for the term of his natural life-第9章

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t　is　inert；　heaving　noiselessly；　it　is　dumb；　and　seems　to　brood　over　mischief。　　The　ocean　in　a　calm　is　like　a　sulky　giant；　one　dreads　that　it　may　be　meditating　evil。　　Moreover；　an　angry　sea　looks　less　vast　in　extent　than　a　calm　one。　　Its　mounting　waves　bring　the　horizon　nearer；　and　one　does　not　discern　how　for　many　leagues　the　pitiless　billows　repeat　themselves。　　To　appreciate　the　hideous　vastness　of　the　ocean　one　must　see　it　when　it　sleeps。

The　great　sky　uprose　from　this　silent　sea　without　a　cloud。　　The　stars　hung　low　in　its　expanse；　burning　in　a　violent　mist　of　lower　ether。　　The　heavens　were　emptied　of　sound；　and　each　dip　of　the　oars　was　re…echoed　in　space　by　a　succession　of　subtle　harmonies。　　As　the　blades　struck　the　dark　water；　it　flashed　fire；　and　the　tracks　of　the　boats　resembled　two　sea…snakes　writhing　with　silent　undulations　through　a　lake　of　quicksilver。

It　had　been　a　sort　of　race　hitherto；　and　the　rowers；　with　set　teeth　and　compressed　lips；　had　pulled　stroke　for　stroke。　　At　last　the　foremost　boat　came　to　a　sudden　pause。　　Best　gave　a　cheery　shout　and　passed　her；　steering　straight　into　the　broad　track　of　crimson　that　already　reeked　on　the　sea　ahead。

〃What　is　it？〃　he　cried。

But　he　heard　only　a　smothered　curse　from　Frere；　and　then　his　consort　pulled　hard　to　overtake　him。

It　was；　in　fact；　nothing　of　consequenceonly　a　prisoner　〃giving　in〃。

〃Curse　it！〃　says　Frere；　〃What's　the　matter　with　you？　　Oh；　you；　is　it？Dawes！　Of　course；　Dawes。　　I　never　expected　anything　better　from　such　a　skulking　hound。　Come；　this　sort　of　nonsense　won't　do　with　me。　　It　isn't　as　nice　as　lolloping　about　the　hatchways；　I　dare　say；　but　you'll　have　to　go　on；　my　fine　fellow。〃

〃He　seems　sick；　sir；〃　said　compassionate　bow。

〃Sick！　　Not　he。　　Shamming。　　Come；　give　way　now！　　Put　your　backs　into　it！〃　and　the　convict　having　picked　up　his　oar；　the　boat　shot　forward　again。

But；　for　all　Mr。　Frere's　urging；　he　could　not　recover　the　way　he　had　lost；　and　Best　was　the　first　to　run　in　under　the　black　cloud　that　hung　over　the　crimsoned　water。

At　his　signal；　the　second　boat　came　alongside。

〃Keep　wide；〃　he　said。　　〃If　there　are　many　fellows　yet　aboard；　they'll　swamp　us；　and　I　think　there　must　be；　as　we　haven't　met　the　boats；〃　and　then　raising　his　voice；　as　the　exhausted　crew　lay　on　their　oars；　he　hailed　the　burning　ship。

She　was　a　huge；　clumsily…built　vessel；　with　great　breadth　of　beam；　and　a　lofty　poop…deck。　　Strangely　enough；　though　they　had　so　lately　seen　the　fire；　she　was　already　a　wreck；　and　appeared　to　be　completely　deserted。　The　chief　hold　of　the　fire　was　amidships；　and　the　lower　deck　was　one　mass　of　flame。　　Here　and　there　were　great　charred　rifts　and　gaps　in　her　sides；　and　the　red…hot　fire　glowed　through　these　as　through　the　bars　of　a　grate。　The　main…mast　had　fallen　on　the　starboard　side；　and　trailed　a　blackened　wreck　in　the　water；　causing　the　unwieldy　vessel　to　lean　over　heavily。　The　fire　roared　like　a　cataract；　and　huge　volumes　of　flame…flecked　smoke　poured　up　out　of　the　hold；　and　rolled　away　in　a　low…lying　black　cloud　over　the　sea。

As　Frere's　boat　pulled　slowly　round　her　stern；　he　hailed　the　deck　again　and　again。

Still　there　was　no　answer；　and　though　the　flood　of　light　that　dyed　the　water　blood…red　struck　out　every　rope　and　spar　distinct　and　clear；　his　straining　eyes　could　see　no　living　soul　aboard。　　As　they　came　nearer；　they　could　distinguish　the　gilded　letters　of　her　name。

〃What　is　it；　men？〃　cried　Frere；　his　voice　almost　drowned　amid　the　roar　of　the　flames。　　〃Can　you　see？〃

Rufus　Dawes；　impelled；　it　would　seem；　by　some　strong　impulse　of　curiosity；　stood　erect；　and　shaded　his　eyes　with　his　hand。

