hard cash-第29章

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　There　is　often　one　of　these　sleek　miners　in　a　bank：　it　is　a　section　of　human　zoology　the　journals　have　lately　enlarged　on；　and　drawn　the　painstaking　creature　grubbing　and　mining　away　to　brief　opulenceand　briefer　penal　servitude　than　one　could　wish。　I　rely　on　my　reader　having　read　these　really　able　sketches　of　my　contemporaries；　and　spare　him　minute　details；　that　possess　scarcely　a　new　feature；　except　one：　in　that　bank　was　not　only　a　mole；　but　a　mole…catcher；　and；　contrary　to　custom；　the　mole　was　the　master；　the　mole…catcher　the　servant。　The　latter　had　no　hostile　views；　far　from　it：　he　was　rather　attached　to　his　master。　But　his　attention　was　roused　by　the　youngest　clerk；　a　boy　of　sixteen；　being　so　often　sent　for　into　the　bank　parlour；　to　copy　into　the　books　some　arithmetical　result；　without　its　process。　Attention　soon　became　suspicion；　and　suspicion　found　many　little　things　to　feed　on；　till　it　grew　to　certainty。　But　the　outer　world　was　none　the　wiser：　the　mole…catcher　was　no　chatterbox；　he　was　a　solitary　manno　wife　nor　mistress　about　him；　and　he　revered　the　mole；　and　liked　him　better　than　anything　in　the　world_except　money。_

Thus　the　great　banker　stood；　a　colossus　of　wealth　and　stability　to　the　eye；　though　ready　to　crumble　at　a　touch；　and　indeed　self…doomed；　for　bankruptcy　was　now　his　game。

This　was　a　miserable　man；　far　more　miserable　than　his　son；　whose　happiness　he　had　thwarted：　his　face　was　furrowed　and　his　hair　thinned　by　a　secret　struggle；　and　of　all　the　things　that　gnawed　him；　like　the　fox；　beneath　his　Spartan　robe；　none　was　more　bitter　than　to　have　borrowed　five　thousand　pounds　of　his　children　and　sunk　it。

His　wife's　father；　a　keen　man　of　business；　who　saw　there　was　little　affection　on　his　side；　had　settled　his　daughter's　money　on　her　for　life；　and　in　case　of　her　death；　on　the　children　upon　coming　of　age。　The　marriage　of　Alfred　or　Jane　would　be　sure　to　expose　him；　settlements　would　be　proposed；　lawyers　engaged　to　peer　into　the　trust；　&c。　No；　they　_must_　remain　single　for　the　present；　or　else　marry　wealth。

So；　when　his　son　announced　an　attachment　to　a　young　lady　living　in　a　suburban　villa；　it　was　a　terrible　blow；　though　he　took　it　with　outward　calm；　as　usual。　But　if；　instead　of　prating　about　beauty；　virtue；　and　breeding；　Alfred　had　told　him　hard　cash　in　five　figures　could　be　settled　by　the　bride's　family　on　the　young　couple；　he　would　have　welcomed　the　wedding　with　great　external　indifference；　but　a　secret　gush　of　joy；　for　then　he　could　throw　himself　on　Alfred's　generosity；　and　be　released　from　that　one　corroding　debt；　perhaps　allowed　to　go　on　drawing　the　interest　of　the　remainder。

Thus；　in　reality；　all　the　interests　with　which　this　story　deals　converged　towards　one　point：　the　fourteen　thousand　pounds。　Richard　Hardie's　opposition　was　a　mere　misunderstanding；　and　if　he　had　been　told　of　the　Cash；　and　to　what　purpose　Mrs。　Dodd　destined　it；　and　then　put　on　board　the　_Agra_　in　the　Straits　of　Gaspar；　he　would　have　calmly　taken　off　his　coat；　and　help　to　defend　the　bearer　of　It　against　all　assailants　as　stoutly；　and；　to　all　appearance；　imperturbably；　as　he　had　fought　that　other　bitter　battle　at　home。　For　there　was　something　heroic　in　this　erring　man；　though　his　rectitude　depended　on　circumstances。


CHAPTER　IX

THE　way　the　pirate　dropped　the　mask；　showed　his　black　teeth；　and　bore　up　in　chase；　was　terrible：　so　dilates　and　bounds　the　sudden　tiger　on　his　unwary　prey。　There　were　stout　hearts　among　the　officers　of　the　peaceable　_Agra_；　but　danger　in　a　new　form　shakes　the　brave；　and　this　was　their　first　pirate：　their　dismay　broke　out　in　ejaculations　not　loud　but　deep。　〃Hush；〃　said　Dodd　doggedly；　〃the　lady！〃

Mrs。　Beresford　had　just　come　on　deck　to　enjoy　the　balmy　morning。

〃Sharpe；〃　said　Dodd；　in　a　tone　that　conveyed　no　suspicion　to　the　new…comer；　〃set　the　royals　and　flying　jib。Port！〃

