for the term of his natural life-第23章

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〃Oh；　have　they？　　Well；　I　didn't　know；　let　me　see　now。〃　And　pulling　hard　at　his　pipe；　he　plunged　into　literary　reflection。

Sylvia；　sitting　beside　him；　eagerly　watching　for　the　happy　thought　that　never　came；　pouted　and　said；　〃What　a　stupid；　stupid　man　you　are！　I　shall　be　so　glad　to　get　back　to　papa　again。　　He　knows　all　sorts　of　stories；　nearly　as　many　as　old　Danny。〃

〃Danny　knows　some；　then？〃

〃Danny！〃with　as　much　surprise　as　if　she　said　〃Walter　Scott！〃　〃Of　course　he　does。　　I　suppose　now；〃　putting　her　head　on　one　side；　with　an　amusing　expression　of　superiority；　〃you　never　heard　the　story　of　the　'Banshee'？〃

〃No；　I　never　did。〃

〃Nor　the　'White　Horse　of　the　Peppers'？〃

〃No。〃

〃No；　I　suppose　not。　　Nor　the　'Changeling'？　　nor　the　'Leprechaun'？〃　〃No。〃

Sylvia　got　off　the　skylight　on　which　she　had　been　sitting；　and　surveyed　the　smoking　animal　beside　her　with　profound　contempt。

〃Mr。　Frere；　you　are　really　a　most　ignorant　person。　　Excuse　me　if　I　hurt　your　feelings；　I　have　no　wish　to　do　that；　but　really　you　are　a　most　ignorant　personfor　your　age；　of　course。〃

Maurice　Frere　grew　a　little　angry。　　〃You　are　very　impertinent；　Sylvia；〃　said　he。

〃Miss　Vickers　is　my　name；　Lieutenant　Frere；　and　I　shall　go　and　talk　to　Mr。　Bates。〃

Which　threat　she　carried　out　on　the　spot；　and　Mr。　Bates；　who　had　filled　the　dangerous　office　of　pilot；　told　her　about　divers　and　coral　reefs；　and　some　adventures　of　hisa　little　apocryphalin　the　China　Seas。　Frere　resumed　his　smoking；　half　angry　with　himself；　and　half　angry　with　the　provoking　little　fairy。　　This　elfin　creature　had　a　fascination　for　him　which　he　could　not　account　for。

However；　he　saw　no　more　of　her　that　evening；　and　at　breakfast　the　next　morning　she　received　him　with　quaint　haughtiness。

〃When　shall　we　be　ready　to　sail？　　Mr。　Frere；　I'll　take　some　marmalade。　Thank　you。〃

〃I　don't　know；　missy；〃　said　Bates。　　〃It's　very　rough　on　the　Bar；　me　and　Mr。　Frere　was　a　soundin'　of　it　this　marnin'；　and　it　ain't　safe　yet。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Sylvia；　〃I　do　hope　and　trust　we　sha'n't　be　shipwrecked；　and　have　to　swim　miles　and　miles　for　our　lives。〃

〃Ho；　ho！〃　laughed　Frere；　〃don't　be　afraid。　　I'll　take　care　of　you。〃

〃Can　you　swim；　Mr。　Bates？〃　asked　Sylvia。

〃Yes；　miss；　I　can。〃

〃Well；　then；　you　shall　take　me；　I　like　you。　　Mr。　Frere　can　take　mamma。　We'll　go　and　live　on　a　desert　island；　Mr。　Bates；　won't　we；　and　grow　cocoa…nuts　and　bread…fruit；　andwhat　nasty　hard　biscuits！　I'll　be　Robinson　Crusoe；　and　you　shall　be　Man　Friday。　　I'd　like　to　live　on　a　desert　island；　if　I　was　sure　there　were　no　savages；　and　plenty　to　eat　and　drink。〃

〃That　would　be　right　enough；　my　dear；　but　you　don't　find　them　sort　of　islands　every　day。〃

〃Then；〃　said　Sylvia；　with　a　decided　nod；　〃we　won't　be　ship…wrecked；　will　we？〃

〃I　hope　not；　my　dear。〃

〃Put　a　biscuit　in　your　pocket；　Sylvia；　in　case　of　accidents；〃　suggested　Frere；　with　a　grin。

〃Oh！　　you　know　my　opinion　of　you；　sir。　　Don't　speak；　I　don't　want　any　argument〃。

〃Don't　you？that's　right。〃

〃Mr。　Frere；〃　said　Sylvia；　gravely　pausing　at　her　mother's　cabin　door；　〃if　I　were　Richard　the　Third；　do　you　know　what　I　should　do　with　you？〃

〃No；〃　says　Frere；　eating　complacently；　〃what　would　you　do？〃

〃Why；　I'd　make　you　stand　at　the　door　of　St。　Paul's　Cathedral　in　a　white　sheet；　with　a　lighted　candle　in　your　hand；　until　you　gave　up　your　wicked　aggravating　waysyou　Man！〃

