armadale-第30部分

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as　a　boat　was　in　view　anywhere　on　the　quiet；　moon…brightened
waters。　Knowing　Midwinter's　sight　to　be　better　than　his　own；　he
called　out；　〃Come　up　here；　and　see　if　there's　a　fisherman　within
hail　of　us。〃　Hearing　no　reply；　he　looked　back。　Midwinter　had
followed　him　as　far　as　the　cabin；　and　had　stopped　there。　He
called　again　in　a　louder　voice；　and　beckoned　impatiently。
Midwinter　had　heard　the　call；　for　he　looked　up；　but　still　he
never　stirred　from　his　place。　There　he　stood；　as　if　he　had
reached　the　utmost　limits　of　the　ship　and　could　go　no　further。

Allan　went　back　and　joined　him。　It　was　not　easy　to　discover　what
he　was　looking　at；　for　he　kept　his　face　turned　away　from　the
moonlight；　but　it　seemed　as　if　his　eyes　were　fixed；　with　a
strange　expression　of　inquiry；　on　the　cabin　door。　〃What　is　there
to　look　at　there？〃　Allan　asked。　〃Let's　see　if　it's　locked。〃　As　he
took　a　step　forward　to　open　the　door；　Midwinter's　hand　seized　him
suddenly　by　the　coat　collar　and　forced　him　back。　The　moment
after；　the　hand　relaxed　without　losing　its　grasp；　and　trembled
violently；　like　the　hand　of　a　man　completely　unnerved。

〃Am　I　to　consider　myself　in　custody？〃　asked　Allan；　half
astonished　and　half　amused。　〃Why　in　the　name　of　wonder　do　you
keep　staring　at　the　cabin　door？　Any　suspicious　noises　below？　It's
no　use　disturbing　the　ratsif　that's　what　you　meanwe　haven't
got　a　dog　with　us。　Men？　Living　men　they　can't　be；　for　they　would
have　heard　us　and　come　on　deck。　Dead　men？　Quite　impossible！　No
ship's　crew　could　be　drowned　in　a　land…locked　place　like　this；
unless　the　vessel　broke　up　under　themand　here's　the　vessel　as
steady　as　a　church　to　speak　for　herself。　Man　alive；　how　your　hand
trembles！　What　is　there　to　scare　you　in　that　rotten　old　cabin？
What　are　you　shaking　and　shivering　about？　Any　company　of　the
supernatural　sort　on　board？　Mercy　preserve　us！　（as　the　old　women
say）　do　you　see　a　ghost？〃

〃_I　see　two！_〃　answered　the　other；　driven　headlong　into　speech
and　action　by　a　maddening　temptation　to　reveal　the　truth。　〃Two！〃
he　repeated；　his　breath　bursting　from　him　in　deep；　heavy　gasps；
as　he　tried　vainly　to　force　back　the　horrible　words。　〃The　ghost
of　a　man　like　you；　drowning　in　the　cabin！　And　the　ghost　of　a　man
like　me；　turning　the　lock　of　the　door　on　him！〃

Once　more　young　Armadale's　hearty　laughter　rang　out　loud　and　long
through　the　stillness　of　the　night。

〃Turning　the　lock　of　the　door；　is　he？〃　said　Allan；　as　soon　as　his
merriment　left　him　breath　enough　to　speak。　〃That's　a　devilish
unhandsome　action；　Master　Midwinter；　on　the　part　of　your　ghost。
The　least　I　can　do；　after　that；　is　to　let　mine　out　of　the　cabin；
and　give　him　the　run　of　the　ship。〃

With　no　more　than　a　momentary　exertion　of　his　superior　strength；
he　freed　himself　easily　from　Midwinter's　hold。　〃Below　there！〃　he
called　out；　gayly；　as　he　laid　his　strong　hand　on　the　crazy　lock；
and　tore　open　the　cabin
　door。　〃Ghost　of　Allan　Armadale；　come　on　deck！〃　In　his　terrible
ignorance　of　the　truth；　he　put　his　head　into　the　doorway　and
looked　down；　laughing；　at　the　place　where　his　murdered　father　had
died。　〃Pah！〃　he　exclaimed；　stepping　back　suddenly；　with　a　shudder
of　disgust。　〃The　air　is　foul　already；　and　the　cabin　is　full　of
water。〃

It　was　true。　The　sunken　rocks　on　which　the　vessel　lay　wrecked　had
burst　their　way　through　her　lower　timbers　astern；　and　the　water
had　welled　up　through　the　rifted　wood。　Here；　where　the　deed　had
been　done；　the　fatal　parallel　between　past　and　present　was
complete。　What　the　cabin　had　been　in　the　time　of　the　fathers；
that　the　cabin　was　now　in　the　time　of　the　sons。

