westward ho-第88部分
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ere kept hard at work at the pumps for the rest of the afternoon。
The current had by this time brought them abreast of the bay of Higuerote； and； luckily for them； safe out of the short heavy swell which it causes round Cape Codera。 Looking inland； they had now to the south…west that noble headland； backed by the Caracas Mountains； range on range； up to the Silla and the Neguater； while； right ahead of them to the south； the shore sank suddenly into a low line of mangrove…wood； backed by primaeval forest。 As they ran inward； all eyes were strained greedily to find some opening in the mangrove belt； but none was to be seen for some time。 The lead was kept going； and every fresh heave announced shallower water。
〃We shall have very shoal work off those mangroves； Yeo；〃 said Amyas； 〃I doubt whether we shall do aught now； unless we find a river's mouth。〃
〃If the Lord thinks a river good for us； sir； He'll show us one。〃 So on they went； keeping a south…east course； and at last an opening in the mangrove belt was hailed with a cheer from the older hands； though the majority shrugged their shoulders； as men going open…eyed to destruction。
Off the mouth they sent in Drew and Cary with a boat； and watched anxiously for an hour。 The boat returned with a good report of two fathoms of water over the bar； impenetrable forests for two miles up； the river sixty yards broad； and no sign of man。 The river's banks were soft and sloping mud； fit for careening。
〃Safe quarters； sir；〃 said Yeo； privately； 〃as far as Spaniards go。 I hope in God it may be as safe from calentures and fevers。〃
〃Beggars must not be choosers；〃 said Amyas。 So in they went。
They towed the ship up about half…a…mile to a point where she could not be seen from the seaward； and there moored her to the mangrove… stems。 Amyas ordered a boat out； and went up the river himself to reconnoitre。 He rowed some three miles； till the river narrowed suddenly； and was all but covered in by the interlacing boughs of mighty trees。 There was no sign that man had been there since the making of the world。
He dropped down the stream again； thoughtfully and sadly。 How many years ago was it that he passed this river's mouth？ Three days。 And yet how much had passed in them！ Don Guzman found and lost Rose found and losta great victory gained； and yet lostperhaps his ship lostabove all； his brother lost。
Lost！ O God； how should he find his brother？
Some strange bird out of the woods made mournful answer〃Never； never； never！〃
How should he face his mother？
〃Never； never； never！〃 wailed the bird again； and Amyas smiled bitterly； and said 〃Never！〃 likewise。
The night mist began to steam and wreathe upon the foul beer… colored stream。 The loathy floor of liquid mud lay bare beneath the mangrove forest。 Upon the endless web of interarching roots great purple crabs were crawling up and down。 They would have supped with pleasure upon Amyas's corpse； perhaps they might sup on him after all； for a heavy sickening graveyard smell made his heart sink within him； and his stomach heave； and his weary body； and more weary soul； gave themselves up helplessly to the depressing influence of that doleful place。 The black bank of dingy leathern leaves above his head； the endless labyrinth of stems and withes （for every bough had lowered its own living cord； to take fresh hold of the foul soil below）； the web of roots； which stretched away inland till it was lost in the shades of eveningall seemed one horrid complicated trap for him and his； and even where； here and there； he passed the mouth of a lagoon； there was no opening； no reliefnothing but the dark ring of mangroves； and here and there an isolated group of large and small； parents and children； breeding and spreading； as if in hideous haste to choke out air and sky。 Wailing sadly； sad…colored mangrove…hens ran off across the mud into the dreary dark。 The hoarse night…raven； hid among the roots； startled the voyagers with a sudden shout； and then all was again silent as a grave。 The loathly alligators； lounging in the slime； lifted their horny eyelids lazily； and leered upon him as he passed with stupid savageness。 Lines of tall herons stood dimly in the growing gloom； like white fantastic ghosts； watching the passage of the doomed boat。 All was foul； sullen； weird as witches' dream。 If Amyas had seen a crew of skeletons glide down the stream behind him； with Satan standing at the helm； he would have scarcely been surprised。 What fitter craft could haunt that Stygian flood？
That night every man of the boat's crew； save Amyas； was down with raging fever； before ten the next morning； five more men were taken； and others sickening fast。
CHAPTER XXI
HOW THEY TOOK THE COMMUNION UNDER THE TREE AT HIGUEROTE
〃Follow thee？ Follow thee？ Wha wad na follow thee？ Lang hast thou looed and trusted us fairly。〃
