armadale-第37章

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waters　of　the　Sound。

〃One　thing　is　pretty　certain；〃　he　said。　〃With　the　current　on　that
side；　and　the　sunken　rocks　on　this；　we　can't　find　our　way　out　of
the　scrape　by　swimming；　at　any　rate。　So　much　for　the　prospect　at
this　end　of　the　wreck。　Let's　try　how　things　look　at　the　other。
Rouse　up；　messmate！〃　he　called　out；　cheerfully；　as　he　passed
Midwinter。　〃Come　and　see　what　the　old　tub　of　a　timber…ship　has
got　to　show　us　astern。〃　He　sauntered　on；　with　his　hands　in　his
pockets；　humming　the　chorus　of　a　comic　song。

His　voice　had　produced　no　apparent　effect　on　his　friend；　but；　at
the　light　touch　of　his　hand　in　passing；　Midwinter　started；　and
moved　out　slowly　from　the　shadow　of　the　bulwark。　〃Come　along！〃
cried　Allan；　suspending　his　singing　for　a　moment；　and　glancing
back。　Still；　without　a　word　of　answer；　the　other　followed。　Thrice
he　stopped　before　he　reached　the　stern　end　of　the　wreck：　the
first　time；　to　throw　aside　his　hat；　and　push　back　his　hair　from
his　forehead　and　temples；　the　second　time；　reeling；　giddy；　to
hold　for　a　moment　by　a　ring…bolt　close　at　hand；　the　last　time
（though　Allan　was　plainly　visible　a　few　yards　ahead）；　to　look
stealthily　behind　him；　with　the　furtive　scrutiny　of　a　man　who
believes　that　other　footsteps　are　following　him　in　the　dark　。
〃Not　yet！〃　he　whispered　to　himself；　with　eyes　that　searched　the
empty　air。　〃I　shall　see　him　astern；　with　his　hand　on　the　lock　of
the　cabin　door。〃

The　stern　end　of　the　wreck　was　clear　of　the　ship…breakers'
lumber；　accumulated　in　the　other　parts　of　the　vessel。　Here；　the
one　object　that　rose　visible　on　the　smooth　surface　of　the　deck
was　the　low　wooden　structure　which　held　the　cabin　door　and　roofed
in　the　cabin　stairs。　The　wheel…house　had　been　removed；　the
binnacle　had　been　removed；　but　the　cabin　entrance；　and　all　that
had　belonged　to　it；　had　been　left　untouched。　The　scuttle　was　on；
and　the　door　was　closed。

On　gaining　the　after…part　of　the　vessel；　Allan　walked　straight　to
the　stern；　and　looked　out　to　sea　over　the　taffrail。　No　such　thing
as　a　boat　was　in　view　anywhere　on　the　quiet；　moon…brightened
waters。　Knowing　Midwinter's　sight　to　be　better　than　his　own；　he
called　out；　〃Come　up　here；　and　see　if　there's　a　fisherman　within
hail　of　us。〃　Hearing　no　reply；　he　looked　back。　Midwinter　had
followed　him　as　far　as　the　cabin；　and　had　stopped　there。　He
called　again　in　a　louder　voice；　and　beckoned　impatiently。
Midwinter　had　heard　the　call；　for　he　looked　up；　but　still　he
never　stirred　from　his　place。　There　he　stood；　as　if　he　had
reached　the　utmost　limits　of　the　ship　and　could　go　no　further。

Allan　went　back　and　joined　him。　It　was　not　easy　to　discover　what
he　was　looking　at；　for　he　kept　his　face　turned　away　from　the
moonlight；　but　it　seemed　as　if　his　eyes　were　fixed；　with　a
strange　expression　of　inquiry；　on　the　cabin　door。　〃What　is　there
to　look　at　there？〃　Allan　asked。　〃Let's　see　if　it's　locked。〃　As　he
took　a　step　forward　to　open　the　door；　Midwinter's　hand　seized　him
suddenly　by　the　coat　collar　and　forced　him　back。　The　moment
after；　the　hand　relaxed　without　losing　its　grasp；　and　trembled
violently；　like　the　hand　of　a　man　completely　unnerved。

〃Am　I　to　consider　myself　in　custody？〃　asked　Allan；　half
astonished　and　half　amused。　〃Why　in　the　name　of　wonder　do　you
keep　staring　at　the　cabin　door？　Any　suspicious　noises　below？　It's
no　use　disturbing　the　ratsif　that's　what　you　meanwe　haven't
got　a　dog　with　us。　Men？　Living　men　they　can't　be；　for　they　would
have　heard　us　and　come　on　deck。　Dead　men？　Quite　impossible！　No
ship's　crew　could　be　drowned　in　a　land…locked　place　like　this；
unless　the　vessel　broke　up　under　themand　here's　the　vessel　as
steady　as　a　church　to　speak　for　herself。　Man　alive；　how　your　hand
trembles！　What　is　there　to　scare　you　in　that　rotten　old　cabin？
What　are　you　shaking　and　shivering　about？　Any　company　of　the
supernatural　sort　on　board？　Mercy　preserve　us！　（as　the　old　women
say）　do　you　see　a　ghost？〃

〃_I　see　two！_〃　answered　the　other；　driven　headlong　into　speech
and　action　by　a　maddening　temptation　to　reveal　the　truth。　〃Two！〃
he　repeated；　his　breath　bursting　from　him　in　deep；　heavy　gasps；
as　he　tried　vainly　to　force　back　the　horrible　words。　〃The　ghost
of　a　man　like　you；　drowning　in　the　cabin！　And　the　ghost　of　a　man
like　me；　turning　the　lock　of　the　door　on　him！〃

