for the term of his natural life- 第4部分

The　sun　poured　his　hottest　rays　on　his　head　unheeded；　and　though　every　cranny　and　seam　in　the　deck　sweltered　hot　pitch　under　the　fierce　heat；　the　man　stood　there；　motionless　and　morose；　staring　at　the　sleepy　sea。　He　had　stood　thus；　in　one　place　or　another；　ever　since　the　groaning　vessel　had　escaped　from　the　rollers　of　the　Bay　of　Biscay；　and　the　miserable　hundred　and　eighty　creatures　among　whom　he　was　classed　had　been　freed　from　their　irons；　and　allowed　to　sniff　fresh　air　twice　a　day。

The　low…browed；　coarse…featured　ruffians　grouped　about　the　deck　cast　many　a　leer　of　contempt　at　the　solitary　figure；　but　their　remarks　were　confined　to　gestures　only。　　There　are　degrees　in　crime；　and　Rufus　Dawes；　the　convicted　felon；　who　had　but　escaped　the　gallows　to　toil　for　all　his　life　in　irons；　was　a　man　of　mark。　　He　had　been　tried　for　the　robbery　and　murder　of　Lord　Bellasis。　　The　friendless　vagabond's　lame　story　of　finding　on　the　Heath　a　dying　man　would　not　have　availed　him；　but　for　the　curious　fact　sworn　to　by　the　landlord　of　the　Spaniards'　Inn；　that　the　murdered　nobleman　had　shaken　his　head　when　asked　if　the　prisoner　was　his　assassin。　　The　vagabond　was　acquitted　of　the　murder；　but　condemned　to　death　for　the　robbery；　and　London；　who　took　some　interest　in　the　trial；　considered　him　fortunate　when　his　sentence　was　commuted　to　transportation　for　life。

It　was　customary　on　board　these　floating　prisons　to　keep　each　man's　crime　a　secret　from　his　fellows；　so　that　if　he　chose；　and　the　caprice　of　his　gaolers　allowed　him；　he　could　lead　a　new　life　in　his　adopted　home；　without　being　taunted　with　his　former　misdeeds。　　But；　like　other　excellent　devices；　the　expedient　was　only　a　nominal　one；　and　few　out　of　the　doomed　hundred　and　eighty　were　ignorant　of　the　offence　which　their　companions　had　committed。　　The　more　guilty　boasted　of　their　superiority　in　vice；　the　petty　criminals　swore　that　their　guilt　was　blacker　than　it　appeared。　　Moreover；　a　deed　so　bloodthirsty　and　a　respite　so　unexpected；　had　invested　the　name　of　Rufus　Dawes　with　a　grim　distinction；　which　his　superior　mental　abilities；　no　less　than　his　haughty　temper　and　powerful　frame；　combined　to　support。　A　young　man　of　two…and…twenty　owning　to　no　friends；　and　existing　among　them　but　by　the　fact　of　his　criminality；　he　was　respected　and　admired。　　The　vilest　of　all　the　vile　horde　penned　between　decks；　if　they　laughed　at　his　〃fine　airs〃　behind　his　back；　cringed　and　submitted　when　they　met　him　face　to　facefor　in　a　convict　ship　the　greatest　villain　is　the　greatest　hero；　and　the　only　nobility　acknowledged　by　that　hideous　commonwealth　is　that　Order　of　the　Halter　which　is　conferred　by　the　hand　of　the　hangman。

The　young　man　on　the　poop　caught　sight　of　the　tall　figure　leaning　against　the　bulwarks；　and　it　gave　him　an　excuse　to　break　the　monotony　of　his　employment。

〃Here；　you！〃　he　called　with　an　oath；　〃get　out　of　the　gangway！　〃Rufus　Dawes　was　not　in　the　gangwaywas；　in　fact；　a　good　two　feet　from　it；　but　at　the　sound　of　Lieutenant　Frere's　voice　he　started；　and　went　obediently　towards　the　hatchway。

〃Touch　your　hat；　you　dog！〃　cries　Frere；　coming　to　the　quarter…railing。　〃Touch　your　damned　hat！　　Do　you　hear？〃

Rufus　Dawes　touched　his　cap；　saluting　in　half　military　fashion。　〃I'll　make　some　of　you　fellows　smart；　if　you　don't　have　a　care；〃　went　on　the　angry　Frere；　half　to　himself。　　〃Insolent　blackguards！〃