Amyas would have certainly taken the yellow fever； but for one reason； which he himself gave to Cary。 He had no time to be sick while his men were sick； a valid and sufficient reason （as many a noble soul in the Crimea has known too well）； as long as the excitement of work is present； but too apt to fail the hero； and to let him sink into the pit which he has so often over…leapt； the moment that his work is done。
He called a council of war； or rather a sanitary commission； the next morning； for he was fairly at his wits' end。 The men were panic…stricken； ready to mutiny： Amyas told them that he could not see any possible good which could accrue to them by killing him； or（for there were two sides to every question）being killed by him； and then went below to consult。 The doctor talked mere science； or nonscience； about humors； complexions； and animal spirits。 Jack Brimblecombe； mere pulpit； about its being the visitation of God。 Cary； mere despair； though he jested over it with a smile。 Yeo； mere stoic fatalism； though he quoted Scripture to back the same。 Drew； the master； had nothing to say。 His 〃business was to sail the ship； and not to cure calentures。〃
Whereon Amyas clutched his locks； according to custom； and at last broke forth〃Doctor！ a fig for your humors and complexions！ Can you cure a man's humors； or change his complexion？ Can an Ethiopian change his skin； or a leopard his spots？ Don't shove off your ignorance on God； sir。 I ask you what's the reason of this sickness； and you don't know。 Jack Brimblecombe； don't talk to me about God's visitation； this looks much more like the devil's visitation； to my mind。 We are doing God's work； Sir John； and He is not likely to hinder us。 So down with the devil； say I。 Cary； laughing killed the cat； but it won't cure a Christian。 Yeo； when an angel tells me that it's God's will that we should all die like dogs in a ditch； I'll call this God's will； but not before。 Drew； you say your business is to sail the ship； then sail her out of this infernal poison…trap this very morning； if you can； which you can't。 The mischief's in the air； and nowhere else。 I felt it run through me coming down last night； and smelt it like any sewer： and if it was not in the air； why was my boat's crew taken first； tell me that？〃
There was no answer。
〃Then I'll tell you why they were taken first： because the mist； when we came through it； only rose five or six feet above the stream； and we were in it； while you on board were above it。 And those that were taken on board this morning； every one of them； slept on the main…deck； and every one of them； too； was in fear of the fever； whereby I judge two things；Keep as high as you can； and fear nothing but God； and we're all safe yet。〃
〃But the fog was up to our round…tops at sunrise this morning；〃 said Cary。
〃I know it： but we who were on the half…deck were not in it so long as those below； and that may have made the difference； let alone our having free air。 Beside； I suspect the heat in the evening draws the poison out more； and that when it gets cold toward morning； the venom of it goes off somehow。〃
How it went off Amyas could not tell （right in his facts as he was）； for nobody on earth knew I suppose； at that day； and it was not till nearly two centuries of fatal experience that the settlers in America discovered the simple laws of these epidemics which now every child knows； or ought to know。 But common sense was on his side； and Yeo rose and spoke
〃As I have said before； many a time； the Lord has sent us a very young Daniel for judge。 I remember now to have heard the Spaniards say； how these calentures lay always in the low ground； and never came more than a few hundred feet above the sea。〃
〃Let us go up those few hundred feet； then。〃
Every man looked at Amyas； and then at his neighbor。
〃Gentlemen； 'Look the devil straight in the face； if you would hit him in the right place。' We cannot get the ship to sea as she is； and if we could； we cannot go home empty…handed； and we surely cannot stay here to die of fever。We must leave the ship and go inland。〃
〃Inland？〃 answered every voice but Yeo's。
〃Up those hundred feet which Yeo talks of。 Up to the mountains； stockade a camp； and get our sick and provisions thither。〃
〃And what next？〃
〃And when we are recruited； march over the mountains； and surprise St。 Jago de Leon。〃
Cary swore a great oath。 〃Amyas！ you are a daring fellow！〃
〃Not a bit。 It's the plain path of prudence。〃
〃So it is； sir；〃 said old Yeo； 〃and I follow you in it。〃
〃And so do I；〃 squeaked Jack Brimblecombe。
〃Nay； then； Jack； thou shalt not outrun me。 So I say yes too；〃 quoth Cary。
〃Mr。 Drew？〃
〃At your service； sir； to live or die。 I know naught about stockading； but Sir Francis would have given the same counsel； I verily believe； if he had been in your place。〃
〃Then tell the men that we start in an hour's time。 Win over the Pelicans； Yeo and Drew； and the rest must follow； like sheep over a hedge。〃
The Pelicans； and the liberated galley…slaves； joined the project at once； but the rest gave Amyas a stormy hour。 The great question was； where were the hills？ In that dense mangrove thicket they could not see fifty yards before them。
〃The hills are not three miles to the south…west of you at this moment；〃 said Amyas。 〃I
