for the term of his natural life-第30部分

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ance。　　With　Bates；　Frere；　and　her　mother　so　close　to　her；　it　was　impossible　to　be　afraid；　besides；　it　was　obvious　that　papathe　Supreme　Being　of　the　settlementmust　at　once　return　and　severely　punish　the　impertinent　prisoners　who　had　dared　to　insult　his　wife　and　child；　and　as　Sylvia　dropped　off　to　sleep；　she　caught　herself；　with　some　indignation；　pitying　the　mutineers　for　the　tremendous　scrape　they　had　got　themselves　into。　　How　they　would　be　flogged　when　papa　came　back！　In　the　meantime　this　sleeping　in　the　open　air　was　novel　and　rather　pleasant。

Honest　Bates　produced　a　piece　of　biscuit；　and；　with　all　the　generosity　of　his　nature；　suggested　that　this　should　be　set　aside　for　the　sole　use　of　the　two　females；　but　Mrs。　Vickers　would　not　hear　of　it。　〃We　must　all　share　alike；〃　said　she；　with　something　of　the　spirit　that　she　knew　her　husband　would　have　displayed　under　like　circumstance；　and　Frere　wondered　at　her　apparent　strength　of　mind。　　Had　he　been　gifted　with　more　acuteness；　he　would　not　have　wondered；　for　when　a　crisis　comes　to　one　of　two　persons　who　have　lived　much　together；　the　influence　of　the　nobler　spirit　makes　itself　felt。　　Frere　had　a　tinder…box　in　his　pocket；　and　he　made　a　fire　with　some　dry　leaves　and　sticks。　　Grimes　fell　asleep；　and　the　two　men　sitting　at　their　fire　discussed　the　chances　of　escape。　Neither　liked　to　openly　broach　the　supposition　that　they　had　been　finally　deserted。　　It　was　concluded　between　them　that　unless　the　brig　sailed　in　the　nightand　the　now　risen　moon　showed　her　yet　lying　at　anchor　the　convicts　would　return　and　bring　them　food。　　This　supposition　proved　correct；　for　about　an　hour　after　daylight　they　saw　the　whale…boat　pulling　towards　them。

A　discussion　had　arisen　amongst　the　mutineers　as　to　the　propriety　of　at　once　making　sail；　but　Barker；　who　had　been　one　of　the　pilot…boat　crew；　and　knew　the　dangers　of　the　Bar；　vowed　that　he　would　not　undertake　to　steer　the　brig　through　the　Gates　until　morning；　and　so　the　boats　being　secured　astern；　a　strict　watch　was　set；　lest　the　helpless　Bates　should　attempt　to　rescue　the　vessel。　　During　the　eveningthe　excitement　attendant　upon　the　outbreak　having　passed　away；　and　the　magnitude　of　the　task　before　them　being　more　fully　apparent　to　their　mindsa　feeling　of　pity　for　the　unfortunate　party　on　the　mainland　took　possession　of　them。　It　was　quite　possible　that　the　Osprey　might　be　recaptured；　in　which　case　five　useless　murders　would　have　been　committed；　and　however　callous　in　bloodshed　were　the　majority　of　the　ten；　not　one　among　them　could　contemplate　in　cold　blood；　without　a　twinge　of　remorse；　the　death　of　the　harmless　child　of　the　Commandant。

John　Rex；　seeing　how　matters　were　going；　made　haste　to　take　to　himself　the　credit　of　mercy。　　He　ruled；　and　had　always　ruled；　his　ruffians　not　so　much　by　suggesting　to　them　the　course　they　should　take；　as　by　leading　them　on　the　way　they　had　already　chosen　for　themselves。　〃I　propose；〃　said　he；　〃that　we　divide　the　provisions。　　There　are　five　of　them　and　twelve　of　us。　　Then　nobody　can　blame　us。〃

〃Ay；〃　said　Porter；　mindful　of　a　similar　exploit；　〃and　if　we're　taken；　they　can　tell　what　we　have　done。　　Don't　let　our　affair　be　like　that　of　the　Cypress；　to　leave　them　to　starve。〃　〃Ay；　ay；〃　says　Barker；　〃you're　right！　　When　Fergusson　was　topped　at　Hobart　Town；　I　heard　old　Troke　say　that　if　he'd　not　refused　to　set　the　tucker　ashore；　he　might　ha'　got　off　with　a　whole　skin。〃

