little novels-第48部分

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　gently　touched　her　cheek。　She　lifted　her　head　with　a　look　of　pleased　surprise。　〃Thank　you；〃　said　the　child　of　Nature；　simply。　〃Kiss　me　again；　I　like　it。　May　I　kiss　you？〃　The　tame　turtle…dove　perched　on　her　shoulder　as　she　gave　the　Captain　her　first　kiss；　and　diverted　her　thoughts　to　the　pets　that　she　had　left；　in　pursuit　of　the　truant　dove。　〃Come；〃　she　said；　〃and　see　my　birds。　I　keep　them　on　this　side　of　the　forest。　There　is　no　danger；　so　long　as　you　don't　show　yourself　on　the　other　side。　My　name　is　Aimata。　Aimata　will　take　care　of　you。　Oh；　what　a　beautiful　white　neck　you　have！〃　She　put　her　arm　admiringly　round　his　neck。　The　Captain's　arm　held　her　tenderly　to　him。　Slowly　the　two　descended　the　cliff；　and　were　lost　in　the　leafy　solitudes　of　the　forest。　And　the　tame　dove　fluttered　before　them；　a　winged　messenger　of　love；　cooing　to　his　mate。

VI。

THE　night　had　come；　and　the　Captain　had　not　left　the　island。

Aimata's　resolution　to　send　him　away　in　the　darkness　was　a　forgotten　resolution　already。　She　had　let　him　persuade　her　that　he　was　in　no　danger；　so　long　as　he　remained　in　the　hut　on　the　cliff；　and　she　had　promised；　at　parting；　to　return　to　him　while　the　Priest　was　still　sleeping；　at　the　dawn　of　day。

He　was　alone　in　the　hut。　The　thought　of　the　innocent　creature　whom　he　loved　was　sorrowfully　as　well　as　tenderly　present　to　his　mind。　He　almost　regretted　his　rash　visit　to　the　island。　〃I　will　take　her　with　me　to　England；〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃What　does　a　sailor　care　for　the　opinion　of　the　world？　Aimata　shall　be　my　wife。〃

The　intense　heat　oppressed　him。　He　stepped　out　on　the　cliff；　toward　midnight；　in　search　of　a　breath　of　air。

At　that　moment；　the　first　shock　of　earthquake　（felt　in　the　ship　while　she　was　inside　the　reef）　shook　the　ground　he　stood　on。　He　instantly　thought　of　the　volcano　on　the　main　island。　Had　he　been　mistaken　in　supposing　the　crater　to　be　extinct？　Was　the　shock　that　he　had　just　felt　a　warning　from　the　volcano；　communicated　through　a　submarine　connection　between　the　two　islands？　He　waited　and　watched　through　the　hours　of　darkness；　with　a　vague　sense　of　apprehension；　which　was　not　to　be　reasoned　away。　With　the　first　light　of　daybreak　he　descended　into　the　forest；　and　saw　the　lovely　being　whose　safety　was　already　precious　to　him　as　his　own；　hurrying　to　meet　him　through　the　trees。

She　waved　her　hand　distractedly　as　she　approached　him。　〃Go！〃　she　cried；　〃go　away　in　your　canoe　before　our　island　is　destroyed！〃

He　did　his　best　to　quiet　her　alarm。　Was　it　the　shock　of　earthquake　that　had　frightened　her？　No：　it　was　more　than　the　shock　of　earthquakeit　was　something　terrible　which　had　followed　the　shock。　There　was　a　lake　near　the　Temple；　the　waters　of　which　were　supposed　to　be　heated　by　subterranean　fires。　The　lake　had　risen　with　the　earthquake；　had　bubbled　furiously；　and　had　then　melted　away　into　the　earth　and　been　lost。　Her　father；　viewing　the　portent　with　horror；　had　gone　to　the　cape　to　watch　the　volcano　on　the　main　island；　and　to　implore　by　prayers　and　sacrifices　the　protection　of　the　gods。　Hearing　this；　the　Captain　entreated　Aimata　to　let　him　see　the　emptied　lake；　in　the　absence　of　the　Priest。　She　hesitated；　but　his　influence　was　all…powerful。　He　prevailed　on　her　to　turn　back　with　him　through　the　forest。

