for the term of his natural life-第86章

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〃I　want　to　see　the　prisoner　Dawes。〃

Troke's　jaw　fell。

〃See　Dawes？〃　he　repeated。

〃Yes。　　Where　is　he？〃

Troke　was　preparing　a　lie。　　The　imperious　voice；　and　the　clear；　steady　gaze；　confused　him。

　〃He's　here。〃

〃Let　me　see　him。〃

〃He'she's　under　punishment；　mam。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？　　Are　they　flogging　him？〃

〃No；　but　he's　dangerous；　mam。　　The　Commandant〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　open　the　door　or　not；　Mr。　Troke？〃

Troke　grew　more　confused。　　It　was　evident　that　he　was　most　unwilling　to　open　the　door。　　〃The　Commandant　has　given　strict　orders〃

〃Do　you　wish　me　to　complain　to　the　Commandant？〃　cries　Sylvia；　with　a　touch　of　her　old　spirit；　and　jumped　hastily　at　the　conclusion　that　the　gaolers　were；　perhaps；　torturing　the　convict　for　their　own　entertainment。　　〃Open　the　door　at　once！at　once！〃

Thus　commanded；　Troke；　with　a　hasty　growl　of　its　〃being　no　affair　of　his；　and　he　hoped　Mrs。　Frere　would　tell　the　captain　how　it　happened〃　flung　open　the　door　of　a　cell　on　the　right　hand　of　the　doorway。　It　was　so　dark　that；　at　first；　Sylvia　could　distinguish　nothing　but　the　outline　of　a　framework；　with　something　stretched　upon　it　that　resembled　a　human　body。　　Her　first　thought　was　that　the　man　was　dead；　but　this　was　not　sohe　groaned。　　Her　eyes；　accustoming　themselves　to　the　gloom；　began　to　see　what　the　〃punishment〃　was。　　Upon　the　floor　was　placed　an　iron　frame　about　six　feet　long；　and　two　and　a　half　feet　wide；　with　round　iron　bars；　placed　transversely；　about　twelve　inches　apart。　The　man　she　came　to　seek　was　bound　in　a　horizontal　position　upon　this　frame；　with　his　neck　projecting　over　the　end　of　it。　　If　he　allowed　his　head　to　hang；　the　blood　rushed　to　his　brain；　and　suffocated　him；　while　the　effort　to　keep　it　raised　strained　every　muscle　to　agony　pitch。　　His　face　was　purple；　and　he　foamed　at　the　mouth。　　Sylvia　uttered　a　cry。　　〃This　is　no　punishment；　it's　murder！　　Who　ordered　this？〃

〃The　Commandant；〃　said　Troke　sullenly。

〃I　don't　believe　it。　　Loose　him！〃

〃I　daren't　mam；〃　said　Troke。

〃Loose　him；　I　say！　　Hailey！you；　sir；　there！〃　　The　noise　had　brought　several　warders　to　the　spot。　　〃Do　you　hear　me？　　Do　you　know　who　I　am？　Loose　him；　I　say！〃　In　her　eagerness　and　compassion　she　was　on　her　knees　by　the　side　of　the　infernal　machine；　plucking　at　the　ropes　with　her　delicate　fingers。　　　〃Wretches；　you　have　cut　his　flesh！　　He　is　dying！　Help！　　You　have　killed　him！〃　　The　prisoner；　in　fact；　seeing　this　angel　of　mercy　stooping　over　him；　and　hearing　close　to　him　the　tones　of　a　voice　that　for　seven　years　he　had　heard　but　in　his　dreams；　had　fainted。　Troke　and　Hailey；　alarmed　by　her　vehemence；　dragged　the　stretcher　out　into　the　light；　and　hastily　cut　the　lashings。　　Dawes　rolled　off　like　a　log；　and　his　head　fell　against　Mrs。　Frere。　　Troke　roughly　pulled　him　aside；　and　called　for　water。　　Sylvia；　trembling　with　sympathy　and　pale　with　passion；　turned　upon　the　crew。　　〃How　long　has　he　been　like　this？〃

〃An　hour；〃　said　Troke。

〃A　lie！〃　said　a　stern　voice　at　the　door。　　〃He　has　been　there　nine　hours！〃

〃Wretches！〃　cried　Sylvia；　〃you　shall　hear　more　of　this。　　Oh；　oh！　I　am　sick！〃she　felt　for　the　wall〃II〃　North　watched　her　with　agony　on　his　face；　but　did　not　move。　　〃I　faint。　　I〃she　uttered　a　despairing　cry　that　was　not　without　a　touch　of　anger。　　〃Mr。　North！　do　you　not　see？　Oh！　Take　me　hometake　me　home！〃　and　she　would　have　fallen　across　the　body　of　the　tortured　prisoner　had　not　North　caught　her　in　his　arms。

