for the term of his natural life-第59部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



The　toil　was　severe；　and　the　companionship　uncouth；　but　despite　his　blistered　hands　and　aching　back；　he　had　not　experienced　anything　so　very　terrible　after　all。　　When　the　muster　bell　rang；　and　the　gang　broke　up；　Rufus　Dawes；　on　his　silent　way　to　his　separate　cell；　observed　a　notable　change　of　custom　in　the　disposition　of　the　new　convict。　　Instead　of　placing　him　in　a　cell　by　himself；　Troke　was　turning　him　into　the　yard　with　the　others。

〃I'm　not　to　go　in　there？〃　says　the　ex…bank　clerk；　drawing　back　in　dismay　from　the　cloud　of　foul　faces　which　lowered　upon　him。

〃By　the　Lord；　but　you　are；　then！〃　says　Troke。　　〃The　Governor　says　a　night　in　there'll　take　the　starch　out　of　ye。　　Come；　in　yer　go。〃

〃But；　Mr。　Troke〃

〃Stow　your　gaff；〃　says　Troke；　with　another　oath；　and　impatiently　striking　the　lad　with　his　thong〃I　can't　argue　here　all　night。　　Get　in。〃　So　Kirkland；　aged　twenty…two；　and　the　son　of　Methodist　parents；　went　in。

Rufus　Dawes；　among　whose　sinister　memories　this　yard　was　numbered；　sighed。　So　fierce　was　the　glamour　of　the　place；　however；　that　when　locked　into　his　cell；　he　felt　ashamed　for　that　sigh；　and　strove　to　erase　the　memory　of　it。　　〃What　is　he　more　than　anybody　else？〃　said　the　wretched　man　to　himself；　as　he　hugged　his　misery　close。

About　dawn　the　next　morning；　Mr。　Northwho；　amongst　other　vagaries　not　approved　of　by　his　bishop；　had　a　habit　of　prowling　about　the　prison　at　unofficial　hourswas　attracted　by　a　dispute　at　the　door　of　the　dormitory。

〃What's　the　matter　here？〃　he　asked。

〃A　prisoner　refractory；　your　reverence；〃　said　the　watchman。　〃Wants　to　come　out。〃

〃Mr。　North！　　Mr。　North！〃　cried　a　voice；　〃for　the　love　of　God；　let　me　out　of　this　place！〃

Kirkland；　ghastly　pale；　bleeding；　with　his　woollen　shirt　torn；　and　his　blue　eyes　wide　open　with　terror；　was　clinging　to　the　bars。

〃Oh；　Mr。　North！　　Mr。　North！　　Oh；　Mr。　North！　　Oh；　for　God's　sake；　Mr。　North！〃

〃What；　Kirkland！〃　cried　North；　who　was　ignorant　of　the　vengeance　of　the　Commandant。　　〃What　do　you　do　here？〃

But　Kirkland　could　do　nothing　but　cry；〃Oh；　Mr。　North！　　For　God's　sake；　Mr。　North！〃　and　beat　on　the　bars　with　white　and　sweating　hands。

〃Let　him　out；　watchman！〃　said　North。

〃Can't　sir；　without　an　order　from　the　Commandant。〃

〃I　order　you；　sir！〃　North　cried；　indignant。

〃Very　sorry；　your　reverence；　but　your　reverence　knows　that　I　daren't　do　such　a　thing。〃　〃Mr。　North！〃　screamed　Kirkland。　　〃Would　you　see　me　perish；　body　and　soul；　in　this　place？　Mr。　North！　　Oh；　you　ministers　of　Christ　wolves　in　sheep's　clothingyou　shall　be　judged　for　this！〃

〃Let　him　out！〃　cried　North　again；　stamping　his　foot。

〃It's　no　good；〃　returned　the　gaoler。　　〃I　can't。　　If　he　was　dying；　I　can't。〃

North　rushed　away　to　the　Commandant；　and　the　instant　his　back　was　turned；　Hailes；　the　watchman；　flung　open　the　door；　and　darted　into　the　dormitory。

〃Take　that！〃　he　cried；　dealing　Kirkland　a　blow　on　the　head　with　his　keys；　that　stretched　him　senseless。　　〃There's　more　trouble　with　you　bloody　aristocrats　than　enough。　　Lie　quiet！〃

The　Commandant；　roused　from　slumber；　told　Mr。　North　that　Kirkland　might　stop　where　he　was；　and　that　he'd　thank　the　chaplain　not　to　wake　him　up　in　the　middle　of　the　night　because　a　blank　prisoner　set　up　a　blank　howling。

〃But；　my　good　sir；〃　protested　North；　restraining　his　impulse　to　overstep　the　bounds　of　modesty　in　his　language　to　his　superior　officer；　〃you　know　the　character　of　the　men　in　that　ward。　　You　can　guess　what　that　unhappy　boy　has　suffered。〃

