°®°®Ð¡ËµÍø > ÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > for the term of his natural life >

µÚ91ÕÂ

for the term of his natural life-µÚ91ÕÂ

С˵£º for the term of his natural life ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



¡¡been¡¡left¡¡behind¡£¡¡¡¡Poor¡¡North£¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡pity¡¡came¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡the¡¡light¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡was¡¡suddenly¡¡extinguished£»¡¡and¡¡Rufus¡¡Dawes£»¡¡compelled¡¡thereto¡¡as¡¡by¡¡an¡¡irresistible¡¡power£»¡¡fell¡¡¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡knees¡¡and¡¡prayed¡¡for¡¡the¡¡pardon¡¡and¡¡happiness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡man¡¡who¡¡had¡¡redeemed¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡


¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡*¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡*¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡*¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡*¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡*¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡*


¡¨That's¡¡a¡¡gun¡¡from¡¡the¡¡shore£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Partridge¡¡the¡¡mate£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡they're¡¡burning¡¡a¡¡red¡¡light¡£¡¡¡¡There's¡¡a¡¡prisoner¡¡escaped¡£¡¡¡¡Shall¡¡we¡¡lie¡­to£¿¡¨

¡¨Lie¡­to£¡¡¨¡¡cried¡¡old¡¡Blunt£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡tremendous¡¡oath¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨We'll¡¡have¡¡suthin'¡¡else¡¡to¡¡do¡£¡¡¡¡Look¡¡there£¡¡¨

The¡¡sky¡¡to¡¡the¡¡northward¡¡was¡¡streaked¡¡with¡¡a¡¡belt¡¡of¡¡livid¡¡green¡¡colour£»¡¡above¡¡which¡¡rose¡¡a¡¡mighty¡¡black¡¡cloud£»¡¡whose¡¡shape¡¡was¡¡ever¡¡changing¡£




CHAPTER¡¡XVIII¡£

THE¡¡CYCLONE¡£



Bunt£»¡¡recognising¡¡the¡¡meteoric¡¡heralds¡¡of¡¡danger£»¡¡had¡¡begun¡¡to¡¡regret¡¡his¡¡obstinacy¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡a¡¡hurricane¡¡was¡¡approaching¡£



Along¡¡the¡¡south¡¡coast¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Australian¡¡continent£»¡¡though¡¡the¡¡usual¡¡westerly¡¡winds¡¡and¡¡gales¡¡of¡¡the¡¡highest¡¡latitudes¡¡prevail¡¡during¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡portion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡year£»¡¡hurricanes¡¡are¡¡not¡¡infrequent¡£¡¡Gales¡¡commence¡¡at¡¡NW¡¡with¡¡a¡¡low¡¡barometer£»¡¡increasing¡¡at¡¡W¡¡and¡¡SW£»¡¡and¡¡gradually¡¡veering¡¡to¡¡the¡¡south¡£¡¡¡¡True¡¡cyclones¡¡occur¡¡at¡¡New¡¡Zealand¡£¡¡The¡¡log¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Adelaide¡¡for¡¡29th¡¡February£»¡¡1870£»¡¡describes¡¡one¡¡which¡¡travelled¡¡at¡¡the¡¡rate¡¡of¡¡ten¡¡miles¡¡an¡¡hour£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡all¡¡the¡¡veerings£»¡¡calm¡¡centre£»¡¡etc¡££»¡¡of¡¡a¡¡true¡¡tropical¡¡hurricane¡£¡¡¡¡Now¡¡a¡¡cyclone¡¡occurring¡¡off¡¡the¡¡west¡¡coast¡¡of¡¡New¡¡Zealand¡¡would¡¡travel¡¡from¡¡the¡¡New¡¡Hebrides£»¡¡where¡¡such¡¡storms¡¡are¡¡hideously¡¡frequent£»¡¡and¡¡envelop¡¡Norfolk¡¡Island£»¡¡passing¡¡directly¡¡across¡¡the¡¡track¡¡of¡¡vessels¡¡coming¡¡from¡¡South¡¡America¡¡to¡¡Sydney¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡these¡¡rotatory¡¡storms£»¡¡an¡¡escaped¡¡tempest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tropics£»¡¡which¡¡threatened¡¡the¡¡Lady¡¡Franklin¡£