Reaching　the　furthest　limit　of　the　trees；　they　came　out　upon　open　rocky　ground　which　sloped　gently　downward　toward　the　center　of　the　island。　Having　crossed　this　space；　they　arrived　at　a　natural　amphitheater　of　rock。　On　one　side　of　it　the　Temple　appeared；　partly　excavated；　partly　formed　by　a　natural　cavern。　In　one　of　the　lateral　branches　of　the　cavern　was　the　dwelling　of　the　Priest　and　his　daughter。　The　mouth　of　it　looked　out　on　the　rocky　basin　of　the　lake。　Stooping　over　the　edge；　the　Captain　discovered；　far　down　in　the　empty　depths；　a　light　cloud　of　steam。　Not　a　drop　of　water　was　visible；　look　where　he　might。

Aimata　pointed　to　the　abyss；　and　hid　her　face　on　his　bosom。　〃My　father　says；〃　she　whispered；　〃that　it　is　your　doing。〃

The　Captain　started。　〃Does　your　father　know　that　I　am　on　the　island？〃

She　looked　up　at　him　with　a　quick　glance　of　reproach。　〃Do　you　think　I　would　tell　him；　and　put　your　life　in　peril？〃　she　asked。　〃My　father　felt　the　destroyer　of　the　island　in　the　earthquake；　my　father　saw　the　coming　destruction　in　the　disappearance　of　the　lake。〃　Her　eyes　rested　on　him　with　a　loving　languor。　〃Are　you　indeed　the　demon　of　the　prophecy？〃　she　said；　winding　his　hair　round　her　finger。　〃I　am　not　afraid　of　you；　if　you　are。　I　am　a　creature　bewitched；　I　love　the　demon。〃　She　kissed　him　passionately。　〃I　don't　care　if　I　die；〃　she　whispered　between　the　kisses；　〃if　I　only　die　with　you！〃

The　Captain　made　no　attempt　to　reason　with　her。　He　took　the　wiser　wayhe　appealed　to　her　feelings。

〃You　will　come　and　live　with　me　happily　in　my　own　country；〃　he　said。　〃My　ship　is　waiting　for　us。　I　will　take　you　home　with　me；　and　you　shall　be　my　wife。〃

She　clapped　her　hands　for　joy。　Then　she　thought　of　her　father；　and　drew　back　from　him　in　tears。

The　Captain　understood　her。　〃Let　us　leave　this　dreary　place；〃　he　suggested。　〃We　will　talk　about　it　in　the　cool　glades　of　the　forest；　where　you　first　said　you　loved　me。〃

She　gave　him　her　hand。　〃Where　I　first　said　I　loved　you！〃　she　repeated；　smiling　tenderly　as　she　looked　at　him。　They　left　the　lake　together。

VII。

THE　darkness　had　fallen　again；　and　the　ship　was　still　becalmed　at　sea。

Mr。　Duncalf　came　on　deck　after　his　supper。　The　thin　line　of　smoke；　seen　rising　from　the　peak　of　the　mountain　that　evening；　was　now　succeeded　by　ominous　flashes　of　fire　from　the　same　quarter；　intermittently　visible。　The　faint　hot　breeze　from　the　land　was　felt　once　more。　〃There's　just　an　air　of　wind；〃　Mr。　Duncalf　remarked。　〃I'll　try　for　the　Captain　while　I　have　the　chance。〃

One　of　the　boats　was　lowered　into　the　waterunder　command　of　the　second　mate；　who　had　already　taken　the　bearings　of　the　tabooed　island　by　daylight。　Four　of　the　men　were　to　go　with　him；　and　they　were　all　to　be　well　armed。　Mr。　Duncalf　addressed　his　final　instructions　to　the　officer　in　the　boat。

〃You　will　keep　a　lookout；　sir；　with　a　lantern　in　the　bows。　If　the　natives　annoy　you；　you　know　what　to　do。　Always　shoot　natives。　When　you　get　anigh　the　island；　you　will　fire　a　gun　and　sing　out　for　the　Captain。〃

〃Quite　needless；〃　interposed　a　voice　from　the　sea。　〃The　Captain　is　here！〃

Without　taking　the　slightest　notice　of　the　astonishment　that　he　had　caused；　the　commander　of　the　_Fortuna_　paddled　his　canoe　to　the　side　of　the　ship。　Instead　of　ascending　to　the　deck；　he　stepped　into　the　boat；　waiting　alongside。　〃Lend　me　your　pistols；〃　he　said　quietly　to　the　second　officer；　〃and　oblige　me　by　taking　your　men　back　to　their　duties　on　board。〃　He　looked　up　at　Mr。　Duncalf　and　gave　some　further　directions。　〃If　there　is　any　change　in　the　weather；　keep　the　ship　standing　off　and　on；　at　a　safe　distance　from　the　land；　and　throw　up　a　rocket　from　time　to　time　to　show　your　position。　Expect　me　on　board　again　by　sunrise。〃

