sally dows-第28章
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〃Yes； but we must settle that NOW；〃 said Bragg sharply； 〃and I
propose to tell her NOTHING。 I'm against having any more
petticoats mixed up with our affairs。 I propose to make an
examination of the place without bothering our heads about her。〃
〃But we must give some reason for coming here； and we must ask her
to keep dark； or we'll have her blabbing to the first person she
meets；〃 urged the other。
〃She's not likely to see anybody before night； when the brig will
be in and the men and guns landed。 Move on； and let Jim take
soundings off the cove； while I look along the shore。 It's just as
well that there's a house here； and a little cover like this〃
pointing to the shrubbery〃to keep the men from making too much of
a show until after the earthworks are up。 There are sharp eyes
over at the Fort。〃
〃There don't seem to be any one in the house now；〃 returned the
other after a moment's scrutiny of the cottage； 〃or the woman would
surely come out at the barking of the dog； even if she hadn't seen
us。 Likely she's gone to Saucelito。〃
〃So much the better。 Just as well that she should know nothing
until it happens。 Afterwards we'll settle with the husband for the
price of possession； he has only a squatter's rights。 Come along；
we'll have bad weather before we get back round the Point again；
but so much the better； for it will keep off any inquisitive
longshore cruisers。〃
They moved away。 But Mrs。 Bunker； stung through her benumbed and
brooding consciousness； and made desperate by this repeated
revelation of her former weakness； had heard enough to make her
feverish to hear more。 She knew the intricacies of the shrubbery
thoroughly。 She knew every foot of shade and cover of the
clearing； and creeping like a cat from bush to bush she managed；
without being discovered； to keep the party in sight and hearing
all the time。 It required no great discernment； even for an
inexperienced woman like herself； at the end of an hour； to gather
their real purpose。 It was to prepare for the secret landing of an
armed force； disguised as laborers； who； under the outward show of
quarrying in the bluff； were to throw up breastworks； and fortify
the craggy shelf。 The landing was fixed for that night； and was to
be effected by a vessel now cruising outside the Heads。
She understood it all now。 She remembered Marion's speech about
the importance of the bluff for military purposes； she remembered
the visit of the officers from the Fort opposite。 The strangers
were stealing a march upon the Government； and by night would be in
possession。 It was perhaps an evidence of her newly awakened and
larger comprehension that she took no thought of her loss of home
and property；perhaps there was little to draw her to it now；but
was conscious only of a more terrible catastrophea catastrophe to
which she was partly accessory； of which any other woman would have
warned her husbandor at least those officers of the Fort whose
business it was to Ah； yes！ the officers of the Fortonly just
opposite to her！ She trembled； and yet flushed with an
inspiration。 It was not too late yetwhy not warn them NOW？
But how？ A message sent by Saucelito and the steamboat to San
Franciscothe usual waywould not reach them tonight。 To go
herself； rowing directly across in the dingey； would be the only
security of success。 If she could do it？ It was a long pullthe
sea was getting upbut she would try。
She waited until the last man had stepped into the boat； in nervous
dread of some one remaining。 Then； when the boat had vanished
round the Point again； she ran back to the cottage； arrayed herself
in her husband's pilot coat； hat； and boots； and launched the
dingey。 It was a heavy； slow； but luckily a stanch and seaworthy
boat。 It was not until she was well off shore that she began to
feel the full fury of the wind and waves； and knew the difficulty
and danger of her undertaking。 She had decided that her shortest
and most direct course was within a few points of the wind； but the
quartering of the waves on the broad bluff bows of the boat tended
to throw it to leeward； a movement that； while it retarded her
forward progress； no doubt saved the little craft from swamping。
Again； the feebleness and shortness of her stroke； which never
impelled her through a rising wave； but rather lifted her half way
up its face； prevented the boat from taking much water； while her
steadfast gaze； fixed only on the slowly retreating shore； kept her
steering free from any fatal nervous vacillation； which the sight
of the threatening seas on her bow might have produced。 Preserved
through her very weakness； ignorance； and simplicity of purpose；
the dingey had all the security of a drifting boat； yet retained a
certain gentle but persistent guidance。 In this feminine fashion
she made enough headway to carry her abreast of the Point； where
she met the reflux current sweeping round it that carried her well
along into the channel； now sluggish with the turn of the tide。
After half an hour's pulling； she was delighted to find herself
again in a reverse current； abreast of her cottage； but steadily
increasing her distance from it。 She was； in fact； on the extreme
outer edge of a vast whirlpool formed by the force of the gale on a
curving lee shore； and was being carried to her destination in a
semicircle around that bay which she never could have crossed。 She
was moving now in a line with the shore and the Fort； whose
flagstaff； above its green； square； and white quarters； she could
see distinctly； and whose lower water battery and landing seemed to
stretch out from the rocks scarcely a mile ahead。 Protected by the
shore from the fury of the wind； and even of the sea； her progress
was also steadily accelerated by the velocity of the current；
mingling with the ebbing tide。 A sudden fear seized her。 She
turned the boat's head towards the shore； but it was swept quickly
round again； she redoubled her exertions； tugging frantically at
her helpless oars。 She only succeeded in getting the boat into the
trough of the sea； where； after a lurch that threatened to capsize
it； it providentially swung around on its short keel and began to
drift stern on。 She was almost abreast of the battery now； she
could hear the fitful notes of a bugle that seemed blown and
scattered above her head； she even thought she could see some men
in blue uniforms moving along the little pier。 She was passing it；
another fruitless effort to regain her ground； but she was swept
along steadily towards the Gate； the whitening bar； and the open
sea。
She knew now what it all meant。 This was what she had come for；
this was the end！ Beyond； only a little beyond； just a few moments
longer to wait； and then； out there among the breakers was the rest
that she had longed for but had not dared to seek。 It was not her
fault； they could not blame HER。 He would come back and never know
what had happenednor even know how she had tried to atone for her
deceit。 And he would find his house in possession ofofthose
devils！ No！ No！ she must not die yet； at least not until she had
warned the Fort。 She seized the oars again with frenzied strength；
the boat had stopped under the unwonted strain； staggered； tried to
rise in an uplifted sea； took part of it over her bow； struck down
Mrs。 Bunker under half a ton of blue water that wrested the oars
from her paralyzed hands like playthings； swept them over the
gunwale； and left her lying senseless in the bottom of the boat。
。 。 。 。 。 。
〃Hold har…rdor you'll run her down。〃
〃Now then； Riley；look alive；is it slapin' ye are！〃
〃Hold yer jaw； Flanigan； and stand ready with the boat…hook。 Now
then； hold har…rd！〃
The sudden jarring and tilting of the water…logged boat； a sound of
rasping timbers； the swarming of men in shirtsleeves and blue
trousers around her； seemed to rouse her momentarily； but she again
fainted away。
When she struggled back to consciousness once more she was wrapped
in a soldier's jacket； her head pillowed on the shirt…sleeve of an
artillery corporal in the stern sheets of that eight…oared
