armadale-第36章

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〃Yo…heave…ho！〃　at　the　top　of　his　voice。

〃Come　along；　old　boy！〃　cried　Allan。　〃You're　just　in　time　for　a
frolic　by　moonlight！〃

Midwinter　suggested　a　frolic　by　daylight；　and　an　adjournment　to
bed　in　the　meantime。

〃Bed！〃　cried　Allan；　on　whose　harum…scarum　high　spirits　Mr。
Hawbury's　hospitality　had　certainly　not　produced　a　sedative
effect。　〃Hear　him；　doctor！　one　would　think　he　was　ninety！　Bed；
you　drowsy　old　dormouse！　Look　at　that；　and　think　of　bed　if　you
can！〃

He　pointed　to　the　sea。　The　moon　was　shining　in　the　cloudless
heaven；　the　night…breeze　blew　soft　and　steady　from　the　land；　the
peaceful　waters　rippled　joyfully　in　the　silence　and　the　glory　of
the　night。　Midwinter　turned　to　the　doctor　with　a　wise　resignation
to　circumstances：　he　had　seen　enough　to　satisfy　him　that　all
words　of　remonstrance　would　be　words　simply　thrown　away。

〃How　is　the　tide？〃　he　asked。

Mr。　Hawbury　told　him。

〃Are　there　oars　in　the　boat？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃I　am　well　used　to　the　sea；〃　said　Midwinter；　descending　the　pier
steps。　〃You　may　trust　me　to　take　care　of　my　friend；　and　to　take
care　of　the　boat。〃

〃Good…night；　doctor！〃　shouted　Allan。　〃Your　whisky…and…water　is
deliciousyour　boat's　a　little　beautyand　you're　the　best
fellow　I　ever　met　in　my　life！〃

The　doctor　laughed　and　waved　his　hand；　and　the　boat　glided　out
from　the　harbor；　with　Midwinter　at　the　helm。

As　the　breeze　then　blew；　they　were　soon　abreast　of　the　westward
headland；　bounding　the　Bay　of　Poolvash；　and　the　question　was
started　whether　they　should　run　out　to　sea　or　keep　along　the
shore。　The　wisest　proceeding；　in　the　event　of　the　wind　failing
them；　was　to　keep　by　the　land。　Midwinter　altered　the　course　of
the　boat；　and　they　sailed　on　smoothly　in　a　south…westerly
direction；　abreast　of　the　coast。

Little　by　little　the　cliffs　rose　in　height；　and　the　rocks；　massed
wild　and　jagged；　showed　rifted　black　chasms　yawning　deep　in　their
seaward　sides。　Off　the　bold　promontory　called　Spanish　Head；
Midwinter　looked　ominously　at　his　watch。　But　Allan　pleaded　hard
for　half　all　hour　more；　and　for　a　glance　at　the　famous　channel　of
the　Sound；　which　they　were　now　fast　nearing；　and　of　which　he　had
heard　some　startling　stories　from　the　workmen　employed　on　his
yacht。　The　new　change　which　Midwinter's　compliance　with　this
request　rendered　it　necessary　to　make　in　the　course　of　the　boat
brought　her　close　to　the　wind；　and　revealed；　on　one　side；　the
grand　view　of　the　southernmost　shores　of　the　Isle　of　Man；　and；　on
the　other；　the　black　precipices　of　the　islet　called　the　Calf；
separated　from　the　mainland　by　the　dark　and　dangerous　channel　of
the　Sound。

Once　more　Midwinter　looked　at　his　watch。　〃We　have　gone　far
enough；〃　he　said。　〃Stand　by　the　sheet！〃

〃Stop！〃　cried　Allan；　from　the　bows　of　the　boat。　〃Good　God！　here's
a　wrecked　ship　right　ahead　of　us！〃

Midwinter　let　the　boat　fall　off　a　little；　and　looked　where　the
other　pointed。

There；　stranded　midway　between　the　rocky　boundaries　on　either
side　of　the　Soundthere；　never　again　to　rise　on　the　living
waters　from　her　grave　on　the　sunken　rock；　lost　and　lonely　in　the
quiet　night；　high；　and　dark；　and　ghostly　in　the　yellow　moonshine；
lay　the　Wrecked　Ship。

〃I　know　the　vessel；〃　said　Allan；　in　great　excitement。　〃I　heard　my
workmen　talking　of　her　yesterday。　She　drifted　in　here；　on　a
pitch…dark　night；　when　they　couldn't　see　the　lights；　a　poor　old
worn…out　merchantman；　Midwinter；　that　the　ship…brokers　have
bought　to　break　up。　Let's　run　in　and　have　a　look　at　her。〃

Midwinter　hesitated。　All　the　old　sympathies　of　his　sea…life
strongly　inclined　him　to　follow　Allan's　suggestion；　but　the　wind
was　falling　light；　and　he　distrusted　the　broken　water　and　the
swirling　currents　of　the　channel　ahead。　〃This　is　an　ugly　place　to
take　a　boat　into　when　you　know　nothing　about　it；〃　he　said。

〃Nonsense！〃　returned　Allan。　〃It's　as　light　as　day；　and　we　float
in　two　feet　of　water。〃

Before　Midwinter　could　answer；　the　current　caught　the　boat；　and
swept　them　onward　through　the　channel　straight　toward　the　wreck。

〃Lower　the　sail；〃　said　Midwinter；　quietly；　〃and　ship　the　oars。　We
are　running　down　on　her　fast　enough　now；　whether　we　like　it　or
not。〃

