　and　which；　while　it　made　noise　enough　and　to　spare；　utterly　precluded　individual　punishment。　　One　could　not　flog　a　hundred　and　eighty　men；　and　it　was　impossible　to　distinguish　any　particular　offender。　　So；　in　virtue　of　this　last　appeal；　convictism　had　established　a　tacit　right　to　converse　in　whispers；　and　to　move　about　inside　its　oaken　cage。

To　one　coming　in　from　the　upper　air；　the　place　would　have　seemed　in　pitchy　darkness；　but　the　convict　eye；　accustomed　to　the　sinister　twilight；　was　enabled　to　discern　surrounding　objects　with　tolerable　distinctness。　The　prison　was　about　fifty　feet　long　and　fifty　feet　wide；　and　ran　the　full　height　of　the　'tween　decks；　viz。；　about　five　feet　ten　inches　high。　　The　barricade　was　loop…holed　here　and　there；　and　the　planks　were　in　some　places　wide　enough　to　admit　a　musket　barrel。　　On　the　aft　side；　next　the　soldiers'　berths；　was　a　trap　door；　like　the　stoke…hole　of　a　furnace。　At　first　sight　this　appeared　to　be　contrived　for　the　humane　purpose　of　ventilation；　but　a　second　glance　dispelled　this　weak　conclusion。　The　opening　was　just　large　enough　to　admit　the　muzzle　of　a　small　howitzer；　secured　on　the　deck　below。　　In　case　of　a　mutiny；　the　soldiers　could　sweep　the　prison　from　end　to　end　with　grape　shot。　　Such　fresh　air　as　there　was；　filtered　through　the　loopholes；　and　came；　in　somewhat　larger　quantity；　through　a　wind…sail　passed　into　the　prison　from　the　hatchway。　But　the　wind…sail；　being　necessarily　at　one　end　only　of　the　place；　the　air　it　brought　was　pretty　well　absorbed　by　the　twenty　or　thirty　lucky　fellows　near　it；　and　the　other　hundred　and　fifty　did　not　come　so　well　off。　　The　scuttles　were　open；　certainly；　but　as　the　row　of　bunks　had　been　built　against　them；　the　air　they　brought　was　the　peculiar　property　of　such　men　as　occupied　the　berths　into　which　they　penetrated。　These　berths　were　twenty…eight　in　number；　each　containing　six　men。　They　ran　in　a　double　tier　round　three　sides　of　the　prison；　twenty　at　each　side；　and　eight　affixed　to　that　portion　of　the　forward　barricade　opposite　the　door。　Each　berth　was　presumed　to　be　five　feet　six　inches　square；　but　the　necessities　of　stowage　had　deprived　them　of　six　inches；　and　even　under　that　pressure　twelve　men　were　compelled　to　sleep　on　the　deck。　　Pine　did　not　exaggerate　when　he　spoke　of　the　custom　of　overcrowding　convict　ships；　and　as　he　was　entitled　to　half　a　guinea　for　every　man　he　delivered　alive　at　Hobart　Town；　he　had　some　reason　to　complain。

When　Frere　had　come　down；　an　hour　before；　the　prisoners　were　all　snugly　between　their　blankets。　　They　were　not　so　now；　though；　at　the　first　clink　of　the　bolts；　they　would　be　back　again　in　their　old　positions；　to　all　appearances　sound　asleep。　　As　the　eye　became　accustomed　to　the　foetid　duskiness　of　the　prison；　a　strange　picture　presented　itself。　Groups　of　men；　in　all　imaginable　attitudes；　were　lying；　standing；　sitting；　or　pacing　up　and　down。　　It　was　the　scene　on　the　poop…deck　over　again；　only；　here　being　no　fear　of　restraining　keepers；　the　wild　beasts　were　a　little　more　free　in　their　movements。　　It　is　impossible　to　convey；　in　words；　any　idea　of　the　hideous　phantasmagoria　of　shifting　limbs　and　faces　which　moved　through　the　evil…smelling　twilight　of　this　terrible　prison…house。　Callot　might　have　drawn　it；　Dante　might　have　suggested　it；　but　a　minute　attempt　to　describe　its　horrors　would　but　disgust。　There　are　depths　in　humanity　which　one　cannot　explore；　as　there　are　mephitic　caverns　into　which　one　dare　not　penetrate。

Old　men；　young　men；　and　boys；　stalwart　burglars　and　highway　robbers；　slept　side　by　side　with　wizened　pickpockets　or　cunning…featured　area…sneaks。　The　forger　occupied　the　same　berth　with　the　body…snatcher。　The　man　of　education　learned　strange　secrets　of　house…breakers'　craft；　and　the　vulgar　ruffian　of　St。　Giles　took　lessons　of　self…control　from　the　keener　intellect　of　the　professional　swindler。　　The　fraudulent　clerk　and　the　flash　〃cracksman〃　interchanged　experiences。　　The　smuggler's　stories　of　lucky　ventures　and　successful　runs　were　capped　by　the　footpad's　reminiscences　of　foggy　nights　and　stolen　watches。　　The　poacher；　grimly　thinking　of　his　sick　wife　and　orphaned　children；　would　start　as　the　night…house　ruffian　clapped　him　on　the　shoulder　and　bade　him；　with　a　curse；　to　take　good　heart　and　〃be　a　man。〃　The　fast　shopboy　whose　love　of　fine　company　and　high　living　had　brought　him　to　this　pass；　had　shaken　off　the　first　shame　that　was　on　him；　and　listened　eagerly　to　the　narratives　of　successful　vice　that　fell　so　glibly　from　the　lips　of　his　older　companions。　　To　be　transported　seemed　no　such　uncommon　fate。　　The　old　fellows　laughed；　and　wagged　their　grey　heads　with　al