The¡¡ominous¡¡calm¡¡which¡¡had¡¡brooded¡¡over¡¡the¡¡island¡¡during¡¡the¡¡day¡¡had¡¡given¡¡place¡¡to¡¡a¡¡smart¡¡breeze¡¡from¡¡the¡¡north¡­east£»¡¡¡¡and¡¡though¡¡the¡¡schooner¡¡had¡¡been¡¡sheltered¡¡at¡¡her¡¡anchorage¡¡under¡¡the¡¡lee¡¡of¡¡the¡¡island¡¡£¨the¡¡¡¨harbour¡¨¡¡looked¡¡nearly¡¡due¡¡south£©£»¡¡when¡¡once¡¡fairly¡¡out¡¡to¡¡sea£»¡¡Blunt¡¡saw¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡put¡¡back¡¡in¡¡the¡¡teeth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gale¡£¡¡Haply£»¡¡however£»¡¡the¡¡full¡¡fury¡¡of¡¡the¡¡storm¡¡would¡¡not¡¡overtake¡¡them¡¡till¡¡they¡¡had¡¡gained¡¡sea¡­room¡£

Rufus¡¡Dawes£»¡¡exhausted¡¡with¡¡the¡¡excitement¡¡through¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡passed£»¡¡had¡¡slept¡¡for¡¡two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡hours£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡awakened¡¡by¡¡the¡¡motion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vessel¡¡going¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡¡tack¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡his¡¡feet£»¡¡and¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡complete¡¡darkness¡£¡¡¡¡Overhead¡¡was¡¡the¡¡noise¡¡of¡¡trampling¡¡feet£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡could¡¡distinguish¡¡the¡¡hoarse¡¡tones¡¡of¡¡Blunt¡¡bellowing¡¡orders¡£¡¡Astonished¡¡at¡¡the¡¡absence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡moonlight¡¡which¡¡had¡¡so¡¡lately¡¡silvered¡¡the¡¡sea£»¡¡he¡¡flung¡¡open¡¡the¡¡cabin¡¡window¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡out¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡we¡¡have¡¡said£»¡¡the¡¡cabin¡¡allotted¡¡to¡¡North¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡stern¡¡cabins£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡it¡¡the¡¡convict¡¡had¡¡a¡¡full¡¡view¡¡of¡¡the¡¡approaching¡¡storm¡£

The¡¡sight¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡wild¡¡grandeur¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡huge£»¡¡black¡¡cloud¡¡which¡¡hung¡¡in¡¡the¡¡horizon¡¡had¡¡changed¡¡its¡¡shape¡£¡¡¡¡Instead¡¡of¡¡a¡¡curtain¡¡it¡¡was¡¡an¡¡arch¡£¡¡Beneath¡¡this¡¡vast¡¡and¡¡magnificent¡¡portal¡¡shone¡¡a¡¡dull¡¡phosphoric¡¡light¡£¡¡Across¡¡this¡¡livid¡¡space¡¡pale¡¡flashes¡¡of¡¡sheet¡­lightning¡¡passed¡¡noiselessly¡£¡¡Behind¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡dull¡¡and¡¡threatening¡¡murmur£»¡¡made¡¡up¡¡of¡¡the¡¡grumbling¡¡of¡¡thunder£»¡¡the¡¡falling¡¡of¡¡rain£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡roar¡¡of¡¡contending¡¡wind¡¡and¡¡water¡£¡¡The¡¡lights¡¡of¡¡the¡¡prison¡­island¡¡had¡¡disappeared£»¡¡so¡¡rapid¡¡had¡¡been¡¡the¡¡progress¡¡of¡¡the¡¡schooner¡¡under¡¡the¡¡steady¡¡breeze£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ocean¡¡stretched¡¡around£»¡¡black¡¡and¡¡desolate¡£¡¡¡¡Gazing¡¡upon¡¡this¡¡gloomy¡¡expanse£»¡¡Rufus¡¡Dawes¡¡observed¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡phenomenonlightning¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡burst¡¡upwards¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sullen¡¡bosom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡intervals£»¡¡the¡¡darkly¡­rolling¡¡waves¡¡flashed¡¡fire£»¡¡and¡¡streaks¡¡of¡¡flame¡¡shot¡¡upwards¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡wind¡¡increased¡¡in¡¡violence£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡arch¡¡of¡¡light¡¡was¡¡fringed¡¡with¡¡rain¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡dull£»¡¡red¡¡glow¡¡hung¡¡around£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡reflection¡¡of¡¡a¡¡conflagration¡£¡¡¡¡Suddenly£»¡¡a¡¡tremendous¡¡peal¡¡of¡¡thunder£»¡¡accompanied¡¡by¡¡a¡¡terrific¡¡downfall¡¡of¡¡rain£»¡¡rattled¡¡along¡¡the¡¡sky¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡arch¡¡of¡¡light¡¡disappeared£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡some¡¡invisible¡¡hand¡¡had¡¡shut¡¡the¡¡slide¡¡of¡¡a¡¡giant¡¡lantern¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡great¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡water¡¡rushed¡¡roaring¡¡over¡¡the¡¡level¡¡plain¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡an¡¡indescribable¡¡medley¡¡of¡¡sounds£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡tones¡¡of¡¡horror£»¡¡triumph£»¡¡and¡¡torture¡¡were¡¡blended£»¡¡the¡¡cyclone¡¡swooped¡¡upon¡¡them¡£

