for the term of his natural life-第31部分
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in a couple of hours； in collecting wood enough to roof over a space between the hollow rock which contained the provisions and another rock； in shape like a hammer； which jutted out within five yards of it。 Mrs。 Vickers and Sylvia were to have this hut as a sleeping…place； and Frere and Bates； lying at the mouth of the larder； would at once act as a guard to it and them。 Grimes was to make for himself another hut where the fire had been lighted on the previous night。
When they got back to dinner； inspirited by this resolution； they found poor Mrs。 Vickers in great alarm。 Grimes； who； by reason of the dint in his skull； had been left behind； was walking about the sea…beach； talking mysteriously； and shaking his fist at an imaginary foe。 On going up to him； they discovered that the blow had affected his brain； for he was delirious。 Frere endeavoured to soothe him； without effect； and at last； by Bates's advice； the poor fellow was rolled in the sea。 The cold bath quelled his violence； and； being laid beneath the shade of a rock hard by； he fell into a condition of great muscular exhaustion； and slept。
The damper was then portioned out by Bates； and； together with a small piece of meat； it formed the dinner of the party。 Mrs。 Vickers reported that she had observed a great commotion on board the brig； and thought that the prisoners must be throwing overboard such portions of the cargo as were not absolutely necessary to them； in order to lighten her。 This notion Bates declared to be correct； and further pointed out that the mutineers had got out a kedge…anchor； and by hauling on the kedge…line； were gradually warping the brig down the harbour。 Before dinner was over a light breeze sprang up； and the Osprey； running up the union…jack reversed； fired a musket； either in farewell or triumph； and； spreading her sails； disappeared round the western horn of the harbour。
Mrs。 Vickers； taking Sylvia with her； went away a few paces； and leaning against the rugged wall of her future home； wept bitterly。 Bates and Frere affected cheerfulness； but each felt that he had hitherto regarded the presence of the brig as a sort of safeguard； and had never fully realized his own loneliness until now。
The necessity for work； however； admitted of no indulgence of vain sorrow； and Bates setting the example； the pair worked so hard that by nightfall they had torn down and dragged together sufficient brushwood to complete Mrs。 Vickers's hut。 During the progress of this work they were often interrupted by Grimes； who persisted in vague rushes at them； exclaiming loudly against their supposed treachery in leaving him at the mercy of the mutineers。 Bates also complained of the pain caused by the wound in his forehead； and that he was afflicted with a giddiness which he knew not how to avert。 By dint of frequently bathing his head at the spring； however； he succeeded in keeping on his legs； until the work of dragging together the boughs was completed； when he threw himself on the ground； and declared that he could rise no more。
Frere applied to him the remedy that had been so successfully tried upon Grimes； but the salt water inflamed his wound and rendered his condition worse。 Mrs。 Vickers recommended that a little spirit and water should be used to wash the cut； and the cask was got out and broached for that purpose。 Tea and damper formed their evening meal； and by the light of a blazing fire； their condition looked less desperate。 Mrs。 Vickers had set the pannikin on a flat stone； and dispensed the tea with an affectation of dignity which would have been absurd had it not been heart…rending。 She had smoothed her hair and pinned the white shawl about her coquettishly； she even ventured to lament to Mr。 Frere that she had not brought more clothes。 Sylvia was in high spirits； and scorned to confess hunger。 When the tea had been drunk； she fetched water from the spring in the kettle； and bathed Bates's head with it。 It was resolved that； on the morrow； a search should be made for some place from which to cast the fishing line； and that one of the number should fish daily。
The condition of the unfortunate Grimes now gave cause for the greatest uneasiness。 From maundering foolishly he had taken to absolute violence； and had to be watched by Frere。 After much muttering and groaning； the poor fellow at last dropped off to sleep； and Frere； having assisted Bates to his sleeping…place in front of the rock； and laid him down on a heap of green brushwood； prepared to snatch a few hours' slumber。 Wearied by excitement and the labours of the day； he slept heavily； but； towards morning； was awakened by a strange noise。
Grimes； whose delirium had apparently increased； had succeeded in forcing his way through the rude fence of brushwood； and had thrown himself upon Bates with the ferocity of insanity。 Growling to himself； he had seized the unfortunate pilot by the throat； and the pair were struggling together。 Bates； weakened by the sickness that had followed upon his wound in the head； was quite unable to cope with his desperate assailant； but calling feebly upon Frere for help； had made shift to lay hold upon the jack…knife of which we have before spoken。 Frere； starting to his feet； rushed to the assistance of the pilot； but was too late。 Grimes； enraged by the sight of the knife； tore it from Bates's grasp； and before Frere could catch his arm； plunged it twice into the unfortunate man's breast。
