hard cash-第42章

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It　was　a　sad　scene：　the　deck　was　now　dry；　and　the　dead　bodies　lay　quiet　around　them　with　glassy　eyes；　and；　grotesquely　horrible；　the　long　hair　of　two　or　three　was　stiff　and　crystallised　with　the　saltpetre　in　the　ship。

Mrs。　Beresford　clung　to　Vespasian：　she　held　his　bare　black　shoulder　with　one　white　and　jewelled　hand；　and　his　wrist　with　the　other；　tight。　〃Oh；　Mr。　Black；〃　said　she；　〃how　brave　you　are！　It　is　incredible。　Why；　you　came　back！　I　must　feel　a　brave　man　with　both　my　hands　or　I　shall　die。　Your　skin　is　nice　and　soft；　too。　I　shall　never　outlive　this　dreadful　day。〃

And　now　that　the　water　was　too　low　to　wash　them　off　the　hawser；　several　of　the　ship's　company　came　back　to　the　ship　to　help　the　women　down。

By　noon　the　_Agra's_　deck　was　thirty　feet　from　the　sand。　The　rescued　ones　wanted　to　break　their　legs　and　necks；　but　Dodd　would　not　permit　even　that。　He　superintended　the　whole　manoeuvre；　and　lowered；　first　the　dead；　then　the　living；　not　omitting　the　poor　goat；　who　was　motionless　and　limp　with　fright。

When　they　were　all　safe　on　the　sand；　Dodd　stood　alone　upon　the　poop　a　minute；　cheered　by　all　the　sailors；　French　and　English；　ashore；　then　slid　down　a　rope　and　rejoined　his　companions。

To　their　infinite　surprise；　the　undaunted　one　was　found　to　be　snivelling。

〃Oh；　dear！　what　is　the　matter？〃　said　Mrs。　Beresford　tenderly。

〃The　poor　_Agra_；　ma'am！　She　was　such　a　beautiful　sea…boat：　and　just　look　at　her　now！　Never　sail　again：　never！　never！　She　was　a　little　crank　in　beating；　I　can't　deny　it；　but　how　she　did　fly　with　the　wind　abaft。　She　sank　a　pirate　in　the　straits；　and　weathered　a　hurricane　off　the　Mauritius；　and　after　all　for　a　lubber　to　go　and　lay　her　bones　ashore　in　a　fair　wind：　poor　dear　beauty！〃

He　maundered　thus；　and　kept　turning　back　to　look　at　the　wreck；　till　he　happened　to　lay　his　hand　on　his　breast　He　stopped　in　the　middle　of　his　ridiculous　lament　wore　a　look　of　self…reproach；　and　cast　his　eyes　upward　in　heartfelt　gratitude。

The　companions　of　so　many　adventures　dispersed。

A　hospitable　mayoress　entertained　Mrs。　Beresford　and　suite；　and　she　took　to　her　bed；　for　she　fell　seriously　ill　as　soon　as　ever　she　could　do　it　with　impunity。

Colonel　Kenealy　went　off　to　Paris：　〃I'll　gain　that；　any　way；　by　being　wrecked；〃　said　he。

If　there　be　a　lover　of　quadrupeds　here；　let　him　know　that　Billy's　weakness　proved　his　strength。　Being　brandied　by　a　good…natured　French　sailor；　he　winked　his　eye；　being　brandied　greatly；　he　staggered　up　and　butted　his　benefactor　like　a　man。

Fullalove　had　dry　clothes　and　a　blazing　fire　ready　for　Dodd　at　a　little　rude　auberge。　He　sat　over　it　and　dried　a　few　bank…notes。　he　had　loose　about　him；　and　examined　his　greater　treasure；　his　children's。　The　pocket…book　was　much　stained；　but　no　harm　whatever　done　to　the　contents。

In　the　midst　of　this　employment　the　shadow　of　an　enormous　head　was　projected　right　upon　his　treasure。

Turning　with　a　start；　he　saw　a　face　at　the　window：　one　of　those　vile　mugs　which　are　found　to　perfection　amongst　the　_canaille_　of　the　French　nationbloated；　blear…eyed；　grizzly；　and　wild…beast　like。　The　ugly　thing；　on　being　confronted；　passed　slowly　out　of　the　sun；　and　Dodd　thought　no　more　of　it。

The　owner　of　this　sinister　visage　was　Andre　Thibout；　of　whom　it　might　be　said；　like　face　like　life；　for　he　was　one　of　those　ill…omened　creatures　who　feed　upon　the　misfortunes　of　their　kind；　and　stand　on　shore　in　foul　weather　hoping　the　worst；　instead　of　praying　for　the　best：　briefly；　a　wrecker。　He　and　his　comrade；　Jacques　Moinard；　had　heard　the　_Agra's_　gun　fired；　and　came　down　to　batten　on　the　wreck：　but　ho！　at　the　turn　of　the　tide；　there　were　gensdarmes　and　soldiers　lining　the　beach；　and　the　Bayonet　interposed　between　Theft　and　Misfortune。　So　now　the　desperate　pair　were　prowling　about　like　hungry；　baffled　wolves；　curses　on　their　lips　and　rage　at　their　hearts。


