the heir of redclyffe-第69部分

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fearful；　marked　by　the　silver　light　on　one　side；　where　it　caught　the　

moonbeams；　and　the　black　shade　on　the　other；　ever　alternating；　so　that　

the　eye　could；　not　fix　on　them　for　a　moment；　the　spray　leapt　high　in　

its　whiteness；　and　the　Shag　stood　up　hard；　bold；　and　black。　　The　waves　

thundered；　bursting　on　the　cliff　and；　high　as　he　stood；　the　spray　

dashed　almost　blinding　in　his　face；　while　the　wind　howled　round　him；　as　

if　gathering　its　might　for　the　very　purpose　of　wrenching　him　from　the　

cliff；　but　he　stood　firm；　and　looked　out　again；　to　discern　clearly　what　

he　thought　he　had　seen。　　It　was　the　mast　of　a　vessel；　seen　plainly　

against　the　light　silvery　distance　of　sea　on　the　reef　west　of　the　Shag。　　

It　was　in　a　slanting　direction；　and　did　not　move；　he　could　not　doubt　

that　the　ship　had　struck　on　the　dangerous　rocks　at　the　entrance　of　the　

bay；　and　as　his　eyes　became　more　accustomed　to　the　unusual　light；　and　

made　out　what　objects　were　or　were　not　familiar；　he　could　perceive　the　

ship　herself。　　He　looked　with　the　glass；　but　could　see　no　one　on　board；　

nor　were　any　boats　in　sight；　but　observing　some　of　the　lesser　rocks；　he　

beheld　some　moving　figures　on　them。　Help！instant　help！was　his　

thought；　and　he　looked　towards　the　Cove。　　Lights　were　in　the　cottage　

windows；　and　a　few　sounds　came　up　to　him；　as　if　the　fishing　population　

were　astir。



He　hastened　to　the　side　of　the　cliff；　which　was　partly　clothed　with　

brushwood。　　There　was　a　descentit　could　hardly　be　called　a　path

which　no　one　ventured　to　attempt　but　himself　and　a　few　of　the　boldest　

birds'…nesting　boys　of　the　village；　but　he　could　lose　no　time；　and　

scrambling；　leaping；　swinging　himself　by　the　branches；　he　reached　the　

foot　of　the　cliff　in　safety；　and　in　five　minutes　more　was　on　the　little　

quay　at　the　end　of　the　steep　street　of　the　Cove。



The　quay　was　crowded　with　the　fisher…people；　and　there　was　a　strange　

confusion　of　voices；　some　saying　all　was　lost；　some　that　the　crew　had　

got　to　the　rock；　others；　that　some　one　ought　to　put　off　and　help　them；　

others；　that　a　boat　would　never　live　in　such　a　sea；　and　an　old　

telescope　was　in　great　requisition。



Ben　Robinson；　a　tall；　hardy　young　man；　of　five…and…twenty；　wild；　

reckless；　high…spirited　and　full　of　mischief　and　adventure；　was　

standing　on　a　pile　at　the　extreme　verge　above　the　foaming　water；　daring　

the　others　to　go　with　him　to　the　rescue；　and；　though　Jonas　Ledbury；　a　

feeble　old　man；　was　declaring；　in　a　piteous　tone；　it　was　a　sin　and　a　

shame　to　let　so　many　poor　creatures　be　lost　in　sight；　without　one　man　

stirring　to　help　them；　yet　all　stood　irresolute；　watching　the　white　

breakers　dashing　on　the　Shag；　and　the　high　waves　that　swelled　and　

rolled　between。



'Do　you　know　where　the　crew　are？'　exclaimed　Guy；　shouting　as　loud　as　he　

could；　for　the　noise　of　the　winds　and　waves　was　tremendous。



'There；　sir；　on　the　flat　black　stone；'　said　the　fortunate　possessor　of　

the　telescope。　　'Some　ten　or　eleven　of　them；　I　fancy；　all　huddled　

together。'



'Ay；　ay！'　said　old　Ledbury。　　'Poor　creatures！　there　they　be；　and　what　

is　to　be　done；　I　can't　say！　　I　never　saw　a　boat　in　such　a　sea；　since　

the　night　poor　Jack；　my　brother；　was　lost；　and　Will　Ray　with　him。'



'I　see　them；'　said　Guy；　who　had　in　the　meantime　looked　through　his　

glass。　　'How　soon　is　high　water？'



