the amateur cracksman-第13章

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ll。　　There　was　a　dog；　too；　to　reckon　with　（our　very　worst　enemy；　Bunny）；　but　I　had　been　'cute　enough　to　make　immense　friends　with　him　during　the　evening；　and　he　wagged　his　tail；　not　only　when　I　came　downstairs；　but　when　I　reappeared　at　the　back…door。

〃As　the　soi…disant　new　manager；　I　had　been　able；　in　the　most　ordinary　course；　to　pump　poor　Ewbank　about　anything　and　everything　connected　with　the　working　of　the　bank；　especially　in　those　twenty　last　invaluable　minutes　before　turning　in。　　And　I　had　made　a　very　natural　point　of　asking　him　where　he　kept；　and　would　recommend　me　to　keep；　the　keys　at　night。　　Of　course　I　thought　he　would　take　them　with　him　to　his　room；　but　no　such　thing；　he　had　a　dodge　worth　two　of　that。　　What　it　was　doesn't　much　matter；　but　no　outsider　would　have　found　those　keys　in　a　month　of　Sundays。

〃I；　of　course；　had　them　in　a　few　seconds；　and　in　a　few　more　I　was　in　the　strong…room　itself。　　I　forgot　to　say　that　the　moon　had　risen　and　was　letting　quite　a　lot　of　light　into　the　bank。　　I　had；　however；　brought　a　bit　of　candle　with　me　from　my　room；　and　in　the　strong…room；　which　was　down　some　narrow　stairs　behind　the　counter　in　the　banking…chamber；　I　had　no　hesitation　in　lighting　it。　　There　was　no　window　down　there；　and；　though　I　could　no　longer　hear　old　Ewbank　snoring；　I　had　not　the　slightest　reason　to　anticipate　disturbance　from　that　quarter。　　I　did　think　of　locking　myself　in　while　I　was　at　work；　but；　thank　goodness；　the　iron　door　had　no　keyhole　on　the　inside。

〃Well；　there　were　heaps　of　gold　in　the　safe；　but　I　only　took　what　I　needed　and　could　comfortably　carry；　not　much　more　than　a　couple　of　hundred　altogether。　　Not　a　note　would　I　touch；　and　my　native　caution　came　out　also　in　the　way　I　divided　the　sovereigns　between　all　my　pockets；　and　packed　them　up　so　that　I　shouldn't　be　like　the　old　woman　of　Banbury　Cross。　　Well；　you　think　me　too　cautious　still；　but　I　was　insanely　cautious　then。　　And　so　it　was　that；　just　as　I　was　ready　to　go；　whereas　I　might　have　been　gone　ten　minutes；　there　came　a　violent　knocking　at　the　outer　door。

〃Bunny；　it　was　the　outer　door　of　the　banking…chamber！　　My　candle　must　have　been　seen！　　And　there　I　stood；　with　the　grease　running　hot　over　my　fingers；　in　that　brick　grave　of　a　strong…room！

〃There　was　only　one　thing　to　be　done。　　I　must　trust　to　the　sound　sleeping　of　Ewbank　upstairs；　open　the　door　myself；　knock　the　visitor　down；　or　shoot　him　with　the　revolver　I　had　been　new　chum　enough　to　buy　before　leaving　Melbourne；　and　make　a　dash　for　that　clump　of　trees　and　the　doctor's　mare。　　My　mind　was　made　up　in　an　instant；　and　I　was　at　the　top　of　the　strong…room　stairs；　the　knocking　still　continuing；　when　a　second　sound　drove　me　back。　　It　was　the　sound　of　bare　feet　coming　along　a　corridor。

〃My　narrow　stair　was　stone；　I　tumbled　down　it　with　little　noise；　and　had　only　to　push　open　the　iron　door；　for　I　had　left　the　keys　in　the　safe。　　As　I　did　so　I　heard　a　handle　turn　overhead；　and　thanked　my　gods　that　I　had　shut　every　single　door　behind　me。　　You　see；　old　chap；　one's　caution　doesn't　always　let　one　in！

〃'Who's　that　knocking？'　said　Ewbank　up　above。

〃I　could　not　make　out　the　answer；　but　it　sounded　to　me　like　the　irrelevant　supplication　of　a　spent　man。　　What　I　did　hear；　plainly；　was　the　cocking　of　the　bank　revolver　before　the　bolts　were　shot　back。　　Then；　a　tottering　step；　a　hard；　short；　shallow　breathing；　and　Ewbank's　voice　in　horror

〃'My　God！　　Good　Lord！　　What's　happened　to　you？　　You're　bleeding　like　a　pig！'

〃'Not　now；'　came　with　a　grateful　sort　of　sigh。

〃'But　you　have　been！　　What's　done　it？'

〃'Bushrangers。'

〃'Down　the　road？'

〃'This　and　Whittleseatied　to　treecock　shotsleft　mebleed　to　death　。　。　。'

