returning home-第5章

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should　die；　and；　half…delirious　with　weariness　and　suffering；　had
begged　him　to　leave　her　at　the　last　hut。　　They　had　not　yet　come　to
the　flat　ground　over　which　a　litter　might　be　carried　with
comparative　ease；　but　nevertheless　the　men　yielded；　and　she　was
placed　in　a　recumbent　position　upon　blankets；　supported　by　boughs　of
trees。　　In　this　way　she　went　through　that　day　with　somewhat　less　of
suffering　than　before；　and　without　that　necessity　for　self…exertion
which　had　been　worse　to　her　than　any　suffering。

There　were　places　between　that　and　the　river　at　which　one　would　have
said　that　it　was　impossible　that　a　litter　should　be　carried；　or　even
impossible　that　a　mule　should　walk　with　a　load　on　his　back。　　But
still　they　went　on；　and　the　men　carried　their　burden　without
complaining。　　Not　a　word　was　said　about　money；　or　extra　pay；not　a
word；　at　least　by　them；　and　when　Arkwright　was　profuse　in　his　offer；
their　leader　told　him　that　they　would　not　have　done　it　for　money。
But　for　the　poor　suffering　Senora　they　would　make　exertions　which　no
money　would　have　bought　from　them。

On　the　next　day　about　noon　the　post　did　pass　them；　consisting　of
three　strong　men　carrying　great　weights　on　their　backs；　suspended　by
bands　from　their　foreheads。　　They　travelled　much　quicker　than　our
friends；　and　would　reach　the　banks　of　the　river　that　evening。　　In
their　ordinary　course　they　would　start　down　the　river　close　upon
daybreak　on　the　following　day；　but；　after　some　consultation　with　the
guides；　they　agreed　to　wait　till　noon。　　Poor　Mrs。　Arkwright　knew
nothing　of　hours　or　of　any　such　arrangements　now；　but　her　husband
greatly　doubted　their　power　of　catching　this　mail　despatch。
However；　it　did　not　much　depend　on　their　exertions　that　afternoon。
Their　resting…place　was　marked　out　for　them；　and　they　could　not　go
beyond　it；　unless　indeed　they　could　make　the　whole　journey；　which
was　impossible。

But　towards　evening　matters　seemed　to　improve　with　them。　　They　had
now　got　on　to　ground　which　was　more　open；　and　the　men　who　carried
the　litter　could　walk　with　greater　ease。　　Mrs。　Arkwright　also
complained　less；　and　when　they　reached　their　resting…place　on　that
night；　said　nothing　of　a　wish　to　be　left　there　to　her　fate。　　This
was　a　place　called　Padregal；　a　cacao　plantation；　which　had　been
cleared　in　the　forest　with　much　labour。　　There　was　a　house　here
containing　three　rooms；　and　some　forty　or　fifty　acres　round　it　had
been　stripped　of　the　forest　trees。　　But　nevertheless　the　adventure
had　not　been　a　prosperous　one；　for　the　place　was　at　that　time
deserted。　　There　were　the　cacao　plants；　but　there　was　no　one　to　pick
the　cacao。　　There　was　a　certain　melancholy　beauty　about　the　place。
A　few　grand　trees　had　been　left　standing　near　the　house；　and　the
grass　around　was　rich　and　park…like。　　But　it　was　deserted；　and
nothing　was　heard　but　the　roaring　of　the　congos。　　Ah　me！　　Indeed　it
was　a　melancholy　place　as　it　was　seen　by　some　of　that　party
afterwards。

On　the　following　morning　they　were　astir　very　early；　and　Mrs。
Arkwright　was　so　much　better　that　she　offered　to　sit　again　upon　her
mule。　　The　men；　however；　declared　that　they　would　finish　their　task；
and　she　was　placed　again　upon　the　litter。　　And　then　with　slow　and
weary　step　they　did　make　their　way　to　the　river　bank。　　It　was　not
yet　noon　when　they　saw　the　mud　fort　which　stands　there；　and　as　they
drew　into　the　enclosure　round　a　small　house　which　stands　close　by
the　river　side；　they　saw　the　three　postmen　still　busy　about　their
packages。

〃Thank　God！〃　said　Arkwright。

〃Thank　God；　indeed！〃　said　his　brother。　　〃All　will　be　right　with　you
now。〃

〃Well；　Fanny；〃　said　her　husband；　as　he　took　her　very　gently　from　the
litter　and　seated　her　on　a　bench　which　stood　outside　the　door。　　〃It
is　all　over　now；is　it　not？〃

She　answered　him　by　a　shower　of　tears；　but　they　were　tears　which
brought　her　relief。　　He　was　aware　of　this；　and　therefore　stood　by
her；　still　holding　her　by　both　her　hands　while　her　head　rested
against　his　side。　　〃You　will　find　the　motion　of　the　boat　very
gentle；〃　he　said；　〃indeed　there　will　be　no　motion；　and　you　and　baby
will　sleep　all　the　way　down　to　Greytown。〃　　She　did　not　answer　him　in
words；　but　she　looked　up　into　his　face；　and　he　could　see　that　her
spirit　was　recovering　itself。