〃Wellcan't　you　speak？　　What　is　it？〃

〃The　Hydaspes！〃

Frere　gasped。

The　Hydaspes！　　The　ship　in　which　his　cousin　Richard　Devine　had　sailed！　The　ship　for　which　those　in　England　might　now　look　in　vain！　　The　Hydaspes　whichsomething　he　had　heard　during　the　speculations　as　to　this　missing　cousin　flashed　across　him。

〃Back　water；　men！　　Round　with　her！　　Pull　for　your　lives！〃

Best's　boat　glided　alongside。

〃Can　you　see　her　name？〃

Frere；　white　with　terror；　shouted　a　reply。

〃The　Hydaspes！　　I　know　her。　　She　is　bound　for　Calcutta；　and　she　has　five　tons　of　powder　aboard！〃

There　was　no　need　for　more　words。　　The　single　sentence　explained　the　whole　mystery　of　her　desertion。　　The　crew　had　taken　to　the　boats　on　the　first　alarm；　and　had　left　their　death…fraught　vessel　to　her　fate。　They　were　miles　off　by　this　time；　and　unluckily　for　themselves；　perhaps；　had　steered　away　from　the　side　where　rescue　lay。

The　boats　tore　through　the　water。　　Eager　as　the　men　had　been　to　come；　they　were　more　eager　to　depart。　　The　flames　had　even　now　reached　the　poop；　in　a　few　minutes　it　would　be　too　late。　　For　ten　minutes　or　more　not　a　word　was　spoken。　　With　straining　arms　and　labouring　chests；　the　rowers　tugged　at　the　oars；　their　eyes　fixed　on　the　lurid　mass　they　were　leaving。　　Frere　and　Best；　with　their　faces　turned　back　to　the　terror　they　fled　from；　urged　the　men　to　greater　efforts。　　Already　the　flames　had　lapped　the　flag；　already　the　outlines　of　the　stern　carvings　were　blurred　by　the　fire。

Another　moment；　and　all　would　be　over。　　Ah！　　it　had　come　at　last。　A　dull　rumbling　sound；　the　burning　ship　parted　asunder；　a　pillar　of　fire；　flecked　with　black　masses　that　were　beams　and　planks；　rose　up　out　of　the　ocean；　there　was　a　terrific　crash；　as　though　sea　and　sky　were　coming　together；　and　then　a　mighty　mountain　of　water　rose；　advanced；　caught；　and　passed　them；　and　they　were　alonedeafened；　stunned；　and　breathless；　in　a　sudden　horror　of　thickest　darkness；　and　a　silence　like　that　of　the　tomb。

The　splashing　of　the　falling　fragments　awoke　them　from　their　stupor；　and　then　the　blue　light　of　the　Malabar　struck　out　a　bright　pathway　across　the　sea；　and　they　knew　that　they　were　safe。


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On　board　the　Malabar　two　men　paced　the　deck；　waiting　for　dawn。

It　came　at　last。　　The　sky　lightened；　the　mist　melted　away；　and　then　a　long；　low；　far…off　streak　of　pale　yellow　light　floated　on　the　eastern　horizon。　By　and　by　the　water　sparkled；　and　the　sea　changed　colour；　turning　from　black　to　yellow；　and　from　yellow　to　lucid　green。　　The　man　at　the　masthead　hailed　the　deck。　　The　boats　were　in　sight；　and　as　they　came　towards　the　ship；　the　bright　water　flashing　from　the　labouring　oars；　a　crowd　of　spectators　hanging　over　the　bulwarks　cheered　and　waved　their　hats。

〃Not　a　soul！〃　cried　Blunt。　　〃No　one　but　themselves。　Well；　I'm　glad　they're　safe　anyway。〃

The　boats　drew　alongside；　and　in　a　few　seconds　Frere　was　upon　deck。

〃Well；　Mr。　Frere？〃

〃No　use；〃　cried　Frere；　shivering。　　〃We　only　just　had　time　to　get　away。　The　nearest　thing　in　the　world；　sir。〃

〃Didn't　you　see　anyone？〃

〃Not　a　soul。　　They　must　have　taken　to　the　boats。〃

〃Then　they　can't　be　far　off；〃　cried　Blunt；　sweeping　the　horizon　with　his　glass。　〃They　must　have　pulled　all　the　way；　for　there　hasn't　been　enough　wind　to　fill　a　hollow　tooth　with。〃　〃Perhaps　they　pulled　in　the　wrong　direction；〃　said　Frere。　　〃They　had　a　good　four　hours'　start　of　us；　you　know。〃

Then　Best　came　up；　and　told　the　story　to　a　crowd　of　eager　listeners。　The　sailors　having　hoisted　and　secured　the　boats；　were　hurried　off　to　the　forecastle；　there　to　eat；　and　relate　their　experience　between　mouthfuls；　and　the　four　convicts　were　taken　in　charge　and　locked　below　again。

〃You　had　better　go　and　turn　in；　Frere；〃　said　Pine　gruffly。　　〃It's　no　use　whistling　for　a　wind　here　all　day。〃