〃Impertinent　young　beggar！〃　said　Burgess。　　〃Do　him　good；　curse　him！　Mr。　North；　I'm　sorry　you　should　have　had　the　trouble　to　come　here；　but　will　you　let　me　go　to　sleep？〃

North　returned　to　the　prison　disconsolately；　found　the　dutiful　Hailes　at　his　post；　and　all　quiet。

〃What's　become　of　Kirkland？〃　he　asked。

〃Fretted　hisself　to　sleep；　yer　reverence；〃　said　Hailes；　in　accents　of　parental　concern。　　〃Poor　young　chap！　　It's　hard　for　such　young　'uns。〃

In　the　morning；　Rufus　Dawes；　coming　to　his　place　on　the　chain…gang；　was　struck　by　the　altered　appearance　of　Kirkland。　　His　face　was　of　a　greenish　tint；　and　wore　an　expression　of　bewildered　horror。

〃Cheer　up；　man！〃　said　Dawes；　touched　with　momentary　pity。　〃It's　no　good　being　in　the　mopes；　you　know。〃

〃What　do　they　do　if　you　try　to　bolt？〃　whispered　Kirkland。

〃Kill　you；〃　returned　Dawes；　in　a　tone　of　surprise　at　so　preposterous　a　question。

〃Thank　God！〃　said　Kirkland。

〃Now　then；　Miss　Nancy；〃　said　one　of　the　men；　〃what's　the　matter　with　you！〃　Kirkland　shuddered；　and　his　pale　face　grew　crimson。

〃Oh；〃　he　said；　〃that　such　a　wretch　as　I　should　live！〃

〃Silence！〃　cried　Troke。　　〃No。　44；　if　you　can't　hold　your　tongue　I'll　give　you　something　to　talk　about。　　March！〃

The　work　of　the　gang　that　afternoon　was　the　carrying　of　some　heavy　logs　to　the　water…side；　and　Rufus　Dawes　observed　that　Kirkland　was　exhausted　long　before　the　task　was　accomplished。　　〃They'll　kill　you；　you　little　beggar！〃　said　he；　not　unkindly。　　〃What　have　you　been　doing　to　get　into　this　scrape？〃

〃Have　you　ever　been　in　thatthat　place　I　was　in　last　night？〃　asked　Kirkland。

Rufus　Dawes　nodded。

〃Does　the　Commandant　know　what　goes　on　there？〃

〃I　suppose　so。　　What　does　he　care？〃

〃Care！　　Man；　do　you　believe　in　a　God？〃　〃No；〃　said　Dawes；　〃not　here。　Hold　up；　my　lad。　　If　you　fall；　we　must　fall　over　you；　and　then　you're　done　for。〃

He　had　hardly　uttered　the　words；　when　the　boy　flung　himself　beneath　the　log。　In　another　instant　the　train　would　have　been　scrambling　over　his　crushed　body；　had　not　Gabbett　stretched　out　an　iron　hand；　and　plucked　the　would…be　suicide　from　death。

〃Hold　on　to　me；　Miss　Nancy；〃　said　the　giant；　〃I'm　big　enough　to　carry　double。〃

Something　in　the　tone　or　manner　of　the　speaker　affected　Kirkland　to　disgust；　for；　spurning　the　offered　hand；　he　uttered　a　cry　and　then；　holding　up　his　irons　with　his　hands；　he　started　to　run　for　the　water。

〃Halt！　　you　young　fool；〃　roared　Troke；　raising　his　carbine。　But　Kirkland　kept　steadily　on　for　the　river。　　Just　as　he　reached　it；　however；　the　figure　of　Mr。　North　rose　from　behind　a　pile　of　stones。　Kirkland　jumped　for　the　jetty；　missed　his　footing；　and　fell　into　the　arms　of　the　chaplain。

〃You　young　verminyou　shall　pay　for　this；〃　cries　Troke。　　〃You'll　see　if　you　won't　remember　this　day。〃

〃Oh；　Mr。　North；〃　says　Kirkland；　〃why　did　you　stop　me？　I'd　better　be　dead　than　stay　another　night　in　that　place。〃

〃You'll　get　it；　my　lad；〃　said　Gabbett；　when　the　runaway　was　brought　back。　〃Your　blessed　hide'll　feel　for　this；　see　if　it　don't。〃

Kirkland　only　breathed　harder；　and　looked　round　for　Mr。　North；　but　Mr。　North　had　gone。　　The　new　chaplain　was　to　arrive　that　afternoon；　and　it　was　incumbent　on　him　to　be　at　the　reception。　　Troke　reported　the　ex…bank　clerk　that　night　to　Burgess；　and　Burgess；　who　was　about　to　go　to　dinner　with　the　new　chaplain；　disposed　of　his　case　out　of　hand。　〃Tried　to　bolt；　eh！　　Must　stop　that。　　Fifty　lashes；　Troke。　Tell　Macklewain　to　be　readyor　stay；　I'll　tell　him　myselfI'll　break　the　young　devil's　spirit；　blank　him。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Troke。　　〃Good　evening；　sir。〃