Rufus¡¡Dawes¡¡comprehended¡¡that¡¡the¡¡elements¡¡had¡¡come¡¡to¡¡¡¡save¡¡or¡¡destroy¡¡him¡£¡¡In¡¡that¡¡awful¡¡instant¡¡the¡¡natural¡¡powers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡man¡¡rose¡¡equal¡¡to¡¡the¡¡occasion¡£¡¡In¡¡a¡¡few¡¡hours¡¡his¡¡fate¡¡would¡¡be¡¡decided£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡necessary¡¡that¡¡he¡¡should¡¡take¡¡all¡¡precaution¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡of¡¡two¡¡events¡¡seemed¡¡inevitable£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡either¡¡be¡¡drowned¡¡where¡¡he¡¡lay£»¡¡or£»¡¡should¡¡the¡¡vessel¡¡weather¡¡the¡¡storm£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡be¡¡forced¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡deck£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡desperate¡¡imposture¡¡he¡¡had¡¡attempted¡¡be¡¡discovered¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡despair¡¡overwhelmed¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡contemplated¡¡the¡¡raging¡¡sea¡¡as¡¡though¡¡he¡¡would¡¡cast¡¡himself¡¡into¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡thus¡¡end¡¡his¡¡troubles¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡tones¡¡of¡¡a¡¡woman's¡¡voice¡¡recalled¡¡him¡¡to¡¡himself¡£¡¡¡¡Cautiously¡¡unlocking¡¡the¡¡cabin¡¡door£»¡¡he¡¡peered¡¡out¡£¡¡The¡¡cuddy¡¡was¡¡lighted¡¡by¡¡a¡¡swinging¡¡lamp¡¡which¡¡revealed¡¡Sylvia¡¡questioning¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡women¡¡concerning¡¡the¡¡storm¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡Rufus¡¡Dawes¡¡looked£»¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡her¡¡glance£»¡¡with¡¡an¡¡air¡¡half¡¡of¡¡hope£»¡¡half¡¡of¡¡fear£»¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡door¡¡behind¡¡which¡¡he¡¡lurked£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡understood¡¡that¡¡she¡¡expected¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡chaplain¡£¡¡¡¡Locking¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡he¡¡proceeded¡¡hastily¡¡to¡¡dress¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡North's¡¡clothes¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡would¡¡wait¡¡until¡¡his¡¡aid¡¡was¡¡absolutely¡¡required£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡rush¡¡out¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡darkness£»¡¡Sylvia¡¡would¡¡mistake¡¡him¡¡for¡¡the¡¡priest¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡convey¡¡her¡¡to¡¡the¡¡boatif¡¡recourse¡¡to¡¡the¡¡boats¡¡should¡¡be¡¡rendered¡¡necessaryand¡¡then¡¡take¡¡the¡¡hazard¡¡of¡¡his¡¡fortune¡£¡¡While¡¡she¡¡was¡¡in¡¡danger£»¡¡his¡¡place¡¡was¡¡near¡¡by¡£