It　was　an　important　question；　for　the　rocks　round　the　Shag　were　covered　

before　full　tide；　even　when　the　water　was　still。　　There　was　a　looking　

up　at　the　moon；　and　then　Guy　and　the　fishermen　simultaneously　

exclaimed；　that　it　would　be　in　three　hours；　which　gave　scarcely　an　hour　

to　spare。



Without　another　word；　Guy　sprang　from　the　quay　to　the　boat…house；　

unlocked　it；　and；　by　example；　showed　that　the　largest　boat　was　to　be　

brought　out。　　The　men　helped　him　vigorously；　and　it　stood　on　the　narrow　

pebbly　beach；　the　only　safe　landing…place　in　the　whole　bay；　he　threw　

into　it　a　coil　of　rope；　and　called　out　in　his　clear　commanding　voice

'Five　to　go　with　me！'



Hanging　back　was　at　an　end。　　They　were　brave　men；　who　had　wanted　

nothing　but　a　leader；　and　with　Sir　Guy　at　their　head；　were　ready　for　

anything。　　Not　five；　but　five…and…twenty　were　at　his　command；　and　even　

in　the　hurry　of　the　moment；　a　strong；　affectionate　feeling　filled　his　

eyes　with　tears　as　he　saw　these　poor　fellows　ready　to　trust　their　lives　

in　his　hands。



'Thank　youthank　you！'　he　exclaimed。　　'Not　all；　though；　you；　Ben　

Robinson；　Harry　Ray；　Charles　Ray；　Ben　Ledbury；　Wat　Green。'



They　were　all　young　men；　without　families；　such　as　could　best　be　

spared；　and　each；　as　his　name　was　called；　answered；　'Here；　Sir　Guy！'　

and　came　forward　with　a　resolute　satisfied　air。



'It　would　be　best　to　have　a　second　boat；'　said　Guy。　　'Mr。　Brown；'　to　

the　owner　of　the　telescope；　'will　you　lend　yours？　'tis　the　strongest　

and　lightest。　　Thank　you。　　Martin　had　best　steer　it；　he　knows　the　

rocks；'　and　he　went　on　to　name　the　rest　of　the　crew；　but　at　the　last　

there　was　a　moment's　pause；　as　if　he　doubted。



A　tall　athletic　young　fisherman　took　advantage　of　it　to　press　forward。



'Please　your　honour；　Sir　Guy；　may　not　I　go？'



'Better　not；　Jem；'　answered　Guy。　　'Remember；'　in　a　lower　voice；　'your　

mother　has　no　one　but　you。　　Here！'　he　called；　cheerfully；　'Jack　Horn；　

you　pull　a　good　oar！　　Now；　then；　are　we　ready？'



'All　ready；yes；　sir！'



The　boat　was　launched；　not　without　great　difficulty；　in　the　face　of　

such　a　sea。　　The　men　stoutly　took　their　oars；　casting　a　look　forward　at　

the　rocks；　then　at　the　quay；　and　on　the　face　of　their　young　steersman。　　

Little　they　guessed　the　intense　emotion　that　swelled　in　his　breast　as　

he　took　the　helm；　to　save　life　or　to　lose　it；　enjoying　the　enterprise；　

yet　with　the　thought　that　his　lot　might　be　early　death；　glad　it　was　

right　thus　to　venture；　earnest　to　save　those　who　had　freely　trusted　to　

him；　and　rapidly；　though　most　earnestly；　recalling　his　own　repentance。　　

All　this　was　in　his　mind；　though　nothing　was　on　his　face　but　cheerful　

resolution。



Night　though　it　was；　tidings　of　the　wreck　had　reached　the　upper　part　of　

the　village；　and　Mr。　Ashford；　putting　his　head　out　of　his　window　to　

learn　the　cause　of　the　sounds　in　the　street；　was　informed　by　many　

voices　that　a　ship　was　on　the　Shag　reef；　and　that　all　were　lost。　　To　

hasten　to　the　Cove　to　learn　the　truth；　and　see　if　any　assistance　could　

yet　be　afforded；　was　his　instant　thought；　and　he　had　not　taken　many　

steps　before　he　was　overtaken　by　a　square；　sturdy　figure；　wrapped　in　an　

immense　great…coat。



'So；　Mr。　Markham；　you　are　on　your　way　to　see　about　this　wreck。'