Rufus　Dawes；　awaking　from　his　stupor；　saw；　in　the　midst　of　a　sunbeam　which　penetrated　a　window　in　the　corridor；　the　woman　who　came　to　save　his　body　supported　by　the　priest　who　came　to　save　his　soul；　and　staggering　to　his　knees；　he　stretched　out　his　hands　with　a　hoarse　cry。　　Perhaps　something　in　the　action　brought　back　to　the　dimmed　remembrance　of　the　Commandant's　wife　the　image　of　a　similar　figure　stretching　forth　its　hands　to　a　frightened　child　in　the　mysterious　far…off　time。　　She　started；　and　pushing　back　her　hair；　bent　a　wistful；　terrified　gaze　upon　the　face　of　the　kneeling　man；　as　though　she　would　fain　read　there　an　explanation　of　the　shadowy　memory　which　haunted　her。　　It　is　possible　that　she　would　have　spoken；　but　Norththinking　the　excitement　had　produced　one　of　those　hysterical　crises　which　were　common　to　hergently　drew　her；　still　gazing；　back　towards　the　gate。　The　convict's　arms　fell；　and　an　undefinable　presentiment　of　evil　chilled　him　as　he　beheld　the　priestemotion　pallid　in　his　cheeksslowly　draw　the　fair　young　creature　from　out　the　sunlight　into　the　grim　shadow　of　the　heavy　archway。　　For　an　instant　the　gloom　swallowed　them；　and　it　seemed　to　Dawes　that　the　strange　wild　man　of　God　had　in　that　instant　become　a　man　of　Evilblighting　the　brightness　and　the　beauty　of　the　innocence　that　clung　to　him。　　For　an　instantand　then　they　passed　out　of　the　prison　archway　into　the　free　air　of　heavenand　the　sunlight　glowed　golden　on　their　faces。

〃You　are　ill；〃　said　North。　　〃You　will　faint。　　Why　do　you　look　so　wildly？〃

〃What　is　it？〃　she　whispered；　more　in　answer　to　her　own　thoughts　than　to　his　question〃what　is　it　that　links　me　to　that　man？　　What　deedwhat　terror　what　memory？　　I　tremble　with　crowding　thoughts；　that　die　ere　they　can　whisper　to　me。　　Oh；　that　prison！〃

〃Look　up；　we　are　in　the　sunshine。〃

She　passed　her　hand　across　her　brow；　sighing　heavily；　as　one　awaking　from　a　disturbed　slumbershuddered；　and　withdrew　her　arm　from　his。　North　interpreted　the　action　correctly；　and　the　blood　rushed　to　his　face。　〃Pardon　me；　you　cannot　walk　alone；　you　will　fall。　　I　will　leave　you　at　the　gate。〃

In　truth　she　would　have　fallen　had　he　not　again　assisted　her。　　She　turned　upon　him　eyes　whose　reproachful　sorrow　had　almost　forced　him　to　a　confession；　but　he　bowed　his　head　and　held　silence。　　They　reached　the　house；　and　he　placed　her　tenderly　in　a　chair。　　〃Now　you　are　safe；　madam；　I　will　leave　you。〃

She　burst　into　tears。　　〃Why　do　you　treat　me　thus；　Mr。　North？　　What　have　I　done　to　make　you　hate　me？〃

〃Hate　you！〃　said　North；　with　trembling　lips。　　〃Oh；　no；　I　do　notdo　not　hate　you。　　I　am　rude　in　my　speech；　abrupt　in　my　manner。　　You　must　forget　it；　andand　me。〃　　A　horse's　feet　crashed　upon　the　gravel；　and　an　instant　after　Maurice　Frere　burst　into　the　room。　　Returning　from　the　Cascades；　he　had　met　Troke；　and　learned　the　release　of　the　prisoner。　　Furious　at　this　usurpation　of　authority　by　his　wife；　his　self…esteem　wounded　by　the　thought　that　she　had　witnessed　his　mean　revenge　upon　the　man　he　had　so　infamously　wronged；　and　his　natural　brutality　enhanced　by　brandy；　he　had　made　for　the　house　at　full　gallop；　determined　to　assert　his　authority。　Blind　with　rage；　he　saw　no　one　but　his　wife。　　〃What　the　devil's　this　I　hear？　You　have　been　meddling　in　my　business！　　You　release　prisoners！　　You〃

〃Captain　Frere！〃　said　North；　stepping　forward　to　assert　the　restraining　presence　of　a　stranger。　　Frere　started；　astonished　at　the　intrusion　of　the　chaplain。　　Here　was　another　outrage　of　his　dignity；　another　insult　to　his　supreme　authority。　　In　its　passion；　his　gross　mind　leapt　to　the　worst　conclusion。　　〃You　here；　too！　　What　do　you　want　herewith　my　wife！　This　is　your　quarrel；　is　it？〃　　His　eyes　glanced　wrathfully　from　one　to　the　other；　and　he　strode　towards　North。　　〃You　infernal　hypocritical　lying　scoundrel；　if　it　wasn't　for　your　black　coat；　I'd〃