Both　well　accustomed　to　the　use　of　the　oar；　they　brought　the
course　of　the　boat　under　sufficient　control　to　keep　her　on　the
smoothest　side　of　the　channelthe　side　which　was　nearest　to　the
Islet　of　the　Calf。　As　they　came　swiftly　up　with　the　wreck；
Midwinter　resigned　his　oar　to　Allan；　and；　watching　his
opportunity；　caught　a　hold　with　the　boat…hook　on　the　fore…chains
of　the　vessel。　The　next　moment　they　had　the　boat　safely　in　hand；
under　the　lee　of　the　wreck。

The　ship's　ladder　used　by　the　workmen　hung　over　the　fore…chains。
Mounting　it；　with　the　boat's　rope　in　his　teeth；　Midwinter　secured
one　end　；　and　lowered　the　other　to　Allan　in　the　boat。　〃Make　that
fast；〃　he　said；　〃and　wait　till　I　see　if　it's　all　safe　on　board。〃
With　those　words；　he　disappeared　behind　the　bulwark。

〃Wait？〃　repeated　Allan；　in　the　blankest　astonishment　at　his
friend's　excessive　caution。　〃What　on　earth　does　he　mean？　I'll　be
hanged　if　I　wait。　Where　one　of　us　goes；　the　other　goes　too！〃

He　hitched　the　loose　end　of　the　rope　round　the　forward　thwart　of
the　boat；　and；　swinging　himself　up　the　ladder；　stood　the　next
moment　on　the　deck。　〃Anything　very　dreadful　on　board？〃　he
inquired　sarcastically；　as　he　and　his　friend　met。

Midwinter　smiled。　〃Nothing　whatever；〃　he　replied。　〃But　I　couldn't
be　sure　that　we　were　to　have　the　whole　ship　to　ourselves　till　I
got　over　the　bulwark　and　looked　about　me。〃

Allan　took　a　turn　on　the　deck；　and　surveyed　the　wreck　critically
from　stem　to　stern。

〃Not　much　of　a　vessel；〃　he　said；　〃the　Frenchmen　generally　build
better　ships　than　this。〃

Midwinter　crossed　the　deck；　and　eyed　Allan　in　a　momentary
silence。

〃Frenchmen？〃　he　repeated；　after　an　interval。　〃Is　this　vessel
French？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃How　do　you　know？〃

〃The　men　I　have　got　at　work　on　the　yacht　told　me。　They　know　all
about　her。〃

Midwinter　came　a　little　nearer。　His　swarthy　face　began　to　look；
to　Allan's　eyes；　unaccountably　pale　in　the　moonlight。

〃Did　they　mention　what　trade　she　was　engaged　in？〃

〃Yes；　the　timber　trade。〃

As　Allan　gave　that　answer；　Midwinter's　lean　brown　hand　clutched
him　fast　by　the　shoulder；　and　Midwinter's　teeth　chattered　in　his
head　like　the　teeth　of　a　man　struck　by　a　sudden　chill。

〃Did　they　tell　you　her　name？〃　he　asked；　in　a　voice　that　dropped
suddenly　to　a　whisper。

〃They　did；　I　think。　But　it　has　slipped　my　memory。Gently；　old
fellow；　these　long　claws　of　yours　are　rather　tight　on　my
shoulder。〃

〃Was　the　name？〃　He　stopped；　removed　his　hand；　and　dashed　away
the　great　drops　that　were　gathering　on　his　forehead。　〃Was　the
name　_La　Grace　de　Dieu？_〃

〃How　the　deuce　did　you　come　to　know　it？　That's　the　name；　sure
enough。　_La　Grace　de　Dieu。_〃

At　one　bound；　Midwinter　leaped　on　the　bulwark　of　the　wreck。

〃The　boat！〃　he　cried；　with　a　scream　of　horror　that　rang　far　and
wide　through　the　stillness　of　the　night；　and　brought　Allan
instantly　to　his　side。

The　lower　end　of　the　carelessly　hitched　rope　was　loose　on　the
water；　and　ahead；　in　the　track　of　the　moonlight；　a　small　black
object　was　floating　out　of　view。　The　boat　was　adrift。

CHAPTER　IV。

THE　SHADOW　OF　THE　PAST。

ONE　stepping　back　under　the　dark　shelter　of　the　bulwark；　and　one
standing　out　boldly　in　the　yellow　light　of　the　moon；　the　two
friends　turned　face　to　face　on　the　deck　of　the　timber…ship；　and
looked　at　each　other　in　silence。　The　next　moment　Allan's
inveterate　recklessness　seized　on　the　grotesque　side　of　the
situation　by　main　force。　He　seated　himself　astride　on　the
bulwark；　and　burst　out　boisterously　into　his　loudest　and
heartiest　laugh。

〃All　my　fault；〃　he　said；　〃but　there's　no　help　for　it　now。　Here　we
are；　hard　and　fast　in　a　trap　of　our　own　setting；　and　there　goes
the　last　of　the　doctor's　boat！　Come　out　of　the　dark；　Midwinter；　I
can't　half　see　you　there；　and　I　want　to　know　what's　to　be　done
next。〃

Midwinter　neither　answered　nor　moved。　Allan　left　the　bulwark；
and；　mounting　the　forecastle；　looked　down　attentively　at　the
waters　of　the　Sound。

〃One　thing　is　pretty　certain；〃　he　said。　〃With　the　current