for the term of his natural life-第13章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃Perhaps；〃　returned　the　other；　〃they　would　not　thank　us　for　taking　them　aboard。〃

〃I　don't　understand　you。〃

〃The　fever　has　broken　out。〃

Vickers　raised　his　brows。　　He　had　no　experience　of　such　things；　and　though　the　intelligence　was　startling；　the　crowded　condition　of　the　prison　rendered　it　easy　to　be　understood；　and　he　apprehended　no　danger　to　himself。

〃It　is　a　great　misfortune；　but；　of　course；　you　will　take　such　steps〃

〃It　is　only　in　the　prison；　as　yet；〃　says　Pine；　with　a　grim　emphasis　on　the　word；　〃but　there　is　no　saying　how　long　it　may　stop　there。　I　have　got　three　men　down　as　it　is。〃　〃Well；　sir；　all　authority　in　the　matter　is　in　your　hands。　　Any　suggestions　you　make；　I　will；　of　course；　do　my　best　to　carry　out。〃

〃Thank　ye。　　I　must　have　more　room　in　the　hospital　to　begin　with。　The　soldiers　must　lie　a　little　closer。〃

〃I　will　see　what　can　be　done。〃

〃And　you　had　better　keep　your　wife　and　the　little　girl　as　much　on　deck　as　possible。〃

Vickers　turned　pale　at　the　mention　of　his　child。　　〃Good　Heaven！　do　you　think　there　is　any　danger？〃

〃There　is；　of　course；　danger　to　all　of　us；　but　with　care　we　may　escape　it。　There's　that　maid；　too。　　Tell　her　to　keep　to　herself　a　little　more。　She　has　a　trick　of　roaming　about　the　ship　I　don't　like。　　Infection　is　easily　spread；　and　children　always　sicken　sooner　than　grown…up　people。〃

Vickers　pressed　his　lips　together。　　This　old　man；　with　his　harsh；　dissonant　voice；　and　hideous　practicality；　seemed　like　a　bird　of　ill　omen。

Blunt；　hitherto　silently　listening；　put　in　a　word　for　defence　of　the　absent　woman。　　〃The　wench　is　right　enough；　Pine；〃　said　he。　〃What's　the　matter　with　her？〃

〃Yes；　she's　all　right；　I've　no　doubt。　　She's　less　likely　to　take　it　than　any　of　us。　　You　can　see　her　vitality　in　her　faceas　many　lives　as　a　cat。　But　she'd　bring　infection　quicker　than　anybody。〃

〃I'llI'll　go　at　once；〃　cried　poor　Vickers；　turning　round。　The　woman　of　whom　they　were　speaking　met　him　on　the　ladder。　Her　face　was　paler　than　usual；　and　dark　circles　round　her　eyes　gave　evidence　of　a　sleepless　night。　　She　opened　her　red　lips　to　speak；　and　then；　seeing　Vickers；　stopped　abruptly。

〃Well；　what　is　it？〃

She　looked　from　one　to　the　other。　　〃I　came　for　Dr。　　Pine。〃

Vickers；　with　the　quick　intelligence　of　affection；　guessed　her　errand。　〃Someone　is　ill？〃

〃Miss　Sylvia；　sir。　　It　is　nothing　to　signify；　I　think。　　A　little　feverish　and　hot；　and　my　mistress〃

Vickers　was　down　the　ladder　in　an　instant；　with　scared　face。

Pine　caught　the　girl's　round　firm　arm。　　〃Where　have　you　been？〃　Two　great　flakes　of　red　came　out　in　her　white　cheeks；　and　she　shot　an　indignant　glance　at　Blunt。

〃Come；　Pine；　let　the　wench　alone！〃

〃Were　you　with　the　child　last　night？〃　went　on　Pine；　without　turning　his　head。

〃No；　I　have　not　been　in　the　cabin　since　dinner　yesterday。　Mrs。　Vickers　only　called　me　in　just　now。　　Let　go　my　arm；　sir；　you　hurt　me。〃