〃Port　it　is；〃　cried　the　man　at　the　helm。

〃Steer　due　south！〃　And；　with　these　words　in　his　mouth；　Dodd　dived　to　the　gun…deck。

By　this　time　elastic　Sharpe　had　recovered　the　first　shock；　and　the　order　to　crowd　sail　on　the　ship　galled　his　pride　and　his　manhood。　He　muttered　indignantly；　〃The　white　feather！〃　This　eased　his　mind；　and　he　obeyed　orders　briskly　as　ever。　While　he　and　his　hands　were　setting　every　rag　the　ship　could　carry　on　that　tack；　the　other　officers　having　unluckily　no　orders　to　execute；　stood　gloomy　and　helpless；　with　their　eyes　glued；　by　a　sort　of　sombre　fascination；　on　that　coming　fate；　and　they　literally　jumped　and　jarred　when　Mrs。　Beresford；　her　heart　opened　by　the　lovely　day；　broke　in　on　their　nerves　with　her　light　treble。

〃What　a　sweet　morning；　gentlemen！　After　all；　a　voyage　is　a　delightful　thing。　Oh；　what　a　splendid　sea！　and　the　very　breeze　is　warm。　Ah！　and　there's　a　little　ship　sailing　along：　here；　Freddy；　Freddy　darling；　leave　off　beating　the　sailor's　legs；　and　come　here　and　see　this　pretty　ship。　What　a　pity　it　is　so　far　off。　Ah！　ah！　what　is　that　dreadful　noise？〃

For　her　horrible　small　talk；　that　grated　on　those　anxious　souls　like　the　mockery　of　some　infantine　fiend；　was　cut　short　by　ponderous　blows　and　tremendous　smashing　below。　It　was　the　captain　staving　in　water…casks：　the　water　poured　out　at　the　scuppers。

〃Clearing　the　lee　guns；〃　said　a　middy；　off　his　guard。

Colonel　Kenealy　pricked　up　his　ears；　drew　his　cigar　from　his　mouth；　and　smelt　powder　〃What；　for　action　？〃　said　he　briskly。　〃Where's　the　enemy？〃

Fullalove　made　him　a　signal；　and　they　went　below。

Mrs。　Beresford　had　not　heard　or　not　appreciated　the　remark：　she　prattled　on　till　she　made　the　mates　and　midshipmen　shudder。

Realise　the　situation；　and　the　strange　incongruity　between　the　senses　and　the　mind　in　these　poor　fellows！　The　day　had　ripened　its　beauty；　beneath　a　purple　heaven　shone；　sparkled；　and　laughed　a　blue　sea；　in　whose　waves　the　tropical　sun　seemed　to　have　fused　his　beams；　and　beneath　that　fair；　sinless；　peaceful　sky；　wafted　by　a　balmy　breeze　over　those　smiling；　transparent；　golden　waves；　a　bloodthirsty　Pirate　bore　down　on　them　with　a　crew　of　human　tigers；　and　a　lady　babble　babble　babble　babble　babble　babble　babbled　in　their　quivering　ears。

But　now　the　captain　came　bustling　on　deck；　eyed　the　loftier　sails；　saw　they　were　drawing　well；　appointed　four　midshipmen　a　staff　to　convey　his　orders：　gave　Bayliss　charge　of　the　carronades；　Grey　of　the　cutlasses；　and　directed　Mr。　Tickell　to　break　the　bad　news　gently　to　Mrs。　Beresford；　and　to　take　her　below　to　the　orlop　deck；　ordered　the　purser　to　serve　out　beet　biscuit；　and　grog　to　all　hands；　saying；　〃Men　can't　work　on　an　empty　stomach：　and　fighting　is　hard　work；〃　then　beckoned　the　officers　to　come　round　him。　〃Gentlemen；〃　said　he；　confidentially；　〃in　crowding　sail　on　this　ship　I　had　no　hope　of　escaping　that　fellow　on　this　tack；　but　I　was；　and　am；　most　anxious　to　gain　the　open　sea；　where　I　can　square　my　yards　and　run　for　it；　if　I　see　a　chance。　At　present　I　shall　carry　on　till　he　comes　within　range：　and　then；　to　keep　the　Company's　canvas　from　being　shot　to　rags；　I　shall　shorten　sail；　and　to　save　ship　and　cargo　and　all　our　lives；　I　shall　fight　while　a　plank　of　her　swims。　Better　be　killed　in　hot　blood　than　walk　the　plank　in　cold。〃

The　officers　cheered　faintly；　the　captain's　dogged　resolution　stirred　up　theirs。

The　pirate　had　gained　another　quarter　of　a　mile　and　more。　The　ship's　crew　were　hard　at　their　beef　and　grog；　and　agreed　among　themselves　it　was　a　comfortable　ship。　They　guessed　what　was　coming；　and　woe　to　the　ship　in　that　hour　if　the　captain　had　not　won　their　respect。　Strange　to　say；　there　were　two　gentlemen　in　the　_Agra_　to　whom　the　pirate's　approach　was　not　altogether　unwelcome。　Colonel　Kenealy　and　Mr。　Fullalove　were　rival　sportsmen　and　rival　theorists。　Kenealy　stood　out　for　a　smooth　bore　and　a　four…ounce　ball；　Fullalove　for　a　rifle　of　his　own　construction。　Many　a　doughty　argument　they　had；　and　many　a　bragging　match；　neither　could　convert　the　other。　At　last　Fullalove　hinted　that　by　going　ashore　at　the　Cape；　and　getting　each　behind　a　tree　at　one　hundred　yards；　and　popping　at　one　another；　one　or　other　would　be　convinced