The　weak　voice　failed；　and　the　bare　feet　bolted。　　Now　was　my　timeif　the　poor　devil　had　fainted。　　But　I　could　not　be　sure；　and　there　I　crouched　down　below　in　the　dark；　at　the　half…shut　iron　door；　not　less　spellbound　than　imprisoned。　　It　was　just　as　well；　for　Ewbank　wasn't　gone　a　minute。

〃'Drink　this；'　I　heard　him　say；　and；　when　the　other　spoke　again；　his　voice　was　stronger。

〃'Now　I　begin　to　feel　alive　。　。　。'

〃'Don't　talk！'

〃'It　does　me　good。　　You　don't　know　what　it　was；　all　those　miles　alone；　one　an　hour　at　the　outside！　　I　never　thought　I　should　come　through。　You　must　let　me　tell　youin　case　I　don't！'

〃'Well；　have　another　sip。'

〃'Thank　you　。　。　。　　I　said　bushrangers；　of　course；　there　are　no　such　things　nowadays。'

〃'What　were　they；　then？'

〃'Bank…thieves；　the　one　that　had　the　pot　shots　was　the　very　brute　I　drove　out　of　the　bank　at　Coburg；　with　a　bullet　in　him！〃'

〃I　knew　it！〃

〃Of　course　you　did；　Bunny；　so　did　I；　down　in　that　strong…room；　but　old　Ewbank　didn't；　and　I　thought　he　was　never　going　to　speak　again。

〃'You're　delirious；'　he　says　at　last。　　'Who　in　blazes　do　you　think　you　are？'

〃'The　new　manager。'

〃'The　new　manager's　in　bed　and　asleep　upstairs。'

〃'When　did　he　arrive？'

〃'This　evening。'

〃'Call　himself　Raffles？'

'''Yes。'

〃'Well；　I'm　damned！'　whispered　the　real　man。　'I　thought　it　was　just　revenge；　but　now　I　see　what　it　was。　　My　dear　sir；　the　man　upstairs　is　an　imposterif　he's　upstairs　still！　　He　must　be　one　of　the　gang。　　He's　going　to　rob　the　bankif　he　hasn't　done　so　already！'

〃'If　he　hasn't　done　so　already；'　muttered　Ewbank　after　him；　'if　he's　upstairs　still！　　By　God；　if　he　is；　I'm　sorry　for　him！'

〃His　tone　was　quiet　enough；　but　about　the　nastiest　I　ever　heard。　　I　tell　you；　Bunny；　I　was　glad　I'd　brought　that　revolver。　　It　looked　as　though　it　must　be　mine　against　his；　muzzle　to　muzzle。

〃'Better　have　a　look　down　here；　first；'　said　the　new　manager。

〃'While　he　gets　through　his　window？　　No；　no；　he's　not　down　here。'

〃'It's　easy　to　have　a　look。'

〃Bunny；　if　you　ask　me　what　was　the　most　thrilling　moment　of　my　infamous　career；　I　say　it　was　that　moment。　　There　I　stood　at　the　bottom　of　those　narrow　stone　stairs；　inside　the　strong…room；　with　the　door　a　good　foot　open；　and　I　didn't　know　whether　it　would　creak　or　not。　　The　light　was　coming　nearerand　I　didn't　know！　　I　had　to　chance　it。　　And　it　didn't　creak　a　bit；　it　was　far　too　solid　and　well…hung；　and　I　couldn't　have　banged　it　if　I　tried；　it　was　too　heavy；　and　it　fitted　so　close　that　I　felt　and　heard　the　air　squeeze　out　in　my　face。　　Every　shred　of　light　went　out；　except　the　streak　underneath；　and　it　brightened。　　How　I　blessed　that　door！

〃'No；　he's　not　down　THERE；'　I　heard；　as　though　through　cotton…wool；　then　the　streak　went　out　too；　and　in　a　few　seconds　I　ventured　to　open　once　more；　and　was　in　time　to　hear　them　creeping　to　my　room。

〃Well；　now　there　was　not　a　fifth　of　a　second　to　be　lost；　but　I'm　proud　to　say　I　came　up　those　stairs　on　my　toes　and　fingers；　and　out　of　that　bank　（they'd　gone　and　left　the　door　open）　just　as　gingerly　as　though　my　time　had　been　my　own。　　I　didn't　even　forget　to　put　on　the　hat　that　the　doctor's　mare　was　eating　her　oats　out　of；　as　well　as　she　could　with　a　bit；　or　it　alone　would　have　landed　me。　　I　didn't　even　gallop　away；　but　just　jogged　off　quietly　in　the　thick　dust　at　the　side　of　the　road　（though　I　own　my　heart　was　galloping）；　and　thanked　my　stars　the　bank　was　at　that　end　of　the　township；　in　which　I　really　hadn't　set　foot。　　The　very　last　thing　I　heard　was　the　two　managers　raising　Cain　and　the　coachman。　　And　now；　Bunny〃

He　stood　up　and　stretched　himself；　with　a　smile　that　ended　in　a　yawn。　　The　black　windows　had　faded　through　every　shade　of　indigo；　they　now　framed　their　opposite　neighbors；　stark　and　livid　in　the　dawn；　and　the　gas　seemed　turned　to　nothing　in　the　globes。