Frere　laughedin　his　heartiest　manner。　　〃I　think　I　will；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　dog　tired；　and　as　sleepy　as　an　owl；〃　and　he　descended　the　poop　ladder。　Pine　took　a　couple　of　turns　up　and　down　the　deck；　and　then　catching　Blunt's　eye；　stopped　in　front　of　Vickers。

〃You　may　think　it　a　hard　thing　to　say；　Captain　Vickers；　but　it's　just　as　well　if　we　don't　find　these　poor　devils。　　We　have　quite　enough　on　our　hands　as　it　is。〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　Mr。　Pine？〃　says　Vickers；　his　humane　feelings　getting　the　better　of　his　pomposity。　　〃You　would　not　surely　leave　the　unhappy　men　to　their　fate。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　returned　the　other；　〃they　would　not　thank　us　for　taking　them　aboard。〃

〃I　don't　understand　you。〃

〃The　fever　has　broken　out。〃

Vickers　raised　his　brows。　　He　had　no　experience　of　such　things；　and　though　the　intelligence　was　startling；　the　crowded　condition　of　the　prison　rendered　it　easy　to　be　understood；　and　he　apprehended　no　danger　to　himself。

〃It　is　a　great　misfortune；　but；　of　course；　you　will　take　such　steps〃

〃It　is　only　in　the　prison；　as　yet；〃　says　Pine；　with　a　grim　emphasis　on　the　word；　〃but　there　is　no　saying　how　long　it　may　stop　there。　I　have　got　three　men　down　as　it　is。〃　〃Well；　sir；　all　authority　in　the　matter　is　in　your　hands。　　Any　suggestions　you　make；　I　will；　of　course；　do　my　best　to　carry　out。〃

〃Thank　ye。　　I　must　have　more　room　in　the　hospital　to　begin　with。　The　soldiers　must　lie　a　little　closer。〃

〃I　will　see　what　can　be　done。〃

〃And　you　had　better　keep　your　wife　and　the　little　girl　as　much　on　deck　as　possible。〃

Vickers　turned　pale　at　the　mention　of　his　child。　　〃Good　Heaven！　do　you　think　there　is　any　danger？〃

〃There　is；　of　course；　danger　to　all　of　us；　but　with　care　we　may　escape　it。　There's　that　maid；　too。　　Tell　her　to　keep　to　herself　a　little　more。　She　has　a　trick　of　roaming　about　the　ship　I　don't　like。　　Infection　is　easily　spread；　and　children　always　sicken　sooner　than　grown…up　people。〃

Vickers　pressed　his　lips　together。　　This　old　man；　with　his　harsh；　dissonant　voice；　and　hideous　practicality；　seemed　like　a　bird　of　ill　omen。

Blunt；　hitherto　silently　listening；　put　in　a　word　for　defence　of　the　absent　woman。　　〃The　wench　is　right　enough；　Pine；〃　said　he。　〃What's　the　matter　with　her？〃

〃Yes；　she's　all　right；　I've　no　doubt。　　She's　less　likely　to　take　it　than　any　of　us。　　You　can　see　her　vitality　in　her　faceas　many　lives　as　a　cat。　But　she'd　bring　infection　quicker　than　anybody。〃

〃I'llI'll　go　at　once；〃　cried　poor　Vickers；　turning　round。　The　woman　of　whom　they　were　speaking　met　him　on　the　ladder。　Her　face　was　paler　than　usual；　and　dark　circles　round　her　eyes　gave　evidence　of　a　sleepless　night。　　She　opened　her　red　lips　to　speak；　and　then；　seeing　Vickers；　stopped　abruptly。

〃Well；　what　is　it？〃

She　looked　from　one　to　the　other。　　〃I　came　for　Dr。　　Pine。〃

Vickers；　with　the　quick　intelligence　of　affection；　guessed　her　errand。　〃Someone　is　ill？〃

〃Miss　Sylvia；　sir。　　It　is　nothing　to　signify；　I　think。　　A　little　feverish　and　hot；　and　my　mistress〃

Vickers　was　down　the　ladder　in　an　instant；　with　scared　face。

Pine　caught　the　girl's　round　firm　arm。　　〃Where　have　you　been？〃　Two　great　flakes　of　red　came　out　in　her　white　cheeks；　and　she　shot　an　indignant　glance　at　Blunt。

〃Come；　Pine；　let　the　wench　alone！〃

〃Were　you　with　the　child　last　night？〃　went　on　Pine；　without　turning　his　head。

〃No；　I　have　not　been　in　the　cabin　since　dinner　yesterday。　Mrs。　Vickers　only　called　me　in　just　now。　　Let　go　my　arm；　sir；　you　hurt　me。〃

Pine　loosed　his　hold　as　if　satisfied　at　the　reply。　　〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　said　gruffly。　　〃I　did　not　mean　to　hurt　you。　　But　the　fever　has　broken　out　in　the　prison；　and　I　think　the　child　has　caught　it。　　You　must　be　careful　where　you　go。〃　And　then；　with　an　anxious　face；