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第19章

the frozen deep-第19章

小说: the frozen deep 字数: 每页4000字

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She put the question; still looking mechanically at the door by
which her husband and Clara had gone out。 Receiving no reply; she
glanced round at Steventon。 He was standing on the opposite side
of the luncheon…table; with his eyes fixed attentively on the
view from the main doorway of the boat…house。 Mrs。 Crayford
looked where Steventon was looking。 This time there was something
visible。 She saw the shadow of a human figure projected on the
stretch of smooth yellow sand in front of the boat…house。

In a moment more the figure appeared。 A man came slowly into
view; and stopped on the threshold of the door。



Chapter 18。


The man was a sinister and terrible object to look at。 His eyes
glared like the eyes of a wild animal; his head was bare; his
long gray hair was torn and tangled; his miserable garments hung
about him in rags。 He stood in the doorway; a speechless figure
of misery and want; staring at the well…spread table like a
hungry dog。

Steventon spoke to him。

〃Who are you?〃

He answered; in a hoarse; hollow voice;

〃A starving man。〃

He advanced a few steps; slowly and painfully; as if he were
sinking under fatigue。

〃Throw me some bones from the table;〃 he said。 〃Give me my share
along with the dogs。〃

There was madness as well as hunger in his eyes while he spoke
those words。 Steventon placed Mrs。 Crayford behind him; so that
he might be easily able to protect her in case of need; and
beckoned to two sailors who were passing the door of the
boat…house at the time。

〃Give the man some bread and meat;〃 he said; 〃and wait near him。〃

The outcast seized on the bread and meat with lean; long…nailed
hands that looked like claws。 After his first mouthful of the
food; he stopped; considered vacantly with himself; and broke the
bread and meat into two portions。 One portion he put into an old
canvas wallet that hung over his shoulder; the other he devoured
voraciously。 Steventon questioned him。

〃Where do you come from?〃

〃From the sea。〃

〃Wrecked?〃

〃Yes。〃

Steventon turned to Mrs。 Crayford。

〃There may be some truth in the poor wretch's story;〃 he said。 〃I
heard something of a strange boat having been cast on the beach
thirty or forty miles higher up the coast。 When were you wrecked;
my man?〃

The starving creature looked up from his food; and made an effort
to collect his thoughtsto exert his memory。 It was not to be
done。 He gave up the attempt in despair。 His language; when he
spoke; was as wild as his looks。

〃I can't tell you;〃 he said。 〃I can't get the wash of the sea out
of my ears。 I can't get the shining stars all night; and the
burning sun all day; out of my brain。 When was I wrecked? When
was I first adrift in the boat? When did I get the tiller in my
hand and fight against hunger and sleep? When did the gnawi ng in
my breast; and the burning in my head; first begin? I have lost
all reckoning of it。 I can't think; I can't sleep; I can't get
the wash of the sea out of my ears。 What are you baiting me with
questions for? Let me eat!〃

Even the sailors pitied him。 The sailors asked leave of their
officer to add a little drink to his meal。

〃We've got a drop of grog with us; sir; in a bottle。 May we give
it to him?〃

〃Certainly!〃

He took the bottle fiercely; as he had taken the food; drank a
little; stopped; and considered with himself again。 He held up
the bottle to the light; and; marking how much liquor it
contained; carefully drank half of it only。 This done; he put the
bottle in his wallet along with the food。

〃Are you saving it up for another time?〃 said Steventon。

〃I'm saving it up;〃 the man answered。 〃Never mind what for。
That's my secret。〃

He looked round the boat…house as he made that reply; and noticed
Mrs。 Crayford for the first time。

〃A woman among you!〃 he said。 〃Is she English? Is she young? Let
me look closer at her。〃

He advanced a few steps toward the table。

〃Don't be afraid; Mrs。 Crayford;〃 said Steventon。

〃I am not afraid;〃 Mrs。 Crayford replied。 〃He frightened me at
firsthe interests me now。 Let him speak to me if he wishes it!〃

He never spoke。 He stood; in dead silence; looking long and
anxiously at the beautiful Englishwoman。

〃Well?〃 said Steventon。

He shook his head sadly; and drew back again with a heavy sigh。

〃No!〃 he said to himself; 〃that's not _her_ face。 No! not found
yet。〃

Mrs。 Crayford's interest was strongly excited。 She ventured to
speak to him。

〃Who is it you want to find?〃 she asked。 〃Your wife?〃

He shook his head again。

〃Who; then? What is she like?〃

He answered that question in words。 His hoarse; hollow voice
softened; little by little; into sorrowful and gentle tones。

〃Young;〃 he said; 〃with a fair; sad facewith kind; tender
eyeswith a soft; clear voice。 Young and loving and merciful。 I
keep her face in my mind; though I can keep nothing else。 I must
wander; wander; wanderrestless; sleepless; homelesstill I
find _her!_ Over the ice and over the snow; tossing on the sea;
tramping over the land; awake all night; awake all day; wander;
wander; wander; till I find _her!_〃

He waved his hand with a gesture of farewell; and turned wearily
to go out。

At the same moment Crayford opened the yard door。

〃I think you had better come to Clara;〃 he began; and checked
himself; noticing the stranger。 〃Who is that?〃

The shipwrecked man; hearing another voice in the room; looked
round slowly over his shoulder。 Struck by his appearance;
Crayford advanced a little nearer to him。 Mrs。 Crayford spoke to
her husband as he passed her。

〃It's only a poor; mad creature; William;〃 she
whispered〃shipwrecked and starving。〃

〃Mad?〃 Crayford repeated; approaching nearer and nearer to the
man。 〃Am _I_ in my right senses?〃 He suddenly sprang on the
outcast; and seized him by the throat。 〃Richard Wardour!〃 he
cried; in a voice of fury。 〃Alive!alive; to answer for Frank!〃

The man struggled。 Crayford held him。

〃Where is Frank?〃 he said。 〃You villain; where is Frank?〃

The man resisted no longer。 He repeated vacantly;

〃Villain? and where is Frank?〃

As the name escaped his lips; Clara appeared at the open yard
door; and hurried into the room。

〃I heard Richard's name!〃 she said。 〃I heard Frank's name! What
does it mean?〃

At the sound of her voice the outcast renewed the struggle to
free himself; with a sudden frenzy of strength which Crayford was
not able to resist。 He broke away before the sailors could come
to their officer's assistance。 Half…way down the length of the
room he and Clara met one another face to face。 A new light
sparkled in the poor wretch's eyes; a cry of recognition burst
from his lips。 He flung one hand up wildly in the air。 〃Found!〃
he shouted; and rushed out to the beach before any of the men
present could stop him。

Mrs。 Crayford put her arms round Clara and held her up。 She had
not made a movement: she had not spoken a word。 The sight of
Wardour's face had petrified her。

The minutes passed; and there rose a sudden burst of cheering
from the sailors on the beach; near the spot where the
fishermen's boats were drawn up。 Every man left his work。 Every
man waved his cap in the air。 The passengers; near at hand;
caught the infection of enthusiasm; and joined the crew。 A moment
more; and Richard Wardour appeared again in the doorway; carrying
a man in his arms。 He staggered; breathless with the effort that
he was making; to the place where Clara stood; held up in Mrs。
Crayford's arms。

〃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 g

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