the frozen deep-第20章

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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。

〃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　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。







End