And　then　the　noise　of　the　sentry；　on　the　quarter…deck　below　him；　grounding　arms；　turned　the　current　of　his　thoughts。　　A　thin；　tall；　soldier…like　man；　with　a　cold　blue　eye；　and　prim　features；　came　out　of　the　cuddy　below；　handing　out　a　fair…haired；　affected；　mincing　lady；　of　middle　age。　　Captain　Vickers；　of　Mr。　Frere's　regiment；　ordered　for　service　in　Van　Diemen's　Land；　was　bringing　his　lady　on　deck　to　get　an　appetite　for　dinner。

Mrs。　Vickers　was　forty…two　（she　owned　to　thirty…three）；　and　had　been　a　garrison…belle　for　eleven　weary　years　before　she　married　prim　John　Vickers。　The　marriage　was　not　a　happy　one。　　Vickers　found　his　wife　extravagant；　vain；　and　snappish；　and　she　found　him　harsh；　disenchanted；　and　commonplace。　A　daughter；　born　two　years　after　their　marriage；　was　the　only　link　that　bound　the　ill…assorted　pair。　　Vickers　idolized　little　Sylvia；　and　when　the　recommendation　of　a　long　sea…voyage　for　his　failing　health　induced　him　to　exchange　into　the　the；　he　insisted　upon　bringing　the　child　with　him；　despite　Mrs。　Vickers's　reiterated　objections　on　the　score　of　educational　difficulties。　　〃He　could　educate　her　himself；　if　need　be；〃　he　said；　〃and　she　should　not　stay　at　home。〃

So　Mrs。　Vickers；　after　a　hard　struggle；　gave　up　the　point　and　her　dreams　of　Bath　together；　and　followed　her　husband　with　the　best　grace　she　could　muster。　　When　fairly　out　to　sea　she　seemed　reconciled　to　her　fate；　and　employed　the　intervals　between　scolding　her　daughter　and　her　maid；　in　fascinating　the　boorish　young　Lieutenant；　Maurice　Frere。

Fascination　was　an　integral　portion　of　Julia　Vickers's　nature；　admiration　was　all　she　lived　for：　and　even　in　a　convict　ship；　with　her　husband　at　her　elbow；　she　must　flirt；　or　perish　of　mental　inanition。　There　was　no　harm　in　the　creature。　　She　was　simply　a　vain；　middle…aged　woman；　and　Frere　took　her　attentions　for　what　they　were　worth。　Moreover；　her　good　feeling　towards　him　was　useful；　for　reasons　which　will　shortly　appear。

Running　down　the　ladder；　cap　in　hand；　he　offered　her　his　assistance。

〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Frere。　　These　horrid　ladders。　　I　reallyhe；　hequite　tremble　at　them。　　Hot！　　Yes；　dear　me；　most　oppressive。　　John；　the　camp…stool。　Pray；　Mr。　Frereoh；　thank　you！　　Sylvia！　　Sylvia！　　John；　have　you　my　smelling　salts？　　Still　a　calm；　I　suppose？　　These　dreadful　calms！〃

This　semi…fashionable　slip…slop；　within　twenty　yards　of　the　wild　beasts'　den；　on　the　other　side　of　the　barricade；　sounded　strange；　but　Mr。　Frere　thought　nothing　of　it。　　Familiarity　destroys　terror；　and　the　incurable　flirt；　fluttered　her　muslins；　and　played　off　her　second…rate　graces；　under　the　noses　of　the　grinning　convicts；　with　as　much　complacency　as　if　she　had　been　in　a　Chatham　ball…room。　　Indeed；　if　there　had　been　nobody　else　near；　it　is　not　unlikely　that　she　would　have　disdainfully　fascinated　the　'tween…decks；　and　made　eyes　at　the　most　presentable　of　the　convicts　there。

Vickers；　with　a　bow　to　Frere；　saw　his　wife　up　the　ladder；　and　then　turned　for　his　daughter。

She　was　a　delicate…looking　child　of　six　years　old；　with　blue　eyes　and　bright　hair。　　Though　indulged　by　her　father；　and　spoiled　by　her　mother；　the　natural　sweetness　of　her　disposition　saved　her　from　being　disagreeable；　and　the　effects　of　her　education　as　yet　only　showed　themselves　in　a　thousand　imperious　prettinesses；　which　made　her　the　darling　of　the　ship。　　Little　Miss　Sylvia　was　privileged　to　go　anywhere　and　do　anything；　and　even　convictism　shut　its　foul　mouth　in　her　presence。　Running　to　her　father's　side；　the　child　chattered　with　all　the　volubility　of　flattered　self…esteem。　　She　ran　hither　and　thither；　asked　questions；　invented　answers；　laughed；　sang；　gambolled；　peered　into　the　compass…case；　felt　in　the　pockets　of　the　man　at　the　helm；　put　her　tiny　hand　into　the　big　palm　of　the　officer　of　the　watch；　even　ran　down　to　the　quarter…deck　and　pulled　the　coat…tails　of　the　sentry　on　duty。