There　was　almost　a　crowd　of　people　collected　on　the　spot；
preparatory　to　the　departure　of　the　canoes。　　In　the　first　place
there　was　the　commandant　of　the　fort；　to　whom　the　small　house
belonged。　　He　was　looking　to　the　passports　of　our　friends；　and　with
due　diligence　endeavouring　to　make　something　of　the　occasion；　by
discovering　fatal　legal　impediments　to　the　further　prosecution　of
their　voyage；　which　impediments　would　disappear　on　the　payment　of
certain　dollars。　　And　then　there　were　half　a　dozen　Costa　Rican
soldiers；　men　with　coloured　caps　and　old　muskets；　ready　to　support
the　dignity　and　authority　of　the　commandant。　　There　were　the　guides
taking　payment　from　Abel　Ring　for　their　past　work；　and　the　postmen
preparing　their　boats　for　the　further　journey。　　And　then　there　was　a
certain　German　there；　with　a　German　servant；　to　whom　the　boats
belonged。　　He　also　was　very　busy　preparing　for　the　river　voyage。　　He
was　not　going　down　with　them；　but　it　was　his　business　to　see　them
well　started。　　A　singular　looking　man　was　he；　with　a　huge　shaggy
beard；　and　shaggy　uncombed　hair；　but　with　bright　blue　eyes；　which
gave　to　his　face　a　remarkable　look　of　sweetness。　　He　was　an　uncouth
man　to　the　eye；　and　yet　a　child　would　have　trusted　herself　with　him
in　a　forest。

At　this　place　they　remained　some　two　hours。　　Coffee　was　prepared
here；　and　Mrs。　Arkwright　refreshed　herself　and　her　child。　　They
washed　and　arranged　their　clothes；　and　when　she　stepped　down　the
steep　bank；　clinging　to　her　husband's　arm　as　she　made　her　way
towards　the　boat；　she　smiled　upon　him　as　he　looked　at　her。

〃It　is　all　over　now；is　it　not；　my　girl？〃he　said；　encouraging
her。

〃Oh；　Harry；　do　not　talk　about　it；〃　she　answered；　shuddering。

〃But　I　want　you　to　say　a　word　to　me　to　let　me　know　that　you　are
better。〃

〃I　am　better；much　better。〃

〃And　you　will　see　your　mother　again；　will　you　not；　and　give　baby　to
her　yourself？〃

To　this　she　made　no　immediate　answer；　for　she　was　on　a　level　with
the　river；　and　the　canoe　was　close　at　her　feet。　　And　then　she　had　to
bid　farewell　to　her　brother。　　He　was　now　the　unfortunate　one　of　the
party；　for　his　destiny　required　that　he　should　go　back　to　San　Jose
alone；go　back　and　remain　there　perhaps　some　ten　years　longer
before　he　might　look　for　the　happiness　of　home。

〃God　bless　you；　dearest　Abel；〃　she　said；　kissing　him　and　sobbing　as
she　spoke。

〃Good…bye；　Fanny；〃　he　said；　〃and　do　not　let　them　forget　me　in
England。　　It　is　a　great　comfort　to　think　that　the　worst　of　your
troubles　are　over。〃

〃Oh；she's　all　right　now；〃　said　Arkwright。　　〃Good…bye；　old　boy；〃
and　the　two　brothers…in…law　grasped　each　other's　hands　heartily。
〃Keep　up　your　spirits；　and　we'll　have　you　home　before　long。〃

〃Oh；　I'm　all　right；〃　said　the　other。　　But　from　the　tone　of　the
voices；　it　was　clear　that　poor　Ring　was　despondent　at　the　thoughts
of　his　coming　solitude；　and　that　Arkwright　was　already　triumphing　in
his　emancipation。

And　then；　with　much　care；　Fanny　Arkwright　was　stowed　away　in　the
boat。　　There　was　a　great　contest　about　the　baby；　but　at　last　it　was
arranged；　that　at　any　rate　for　the　first　few　hours　she　should　be
placed　in　the　boat　with　the　servant。　　The　mother　was　told　that　by
this　plan　she　would　feel　herself　at　liberty　to　sleep　during　the　heat
of　the　day；　and　then　she　might　hope　to　have　strength　to　look　to　the
child　when　they　should　be　on　shore　during　the　night。　　In　this　way
therefore　they　prepared　to　start；　while　Abel　Ring　stood　on　the　bank
looking　at　them　with　wishful　eyes。　　In　the　first　boat　were　two
Indians　paddling；　and　a　third　man　steering　with　another　paddle。　　In
the　middle　there　was　much　luggage；　and　near　the　luggage　so　as　to　be
under　shade；　was　the　baby's　soft　bed。　　If　nothing　evil　happened　to
the　boat；　the　child　could　not　be　more　safe　in　the　best　cradle　that
was　ever　rocked。　　With　her　was　the　maid…servant　and　some　stranger
who　was　also　going　down　to　Greytown。

In　the