The　picture　of　Mr。　Frere　in　a　white　sheet；　with　a　lighted　candle　in　his　hand；　at　the　door　of　St。　Paul's　Cathedral；　was　too　much　for　Mr。　Bates's　gravity；　and　he　roared　with　laughter。　　〃She's　a　queer　child；　ain't　she；　sir？　A　born　natural；　and　a　good…natured　little　soul。〃

〃When　shall　we　be　able　to　get　away；　Mr。　Bates？〃　asked　Frere；　whose　dignity　was　wounded　by　the　mirth　of　the　pilot。

Bates　felt　the　change　of　tone；　and　hastened　to　accommodate　himself　to　his　officer's　humour。　　〃I　hopes　by　evening；　sir；〃　said　he；　〃if　the　tide　slackens　then　I'll　risk　it；　but　it's　no　use　trying　it　now。〃

〃The　men　were　wanting　to　go　ashore　to　wash　their　clothes；〃　said　Frere。

〃If　we　are　to　stop　here　till　evening；　you　had　better　let　them　go　after　dinner。〃

〃All　right；　sir；〃　said　Bates。

The　afternoon　passed　off　auspiciously。　　The　ten　prisoners　went　ashore　and　washed　their　clothes。　　Their　names　were　James　Barker；　James　Lesly；　John　Lyon；　Benjamin　Riley；　William　Cheshire；　Henry　Shiers；　William　Russen；　James　Porter；　John　Fair；　and　John　Rex。

This　last　scoundrel　had　come　on　board　latest　of　all。　　He　had　behaved　himself　a　little　better　recently；　and　during　the　work　attendant　upon　the　departure　of　the　Ladybird；　had　been　conspicuously　useful。　　His　intelligence　and　influence　among　his　fellow…prisoners　combined　to　make　him　a　somewhat　important　personage；　and　Vickers　had　allowed　him　privileges　from　which　he　had　been　hitherto　debarred。　　Mr。　Frere；　however；　who　superintended　the　shipment　of　some　stores；　seemed　to　be　resolved　to　take　advantage　of　Rex's　evident　willingness　to　work。　　He　never　ceased　to　hurry　and　find　fault　with　him。　　He　vowed　that　he　was　lazy；　sulky；　or　impertinent。　　It　was　〃Rex；　come　here！　　Do　this！　　Do　that！〃　As　the　prisoners　declared　among　themselves；　it　was　evident　that　Mr。　Frere　had　a　〃down〃　on　the　〃Dandy〃。　　The　day　before　the　Ladybird　sailed；　Rexrejoicing　in　the　hope　of　speedy　departurehad　suffered　himself　to　reply　to　some　more　than　usually　galling　remark　and　Mr。　Frere　had　complained　to　Vickers。　　〃The　fellow's　too　ready　to　get　away；〃　said　he。　〃Let　him　stop　for　the　Osprey；　it　will　be　a　lesson　to　him。〃　Vickers　assented；　and　John　Rex　was　informed　that　he　was　not　to　sail　with　the　first　party。　　His　comrades　vowed　that　this　order　was　an　act　of　tyranny；　but　he　himself　said　nothing。　　He　only　redoubled　his　activity；　anddespite　all　his　wish　to　the　contraryFrere　was　unable　to　find　fault。　He　even　took　credit　to　himself　for　〃taming〃　the　convict's　spirit；　and　pointed　out　Rexsilent　and　obedientas　a　proof　of　the　excellence　of　severe　measures。　　To　the　convicts；　however；　who　knew　John　Rex　better；　this　silent　activity　was　ominous。　　He　returned　with　the　rest；　however；　on　the　evening　of　the　13th；　in　apparently　cheerful　mood。　　Indeed　Mr。　Frere；　who；　wearied　by　the　delay；　had　decided　to　take　the　whale…boat　in　which　the　prisoners　had　returned；　and　catch　a　few　fish　before　dinner；　observed　him　laughing　with　some　of　the　others；　and　again　congratulated　himself。

The　time　wore　on。　　Darkness　was　closing　in；　and　Mr。　Bates；　walking　the　deck；　kept　a　look…out　for　the　boat；　with　the　intention　of　weighing　anchor　and　making　for　the　Bar。　　All　was　secure。　　Mrs。　Vickers　and　the　child　were　safely　below。　　The　two　remaining　soldiers　（two　had　gone　with　Frere）　were　upon　deck；　and　the　prisoners　in　the　forecastle　were　singing。　The　wind　was　fair；　and　the　sea　had　gone　down。　　In　less　than　an　hour　the　Osprey　would　be　safely　outside　the　harbour。　　




CHAPTER　VIII。

THE　POWER　OF　THE　WILDERNESS。



The　drifting　log　that　had　so　strangely　served　as　a　means　of　saving　Rufus　Dawes　swam　with　the　current　that　was　running　out　of　the　bay。　　For　some　time　the　burden　that　it　bore　was　an　insensible　one。　　Exhausted　with　his　desperate　struggle　for　life；　the　convict　lay　along　the　rough　back　of　this　Heaven…sent　raft　without　motion；　almost　without　breath。　At　length　a　violent　shock　awoke　him　to　consciousness；　and　he　perceived　that　the　log　had　become　stranded　on　a　sandy　point；　the　extremity　of　which　was　lost　in　darkness。　　Painfully　raising　himself　from　his　uncomfortable　posture；　he　staggered　to　his　feet；　and　crawling　a　few　paces　up　the　beach；　flung　himself　upon　the　ground　and　slept。