At　last；　tired　of　running　about；　she　took　a　little　striped　leather　ball　from　the　bosom　of　her　frock；　and　calling　to　her　father；　threw　it　up　to　him　as　he　stood　on　the　poop。　　He　returned　it；　and；　shouting　with　laughter；　clapping　her　hands　between　each　throw；　the　child　kept　up　the　game。

The　convictswhose　slice　of　fresh　air　was　nearly　eatenturned　with　eagerness　to　watch　this　new　source　of　amusement。　　Innocent　laughter　and　childish　prattle　were　strange　to　them。　　Some　smiled；　and　nodded　with　interest　in　the　varying　fortunes　of　the　game。　One　young　lad　could　hardly　restrain　himself　from　applauding。　It　was　as　though；　out　of　the　sultry　heat　which　brooded　over　the　ship；　a　cool　breeze　had　suddenly　arisen。

In　the　midst　of　this　mirth；　the　officer　of　the　watch；　glancing　round　the　fast　crimsoning　horizon；　paused　abruptly；　and　shading　his　eyes　with　his　hand；　looked　out　intently　to　the　westward。

Frere；　who　found　Mrs。　Vickers's　conversation　a　little　tiresome；　and　had　been　glancing　from　time　to　time　at　the　companion；　as　though　in　expectation　of　someone　appearing；　noticed　the　action。

〃What　is　it；　Mr。　Best？〃

〃I　don't　know　exactly。　　It　looks　to　me　like　a　cloud　of　smoke。〃　And；　taking　the　glass；　he　swept　the　horizon。

〃Let　me　see；〃　said　Frere；　and　he　looked　also。

On　the　extreme　horizon；　just　to　the　left　of　the　sinking　sun；　rested；　or　seemed　to　rest；　a　tiny　black　cloud。　　The　gold　and　crimson；　splashed　all　about　the　sky；　had　overflowed　around　it；　and　rendered　a　clear　view　almost　impossible。

〃I　can't　quite　make　it　out；〃　says　Frere；　handing　back　the　telescope。　〃We　can　see　as　soon　as　the　sun　goes　down　a　little。〃

Then　Mrs。　Vickers　must；　of　course；　look　also；　and　was　prettily　affected　about　the　focus　of　the　glass；　applying　herself　to　that　instrument　with　much　girlish　giggling；　and　finally　declaring；　after　shutting　one　eye　with　her　fair　hand；　that　positively　she　〃could　see　nothing　but　sky；　and　believed　that　wicked　Mr。　Frere　was　doing　it　on　purpose。〃

By　and　by；　Captain　Blunt　appeared；　and；　taking　the　glass　from　his　officer；　looked　through　it　long　and　carefully。　　Then　the　mizentop　was　appealed　to；　and　declared　that　he　could　see　nothing；　and　at　last　the　sun　went　down　with　a　jerk；　as　though　it　had　slipped　through　a　slit　in　the　sea；　and　the　black　spot；　swallowed　up　in　the　gathering　haze；　was　seen　no　more。

As　the　sun　sank；　the　relief　guard　came　up　the　after　hatchway；　and　the　relieved　guard　prepared　to　superintend　the　descent　of　the　convicts。　At　this　moment　Sylvia　missed　her　ball；　which；　taking　advantage　of　a　sudden　lurch　of　the　vessel；　hopped　over　the　barricade；　and　rolled　to　the　feet　of　Rufus　Dawes；　who　was　still　leaning；　apparently　lost　in　thought；　against　the　side。

The　bright　spot　of　colour　rolling　across　the　white　deck　caught　his　eye；　stooping　mechanically；　he　picked　up　the　ball；　and　stepped　forward　to　return　it。　　The　door　of　the　barricade　was　open　and　the　sentrya　young　soldier；　occupied　in　staring　at　the　relief　guarddid　not　notice　the　prisoner　pass　through　it。　　In　another　instant　he　was　o