〃I'm a dead man！〃 cried Bates faintly。
The sight of the blood； together with the exclamation of his victim； recalled Grimes to consciousness。 He looked in bewilderment at the bloody weapon； and then； flinging it from him； rushed away towards the sea； into which he plunged headlong。
Frere； aghast at this sudden and terrible tragedy； gazed after him； and saw from out the placid water； sparkling in the bright beams of morning； a pair of arms； with outstretched hands； emerge； a black spot； that was a head； uprose between these stiffening arms； and then； with a horrible cry； the whole disappeared； and the bright water sparkled as placidly as before。 The eyes of the terrified Frere； travelling back to the wounded man； saw； midway between this sparkling water and the knife that lay on the sand； an object that went far to explain the maniac's sudden burst of fury。 The rum cask lay upon its side by the remnants of last night's fire； and close to it was a clout； with which the head of the wounded man had been bound。 It was evident that the poor creature； wandering in his delirium； had come across the rum cask； drunk a quantity of its contents； and been maddened by the fiery spirit。
Frere hurried to the side of Bates； and lifting him up； strove to staunch the blood that flowed from his chest。 It would seem that he had been resting himself on his left elbow； and that Grimes； snatching the knife from his right hand； had stabbed him twice in the right breast。 He was pale and senseless； and Frere feared that the wound was mortal。 Tearing off his neck…handkerchief； he endeavoured to bandage the wound； but found that the strip of silk was insufficient for the purpose。 The noise had roused Mrs。 Vickers； who； stifling her terror； made haste to tear off a portion of her dress； and with this a bandage of sufficient width was made。 Frere went to the cask to see if； haply； he could obtain from it a little spirit with which to moisten the lips of the dying man； but it was empty。 Grimes； after drinking his fill； had overturned the unheaded puncheon； and the greedy sand had absorbed every drop of liquor。 Sylvia brought some water from the spring； and Mrs。 Vickers bathing Bates's head with this； he revived a little。 By…and…by Mrs。 Vickers milked the goatshe had never done such a thing before in all her lifeand the milk being given to Bates in a pannikin； he drank it eagerly； but vomited it almost instantly。 It was evident that he was sinking from some internal injury。
None of the party had much appetite for breakfast； but Frere； whose sensibilities were less acute than those of the others； ate a piece of salt meat and damper。 It struck him； with a curious feeling of pleasant selfishness； that now Grimes had gone； the allowance of provisions would be increased； and that if Bates went also； it would be increased still further。 He did not give utterance to his thoughts； however； but sat with the wounded man's head on his knees； and brushed the settling flies from his face。 He hoped； after all； that the pilot would not die； for he should then be left alone to look after the women。 Perhaps some such thought was agitating Mrs。 Vickers also。 As for Sylvia； she made no secret of her anxiety。
〃Don't die； Mr。 Batesoh； don't die！〃 she said； standing piteously near； but afraid to touch him。 〃Don't leave mamma and me alone in this dreadful place！〃
Poor Bates； of course； said nothing； but Frere frowned heavily； and Mrs。 Vickers said reprovingly； 〃Sylvia！〃 just as if they had been in the old house on distant Sarah Island。
In the afternoon Frere went away to drag together some wood for the fire； and when he returned he found the pilot near his end。 Mrs。 Vickers said that for an hour he had lain without motion； and almost without breath。 The major's wife had seen more than one death…bed； and was calm enough； but poor little Sylvia； sitting on a stone hard by； shook with terror。 She had a dim notion that death must be accompanied by violence。 As the sun sank； Bates rallied； but the two watchers knew that it was but the final flicker of the expiring candle。 〃He's going！〃 said Frere at length； under his breath； as though fearful of awaking his half…slumbering soul。 Mrs。 Vickers； her eyes streaming with silent tears； lifted the honest head； and moistened the parched lips with her soaked handkerchief。 A tremor shook the once stalwart limbs； and the dying man opened his eyes。 For an instant he seemed bewildered； and then； looking from one to the other； intelligence returned to his glance； and it was evident that he remembered all。 His gaze rested upon the pale face of the affrighted Sylvia； and then turned to Frere。 There could be no mistaking the mute appeal of those eloquent eyes。
〃Yes； I'll take care of her；〃 said Frere。
Bates smiled； and then； obse