〃Maurice！〃　cried　Sylvia；　in　an　agony　of　shame　and　terror；　striving　to　place　a　restraining　hand　upon　his　arm。　　He　turned　upon　her　with　so　fiercely　infamous　a　curse　that　North；　pale　with　righteous　rage；　seemed　prompted　to　strike　the　burly　ruffian　to　the　earth。　　For　a　moment；　the　two　men　faced　each　other；　and　then　Frere；　muttering　threats　of　vengeance　against　each　and　allconvicts；　gaolers；　wife；　and　priestflung　the　suppliant　woman　violently　from　him；　and　rushed　from　the　room。　　She　fell　heavily　against　the　wall；　and　as　the　chaplain　raised　her；　he　heard　the　hoof…strokes　of　the　departing　horse。

〃Oh；〃　cried　Sylvia；　covering　her　face　with　trembling　hands；　〃let　me　leave　this　place！〃

North；　enfolding　her　in　his　arms；　strove　to　soothe　her　with　incoherent　words　of　comfort。　　Dizzy　with　the　blow　she　had　received；　she　clung　to　him　sobbing。　Twice　he　tried　to　tear　himself　away；　but　had　he　loosed　his　hold　she　would　have　fallen。　　He　could　not　hold　herbruised；　suffering；　and　in　tearsthus　against　his　heart；　and　keep　silence。　　In　a　torrent　of　agonized　eloquence　the　story　of　his　love　burst　from　his　lips。　〃Why　should　you　be　thus　tortured？〃　he　cried。　　〃Heaven　never　willed　you　to　be　mated　to　that　booryou；　whose　life　should　be　all　sunshine。　Leave　himleave　him。　　He　has　cast　you　off。　　We　have　both　suffered。　Let　us　leave　this　dreadful　placethis　isthmus　between　earth　and　hell！　I　will　give　you　happiness。〃

〃I　am　going；〃　she　said　faintly。　　〃I　have　already　arranged　to　go。〃

North　trembled。　　〃It　was　not　of　my　seeking。　　Fate　has　willed　it。　We　go　together！〃

They　looked　at　each　othershe　felt　the　fever　of　his　blood；　she　read　his　passion　in　his　eyes；　she　comprehended　the　〃hatred〃　he　had　affected　for　her；　and；　deadly　pale；　drew　back　the　cold　hand　he　held。

〃Go！〃　she　murmured。　　〃If　you　love　me；　leave　　meleave　me！　　Do　not　see　me　or　speak　to　me　again〃　her　silence　added　the　words　she　could　not　utter；　〃till　then。〃




CHAPTER　XIV。

GETTING　READY　FOR　SEA。



Maurice　Frere's　passion　had　spent　itself　in　that　last　act　of　violence。　He　did　not　return　to　the　prison；　as　he　promised　himself；　but　turned　into　the　road　that　led　to　the　Cascades。　　He　repented　him　of　his　suspicions。　There　was　nothing　strange　in　the　presence　of　the　chaplain。　　Sylvia　had　always　liked　the　man；　and　an　apology　for　his　conduct　had　doubtless　removed　her　anger。　To　make　a　mountain　out　of　a　molehill　was　the　act　of　an　idiot。　　It　was　natural　that　she　should　release　Daweswomen　were　so　tender…hearted。　　A　few　well…chosen；　calmly…uttered　platitudes　anent　the　necessity　for　the　treatment　that；　to　those　unaccustomed　to　the　desperate　wickedness　of　convicts；　must　appear　harsh；　would　have　served　his　turn　far　better　than　bluster　and　abuse。　　Moreover；　North　was　to　sail　in　the　Lady　Franklin；　and　might　put　in　execution　his　threats　of　official　complaint；　unless　he　was　carefully　dealt　with。　　To　put　Dawes　again　to　the　torture　would　be　to　show　to　Troke　and　his　friends　that　the　〃Commandant's　wife〃　had　acted　without　the　〃Commandant's　authority〃；　and　that　must　not　be　shown。　He　would　now　return　and　patch　up　a　peace。　　His　wife　would　sail　in　the　same　vessel　with　North；　and　he　would　in　a　few　days　be　left　alone　on　the　island　to　pursue　his　〃discipline〃　unchecked。　　With　this　intent　he　returned　to　the　prison；　and　gravely　informed　poor　Troke　that　he　was　astonished　at　his　barbarity。　　〃Mrs。　Frere；　who　most　luckily　had　appointed　to　meet　me　this　evening　at　the　prison；　tells　me　that　the　poor　devil　Dawes　had　been　on　the　stretcher　since　seven　o'clock　this　morning。〃

〃You　ordered　it　fust　thing；　yer　honour；〃　said　Troke。

〃Yes；　you　fool；　but　I　didn't　order　you　to　keep　the　man　there　for　nine　hours；　did　I？　　Why；　you　scoundrel；　you　might　have　killed　him！〃　　Troke　scratched　his　head　in　bewilderment。　　〃Take　his　irons　off；　and　put　him　in　a　separate　cell　in　the　old　gaol。　　If　a　man　is　a　murderer；　that　is　no　reason　you　should　take　the　law　into　your　own　hands；　is　it？　　You'd　better　take　care；　Mr。　Troke。〃　On　the　way　back　he　met　the　chaplain；　who；　seeing　him；　made　f