aaron trow-第7部分

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below　the　surface；　but　it　was　before　he　had　succeeded　in　supporting
himself　by　Morton's　arm。　　Now　it　seemed　as　though　he　must　sink
again；as　though　both　must　sink。　　His　mouth　was　barely　kept　above
the　water；　and　as　Morton　shook　him　with　his　arm；　the　tide　would　pass
over　him。　　It　was　horrid　to　watch　from　the　shore　the　glaring
upturned　eyes　of　the　dying　wretch；　as　his　long　streaming　hair　lay
back　upon　the　wave。　　〃Now；　Caleb；　hold　him　down。　　Hold　him　under；〃
was　shouted　in　the　voice　of　some　eager　friend。　　Rising　up　on　the
water；　Morton　made　a　last　effort　to　do　as　he　was　bid。　　He　did　press
the　man's　head　down；well　down　below　the　surface；but　still　the
hand　clung　to　him；　and　as　he　struck　out　against　the　water；　he　was
powerless　against　that　grasp。

Then　there　came　a　loud　shout　along　the　shore；　and　all　those　on　the
platform；　whose　eyes　had　been　fixed　so　closely　on　that　terrible
struggle　beneath　them；　rushed　towards　the　rocks　on　the　other　coast。
The　sound　of　oars　was　heard　close　to　them；an　eager　pressing
stroke；　as　of　men　who　knew　well　that　they　were　rowing　for　the
salvation　of　a　life。　　On　they　came；　close　under　the　rocks；　obeying
with　every　muscle　of　their　bodies　the　behests　of　those　who　called　to
them　from　the　shore。　　The　boat　came　with　such　rapidity；was　so
recklessly　urged；　that　it　was　driven　somewhat　beyond　the　inlet；　but
in　passing；　a　blow　was　struck　which　made　Caleb　Morton　once　more　the
master　of　his　own　life。　　The　two　men　had　been　carried　out　in　their
struggle　towards　the　open　sea；　and　as　the　boat　curved　in；　so　as　to
be　as　close　as　the　rocks　would　allow；　the　bodies　of　the　men　were
brought　within　the　sweep　of　the　oars。　　He　in　the　bowfor　there　were
four　pulling　in　the　boathad　raised　his　oar　as　he　neared　the
rocks；had　raised　it　high　above　the　water；　and　now；　as　they　passed
close　by　the　struggling　men；　he　let　it　fall　with　all　its　force　on
the　upturned　face　of　the　wretched　convict。　　It　was　a　terrible；
frightful　thing　to　do；thus　striking　one　who　was　so　stricken；　but
who　shall　say　that　the　blow　was　not　good　and　just？　　Methinks；
however；　that　the　eyes　and　face　of　that　dying　man　will　haunt　for
ever　the　dreams　of　him　who　carried　that　oar！

Trow　never　rose　again　to　the　surface。　　Three　days　afterwards　his
body　was　found　at　the　ferry；　and　then　they　carried　him　to　the
convict　island　and　buried　him。　　Morton　was　picked　up　and　taken　into
the　boat。　　His　life　was　saved；　but　it　may　be　a　question　how　the
battle　might　have　gone　had　not　that　friendly　oar　been　raised　in　his
behalf。　　As　it　was；　he　lay　at　the　cottage　for　days　before　he　was
able　to　be　moved；　so　as　to　receive　the　congratulations　of　those　who
had　watched　that　terrible　conflict　from　the　shore。　　Nor　did　he　feel
that　there　had　been　anything　in　that　day's　work　of　which　he　could　be
proud；much　rather　of　which　it　behoved　him　to　be　thoroughly
ashamed。　　Some　six　months　after　that　he　obtained　the　hand　of
Anastasia　Bergen；　but　they　did　not　remain　long　in　Bermuda。　　〃He　went
away；　back　to　his　own　country；〃　my　informant　told　me；　〃because　he
could　not　endure　to　meet　the　ghost　of　Aaron　Trow；　at　that　point　of
the　road　which　passes　near　the　cottage。〃　　That　the　ghost　of　Aaron
Trow　may　be　seen　there　and　round　the　little　rocky　inlet　of　the　sea；
is　part　of　the　creed　of　every　young　woman　in　Bermuda。







End