Thus　urged；　by　self…interest；　as　well　as　sentiment；　to　mercy；　the　provision　was　got　upon　deck　by　daylight；　and　a　division　was　made。　The　soldiers；　with　generosity　born　of　remorse；　were　for　giving　half　to　the　marooned　men；　but　Barker　exclaimed　against　this。　　〃When　the　schooner　finds　they　don't　get　to　headquarters；　she's　bound　to　come　back　and　look　for　'em；〃　said　he；　〃and　we'll　want　all　the　tucker　we　can　get；　maybe；　afore　we　sights　land。〃

This　reasoning　was　admitted　and　acted　upon。　　There　was　in　the　harness…cask　about　fifty　pounds　of　salt　meat；　and　a　third　of　this　quantity；　together　with　half　a　small　sack　of　flour；　some　tea　and　sugar　mixed　together　in　a　bag；　and　an　iron　kettle　and　pannikin；　was　placed　in　the　whale…boat。　Rex；　fearful　of　excesses　among　his　crew；　had　also　lowered　down　one　of　the　two　small　puncheons　of　rum　which　the　store…room　contained。　Cheshire　disputed　this；　and　stumbling　over　a　goat　that　had　been　taken　on　board　from　Philip's　Island；　caught　the　creature　by　the　leg；　and　threw　it　into　the　sea；　bidding　Rex　take　that　with　him　also。　　Rex　dragged　the　poor　beast　into　the　boat；　and　with　this　miscellaneous　cargo　pushed　off　to　the　shore。　The　poor　goat；　shivering；　began　to　bleat　piteously；　and　the　men　laughed。　To　a　stranger　it　would　have　appeared　that　the　boat　contained　a　happy　party　of　fishermen；　or　coast　settlers；　returning　with　the　proceeds　of　a　day's　marketing。

Laying　off　as　the　water　shallowed；　Rex　called　to　Bates　to　come　for　the　cargo；　and　three　men　with　muskets　standing　up　as　before；　ready　to　resist　any　attempt　at　capture；　the　provisions；　goat　and　all；　were　carried　ashore。　〃There！〃　says　Rex；　〃you　can't　say　we've　used　you　badly；　for　we've　divided　the　provisions。〃　　The　sight　of　this　almost　unexpected　succour　revived　the　courage　of　the　five；　and　they　felt　grateful。　After　the　horrible　anxiety　they　had　endured　all　that　night；　they　were　prepared　to　look　with　kindly　eyes　upon　the　men　who　had　come　to　their　assistance。

〃Men；〃　said　Bates；　with　something　like　a　sob　in　his　voice；　〃I　didn't　expect　this。　　You　are　good　fellows；　for　there　ain't　much　tucker　aboard；　I　know。〃

〃Yes；〃　affirmed　Frere；　〃you're　good　fellows。〃

Rex　burst　into　a　savage　laugh。　　〃Shut　your　mouth；　you　tyrant；〃　said　he；　forgetting　his　dandyism　in　the　recollection　of　his　former　suffering。　〃It　ain't　for　your　benefit。　　You　may　thank　the　lady　and　the　child　for　it。〃

Julia　Vickers　hastened　to　propitiate　the　arbiter　of　her　daughter's　fate。　〃We　are　obliged　to　you；〃　she　said；　with　a　touch　of　quiet　dignity　resembling　her　husband's；　〃and　if　I　ever　get　back　safely；　I　will　take　care　that　your　kindness　shall　be　known。〃

The　swindler　and　forger　took　off　his　leather　cap　with　quite　an　air。　It　was　five　years　since　a　lady　had　spoken　to　him；　and　the　old　time　when　he　was　Mr。　Lionel　Crofton；　a　〃gentleman　sportsman〃；　came　back　again　for　an　instant。　　At　that　moment；　with　liberty　in　his　hand；　and　fortune　all　before　him；　he　felt　his　self…respect　return；　and　he　looked　the　lady　in　the　face　without　flinching。

〃I　sincerely　trust；　madam；〃　said　he；　〃that　you　will　get　back　safely。　May　I　hope　for　your　good　wishes　for　myself　and　my　companions？〃

Listening；　Bates　burst　into　a　roar　of　astonished　enthusiasm。　〃What　a　dog　it　is！〃　he　cried。　　〃John　Rex；　John　Rex；　you　were　never　made　to　be　a　convict；　man！〃