〃What！〃　cried　the　mate。　〃Do　you　mean　to　say　you　are　going　back　to　the　islandin　that　boatall　by　yourself？〃

〃I　am　going　back　to　the　island；〃　answered　the　Captain；　as　quietly　as　ever；　〃in　this　boatall　by　myself。〃　He　pushed　off　from　the　ship；　and　hoisted　the　sail　as　he　spoke。

〃You're　deserting　your　duty！〃　the　old　sea…dog　shouted；　with　one　of　his　loudest　oaths。

〃Attend　to　my　directions；〃　the　Captain　shouted　back；　as　he　drifted　away　into　the　darkness。

Mr。　Duncalfviolently　agitated　for　the　first　time　in　his　lifetook　leave　of　his　superior　officer；　with　a　singular　mixture　of　solemnity　and　politeness；　in　these　words：

〃The　Lord　have　mercy　on　your　soul！　I　wish　you　good…evening。〃

VIII。

ALONE　in　the　boat；　the　Captain　looked　with　a　misgiving　mind　at　the　flashing　of　the　volcano　on　the　main　island。

If　events　had　favored　him；　he　would　have　removed　Aimata　to　the　shelter　of　the　ship　on　the　day　when　he　saw　the　emptied　basin　on　the　lake。　But　the　smoke　of　the　Priest's　sacrifice　had　been　discovered　by　the　chief；　and　he　had　dispatched　two　canoes　with　instructions　to　make　inquiries。　One　of　the　canoes　had　returned；　the　other　was　kept　in　waiting　off　the　cape；　to　place　a　means　of　communicating　with　the　main　island　at　the　disposal　of　the　Priest。　The　second　shock　of　earthquake　had　naturally　increased　the　alarm　of　the　chief。　He　had　sent　messages　to　the　Priest；　entreating　him　to　leave　the　island；　and　other　messages　to　Aimata　suggesting　that　she　should　exert　her　influence　over　her　father；　if　he　hesitated。　The　Priest　refused　to　leave　the　Temple。　He　trusted　in　his　gods　and　his　sacrificeshe　believed　they　might　avert　the　fatality　that　threatened　his　sanctuary。

Yielding　to　the　holy　man；　the　chief　sent　re…enforcements　of　canoes　to　take　their　turn　at　keeping　watch　off　the　headland。　Assisted　by　torches；　the　islanders　were　on　the　alert　（in　superstitious　terror　of　the　demon　of　the　prophecy）　by　night　as　well　as　by　day。　The　Captain　had　no　alternative　but　to　keep　in　hiding；　and　to　watch　his　opportunity　of　approaching　the　place　in　which　he　had　concealed　his　canoe。　It　was　only　after　Aimata　had　left　him　as　usual；　to　return　to　her　father　at　the　close　of　evening；　that　the　chances　declared　themselves　in　his　favor。　The　fire…flashes　from　the　mountain；　visible　when　the　night　came；　had　struck　terror　into　the　hearts　of　the　men　on　the　watch。　They　thought　of　their　wives；　their　children；　and　their　possessions　on　the　main　island；　and　they　one　and　all　deserted　their　Priest。　The　Captain　seized　the　opportunity　of　communicating　with　the　ship；　and　of　exchanging　a　frail　canoe　which　he　was　ill　able　to　manage；　for　a　swift…sailing　boat　capable　of　keeping　the　sea　in　the　event　of　stormy　weather。

As　he　now　neared　the　land；　certain　small　sparks　of　red；　moving　on　the　distant　water；　informed　him　that　the　canoes　of　the　sentinels　had　been　ordered　back　to　their　duty。

Carefully　avoiding　the　lights；　he　reached　his　own　side　of　the　island　without　accident；　and；　guided　by　the　boat's　lantern；　anchored　under　the　cliff。　He　climbed　the　rocks；　advanced　to　the　door　of　the　hut；　and　was　met；　to　his　delight　and　astonishment；　by　Aimata　on　the　threshold。

〃I　dreamed　that　some　dreadful　misfortune　had　parted　us　forever；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　came　here　to　see　if　my　dream　was　true。　You　have　taught　m