Allan　pushed　the　door　to　again　with　his　foot；　a　little　surprised
at　the　sudden　silence　which　appeared　to　have　fallen　on　his　friend
from　the　moment　when　he　had　laid　his　hand　on　the　cabin　lock。　When
he　turned　to　look；　the　reason　of　the　silence　was　instantly
revealed。　Midwinter　had　dropped　on　the　deck。　He　lay　senseless
before　the　cabin　door；　his　face　turned　up；　white　and　still；　to
the　moonlight；　like　the　face　of　a　dead　man。

In　a　moment　Allan　was　at　his　side。　He　looked　uselessly　round　the
lonely　limits　of　the　wreck；　as　he　lifted　Midwinter's　head　on　his
knee；　for　a　chance　of　help；　where　all　chance　was　ruthlessly　cut
off。　〃What　am　I　to　do？〃　he　said　to　himself；　in　the　first　impulse
of　alarm。　〃Not　a　drop　of　water　near；　but　the　foul　water　in　the
cabin。〃　A　sudden　recollection　crossed　his　memory；　the　florid
color　rushed　back　over　his　face；　and　he　drew　from　his　pocket　a
wicker…covered　flask。　〃God　bless　the　doctor　for　giving　me　this
before　we　sailed！〃　he　broke　out；　fervently；　as　he　poured　down
Midwinter's　throat　some　drops　of　the　raw　whisky　which　the　flask
contained。　The　stimulant　acted　instantly　on　the　sensitive　system
of　the　swooning　man。　He　sighed　faintly；　and　slowly　opened　his
eyes。　〃Have　I　been　dreaming？〃　he　asked；　looking　up　vacantly　in
Allan's　face。　His　eyes　wandered　higher；　and　encountered　the
dismantled　masts　of　the　wreck　rising　weird　and　black　against　the
night　sky。　He　shuddered　at　the　sight　of　them；　and　hid　his　face　on
Allan's　knee。　〃No　dream！〃　he　murmured　to　himself；　mournfully。　〃Oh
me；　no　dream！〃

〃You　hare　been　overtired　all　day；〃　said　Allan；　〃and　this　infernal
adventure　of　ours　has　upset　you。　Take　some　more　whisky；　it's　sure
to　do　you　good。　Can　you　sit　by　yourself；　if　I　put　you　against　the
bulwark；　so？〃

〃Why　by　myself？　Why　do　you　leave　me？〃　asked　Midwinter。

Allan　pointed　to　the　mizzen　shrouds　of　the　wreck；　which　were
still　left　standing。　〃You　are　not　well　enough　to　rough　it　here
till　the　workmen　come　off　in　the　morning；〃　he　said。　〃We　must　find
our　way　on　shore　at　once；　if　we　can。　I　am　going　up　to　get　a　good
view　all　round；　and　see　if　there's　a　house　within　hail　of　us。〃

Even　in　the　moment　that　passed　while　those　few　words　were　spoken；
Midwinter's　eyes　wandered　back　distrustfully　to　the　fatal　cabin
door。　〃Don't　go　near　it！〃　he　whispered。　〃Don't　try　to　open　it；
for　God's　sake！〃

〃No；　no；〃　returned　Allan；　humoring　him。　〃When　I　come　down　from
the　rigging；　I'll　come　back　here。〃　He　said　the　words　a　little
constrainedly；　noticing；　for　the　first　time　while　he　now　spoke；
an　underlying　distress　in　Midwinter's　face；　which　grieved　and
perplexed　him。　〃You're　not　angry　with　me？〃　he　said；　in　his
simple；　sweet…tempered　way。　〃All　this　is　my　fault；　I　know；　and　I
was　a　brute　and　a　fool　to　laugh　at　you；　when　I　ought　to　have　seen
you　were　ill。　I　am　so　sorry；　Midwinter。　Don't　be　angry　with　me！〃

Midwinter　slowly　raised　his　head。　His　eyes　rested　with　a　mournful
interest；　long　and　tender；　on　Allan's　anxious　face。