Dodd　was　extremely　anxious　to　get　to　Barkington　before　the　news　of　the　wreck；　for　otherwise　he　knew　his　wife　and　children　would　suffer　a　year's　agony　in　a　single　day。　The　only　chance　he　saw　was　to　get　to　Boulogne　in　time　to　catch　the　_Nancy_　sailing　packet；　for　it　was　her　day。　But　then　Boulogne　was　eight　leagues　distant；　and　there　was　no　public　conveyance　going。　Fullalove；　entering　heartily　into　his　feelings；　was　gone　to　look　for　horses　to　hire；　aided　by　the　British　Consul。　The　black　hero　was　upstairs　clearing　out　with　a　pin　two　holes　that　had　fallen　into　decay　for　want　of　use。　These　holes　were　in　his　ears。

And　now；　worn　out　by　anxiety　and　hard　work；　Dodd　began　to　nod　in　his　chair　by　the　fire。

He　had　not　been　long　asleep　when　the　hideous　face　of　Thibout　reappeared　at　the　window　and　watched　him。　Presently　a　low　whistle　was　uttered　outside；　and　soon　the　two　ruffians　entered　the　room；　and；　finding　the　landlady　there　as　well　as　Dodd；　called　for　a　little　glass　apiece　of　absinthe。　While　drinking　it；　they　cast　furtive　glances　towards　Dodd；　and　waited　till　she　should　go　about　her　business；　and　leave　them　alone　with　him。

But　the　good　woman　surmised　their　looks；　and　knowing　the　character　of　the　men；　poured　out　a　cup　of　coffee　from　a　great　metal　reservoir　by　the　fire；　and　waked　Dodd　without　ceremony：　〃Voici　votre　cafe；　Monsieur！〃　making　believe　he　had　ordered　it。

〃Merci；　Madame！〃　replied　he；　for　his　wife　had　taught　him　a　little　French。

〃One　may　sleep　_mal　a　propos；_〃　muttered　the　woman　in　his　ear。　〃My　man　is　at　the　fair；　and　there　are　people　here　who　are　not　worth　any　great　things。〃

Dodd　rubbed　his　eyes　and　saw　those　two　foul　faces　at　the　end　of　the　kitchen：　for　such　it　was；　though　called　_salle　a　manger。_　〃Humph！〃　said　he；　and　instinctively　buttoned　his　coat

At　that　Thibout　touched　Moinard's　knee　under　the　table。

Fullalove　came　in　soon　after　to　say　he　had　got　two　horses；　and　they　would　be　here　in　a　quarter　of　an　hour。

〃Well；　but　Vespasian？　how　is　he　to　go？〃　inquired　Dodd。

〃Oh；　we'll　send　him　on　ahead；　and　then　ride　and　tie。〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　Dodd；　〃I'll　go　ahead。　That　will　shake　me　up。　I　think　I　should　tumble　off　a　horse；　I'm　so　dead　sleepy。〃

Accordingly　he　started　to　walk　on　the　road　to　Boulogne。


He　had　not　been　gone　three　minutes　when　Moinard　sauntered　out。

Moinard　had　not　been　gone　two　minutes　when　Thibout　strolled　out。

Moinard　kept　Dodd　in　sight　and　Thibout　kept　Moinard。


The　horses　were　brought　soon　after；　but　unfortunately　the　pair　did　not　start　immediately；　though；　had　they　known　it；　every　moment　was　precious。　They　wasted　time　in　argument。　Vespasian　had　come　down　with　a　diamond　ring　in　one　ear；　and　a　ruby　in　the　other。　Fullalove　saw　this　retrograde　step；　and　said　grimly；　〃Have　you　washed　but　half　your　face；　or　is　this　a　return　to　savagery？〃

Vespasian　wore　an　air　of　offended　dignity。　〃No；　sar；　these　yar　decorations　come　off　a　lady　ob　i　cibilisation：　Missy　Beresford　donated　'em　me。　Says　she；　'Massah　Black'yah！　yah！　She　always　nick…nominates　dis　child　Massa　Black　'while　I　was　praying　Goramighty　for　self　and　pickaninny；　I　seen　you　out　of　one　corner　of　my　eye　admirationing　my　rings；　den　just　you　take　'em；'　says　dat　ar　aristocracy：　'for　I　don't　admirationise　'em　none：　I've　been　shipwrecked。'　So　I　took　'em　wid　incredible　condescension；　and　dat　ar　beautiful　lady　says　to　me；　'Oh；　get　along　wid　your　nonsense　about　coloured　skins！　I　have　inspectionated　your　conduct；　Massa　Black；　and　likewise　your　performances　on　the　slack　rope；'　says　she；　'in　time　of　shipwreck：　and　darn　me；'　says　she；　'but　you　are　a　man；　you　are。'　'No；　Missy；'　says　I　superciliously；　'dis　child　am　not　a　man；　if　you　please；　but　a　coloured　gemman。'〃　He　added；　he　had　put　them　in　his　ears　because　the　biggest　would　not　go　on　his　little　finger。

