for the term of his natural life-第105章
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lty I never witnessed。 It is customary for 〃the old dogs〃； as the experienced convicts are called； to use the most opprobrious language to their officers； and to this a deaf ear is usually turned； but I never before saw a man wantonly strike a constable。 I fancy that the act was done out of bravado。 Troke informed me that the man's name is Rufus Dawes； and that he is the leader of the Ring； and considered the worst man on the island； that to secure him he （Troke） was obliged to use the language of expostulation； and that； but for the presenceof an officer accredited by his Excellency； he dared not have acted as he had done。
This is the same man； then； whom I injured at Port Arthur。 Seven years of 〃discipline〃 don't seem to have done him much good。 His sentence is 〃life〃a lifetime in this place！ Troke says that he was the terror of Port Arthur； and that they sent him here when a 〃weeding〃 of the prisoners was made。 He has been here four years。 Poor wretch！
May 24th。After prayers； I saw Dawes。 He was confined in the Old Gaol； and seven others were in the cell with him。 He came out at my request； and stood leaning against the door…post。 He was much changed from the man I remember。 Seven years ago he was a stalwart； upright； handsome man。 He has become a beetle…browed； sullen； slouching ruffian。 His hair is grey； though he cannot be more than forty years of age； and his frame has lost that just proportion of parts which once made him almost graceful。 His face has also grown like other convict faceshow hideously alike they all are！and； save for his black eyes and a peculiar trick he had of compressing his lips； I should not have recognized him。 How habitual sin and misery suffice to brutalize 〃the human face divine〃！ I said but little； for the other prisoners were listening； eager； as it appeared to me； to witness my discomfiture。 It is evident that Rufus Dawes had been accustomed to meet the ministrations of my predecessors with insolence。 I spoke to him for a few minutes； only saying how foolish it was to rebel against an authority superior in strength to himself。 He did not answer； and the only emotion he evinced during the interview was when I reminded him that we had met before。 He shrugged one shoulder； as if in pain or anger； and seemed about to speak； but； casting his eyes upon the group in the cell； relapsed into silence again。 I must get speech with him alone。 One can do nothing with a man if seven other devils worse than himself are locked up with him。
I sent for Hankey； and asked him about cells。 He says that the gaol is crowded to suffocation。 〃Solitary confinement〃 is a mere name。 There are six men； each sentenced to solitary confinement； in a cell together。 The cell is called the 〃nunnery〃。 It is small； and the six men were naked to the waist when I entered； the perspiration pouring in streams off their naked bodies！ It is disgusting to write of such things。
June 26th。Pounce has departed in the Lady Franklin for Hobart Town； and it is rumoured that we are to have a new Commandant。 The Lady Franklin is commanded by an old man named Blunt； a proteg？of Frere's； and a fellow to whom I have taken one of my inexplicable and unreasoning dislikes。
Saw Rufus Dawes this morning。 He continues sullen and morose。 His papers are very bad。 He is perpetually up for punishment。 I am informed that he and a man named Eastwood； nicknamed 〃Jacky Jacky〃； glory in being the leaders of the Ring； and that they openly avow themselves weary of life。 Can it be that the unmerited flogging which the poor creature got at Port Arthur has aided； with other sufferings； to bring him to this horrible state of mind？ It is quite possible。 Oh； James North； remember your own crime； and pray Heaven to let you redeem one soul at least； to plead for your own at the Judgment Seat。
June 30th。I took a holiday this afternoon； and walked in the direction of Mount Pitt。 The island lay at my feet likeas sings Mrs。 Frere's favourite poet〃a summer isle of Eden lying in dark purple sphere of sea〃。 Sophocles has the same idea in the Philoctetes； but I can't quote it。 Note： I measured a pine twenty…three feet in circumference。 I followed a little brook that runs from the hills； and winds through thick undergrowths of creeper and blossom； until it reaches a lovely valley surrounded by lofty trees； whose branches； linked together by the luxurious grape…vine； form an arching bower of verdure。 Here stands the ruin of an old hut； formerly inhabited by the early settlers； lemons； figs； and guavas are thick； while amid the shrub and cane a large convolvulus is entwined； and stars the green with its purple and crimson flowers。 I sat down here； and had a smoke。 It seems that the former occupant of my rooms at the settlement read French； for in searching for a book to bring with me I never walk without a bookI found and pocketed a volume of Balzac。 It proved to be a portion of the Vie Prive？series； and I stumbled upon a story called La Fausse Maitresse。 With calm belief in the Paris of his imaginationwhere Marcas was a politician； Nucingen a banker； Gobseck a money…lender； and Vautrin a candidate for some such place as this Balzac introduces me to a Pole by name Paz； who； loving the wife of his friend； devotes himself to watch over her happiness and her husband's interest。 The husband gambles and is profligate。 Paz informs the wife that the leanness which hazard and debauchery have caused to the domestic exchequer is due to his extravagance； the husband having lent him money。 She does not believe； and Paz feigns an intrigue with a circus…rider in order to lull all suspicions。 She says to her adored spouse； 〃Get rid of this extravagant friend！ Away with him！ He is a profligate； a gambler！ A drunkard！〃 Paz finally departs； and when he has gone； the lady finds out the poor Pole's worth。 The story does not end satisfactorily。 Balzac was too great a master of his art for that。 In real life the curtain never falls on a comfortably…finished drama。 The play goes on eternally。
I have been thinking of the story all evening。 A man who loves his friend's wife； and devotes his energies to increase her happiness by concealing from her her husband's follies！ Surely none but Balzac would have hit upon such a notion。 〃A man who loves his friend's wife。〃Asmodeus； I write no more！ I have ceased to converse with thee for so long that I blush to confess all that I have in my heart。I will not confess it； so that shall suffice。
CHAPTER IV。
EXTRACTED FROM THE DIARY OF THE REV。JAMES NORTH。
August 24th。There has been but one entry in my journal since the 30th June； that which records the advent of our new Commandant； who； as I expected； is Captain Maurice Frere。
So great have been the changes which have taken place that I scarcely know how to record them。 Captain Frere has realized my worst anticipations。 He is brutal； vindictive； and domineering。 His knowledge of prisons and prisoners gives him an advantage over Burgess； otherwise he much resembles that murderous animal。 He has but one thoughtto keep the prisoners in subjection。 So long as the island is quiet； he cares not whether the men live or die。 〃I was sent down here to keep order；〃 said he to me； a few days after his arrival； 〃and by God； sir； I'll do it！〃
He has done it； I must admit； but at a cost of a legacy of hatred to himself that he may some day regret to have earned。 He has organized three parties of police。 One patrols the fields； one is on guard at stores and public buildings； and the third is employed as a detective force。 There are two hundred soldiers on the island。 And the officer in charge； Captain McNab； has been induced by Frere to increase their duties in many ways。 The cords of discipline are suddenly drawn tight。 For the disorder which prevailed when I landed； Frere has substituted a sudden and excessive rigour。 Any officer found giving the smallest piece of tobacco to a prisoner is liable to removal from the island。。The tobacco which grows wild has been rooted up and destroyed lest the men should obtain a leaf of it。 The privilege of having a pannikin of hot water when the gangs came in from field labour in the evening ha