Rex　smiled。　　〃Good…bye；　Mr。　Bates；　and　God　preserve　you！〃

〃Good…bye；〃　says　Bates；　rubbing　his　hat　off　his　face；　〃and　IIdamme；　I　hope　you'll　get　safe　offthere！　　for　liberty's　sweet　to　every　man。〃

〃Good…bye；　prisoners！〃　says　Sylvia；　waving　her　handkerchief；　〃and　I　hope　they　won't　catch　you；　too。〃

So；　with　cheers　and　waving　of　handkerchiefs；　the　boat　departed。

In　the　emotion　which　the　apparently　disinterested　conduct　of　John　Rex　had　occasioned　the　exiles；　all　earnest　thought　of　their　own　position　had　vanished；　and；　strange　to　say；　the　prevailing　feeling　was　that　of　anxiety　for　the　ultimate　fate　of　the　mutineers。　　But　as　the　boat　grew　smaller　and　smaller　in　the　distance；　so　did　their　consciousness　of　their　own　situation　grow　more　and　more　distinct；　and　when　at　last　the　boat　had　disappeared　in　the　shadow　of　the　brig；　all　started；　as　if　from　a　dream；　to　the　wakeful　contemplation　of　their　own　case。

A　council　of　war　was　held；　with　Mr。　Frere　at　the　head　of　it；　and　the　possessions　of　the　little　party　were　thrown　into　common　stock。　The　salt　meat；　flour；　and　tea　were　placed　in　a　hollow　rock　at　some　distance　from　the　beach；　and　Mr。　Bates　was　appointed　purser；　to　apportion　to　each；　without　fear　or　favour；　his　stated　allowance。　　The　goat　was　tethered　with　a　piece　of　fishing　line　sufficiently　long　to　allow　her　to　browse。　The　cask　of　rum；　by　special　agreement；　was　placed　in　the　innermost　recess　of　the　rock；　and　it　was　resolved　that　its　contents　should　not　be　touched　except　in　case　of　sickness；　or　in　last　extremity。　　There　was　no　lack　of　water；　for　a　spring　ran　bubbling　from　the　rocks　within　a　hundred　yards　of　the　spot　where　the　party　had　landed。　　They　calculated　that；　with　prudence；　their　provisions　would　last　them　for　nearly　four　weeks。

It　was　found；　upon　a　review　of　their　possessions；　that　they　had　among　them　three　pocket　knives；　a　ball　of　string；　two　pipes；　matches　and　a　fig　of　tobacco；　fishing　lines　with　hooks；　and　a　big　jack…knife　which　Frere　had　taken　to　gut　the　fish　he　had　expected　to　catch。　　But　they　saw　with　dismay　that　there　was　nothing　which　could　be　used　axe…wise　among　the　party。　Mrs。　Vickers　had　her　shawl；　and　Bates　a　pea…jacket；　but　Frere　and　Grimes　were　without　extra　clothing。　　It　was　agreed　that　each　should　retain　his　own　property；　with　the　exception　of　the　fishing　lines；　which　were　confiscated　to　the　commonwealth。

Having　made　these　arrangements；　the　kettle；　filled　with　water　from　the　spring；　was　slung　from　three　green　sticks　over　the　fire；　and　a　pannikin　of　weak　tea；　together　with　a　biscuit；　served　out　to　each　of　the　party；　save　Grimes；　who　declared　himself　unable　to　eat。　　Breakfast　over；　Bates　made　a　damper；　which　was　cooked　in　the　ashes；　and　then　another　council　was　held　as　to　future　habitation。

It　was　clearly　evident　that　they　could　not　sleep　in　the　open　air。　It　was　the　middle　of　summer；　and　though　no　annoyance　from　rain　was　apprehended；　the　heat　in　the　middle　of　the　day　was　most　oppressive。　　Moreover；　it　was　absolutely　necessary　that　Mrs。　Vickers　and　the　child　should　have　some　place　to　themselves。　　At　a　little　distance　from　the　beach　was　a　sandy　rise；　that　led　up　to　the　face　of　the　cliff；　and　on　the　eastern　side　of　this　rise　grew　a　forest　of　young　trees。　　Frere　proposed　to　cut　down　these　trees；　and　make　a　sort　of　hut　with　them。　　It　was　soon　discovered；　however；　that　the　pocket　knives　were　insufficient　for　this　purpose；　but　by　dint　of　notching　the　young　saplings　and　then　breaking　them　down；　they　succeeded；　in　a　couple　of　hours；　in　collecting　wood　enough　to　roof　over　a　space　between　the　hollow　rock　which　c