Once　more　young　Armadale's　hearty　laughter　rang　out　loud　and　long
through　the　stillness　of　the　night。

〃Turning　the　lock　of　the　door；　is　he？〃　said　Allan；　as　soon　as　his
merriment　left　him　breath　enough　to　speak。　〃That's　a　devilish
unhandsome　action；　Master　Midwinter；　on　the　part　of　your　ghost。
The　least　I　can　do；　after　that；　is　to　let　mine　out　of　the　cabin；
and　give　him　the　run　of　the　ship。〃

With　no　more　than　a　momentary　exertion　of　his　superior　strength；
he　freed　himself　easily　from　Midwinter's　hold。　〃Below　there！〃　he
called　out；　gayly；　as　he　laid　his　strong　hand　on　the　crazy　lock；
and　tore　open　the　cabin
　door。　〃Ghost　of　Allan　Armadale；　come　on　deck！〃　In　his　terrible
ignorance　of　the　truth；　he　put　his　head　into　the　doorway　and
looked　down；　laughing；　at　the　place　where　his　murdered　father　had
died。　〃Pah！〃　he　exclaimed；　stepping　back　suddenly；　with　a　shudder
of　disgust。　〃The　air　is　foul　already；　and　the　cabin　is　full　of
water。〃

It　was　true。　The　sunken　rocks　on　which　the　vessel　lay　wrecked　had
burst　their　way　through　her　lower　timbers　astern；　and　the　water
had　welled　up　through　the　rifted　wood。　Here；　where　the　deed　had
been　done；　the　fatal　parallel　between　past　and　present　was
complete。　What　the　cabin　had　been　in　the　time　of　the　fathers；
that　the　cabin　was　now　in　the　time　of　the　sons。

Allan　pushed　the　door　to　again　with　his　foot；　a　little　surprised
at　the　sudden　silence　which　appeared　to　have　fallen　on　his　friend
from　the　moment　when　he　had　laid　his　hand　on　the　cabin　lock。　When
he　turned　to　look；　the　reason　of　the　silence　was　instantly
revealed。　Midwinter　had　dropped　on　the　deck。　He　lay　senseless
before　the　cabin　door；　his　face　turned　up；　white　and　still；　to
the　moonlight；　like　the　face　of　a　dead　man。

In　a　moment　Allan　was　at　his　side。　He　looked　uselessly　round　the
lonely　limits　of　the　wreck；　as　he　lifted　Midwinter's　head　on　his
knee；　for　a　chance　of　help；　where　all　chance　was　ruthlessly　cut
off。　〃What　am　I　to　do？〃　he　said　to　himself；　in　the　first　impulse
of　alarm。　〃Not　a　drop　of　water　near；　but　the　foul　water　in　the
cabin。〃　A　sudden　recollection　crossed　his　memory；　the　florid
color　rushed　back　over　his　face；　and　he　drew　from　his　pocket　a
wicker…covered　flask。　〃God　bless　the　doctor　for　giving　me　this
before　we　sailed！〃　he　broke　out；　fervently；　as　he　poured　down
Midwinter's　throat　some　drops　of　the　raw　whisky　which　the　flask
contained。　The　stimulant　acted　instantly　on　the　sensitive　system
of　the　swooning　man。　He　sighed　faintly；　and　slowly　opened　his
eyes。　〃Have　I　been　dreaming？〃　he　asked；　looking　up　vacantly　in
Allan's　face。　His　eyes　wandered　higher；　and　encountered　the
dismantled　masts　of　the　wreck　rising　weird　and　black　against　the
night　sky。　He　shuddered　at　the　sight　of　them；　and　hid　his　face　on
Allan's　knee。　〃No　dream！〃　he　murmured　to　himself；　mournfully。　〃Oh
me；　no　dream！〃

〃You　hare　been　overtired　all　day；〃　said　Allan；　〃and　this　infernal
adventure　of　ours　has　upset　you。　Take　some　more　whisky；　it's　sure
to　do　you　good。　Can　you　sit　by　yourself；　if　I　put　you　against　the
bulwark；　so？〃

〃Why　by　myself？　Why　do　you　leave　me？〃　asked　Midwinter。

Allan　pointed　to　the　mizzen　shrouds　of　the　wreck；　which　were
still　left　standing。　〃You　are　not　well　enough　to　rough　it　here
till　the　workmen　come　off　in　the　morning；〃　he　said。　〃We　must　find
our　way　on　shore　at　once；　if　we　can。　I　am　going　up　to　get　a　good
view　all　round；　and　see　if　there's　a　house　within　hail　of　us。〃

Even　in　the　moment　that　passed　while　those　few　words　were　spoken；
Midwinter's　eyes　wandered　back　distrustfully　to　the　fatal　cabin
door。　〃Don't　go　near　it！〃　he　whispered。　〃Don't　try　to　open　it；
for　God's　sake！〃

〃No；　no；〃　returned　Allan；　humoring　him。　〃When　I　come　down　from
the　rigging；　I'll　come　back　here。〃　He　said　the　words　a　little
constrainedly；　noticing；　for　the　first　time　while　he　now　spoke；
an　underlying　distress　in　Midwinter's　face