returning home-第4章

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money　would　have　bought　from　them。

On　the　next　day　about　noon　the　post　did　pass　them；　consisting　of
three　strong　men　carrying　great　weights　on　their　backs；　suspended　by
bands　from　their　foreheads。　　They　travelled　much　quicker　than　our
friends；　and　would　reach　the　banks　of　the　river　that　evening。　　In
their　ordinary　course　they　would　start　down　the　river　close　upon
daybreak　on　the　following　day；　but；　after　some　consultation　with　the
guides；　they　agreed　to　wait　till　noon。　　Poor　Mrs。　Arkwright　knew
nothing　of　hours　or　of　any　such　arrangements　now；　but　her　husband
greatly　doubted　their　power　of　catching　this　mail　despatch。
However；　it　did　not　much　depend　on　their　exertions　that　afternoon。
Their　resting…place　was　marked　out　for　them；　and　they　could　not　go
beyond　it；　unless　indeed　they　could　make　the　whole　journey；　which
was　impossible。

But　towards　evening　matters　seemed　to　improve　with　them。　　They　had
now　got　on　to　ground　which　was　more　open；　and　the　men　who　carried
the　litter　could　walk　with　greater　ease。　　Mrs。　Arkwright　also
complained　less；　and　when　they　reached　their　resting…place　on　that
night；　said　nothing　of　a　wish　to　be　left　there　to　her　fate。　　This
was　a　place　called　Padregal；　a　cacao　plantation；　which　had　been
cleared　in　the　forest　with　much　labour。　　There　was　a　house　here
containing　three　rooms；　and　some　forty　or　fifty　acres　round　it　had
been　stripped　of　the　forest　trees。　　But　nevertheless　the　adventure
had　not　been　a　prosperous　one；　for　the　place　was　at　that　time
deserted。　　There　were　the　cacao　plants；　but　there　was　no　one　to　pick
the　cacao。　　There　was　a　certain　melancholy　beauty　about　the　place。
A　few　grand　trees　had　been　left　standing　near　the　house；　and　the
grass　around　was　rich　and　park…like。　　But　it　was　deserted；　and
nothing　was　heard　but　the　roaring　of　the　congos。　　Ah　me！　　Indeed　it
was　a　melancholy　place　as　it　was　seen　by　some　of　that　party
afterwards。

On　the　following　morning　they　were　astir　very　early；　and　Mrs。
Arkwright　was　so　much　better　that　she　offered　to　sit　again　upon　her
mule。　　The　men；　however；　declared　that　they　would　finish　their　task；
and　she　was　placed　again　upon　the　litter。　　And　then　with　slow　and
weary　step　they　did　make　their　way　to　the　river　bank。　　It　was　not
yet　noon　when　they　saw　the　mud　fort　which　stands　there；　and　as　they
drew　into　the　enclosure　round　a　small　house　which　stands　close　by
the　river　side；　they　saw　the　three　postmen　still　busy　about　their
packages。

〃Thank　God！〃　said　Arkwright。

〃Thank　God；　indeed！〃　said　his　brother。　　〃All　will　be　right　with　you
now。〃

〃Well；　Fanny；〃　said　her　husband；　as　he　took　her　very　gently　from　the
litter　and　seated　her　on　a　bench　which　stood　outside　the　door。　　〃It
is　all　over　now；is　it　not？〃

She　answered　him　by　a　shower　of　tears；　but　they　were　tears　which
brought　her　relief。　　He　was　aware　of　this；　and　therefore　stood　by
her；　still　holding　her　by　both　her　hands　while　her　head　rested
against　his　side。　　〃You　will　find　the　motion　of　the　boat　very
gentle；〃　he　said；　〃indeed　there　will　be　no　motion；　and　you　and　baby
will　sleep　all　the　way　down　to　Greytown。〃　　She　did　not　answer　him　in
words；　but　she　looked　up　into　his　face；　and　he　could　see　that　her
spirit　was　recovering　itself。