〃But　that's　not　all？〃　I　cried。

〃I'm　sorry　to　say　it　is；〃　said　Raffles　apologetically。　　〃The　thing　should　have　ended　with　an　exciting　chase；　I　know；　but　somehow　it　didn't。　　I　suppose　they　thought　I　had　got　no　end　of　a　start；　then　they　had　made　up　their　minds　that　I　belonged　to　the　gang；　which　was　not　so　many　miles　away；　and　one　of　them　had　got　as　much　as　he　could　carry　from　that　gang　as　it　was。　　But　I　wasn't　to　know　all　that；　and　I'm　bound　to　say　that　there　was　plenty　of　excitement　left　for　me。　　Lord；　how　I　made　that　poor　brute　travel　when　I　got　among　the　trees！　Though　we　must　have　made　it　over　fifty　miles　from　Melbourne；　we　had　done　it　at　a　snail's　pace；　and　those　stolen　oats　had　brisked　the　old　girl　up　to　such　a　pitch　that　she　fairly　bolted　when　she　felt　her　nose　turned　south。　　By　Jove；　it　was　no　joke；　in　and　out　among　those　trees；　and　under　branches　with　your　face　in　the　mane！　　I　told　you　about　the　forest　of　dead　gums？　　It　looked　perfectly　ghostly　in　the　moonlight。　　And　I　found　it　as　still　as　I　had　left　itso　still　that　I　pulled　up　there；　my　first　halt；　and　lay　with　my　ear　to　the　ground　for　two　or　three　minutes。　　But　I　heard　nothingnot　a　thing　but　the　mare's　bellow　and　my　own　heart。　　I'm　sorry；　Bunny；　but　if　ever　you　write　my　memoirs；　you　won't　have　any　difficulty　in　working　up　that　chase。　Play　those　dead　gum…trees　for　all　they're　worth；　and　let　the　bullets　fly　like　hail。　　I'll　turn　round　in　my　saddle　to　see　Ewbank　coming　up　hell…to…leather　in　his　white　suit；　and　I'll　duly　paint　it　red。　　Do　it　in　the　third　person；　and　they　won't　know　how　it's　going　to　end。〃

〃But　I　don't　know　myself；〃　I　complained。　〃Did　the　mare　carry　you　all　the　way　back　to　Melbourne？〃

〃Every　rod；　pole　or　perch！　　I　had　her　well　seen　to　at　our　hotel；　and　returned　her　to　the　doctor　in　the　evening。　　He　was　tremendously　tickled　to　hear　that　I　had　been　bushed；　next　morning　he　brought　me　the　paper　to　show　me　what　I　had　escaped　at　Yea！〃

〃Without　suspecting　anything？〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Raffles；　as　he　put　out　the　gas；　〃that's　a　point　on　which　I've　never　made　up　my　mind。　The　mare　and　her　color　was　a　coincidenceluckily　she　was　only　a　bayand　I　fancied　the　condition　of　the　beast　must　have　told　a　tale。　　The　doctor's　manner　was　certainly　different。　　I'm　inclined　to　think　he　suspected　something；　though　not　the　right　thing。　　I　wasn't　expecting　him；　and　I　fear　my　appearance　may　have　increased　his　suspicions。〃

I　asked　him　why。

〃I　used　to　have　rather　a　heavy　moustache；〃　said　Raffles；　〃but　I　lost　it　the　day　after　I　lost　my　innocence。〃

　　WILFUL　MURDER

Of　the　various　robberies　in　which　we　were　both　concerned；　it　is　but　the　few；　I　find；　that　will　bear　telling　at　any　length。　　Not　that　the　others　contained　details　which　even　I　would　hesitate　to　recount；　it　is；　rather；　the　very　absence　of　untoward　incident　which　renders　them　useless　for　my　present　purpose。　　In　point　of　fact　our　plans　were　so　craftily　laid　（by　Raffles）　that　the　chances　of　a　hitch　were　invariably　reduced　to　a　minimum　before　we　went　to　work。　　We　might　be　disappointed　in　the　market　value　of　our　haul；　but　it　was　quite　the　exception　for　us　to　find　ourselves　confronted　by　unforeseen　impediments；　or　involved　in　a　really　dramatic　dilemma。　　There　was　a　sameness　even　in　our　spoil；　for；　of　course；　only　the　most　precious　stones　are　worth　the　trouble　we　took　and　the　risks　we　ran。　　In　short；　our　most　successful　escapades　would　prove　the　greatest　weariness　of　all　in　narrative　form；　and　none　more　so　than　the　dull　affair　of　the　Ardagh　emeralds；　some　eight　or　nine　weeks　after　the　Milchester　cricket　week。　　The　former；　however；　had　a　sequel　that　I　would　rather　forget　than　all　our　burglaries　put　together。

It　was　the　evening　after　our　return　from　Ireland；　and　I　was　waiting　at　my　rooms　for　Raff