armadale-第41章
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outstretched hands scratched and struggled on the deck。 From
moment to moment he moaned and muttered helplessly； but the words
that escaped him were lost in the grinding and gnashing of his
teeth。 There he layso near in the body to the friend who bent
over him； so far away in the spirit； that the two might have been
in different worldsthere he lay； with the morning sunshine on
his face； in the torture of his dream。
One question； and one only； rose in the mind of the man who was
looking at him。 What had the fatality which had imprisoned him in
the wreck decreed that he should see？
Had the treachery of Sleep opened the gates of the grave to that
one of the two Armadales whom the other had kept in ignorance of
the truth？ Was the murder of the father revealing itself to the
sonthere； on the very spot where the crime had been
committedin the vision of a dream？
With that question overshadowing all else in his mind； the son of
the homicide knelt on the deck； and looked at the son of the man
whom his father's hand had slain。
The conflict between the sleeping body and the waking mind was
strengthening every moment。 The dreamer's helpless groaning for
deliverance grew louder； his hands raised themselves； and
clutched at the empty air。 Struggling with the all…mastering
dread that still held him； Midwinter laid his hand gently on
Allan's forehead。 Light as the touch was； there were mysterious
sympathies in the dreaming man that answered it。 His groaning
ceased； and his hands dropped slowly。 There was an instant of
suspense and Midwinter looked closer。 His breath just fluttered
over the sleeper's face。 Before the next breath had risen to his
lips； Allan suddenly sprang up on his kneessprang up； as if the
call of a trumpet had rung on his ear； awake in an instant。
〃You have been dreaming；〃 said Midwinter； as the other looked at
him wildly； in the first bewilderment of waking。
Allan's eyes began to wander about the wreck； at first vacantly；
then with a look of angry surprise。 〃Are we here still？〃 he said；
as Midwinter helped him to his feet。 〃Whatever else I do on board
this infernal ship；〃 he added； after a moment； 〃I won't go to
sleep again！〃
As he said those words； his friend's eyes searched his face in
silent inquiry。 They took a turn together on the deck。
〃Tell me your dream；〃 said Midwinter； with a strange tone of
suspicion in his voice； and a strange appearance of abruptness in
his manner。
〃I can't tell it yet；〃 returned Allan。 〃Wait a little till I'm my
own man again。〃
They took another turn on the deck。 Midwinter stopped； and spoke
once more。
〃Look at me for a moment； Allan；〃 he said。
There was something of the trouble left by the dream； and
something of natural surprise at the strange request just
addressed to him； in Allan's face； as he turned it full on the
speaker； but no shadow of ill…will； no lurking lines of distrust
anywhere。 Midwinter turned aside quickly； and hid； as he best
might； an irrepressible outburst of relief。
〃Do I look a little upset？〃 asked Allan； taking his arm； and
leading him on again。 〃Don't make yourself nervous about me if I
do。 My head feels wild and giddy； but I shall soon get over it。〃
For the next few minutes they walked backward and forward in
silence； the one bent on dismissing the terror of the dream from
his thoughts； the other bent on discovering what the terror of
the dream might be。 Relieved of the dread that had oppressed it；
the superstitious nature of Midwinter had leaped to its next
conclusion at a bound。 What if the sleeper had been visited by
another revelation than the revelation of the Past？ What if the
dream had opened those unturned pages in the book of the Future
which told the story of his life to come？ The bare doubt that it
might be so strengthened tenfold Midwinter's longing to penetrate
the mystery which Allan's silence still kept a secret from him。
〃Is your head more composed？〃 he asked。 〃Can you tell me your
dream now？〃
While he put the question； a last memorable moment in the
Adventure of the Wreck was at hand。
They had reached the stern； and were just turning again when
Midwinter spoke。 As Allan opened his lips to answer； he looked
out mechanically to sea。 Instead of replying； he suddenly ran to
the taffrail； and waved his hat over his head； with a shout of
exultation。
Midwinter joined him； and saw a large six…oared boat pulling
straight for the channel of the Sound。 A figure； which they both
thought they recognized； rose eagerly in the stern…sheets and
returned the waving of Allan's hat。 The boat came nearer； the
steersman called to them cheerfully； and they recognized the
doctor's voice。
〃Thank God you're both above water！〃 said Mr。 Hawbury； as they
met him on the deck of the timber…ship。 〃Of all the winds of
heaven； which wind blew you here？〃
He looked at Midwinter as he made the inquiry； but it was Allan
who told him the story of the night； and Allan who asked the
doctor for information in return。 The one absorbing interest in
Midwinter's mindthe interest of penetrating the mystery of the
dreamkept him silent throughout。 Heedless of all that was said
or done about him； he watched Allan； and followed Allan； like a
dog； until the time came for getting down into the boat。 Mr。
Hawbury's professional eye rested on him curiously； noting his
varying color； and the incessant restlessness of his hands。 〃I
wouldn't change nervous systems with that man for the largest
fortune that could be offered me；〃 thought the doctor as he took
the boat's t iller； and gave the oarsmen their order to push off
from the wreck。
Having reserved all explanations on his side until they were on
their way back to Port St。 Mary； Mr。 Hawbury next addressed
himself to the gratification of Allan's curiosity。 The
circumstances which had brought him to the rescue of his two
guests of the previous evening were simple enough。 The lost boat
had been met with at sea by some fishermen of Port Erin； on the
western side of the island； who at once recognized it as the
doctor's property； and at once sent a messenger to make inquiry；
at the doctor's house。 The man's statement of what had happened
had naturally alarmed Mr。 Hawbury for the safety of Allan and his
friend。 He had immediately secured assistance； and； guided by the
boatman's advice； had made first for the most dangerous place on
the coastthe only place； in that calm weather； in which an
accident could have happened to a boat sailed by experienced
menthe channel of the Sound。 After thus accounting for his
welcome appearance on the scene； the doctor hospitably insisted
that his guests of the evening should be his guests of the
morning as well。 It would still be too early when they got back
for the people at the hotel to receive them； and they would find
bed and breakfast at Mr。 Hawbury's house。
At the first pause in the conversation between Allan and the
doctor； Midwinter； who had neither joined in the talk nor
listened to the talk； touched his friend on the arm。 〃Are you
better？〃 he asked； in a whisper。 〃Shall you soon be composed
enough to tell me what I want to know？〃
Allan's eyebrows contracted impatiently； the subject of the
dream； and Midwinter's obstinacy in returning to it； seemed to be
alike distasteful to him。 He hardly answered with his usual good
humor。 〃I suppose I shall have no peace till I tell you；〃 he
said； 〃so I may as well get it over at once。〃
〃No！〃 returned Midwinter； with a look at the doctor and his
oarsmen。 〃Not where other people can hear itnot till you and I
are alone。〃
〃If you wish to see the last； gentlemen； of your quarters for the
night；〃 interposed the doctor； 〃now is your time！ The coast will
shut the vessel out in a minute more。〃
In silence on the one side and on the other； the two Armadales
looked their last at the fatal ship。 Lonely and lost they had
found the wreck in the mystery of the summer night； lonely and
lost they left the wreck in the radiant beauty of the summer
morning。
An hour later the doctor had seen his guests established in their
bedrooms； and had left them to take their rest until the
breakfast hour arrived。
Almost as soon