From¡¡the¡¡deck¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vessel¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡was¡¡appalling¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡clouds¡¡had¡¡closed¡¡in¡£¡¡The¡¡arch¡¡of¡¡light¡¡had¡¡disappeared£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡was¡¡a¡¡dull£»¡¡windy¡¡blackness¡£¡¡Gigantic¡¡seas¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡mount¡¡in¡¡the¡¡horizon¡¡and¡¡sweep¡¡towards¡¡and¡¡upon¡¡them¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡as¡¡though¡¡the¡¡ship¡¡lay¡¡in¡¡the¡¡vortex¡¡of¡¡a¡¡whirlpool£»¡¡so¡¡high¡¡on¡¡either¡¡side¡¡of¡¡her¡¡were¡¡piled¡¡the¡¡rough¡¡pyramidical¡¡masses¡¡of¡¡sea¡£¡¡Mighty¡¡gusts¡¡aroseclaps¡¡of¡¡wind¡¡which¡¡seemed¡¡like¡¡strokes¡¡of¡¡thunder¡£¡¡A¡¡sail¡¡loosened¡¡from¡¡its¡¡tackling¡¡was¡¡torn¡¡away¡¡and¡¡blown¡¡out¡¡to¡¡sea£»¡¡disappearing¡¡like¡¡a¡¡shred¡¡of¡¡white¡¡paper¡¡to¡¡leeward¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡mercury¡¡in¡¡the¡¡barometer¡¡marked¡¡29£º50¡£¡¡¡¡Blunt£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡at¡¡the¡¡rum¡¡bottle£»¡¡swore¡¡great¡¡oaths¡¡that¡¡no¡¡soul¡¡on¡¡board¡¡would¡¡see¡¡another¡¡sun£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡Partridge¡¡rebuked¡¡him¡¡for¡¡blasphemy¡¡at¡¡such¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡wept¡¡spirituous¡¡tears¡£

The¡¡howling¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡was¡¡benumbing£»¡¡the¡¡very¡¡fury¡¡of¡¡sound¡¡enfeebled¡¡while¡¡it¡¡terrified¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡sailors£»¡¡horror¡­stricken£»¡¡crawled¡¡about¡¡the¡¡deck£»¡¡clinging¡¡to¡¡anything¡¡they¡¡thought¡¡most¡¡secure¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡raise¡¡the¡¡head¡¡to¡¡look¡¡to¡¡windward¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡eyelids¡¡were¡¡driven¡¡together£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡face¡¡stung¡¡by¡¡the¡¡swift¡¡and¡¡biting¡¡spray¡£¡¡¡¡Men¡¡breathed¡¡this¡¡atmosphere¡¡of¡¡salt¡¡and¡¡wind£»¡¡and¡¡became¡¡sickened¡£¡¡¡¡Partridge¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡orders¡¡were¡¡uselessthe¡¡man¡¡at¡¡his¡¡elbow¡¡could¡¡not¡¡have¡¡heard¡¡them¡£¡¡The¡¡vessel¡¡lay¡¡almost¡¡on¡¡her¡¡beam¡¡ends£»¡¡with¡¡her¡¡helm¡¡up£»¡¡stripped¡¡even¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sails¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡furled¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡yards¡£¡¡¡¡Mortal¡¡hands¡¡could¡¡do¡¡nothing¡¡for¡¡her¡£