〃Well；　but；〃　said　Kenealy；　〃if　he　is　dead；　he　will　be　no　wiser。　Besides；　to　a　fellow　like　me；　who　has　had　the　luxury　of　popping　at　his　enemies；　popping　at　a　friend　is　poor　insipid　work。〃

〃That　is　true；〃　said　the　other　regretfully。　〃But　I　reckon　we　shall　never　settle　it　by　argument。〃

Theorists　are　amazing；　and　it　was　plain；　by　the　alacrity　with　which　these　good　creatures　loaded　the　rival　instruments；　that　to　them　the　pirate　came　not　so　much　as　a　pirate　as　a　solution。　Indeed；　Kenealy；　in　the　act　of　charging　his　piece；　was　heard　to　mutter；　〃Now；　this　is　lucky。〃　However；　these　theorists　were　no　sooner　loaded　than　something　occurred　to　make　them　more　serious。　They　were　sent　for　in　haste　to　Dodd's　cabin；　they　found　him　giving　Sharpe　a　new　order。

〃Shorten　sail　to　the　taupsles　and　jib；　get　the　colours　ready　on　the　halyards；　and　then　send　the　men　aft。〃

Sharpe　ran　out　full　of　zeal；　and　tumbled　over　Ramgolam；　who　was　stooping　remarkably　near　the　keyhole。　Dodd　hastily　bolted　the　cabin…door；　and　looked　with　trembling　lip　and　piteous　earnestness　in　Kenealy's　face　and　Fullalove's。　They　were　mute　with　surprise　at　a　gaze　so　eloquent　and　yet　mysterious。

He　manned　himself；　and　opened　his　mind　to　them　with　deep　emotion；　yet　not　without　a　certain　simple　dignity。

〃Colonel；〃　said　he；　〃you　are　an　old　friend；　_you；_　sir；　are　a　new　one；　but　I　esteem　you　highly；　and　what　my　young　gentlemen　chaff　you　about；　you　calling　all　men　brothers；　and　making　that　poor　negro　love　you　instead　of　fear　you；　that　shows　me　you　have　a　great　heart。　My　dear　friends；　I　have　been　unlucky　enough　to　bring　my　children's　fortune　on　board　this　ship：　here　it　is　under　my　shirt。　Fourteen　thousand　pounds！　This　weighs　me　down。　Oh；　if　they　should　lose　it　after　all！　Do　pray　give　me　a　hand　apiece　and　pledge　your　sacred　words　to　take　it　home　safe　to　my　wife　at　Barkington；　if　you；　or　either　of　you；　should　see　this　bright　sun　set　to…day；　and　I　should　not。〃

〃Why；　Dodd；　old　fellow；〃　said　Kenealy　cheerfully；　〃this　is　not　the　way　to　go　into　action。〃

〃Colonel；〃　replied　Dodd；　〃to　save　this　ship　and　cargo；　I　must　be　wherever　the　bullets　are；　and　I　will　too。〃

Fullalove；　more　sagacious　than　the　worthy　colonel；　said　earnestly　〃Captain　Dodd；　may　I　never　see　Broadway　again；　and　never　see　Heaven　at　the　end　of　my　time；　if　I　fail　you。　There's　my　hand。〃

〃And　mine；〃　said　Kenealy　warmly。

They　all　three　joined　hands；　and　Dodd　seemed　to　cling　to　them。　〃God　bless　you　both！　God　bless　you！　Oh；　what　a　weight　your　true　hands　have　pulled　off　my　heart。　Good…bye；　for　a　few　minutes。　The　time　is　short。　I'll　just　offer　a　prayer　to　the　Almighty　for　wisdom；　and　then　I'll　come　up　and　say　a　word　to　the　men　and　fight　the　ship；　according　to　my　lights。〃

Sail　was　no　sooner　shortened　and　the　crew　ranged；　than　the　captain　came　briskly　on　deck；　saluted；　jumped　on　a　carronade；　and　stood　erect。　He　was　not　the　man　to　show　the　crew　his　forebodings。

（Pipe。）　〃Silence　fore　and　aft。〃

〃My　men；　the　schooner　coming　up　on　our　weather　quarter　is　a　Portuguese　pirate。　His　character　is　known；　he　scuttles　all　the　ships　he　boards；　dishonours　the　women；　and　murders　the　crew。　We　cracked　on　to　get　out　of　the　narrows；　and　now　we　have　shortened　sail　to　fight　this