Fullalove　groaned。　〃And　of　course；　the　next　thing；　you'll　ring　your　snout　like　a　pig　or　a　Patagonian。　There；　come　along；　ye　darn'dAnomaly。〃

He　was　going　to　say　〃Cuss；〃　but　remembering　his　pupil's　late　heroic　conduct；　softened　it　down　to　Anomaly。

But　Vespasian　always　measured　the　force　of　words　by　their　length　or　obscurity。　〃Anomaly〃　cut　him　to　the　heart：　he　rode　off　in　moody　silence　and　dejection；　asking　himself　sorrowfully　what　he　had　done　that　such　a　mountain　of　vituperation　should　fall　on　him。　〃Anomaly！！〃

They　cantered　along　in　silence；　for　Fullalove　was　digesting　this　new　trait　in　his　pupil；　and　asking　himself　could　he　train　it　out；　or　must　he　cross　it　out。　Just　outside　the　town　they　met　Captain　Robarts　walking　in；　he　had　landed　three　miles　off　down　the　coast。　〃Hallo！〃　said　Fullalove。

〃I　suppose　you　thought　I　was　drowned？〃　said　Robarts　spitefully；　〃but　you　see　I'm　alive　still。〃

Fullalove　replied；　〃Well；　captain；　that　is　only　one　mistake　more　you've　made；　I　reckon。〃

About　two　English　miles　from　the　town　they　came　to　a　long　straight　slope　up　and　down；　where　they　could　see　a　league　before　them；　and　there　they　caught　sight　of　David　Dodd's　tall　figure　mounting　the　opposite　rise。

Behind　him　at　some　little　distance　were　two　men　going　the　same　way；　but　on　the　grass　by　the　roadside；　whereas　David　was　on　the　middle　of　the　road。

〃He　walks　well　for　Jacky　Tar；〃　said　Fullalove。

〃Iss；　sar；〃　said　Vespasian　sulkily；　〃but　dis　'Analogy'　tink　he　not　walk　so　fast　as　those　two　behind　him；　cos　they　catch　him　up。〃

Now　Vespasian　had　hardly　uttered　these　words　when　a　thing　occurred；　so　sudden　and　alarming；　that　the　speaker's　eyes　protruded；　and　he　was　dumfounded　a　moment；　the　next　a　loud　cry　burst　from　both　him　and　his　companion　at　once；　and　they　lashed　their　horses　to　the　gallop　and　went　tearing　down　the　hill　in　a　fury　of　rage　and　apprehension。


Mr。　Fullalove　was　right；　I　think：　a　sailor　is　seldom　a　smart　walker；　but　Dodd　was　a　cricketer；　you　know；　as　well。　He　swung　along　at　a　good　pace　and　in　high　spirits。　He　had　lost　nothing　but　a　few　clothes；　and　a　quadrant；　and　a　chronometer；　it　was　a　cheap　wreck　to　him；　and　a　joyful　one：　for　peril　past　is　present　delight。　He　had　saved　his　life；　and　what　he　valued　more；　his　children's　money。　Never　was　that　dear　companion　of　his　perils　so　precious　to　him　as　now。　One　might　almost　fancy　that；　by　some　strange　sympathy；　he　felt　the　immediate　happiness　of　his　daughter　depended　on　it。　Many　in　my　day　believe　that　human　minds　can　thus　communicate；　overleaping　material　distances。　Not　knowing；　I　can't　say。　However；　no　such　solution　is　really　needed　here。　All　the　members　of　a　united　and　loving　family　feel　together　and　work　togetherwithout　specific　concertthough　hemispheres　lie　between：　it　is　one　of　the　beautiful　traits　of　true　family　affection。　Now　the　Dodds；　father；　mother；　sister；　brother；　were　more　one　in　heart　and　love　than　any　other　family　I　ever　saw：　woe　to　them　if　they　had　not。

David；　then；　walked　towards　Boulogne　that　afternoon　a　happy　man。　Already　he　tasted　by　anticipation　the　warm　caresses　of　his　wife　and　children；　and　saw　himself　seated　at　the　hearth；　with　those　beloved　ones　clustering　close　round　him。　How　would　he　tell　them　Its　adventuresIts　dangers　from　piratesIts　loss　at　seaIts　recoveryIts　wreckIts　coming　ashore　dry　as　a　bone；　and　conclude　by　taking　It　out　of　his　bosom　and　dropping　It　in　his　wife's　lap　with　〃Cheer；　boys；　cheer！〃

Trudging　on　in　this　delightful　reverie；　his　ear　detected　a　pitpat　at　some　distance　behind　him：　he　looked　round　with　very　slight　curiosity　and　saw　two　men　coming　up。　Even　in　that　hasty　glance　he　re