When　morning　dawned；　he　recognized　his　position。　　The　log　had；　in　passing　under　the　lee　of　Philip's　Island；　been　cast　upon　the　southern　point　of　Coal　Head；　some　three　hundred　yards　from　him　were　the　mutilated　sheds　of　the　coal　gang。　　For　some　time　he　lay　still；　basking　in　the　warm　rays　of　the　rising　sun；　and　scarcely　caring　to　move　his　bruised　and　shattered　limbs。　The　sensation　of　rest　was　so　exquisite；　that　it　overpowered　all　other　considerations；　and　he　did　not　even　trouble　himself　to　conjecture　the　reason　for　the　apparent　desertion　of　the　huts　close　by　him。　If　there　was　no　one　therewell　and　good。　　If　the　coal　party　had　not　gone；　he　would　be　discovered　in　a　few　moments；　and　brought　back　to　his　island　prison。　In　his　exhaustion　and　misery；　he　accepted　the　alternative　and　slept　again。

As　he　laid　down　his　aching　head；　Mr。　Troke　was　reporting　his　death　to　Vickers；　and　while　he　still　slept；　the　Ladybird；　on　her　way　out；　passed　him　so　closely　that　any　one　on　board　her　might；　with　a　good　glass；　have　espied　his　slumbering　figure　as　it　lay　upon　the　sand。

When　he　woke　it　was　past　midday；　and　the　sun　poured　its　full　rays　upon　him。　His　clothes　were　dry　in　all　places；　save　the　side　on　which　he　had　been　lying；　and　he　rose　to　his　feet　refreshed　by　his　long　sleep。　　He　scarcely　comprehended；　as　yet；　his　true　position。　　He　had　escaped；　it　was　true；　but　not　for　long。　He　was　versed　in　the　history　of　escapes；　and　knew　that　a　man　alone　on　that　barren　coast　was　face　to　face　with　starvation　or　recapture。　Glancing　up　at　the　sun；　he　wondered　indeed；　how　it　was　that　he　had　been　free　so　long。　　Then　the　coal　sheds　caught　his　eye；　and　he　understood　that　they　were　untenanted。　　This　astonished　him；　and　he　began　to　tremble　with　vague　apprehension。　　Entering；　he　looked　around；　expecting　every　moment　to　see　some　lurking　constable；　or　armed　soldier。　　Suddenly　his　glance　fell　upon　the　food　rations　which　lay　in　the　corner　where　the　departing　convicts　had　flung　them　the　night　before。　　At　such　a　moment；　this　discovery　seemed　like　a　direct　revelation　from　Heaven。　　He　would　not　have　been　surprised　had　they　disappeared。　　Had　he　lived　in　another　age；　he　would　have　looked　round　for　the　angel　who　had　brought　them。

By　and　by；　having　eaten　of　this　miraculous　provender；　the　poor　creature　began　reckoning　by　his　convict　experienceto　understand　what　had　taken　place。　The　coal　workings　were　abandoned；　the　new　Commandant　had　probably　other　work　for　his　beasts　of　burden　to　execute；　and　an　absconder　would　be　safe　here　for　a　few　hours　at　least。　　But　he　must　not　stay。　　For　him　there　was　no　rest。　If　he　thought　to　escape；　it　behoved　him　to　commence　his　journey　at　once。　As　he　contemplated　the　meat　and　bread；　something　like　a　ray　of　hope　entered　his　gloomy　soul。　　Here　was　provision　for　his　needs。　The　food　before　him　represented　the　rations　of　six　men。　　Was　it　not　possible　to　cross　the　desert　that　lay　between　him　and　freedom　on　such　fare？　The　very　supposition　made　his　heart　beat　faster。　　It　surely　was　possible。　He　must　husband　his　resources；　walk　much　and　eat　little；　spread　out　the　food　for　one　day　into　the　food　for　three。　　Here　was　six　men's　food　for　one　day；　or　one　man's　food　for　six　days。　　He　would　live　on　a　third　of　this；　and　he　would　have　rations　for　eighteen　days。　　Eighteen　days！　What　could　he　not　do　in　eighteen　days？　　He　could　walk　thirty　miles　a　day　forty　miles　a　daythat　would　be　six　hundred　miles　and　more。　Yet　stay；　he　must　not　be　too　sanguine；　the　road　was　difficult；　the　scrub　was　in　places　impenetrable。　　He　would　have　to　make　d閠ours；　and　turn　upon　his　tracks；　to　waste　precious　time。　　He　would　be　moderate；　and　say　twenty　miles　a　day。　　Twenty　miles　a　day　was　very　easy　walking。　Taking　a　piece　of　stick　from　the　ground；　he　made　the　calcu