the frozen deep(冰渊)-第18章
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〃Saved； Clara！〃 he cried。 〃Saved for _you！_〃
He released the man； and placed him in Clara's arms。
Frank！ foot…sore and wearybut livingsaved； saved for _her！_
〃Now； Clara！〃 cried Mrs。 Crayford； 〃which of us is right？ I who
believed in the mercy of God？ or you who believed in a dream？〃
She never answered； she clung to Frank in speechless ecstasy。 She
never even looked at the man who had preserved him； in the first
absorbing joy of seeing Frank alive。 Step by step； slower and slower；
Richard Wardour drew back； and left them by themselves。
〃I may rest now；〃 he said； faintly。 〃I may sleep at last。 The task is done。
The struggle is over。〃
His last reserves of strength had been given to Frank。 He stoppedhe
staggeredhis hands waved feebly in search of support。 But for one
faithful friend he would have fallen。 Crayford caught him。 Crayford laid
his old comrade gently on some sails strewn in a corner； and pillowed
Wardour's weary head on his own bosom。 The tears streamed over his face。
〃Richard！ dear Richard！〃 he said。 〃Rememberand forgive me。〃
Richard neither heeded nor heard him。 His dim eyes still looked across
the room at Clara and Frank。
〃I have made _her_ happy！〃 he murmured。 〃I may lay down my weary
head now on the mother earth that hushes all her children to rest at last。
Sink； heart！ sink； sink to rest！ Oh； look at them！〃 he said to Crayford； with
a burst of grief。 〃They have forgotten _me_ already。〃
It was true！ The interest was all with the two lovers。 Frank was young
and handsome and popular。 Officers； passengers； and sailors； they all
crowded round Frank。 They all forgot the martyred man who had saved
himthe man who was dying in Crayford's arms。
Crayford tried once more to attract his attentionto win his
recognition while there was yet time。 〃Richard； speak to me！ Speak to
your old friend！〃
He look round； he vacantly repeated Crayford's last word。
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〃Friend？〃 he said。 〃My eyes are dim； friendmy mind is dull。 I have
lost all memories but the memory of _her_。 Dead thoughtsall dead
thoughts but that one！ And yet you look at me kindly！ Why has your face
gone down with the wreck of all the rest？〃
He paused； his face changed； his thoughts drifted back from present to
past； he looked at Crayford vacantly； lost in the terrible remembrances that
were rising in him； as the shadows rise with the coming night。
〃Hark ye； friend；〃 he whispered。 〃Never let Frank know it。 There was a
time when the fiend within me hungered for his life。 I had my hands on the
boat。 I heard the voice of the Tempter speaking to me： Launch it； and leave
him to die！ I waited with my hands on the boat； and my eyes on the place
where he slept。 'Leave him！ leave him！' the voice whispered。 'Love him！'
the lad's voice answered； moaning and murmuring in his sleep。 'Love him；
Clara； for helping _me！_' I heard the morning wind come up in the silence
over the great deep。 Far and near； I heard the groaning of the floating ice；
floating； floating to the clear water and the balmy air。 And the wicked
Voice floated away with itaway； away； away forever！ 'Love him！ love
him； Clara； for helping _me！_' No wind could float that away！ 'Love him；
Clara'〃
His voice sank into silence； his head dropped on Crayford's breast。
Frank saw it。 Frank struggled up on his bleeding feet and parted the
friendly throng round him。 Frank had not forgotten the man who had
saved him。
〃Let me go to him！〃 he cried。 〃I must and will go to him！ Clara； come
with me。〃
Clara and Steventon supported him between them。 He fell on his knees
at Wardour's s ide； he put his hand on Wardour's bosom。
〃Richard！〃
The weary eyes opened again。 The sinking voice was heard feebly
once more。
〃Ah！ poor Frank。 I didn't forget you； Frank； when I came here to beg。 I
remembered you lying down outside in the shadow of the boats。 I saved
you your share of the food and drink。 Too weak to get at it now！ A little
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rest； Frank！ I shall soon be strong enough to carry you down to the ship。〃
The end was near。 They all saw it now。 The men reverently uncovered
their heads in the presence of Death。 In an agony of despair； Frank
appealed to the friends round him。
〃Get something to strengthen him； for God's sake！ Oh； men！ men！ I
should never have been here but for him！ He has given all his strength to
my weakness； and now； see how strong I am； and how weak _he_ is！ Clara；
I held by his arm all over the ice and snow。 _He_ kept watch when I was
senseless in the open boat。 _His_ hand dragged me out of the waves when
we were wrecked。 Speak to him； Clara！ speak to him！〃 His voice failed
him； and his head dropped on Wardour's breast。
She spoke； as well as her tears would let her。
〃Richard； have you forgotten me？〃
He rallied at the sound of that beloved voice。 He looked up at her as
she knelt at his head。
〃Forgotten you？〃 Still looking at her； he lifted his hand with an effort；
and laid it on Frank。 〃Should I have been strong enough to save him； if I
could have forgotten you？〃 He waited a moment and turned his face feebly
toward Crayford。 〃Stay！〃 he said。 〃Someone was here and spoke to me。〃 A
faint light of recognition glimmered in his eyes。 〃Ah； Crayford！ I recollect
now。 Dear Crayford！ come nearer！ My mind clears； but my eyes grow dim。
You will remember me kindly for Frank's sake？ Poor Frank！ why does he
hide his face？ Is he crying？ Nearer； ClaraI want to look my last at _you_。
My sister； Clara！ Kiss me； sister； kiss me before I die！〃
She stooped and kissed his forehead。 A faint smile trembled on his lips。
It passed away； and stillness possessed the facethe stillness of Death。
Crayford's voice was heard in the silence。
〃The loss is ours；〃 he said。 〃The gain is his。 He has won the greatest of
all conqueststhe conquest of himself。 And he has died in the moment of
victory。 Not one of us here but may live to envy _his_ glorious death。〃
The distant report of a gun came from the ship in the offing； and
signaled the return to England and to home。
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