By¡¡five¡¡o'clock¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡the¡¡gale¡¡had¡¡reached¡¡its¡¡height¡£¡¡The¡¡heavens¡¡showered¡¡out¡¡rain¡¡and¡¡lightningsrain¡¡which¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡blew¡¡away¡¡before¡¡it¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡ocean£»¡¡lightnings¡¡which¡¡the¡¡ravenous¡¡and¡¡mountainous¡¡waves¡¡swallowed¡¡before¡¡they¡¡could¡¡pierce¡¡the¡¡gloom¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡ship¡¡lay¡¡over¡¡on¡¡her¡¡side£»¡¡held¡¡there¡¡by¡¡the¡¡madly¡¡rushing¡¡wind£»¡¡which¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡flatten¡¡down¡¡the¡¡sea£»¡¡cutting¡¡off¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡the¡¡waves£»¡¡and¡¡breaking¡¡them¡¡into¡¡fine¡¡white¡¡spray¡¡which¡¡covered¡¡the¡¡ocean¡¡like¡¡a¡¡thick¡¡cloud£»¡¡as¡¡high¡¡as¡¡the¡¡topmast¡¡heads¡£¡¡¡¡Each¡¡gust¡¡seemed¡¡unsurpassable¡¡in¡¡intensity£»¡¡but¡¡was¡¡succeeded£»¡¡after¡¡a¡¡pause£»¡¡that¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡lull¡¡but¡¡a¡¡gasp£»¡¡by¡¡one¡¡of¡¡more¡¡frantic¡¡violence¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡barometer¡¡stood¡¡at¡¡27£º82¡£¡¡The¡¡ship¡¡was¡¡a¡¡mere¡¡labouring£»¡¡crazy¡¡wreck£»¡¡that¡¡might¡¡sink¡¡at¡¡any¡¡moment¡£¡¡At¡¡half¡­past¡¡three¡¡o'clock¡¡the¡¡barometer¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡to¡¡27£º62¡£¡¡Save¡¡when¡¡lighted¡¡by¡¡occasional¡¡flashes¡¡of¡¡sheet¡­lightning£»¡¡which¡¡showed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡cowed¡¡wretches¡¡their¡¡awe¡­stricken¡¡faces£»¡¡this¡¡tragedy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡elements¡¡was¡¡performed¡¡in¡¡a¡¡darkness¡¡which¡¡was¡¡almost¡¡palpable¡£

Suddenly¡¡the¡¡mercury¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡29£º90£»¡¡and£»¡¡with¡¡one¡¡awful¡¡shriek£»¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡dropped¡¡to¡¡a¡¡calm¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Lady¡¡Franklin¡¡had¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cyclone¡£¡¡¡¡Partridge£»¡¡glancing¡¡to¡¡where¡¡the¡¡great¡¡body¡¡of¡¡drunken¡¡Blunt¡¡rolled¡¡helplessly¡¡lashed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡wheel£»¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡selfish¡¡joy¡¡thrill¡¡him¡£¡¡If¡¡the¡¡ship¡¡survived¡¡the¡¡drunken¡¡captain¡¡would¡¡be¡¡dismissed£»¡¡and¡¡he£»¡¡Partridge£»¡¡the¡¡gallant£»¡¡would¡¡reign¡¡in¡¡his¡¡stead¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡schooner£»¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡steadied¡¡by¡¡the¡¡wind£»¡¡was¡¡at¡¡the¡¡mercy¡¡of¡¡every¡¡sea¡£¡¡¡¡Volumes¡¡of¡¡water¡¡poured¡¡over¡¡her¡£¡¡Presently¡¡she¡¡heeled¡¡over£»¡¡for£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡triumphant¡¡scream£»¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡leapt¡¡on¡¡to¡¡her¡¡from¡¡a¡¡fresh¡¡quarter¡£¡¡¡¡Following¡¡its¡¡usual¡¡course£»¡¡the¡¡storm¡¡returned¡¡upon¡¡its¡¡track¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡hurricane¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡repeat¡¡itself¡¡from¡¡the¡¡north¡­west¡£

The¡¡sea£»¡¡pouring¡¡down¡¡through¡¡the¡¡burst¡¡hatchway£»¡¡tore¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cuddy¡¡from¡¡its¡¡hinges¡£¡¡¡¡Sylvia¡¡found¡¡herself¡¡surrounded¡¡by¡¡a¡¡wildly¡­surging¡¡torrent¡¡which¡¡threatened¡¡to¡¡overwhelm¡¡¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡shrieked¡¡aloud¡¡for¡¡aid£»¡¡but¡¡her¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡inaudible¡¡even¡¡to¡¡herself¡£¡¡¡¡Clinging¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mast¡¡which¡¡penetrated¡¡the¡¡little¡¡cuddy£»¡¡she¡¡fixed¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡door¡¡behind¡¡which¡¡she¡¡imagined¡¡North¡¡was£»¡¡and¡¡whispered¡¡a¡¡last¡¡prayer¡¡for¡¡succour¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡door¡¡opened£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡out¡¡the¡¡cabin¡¡came¡¡a¡¡figure¡¡clad¡¡in¡¡black¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡up£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡the¡¡expiring¡¡lamp¡¡showed¡¡her¡¡a¡¡face¡¡that¡¡was¡¡not¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡man¡¡she¡¡hoped¡¡to¡¡see¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡dark¡¡eyes¡¡beaming¡¡ineffable¡¡love¡¡and¡¡pity¡¡were¡¡bent¡¡upon¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡dripping¡¡arms¡¡held¡¡her¡¡above¡¡the¡¡brine¡¡as¡¡she¡¡had¡¡once¡¡been¡¡held¡¡in¡¡the¡¡misty¡¡mysterious¡¡days¡¡that¡¡were¡¡gone¡£