'Why；　ay；'　said　Markham；　roughly；　though　not　with　the　repellent　manner　

usual　with　him　towards　Mr。　Ashford；　'I　must　be　there；　or　that　boy　will　

be　in　the　thickest　of　it。　　Wherever　is　mischief；　there　is　he。　　I　only　

wonder　he　has　not　broken　his　neck　long　ago。'



'By　mischief；　you　mean　danger？'



'Yes。　　I　hope　he　has　not　heard　of　this　wreck；　for　if　he　has；　no　power　

on　earth　would　keep　him　back　from　it。'



Comparing　the　reports　they　had　heard；　the　clergyman　and　steward　walked　

on；　Markham's　anxiety　actually　making　him　friendly。　　They　reached　the　

top　of　the　steep　street　of　the　Cove；　but　though　there　was　a　good　view　

of　the　sea　from　thence；　they　could　distinguish　nothing；　for　another　

cloud　was　rising；　and　had　obscured　the　moon。　　They　were　soon　on　the　

quay；　now　still　more　crowded；　and　heard　the　exclamations　of　those　who　

were　striving　to　keep　their　eyes　on　the　boats。



'There's　one！'　　'No！'　　'Yes；　'tis！'　　'That's　Sir　Guy's！'



'Sir　Guy！'　exclaimed　Markham。　　'You　don't　mean　he　is　gone？　　Then　I　am　

too　late！　　What　could　you　be　thinking　of；　you　old　fool；　Jonas；　to　let　

that　boy　go？　　You'll　never　see　him　again；　I　can　tell　you。　　Mercy！　　Here　

comes　another　squall！　　There's　an　end　of　it；　then！'



Markham　seemed　to　derive　some　relief　from　railing　at　the　fishermen；　

singly　and　collectively；　while　Mr。　Ashford　tried　to　learn　the　real　

facts；　and　gather　opinions　as　to　the　chance　of　safety。　　The　old　

fishermen　held　that　there　was　frightful　risk；　though　the　attempt　was　

far　from　hopeless；　they　said　the　young　men　were　all　good　at　their　oars；　

Sir　Guy　knew　the　rocks　very　well；　and　the　chief　fear　was；　that　he　might　

not　know　how　to　steer　in　such　a　sea；　but　they　had　seen　that；　though　

daring；　he　was　not　rash。　　They　listened　submissively　to　Mr。　Markham；　

but　communicated　in　an　under…tone　to　the　vicar；　how　vain　it　would　have　

been　to　attempt　to　restrain　Sir　Guy。



'Why；　sir；'　said　old　James　Robinson；　'he　spoke　just　like　the　captain　of　

a　man…of…war；　and　for　all　Mr。　Markham　says；　I　don't　believe　he'd　have　

been　able　to　gainsay　him。'



'Your　son　is　gone　with　him？'



'Ay；　sir；　and　I　would　not　say　one　word　to　stop　him。　　I　know　Sir　Guy　

won't　run　him　into　risk　for　nothing；　and　I　hope；　please　God；　if　Ben　

comes　back　safe；　it　may　be　the　steadying　of　him。'



''Twas　he　that　volunteered　to　go　before　Sir　Guy　came；　they　say？'



'Yes；　sir；'　said　the　old　man；　with　a　pleased　yet　melancholy　look。　　

'Ben's　brave　enough；　but　there's　the　difference。　　He'd　have　done　it　for　

the　lark；　and　to　dare　the　rest；　but　Sir　Guy　does　it　with　thought；　and　

because　it　is　right。　　I　wish　it　may　be　the　steadying　of　Ben！'



The　shower　rushed　over　them　again；　shorter　and　less　violent　than　the　

former　one；　but　driving　in　most　of　the　crowd；　and　only　leaving　on　the　

quay　the　vicar；　the　steward；　and　a　few　of　the　most　anxious　fishermen。　　

They　could　see　nothing；　for　the　dark　slanting　line　of　rain　swept　over　

the　waves；　joining　together　the　sea　and　thick　low　cloud；　and　the　

roaring　of　the　sea　and　moaning　of　the　wind　were　fearful。　　No　one　spoke；　

till　at　last　the　black　edges　of　the　Shag　loomed　clearer；　the　moon　began　

to　glance　through　the　skirts　of　the　cloud；　and　the　heaving　and　tossing　

of　the　sea；　became　more　discernible。



'There！there！'　shouted　young　Jem；