There　was　almost　a　crowd　of　people　collected　on　the　spot；
preparatory　to　the　departure　of　the　canoes。　　In　the　first　place
there　was　the　commandant　of　the　fort；　to　whom　the　small　house
belonged。　　He　was　looking　to　the　passports　of　our　friends；　and　with
due　diligence　endeavouring　to　make　something　of　the　occasion；　by
discovering　fatal　legal　impediments　to　the　further　prosecution　of
their　voyage；　which　impediments　would　disappear　on　the　payment　of
certain　dollars。　　And　then　there　were　half　a　dozen　Costa　Rican
soldiers；　men　with　coloured　caps　and　old　muskets；　ready　to　support
the　dignity　and　authority　of　the　commandant。　　There　were　the　guides
taking　payment　from　Abel　Ring　for　their　past　work；　and　the　postmen
preparing　their　boats　for　the　further　journey。　　And　then　there　was　a
certain　German　there；　with　a　German　servant；　to　whom　the　boats
belonged。　　He　also　was　very　busy　preparing　for　the　river　voyage。　　He
was　not　going　down　with　them；　but　it　was　his　business　to　see　them
well　started。　　A　singular　looking　man　was　he；　with　a　huge　shaggy
beard；　and　shaggy　uncombed　hair；　but　with　bright　blue　eyes；　which
gave　to　his　face　a　remarkable　look　of　sweetness。　　He　was　an　uncouth
man　to　the　eye；　and　yet　a　child　would　have　trusted　herself　with　him
in　a　forest。

At　this　place　they　remained　some　two　hours。　　Coffee　was　prepared
here；　and　Mrs。　Arkwright　refreshed　herself　and　her　child。　　They
washed　and　arranged　their　clothes；　and　when　she　stepped　down　the
steep　bank；　clinging　to　her　husband's　arm　as　she　made　her　way
towards　the　boat；　she　smiled　upon　him　as　he　looked　at　her。

〃It　is　all　over　now；is　it　not；　my　girl？〃he　said；　encouraging
her。

〃Oh；　Harry；　do　not　talk　about　it；〃　she　answered；　shuddering。

〃But　I　want　you　to　say　a　word　to　me　to　let　me　know　that　you　are
better。〃

〃I　am　better；much　better。〃

〃And　you　will　see　your　mother　again；　will　you　not；　and　give　baby　to
her　yourself？〃

To　this　she　made　no　immediate　answer；　for　she　was　on　a　level　with
the　river；　and　the　canoe　was　close　at　her　feet。　　And　then　she　had　to
bid　farewell　to　her　brother。　　He　was　now　the　unfortunate　one　of　the
party；　for　his　destiny　required　that　he　should　go　back　to　San　Jose
alone；go　back　and　remain　there　perhaps　some　ten　years　longer
before　he　might　look　for　the　happiness　of　home。

〃God　bless　you；　dearest　Abel；〃　she　said；　kissing　him　and　sobbing　as
she　spoke。

〃Good…bye；　Fanny；〃　he　said；　〃and　do　not　let　them　forget　me　in
England。　　It　is　a　great　comfort　to　think　that　the　worst　of　your
troubles　are　over。〃

〃Oh；she's　all　right　now；〃　said　Arkwright。　　〃Good…bye；　old　boy；〃
and　the　two　brothers…in…law　grasped　each　other's　hands　heartily。
〃Keep　up　your　spirits；　and　we'll　have　you　home　before　long。〃

〃Oh；　I'm　all　right；〃　said　the　other。　　But　from　the　tone　of　the
voices；　it　was　clear　that　poor　Ring　was　despondent　at　the　thoughts
of　his　coming　solitude；　and　that　Arkwright　was　already　triumphing　in
his　emancipation。

And　then；　with　much　care；　Fanny　Arkwright　was　stowed　away　in　the
boat。　　There　was　a　great　contest　about　the　baby；　but　at　last　it　was
arranged；　that　at　any　rate　for　the　first　few　hours　she　should　be
placed　in　the　boat　with　the　servant。　　The　mother　was　told　that　by
this　plan　she　would　feel　herself　at　liberty　to　sleep　during　the　heat
of　the　day；　and　then　she　might　hope　to　have　strength　to　look　to　the
child　when　they　should　be　on　shore　during　the　night。　　In　this　way
therefore　they　prepared　to　start；　while　Abel　Ring　stood　on　the　bank
looking　at　them　with　wishful　eyes。　　In　the　first　boat　were　two
Indians　paddling；　and　a　third　man　steering　with　another　paddle。　　In
the　middle　there　was　much　luggage；　and　near　the　luggage　so　as　to　be
under　shade；　was　the　baby's　soft　bed。　　If　nothing　evil　happened　to
the　boat；　the　child　could　not　be　more　safe　in　the　best　cradle　that
was　ever　rocked。　　With　her　was　the　maid…servant　and　some　stranger
who　was　also　going　down　to　Greytown。

In　the　second　boat　were　the　same　number　of　men　to　paddle；　the　Indian
guide　being　one　of　them；　and　there　were　the　mails　placed。　　Then
there　was　a　seat　arranged　with　blankets；　cloaks；　and　cushions；　for
Mrs。　Arkwright；　so　that　she　might　lean　back　and　sleep　without
fatigue；　and　immediately　opposite　to　her　her　husband　placed　himself。
〃You　all　look　very　comfortable；〃　said　poor　Abel　from　the　bank。