In¡¡the¡¡terror¡¡of¡¡that¡¡moment¡¡the¡¡cloud¡¡which¡¡had¡¡so¡¡long¡¡oppressed¡¡her¡¡brain¡¡passed¡¡from¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡action¡¡of¡¡the¡¡strange¡¡man¡¡before¡¡her¡¡completed¡¡and¡¡explained¡¡the¡¡action¡¡of¡¡the¡¡convict¡¡chained¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Port¡¡Arthur¡¡coal¡­wagons£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡convict¡¡kneeling¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Norfolk¡¡Island¡¡torture¡­chamber¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡remembered¡¡the¡¡terrible¡¡experience¡¡of¡¡Macquarie¡¡Harbour¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡recalled¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡of¡¡the¡¡boat¡­building£»¡¡when£»¡¡swung¡¡into¡¡the¡¡air¡¡by¡¡stalwart¡¡arms£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡promised¡¡the¡¡rescuing¡¡prisoner¡¡to¡¡plead¡¡for¡¡him¡¡with¡¡her¡¡kindred¡£¡¡Regaining¡¡her¡¡memory¡¡thus£»¡¡all¡¡the¡¡agony¡¡and¡¡shame¡¡of¡¡the¡¡man's¡¡long¡¡life¡¡of¡¡misery¡¡became¡¡at¡¡once¡¡apparent¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡understood¡¡how¡¡her¡¡husband¡¡had¡¡deceived¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡what¡¡base¡¡injustice¡¡and¡¡falsehood¡¡he¡¡had¡¡bought¡¡her¡¡young¡¡love¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡question¡¡as¡¡to¡¡how¡¡this¡¡doubly¡­condemned¡¡prisoner¡¡had¡¡escaped¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hideous¡¡isle¡¡of¡¡punishment¡¡she¡¡had¡¡quitted¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡asked¡¡noteven¡¡in¡¡her¡¡thoughtshow¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡given¡¡to¡¡him¡¡to¡¡supplant¡¡the¡¡chaplain¡¡in¡¡his¡¡place¡¡on¡¡board¡¡the¡¡vessel¡£¡¡She¡¡only¡¡considered£»¡¡in¡¡her¡¡sudden¡¡awakening£»¡¡the¡¡story¡¡of¡¡his¡¡wrongs£»¡¡remembered¡¡only¡¡his¡¡marvellous¡¡fortitude¡¡and¡¡love£»¡¡knew¡¡only£»¡¡in¡¡this¡¡last¡¡instant¡¡of¡¡her¡¡pure£»¡¡ill¡­fated¡¡life£»¡¡that¡¡as¡¡he¡¡had¡¡saved¡¡her¡¡once¡¡from¡¡starvation¡¡and¡¡death£»¡¡so¡¡had¡¡he¡¡come¡¡again¡¡to¡¡save¡¡her¡¡from¡¡sin¡¡and¡¡from¡¡despair¡£¡¡¡¡Whoever¡¡has¡¡known¡¡a¡¡deadly¡¡peril¡¡will¡¡remember¡¡how¡¡swiftly¡¡thought¡¡then¡¡travelled¡¡back¡¡through¡¡scenes¡¡clean¡¡forgotten£»¡¡and¡¡will¡¡understand¡¡how¡¡Sylvia's¡¡retrospective¡¡vision¡¡merged¡¡the¡¡past¡¡into¡¡the¡¡actual¡¡before¡¡her£»¡¡how¡¡the¡¡shock¡¡of¡¡recovered¡¡memory¡¡subside

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨1£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