〃Angry？〃　he　repeated；　in　his　lowest；　gentlest　tones。　〃Angry　with
_　you？_Oh；　my　poor　boy；　were　you　to　blame　for　being　kind　to　me
when　I　was　ill　in　the　old　west…country　inn？　And　was　I　to　blame
for　feeling　your　kindness　thankfully？　Was　it　our　fault　that　we
never　doubted　each　other；　and　never　knew　that　we　were　traveling
together　blindfold　on　the　way　that　was　to　lead　us　here？　The　cruel
time　is　coming；　Allan；　when　we　shall　rue　the　day　we　ever　met。
Shake　hands；　brother；　on　the　edge　of　the　precipiceshake　hands
while　we　are　brothers　still！〃

Allan　turned　away　quickly；　convinced　that　his　mind　had　not　yet
recovered　the　shock　of　the　fainting　fit。　〃Don't　forget　the
whisky！〃　he　said；　cheerfully；　as　he　sprang　into　the　rigging；　and
mounted　to　the　mizzen…top。

It　was　past　two；　the　moon　was　waning；　and　the　darkness　that　comes
before　dawn　was　beginning　to　gather　round　the　wreck。　Behind
Allan；　as　he　now　stood　looking　out　from　the　elevation　of　the
mizzen…top；　spread　the　broad　and　lonely　sea。　Before　him　were　the
low；　black；　lurking　rocks；　and　the　broken　waters　of　the　channel；
pouring　white　and　angry　into　the　vast　calm　of　the　westward　ocean
beyond。　On　the　right　hand；　heaved　back　grandly　from　the
water…side；　were　the　rocks　and　precipices；　with　their　little
table…lands　of　grass　between；　the　sloping　downs；　and
upward…rolling　heath　solitudes　of　the　Isle　of　Man。　On　the　left
hand　rose　the　craggy　sides　of　the　Islet　of　the　Calf；　here　rent
wildly　into　deep　black　chasms；　there　lying　low　under　long
sweeping　acclivities　of　grass　and　heath。　No　sound　rose；　no　light
was　visible；　on　either　shore。　The　black　lines　of　the　topmost
masts　of　the　wreck　looked　shadowy　and　faint　in　the　darkening
mystery　of　the　sky；　the　land　breeze　had　dropped；　the　small
shoreward　waves　fell　noiseless：　far　or　near；　no　sound　was　audible
but　the　cheerless　bubbling　of　the　broken　water　ahead；　pouring
through　the　awful　hush　of　silence　in　which　earth　and　ocean　waited
for　the　coming　day。

Even　Allan's　careless　nature　felt　the　solemn　influence　of　the
time。　The　sound　of　his　own　voice　startled　him　when　he　looked　down
and　hailed　his　friend　on　deck

〃I　think　I　see　one　house；〃　he　said。　〃Here…away；　on　the　mainland
to　the　right。〃　He　looked　again；　to　make　sure；　at　a　dim　little
patch　of　white；　with　faint　white　lines　behind　it；　nestling　low　in
a　grassy　hollow；　on　the　main　island。　〃It　looks　like　a　stone　house
and　inclosure；〃　he　resumed。　〃I'll　hail　it；　on　the　chance。〃　He
passed　his　arm　round　a　rope　to　steady　himself；　made　a
speaking…trumpet　of　his　hands；　and　suddenly　dropped　them　again
without　uttering　a　sound。　〃It's　so　awfully　quiet；〃　he　whispered
to　himself。　〃I'm　half　afraid　to　call　out。〃　He　looked　down　again
on　deck。　〃I　shan't　startle　you；　Midwinter；　shall　I？〃　he　said；
with　an　uneasy　laugh。　He　looked　once　more　at　the　faint　white
object；　in　the　grassy　hollow。　〃It　won't　do　to　have　come　up　here
for　nothing；〃　he　thought；　and　made　a　speaking…trumpet　of　his
hands　again。　This　time　he　gave　the　hail　with　the　whole　power　of
his　lungs。　〃On　shore　there！〃　he　shouted；　turning　his　face　to　the
main　island。　〃Ahoy…hoy…hoy！〃

The　last　echoes　of　his　voice　died　away　and　were　lost。　No　sound
answered　him　but　the　cheerless　bubbling　of　the　broken　water
ahead。

He　looked　down　again　at　his　friend；　and　saw　the　dark　figure　of
Midwinter　rise　erect；　and　pace　the　deck　backward　and　forward；
never　disappearing　out　of　sight　of　the　cabin　when　it　retired
toward　the　bows　of　the　wreck；　and　never　passing　beyond　the　cabin
when　it　returned　toward　the　stern。　〃He　is　impatient　to　get　away；〃
thought　Allan；　〃I'll　try　again。〃　He　hailed　the　land　once　more；
and；　taught　by　previous　experience；