〃We　shall　do　very　well　now；〃　said　Arkwright。

〃And　I　do　think　I　shall　see　mamma　again；〃　said　his　wife。

〃That's　right；　old　girl；of　course　you　will　see　her。　　Now　then；we
are　all　ready。〃　　And　with　some　little　assistance　from　the　German　on
the　bank；　the　first　boat　was　pushed　off　into　the　stream。

The　river　in　this　place　is　rapid；　because　the　full　course　of　the
water　is　somewhat　impeded　by　a　bank　of　earth　jutting　out　from　the
opposite　side　of　the　river　into　the　stream；　but　it　is　not　so　rapid
as　to　make　any　recognised　danger　in　the　embarkation。　　Below　this
bank；　which　is　opposite　to　the　spot　at　which　the　boats　were　entered；
there　were　four　or　five　broken　trees　in　the　water；　some　of　the
shattered　boughs　of　which　showed　themselves　above　the　surface。
These　are　called　snags；　and　are　very　dangerous　if　they　are　met　with
in　the　course　of　the　stream；　but　in　this　instance　no　danger　was
apprehended　from　them；　as　they　lay　considerably　to　the　left　of　the
passage　which　the　boats　would　take。　　The　first　canoe　was　pushed　off
by　the　German；　and　went　rapidly　away。　　The　waters　were　strong　with
rain；　and　it　was　pretty　to　see　with　what　velocity　the　boat　was
carried　on　some　hundred　of　yards　in　advance　of　the　other　by　the
force　of　the　first　effort　of　the　paddle。　　The　German；　however；　from
the　bank　holloaed　to　the　first　men　in　Spanish；　bidding　them　relax
their　efforts　for　awhile；　and　then　he　said　a　word　or　two　of　caution
to　those　who　were　now　on　the　point　of　starting。

The　boat　then　was　pushed　steadily　forward；　the　man　at　the　stern
keeping　it　with　his　paddle　a　little　farther　away　from　the　bank　at
which　they　had　embarked。　　It　was　close　under　the　land　that　the
stream　ran　the　fastest；　and　in　obedience　to　the　directions　given　to
him　he　made　his　course　somewhat　nearer　to　the　sunken　trees。　　It　was
but　one　turn　of　his　hand　that　gave　the　light　boat　its　direction；　but
that　turn　of　the　hand　was　too　strong。　　Had　the　anxious　master　of　the
canoes　been　but　a　thought　less　anxious；　all　might　have　been　well；
but；　as　it　was；　the　prow　of　the　boat　was　caught　by　some　slight
hidden　branch　which　impeded　its　course　and　turned　it　round　in　the
rapid　river。　　The　whole　lengths　of　the　canoe　was　thus　brought
against　the　sunken　tree；　and　in　half　a　minute　the　five　occupants　of
the　boat　were　struggling　in　the　stream。

Abel　Ring　and　the　German　were　both　standing　on　the　bank　close　to　the
water　when　this　happened；　and　each　for　a　moment　looked　into　the
other's　face。　　〃Stand　where　you　are；〃　shouted　the　German；　〃so　that
you　may　assist　them　from　the　shore。　　I　will　go　in。〃　　And　then；
throwing　from　him　his　boots　and　coat；　he　plunged　into　the　river。

The　canoe　had　been　swept　round　so　as　to　be　brought　by　the　force　of
the　waters　absolutely　in　among　the　upturned　roots　and　broken　stumps
of　the　trees　which　impeded　the　river；　and　thus；　when　the　party　was
upset；　they　were　at　first　to　be　seen　scrambling　among　the　branches。
But　unfortunately　there　was　much　more　wood　below　the　water　than
above　it；　and　the　force　of　the　stream　was　so　great；　that　those　who
caught　hold　of　the　timber　were　not　able　to　support　themselves　by　it
above　the　surface。　　Arkwright　was　soon　to　be　seen　some　forty　yards
down；　having　been　carried　clear　of　the　trees；　and　here　he　got　out　of
the　river　on　the　farther　bank。　　The　distance　to　him　was　not　above
forty　yards；　but　from　the　nature　of　the　ground　he　could　not　get　up
towards　his　wife；　unless　he　could　have　forced　his　way　against　the
stream。

The　Indian　who　had　had　charge　of　the　baby　rose　quickly　to　the
surface；　was　carried　once　round　in　the　eddy；　with　his　head　high
above　the　water；　and　then　was　seen　to　throw　himself　among　the　broken
wood。　　He　had　seen　the　dress　of　the　p