〃Trokepick　out　some　likely　man；　will　you？　That　last　fellow　you　had　ought　to　have　been　tied　up　himself。　　His　flogging　wouldn't　have　killed　a　flea。〃

〃You　can't　get　'em　to　warm　one　another；　your　honour；〃　says　Troke。

〃They　won't　do　it。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　they　will；　though；〃　says　Burgess；　〃or　I'll　know　the　reason　why。　I　won't　have　my　men　knocked　up　with　flogging　these　rascals。　If　the　scourger　won't　do　his　duty；　tie　him　up；　and　give　him　five…and…twenty　for　himself。　　I'll　be　down　in　the　morning　myself　if　I　can。〃

〃Very　good；　your　honour；〃　says　Troke。

Kirkland　was　put　into　a　separate　cell　that　night；　and　Troke；　by　way　of　assuring　him　a　good　night's　rest；　told　him　that　he　was　to　have　〃fifty〃　in　the　morning。　　〃And　Dawes'll　lay　it　on；〃　he　added。　〃He's　one　of　the　smartest　men　I've　got；　and　he　won't　spare　yer；　yer　may　take　your　oath　of　that。〃　




CHAPTER　XIV。

Mr。　NORTH'S　DISPOSITION。



〃You　will　find　this　a　terrible　place；　Mr。　Meekin；〃　said　North　to　his　supplanter；　as　they　walked　across　to　the　Commandant's　to　dinner。　〃It　has　made　me　heartsick。〃　

〃I　thought　it　was　a　little　paradise；〃　said　Meekin。　　〃Captain　Frere　says　that　the　scenery　is　delightful。〃　〃So　it　is；〃　returned　North；　looking　askance；　〃but　the　prisoners　are　not　delightful。〃

〃Poor；　abandoned　wretches；〃　says　Meekin；　〃I　suppose　not。　How　sweet　the　moonlight　sleeps　upon　that　bank！　　Eh！〃

〃Abandoned；　indeed；　by　God　and　manalmost。〃

〃Mr。　North；　Providence　never　abandons　the　most　unworthy　of　His　servants。　Never　have　I　seen　the　righteous　forsaken；　nor　His　seed　begging　their　bread。　In　the　valley　of　the　shadow　of　death　He　is　with　us。　　His　staff；　you　know；　Mr。　North。　　Really；　the　Commandant's　house　is　charmingly　situated！〃

Mr。　North　sighed　again。　　〃You　have　not　been　long　in　the　colony；　Mr。　Meekin。　I　doubtforgive　me　for　expressing　myself　so　freelyif　you　quite　know　of　our　convict　system。〃

〃An　admirable　one！　　A　most　admirable　one！〃　said　Meekin。　　〃There　were　a　few　matters　I　noticed　in　Hobart　Town　that　did　not　quite　please　me　the　frequent　use　of　profane　language　for　instancebut　on　the　whole　I　was　delighted　with　the　scheme。　　It　is　so　complete。〃

North　pursed　up　his　lips。　　〃Yes；　it　is　very　complete；〃　he　said；　〃almost　too　complete。　　But　I　am　always　in　a　minority　when　I　discuss　the　question；　so　we　will　drop　it；　if　you　please。〃

〃If　you　please；〃　said　Meekin　gravely。　　He　had　heard　from　the　Bishop　that　Mr。　North　was　an　ill…conditioned　sort　of　person；　who　smoked　clay　pipes；　had　been　detected　in　drinking　beer　out　of　a　pewter　pot；　and　had　been　heard　to　state　that　white　neck…cloths　were　of　no　consequence。　　The　dinner　went　off　successfully。　　Burgessdesirous；　perhaps；　of　favourably　impressing　the　chaplain　whom　the　Bishop　delighted　to　honourshut　off　his　blasphemy　for　a　while；　and　was　urbane　enough。　　〃You'll　find　us　rough；　Mr。　Meekin；〃　he　said；　〃but　you'll　find　us　'all　there'　when　we're　wanted。　This　is　a　little　kingdom　in　itself。〃

〃Like　B閞anger's？〃　asked　Meekin；　with　a　smile。　　Captain　Burgess　had　never　heard　of　B閞anger；　but　he　smiled　as　if　he　had　learnt　his　words　by　heart。

〃Or　like　Sancho　Panza's　island；〃　said　North。　　〃You　remember　how　justice　was　administered　there？〃

〃Not　a