Pine　loosed　his　hold　as　if　satisfied　at　the　reply。　　〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　said　gruffly。　　〃I　did　not　mean　to　hurt　you。　　But　the　fever　has　broken　out　in　the　prison；　and　I　think　the　child　has　caught　it。　　You　must　be　careful　where　you　go。〃　And　then；　with　an　anxious　face；　he　went　in　pursuit　of　Vickers。

Sarah　Purfoy　stood　motionless　for　an　instant；　in　deadly　terror。　Her　lips　parted；　her　eyes　glittered；　and　she　made　a　movement　as　though　to　retrace　her　steps。

〃Poor　soul！〃　thought　honest　Blunt；　〃how　she　feels　for　the　child！　D　that　lubberly　surgeon；　he's　hurt　her！Never　mind；　my　lass；〃　he　said　aloud。　　It　was　broad　daylight；　and　he　had　not　as　much　courage　in　love…making　as　at　night。　　〃Don't　be　afraid。　　I've　been　in　ships　with　fever　before　now。〃

Awaking；　as　it　were；　at　the　sound　of　his　voice；　she　came　closer　to　him。　〃But　ship　fever！　　I　have　heard　of　it！　　Men　have　died　like　rotten　sheep　in　crowded　vessels　like　this。〃

〃Tush！　　Not　they。　　Don't　be　frightened；　Miss　Sylvia　won't　die；　nor　you　neither。〃　He　took　her　hand。　　〃It　may　knock　off　a　few　dozen　prisoners　or　so。　　They　are　pretty　close　packed　down　there〃

She　drew　her　hand　away；　and　then；　remembering　herself；　gave　it　him　again。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃

〃Nothinga　pain。　　I　did　not　sleep　last　night。〃

〃There；　there；　you　are　upset；　I　dare　say。　　Go　and　lie　down。〃

She　was　staring　away　past　him　over　the　sea；　as　if　in　thought。　So　intently　did　she　look　that　he　involuntarily　turned　his　head；　and　the　action　recalled　her　to　herself。　　She　brought　her　fine　straight　brows　together　for　a　moment；　and　then　raised　them　with　the　action　of　a　thinker　who　has　decided　on　his　course　of　conduct。

〃I　have　a　toothache；〃　said　she；　putting　her　hand　to　her　face。

〃Take　some　laudanum；〃　says　Blunt；　with　dim　recollections　of　his　mother's　treatment　of　such　ailments。　　〃Old　Pine'll　give　you　some。〃

To　his　astonishment　she　burst　into　tears。

〃Therethere！　　Don't　cry；　my　dear。　　Hang　it；　don't　cry。　What　are　you　crying　about？〃

She　dashed　away　the　bright　drops；　and　raised　her　face　with　a　rainy　smile　of　trusting　affection。　　〃Nothing！　　I　am　lonely。　　So　far　from　home；　andand　Dr。　Pine　hurt　my　arm。　　Look！〃

She　bared　that　shapely　member　as　she　spoke；　and　sure　enough　there　were　three　red　marks　on　the　white　and　shining　flesh。

〃The　ruffian！〃　cried　Blunt；　〃it's　too　bad。〃　And　after　a　hasty　look　around　him；　the　infatuated　fellow　kissed　the　bruise。　　〃I'll　get　the　laudanum　for　you；〃　he　said。　　〃You　shan't　ask　that　bear　for　it。　　Come　into　my　cabin。〃

Blunt's　cabin　was　in　the　starboard　side　of　the　ship；　just　under　the　poop　awning；　and　possessed　three　windowsone　looking　out　over　the　side；　and　two　upon　deck。　　The　corresponding　cabin　on　the　other　side　was　occupied　by　Mr。　Maurice　Frere。　　He　closed　the　door；　and　took　down　a　small　medicine　chest；　cleated　above　the　hooks　where　hung　his　signal…pictured　telescope。

〃Here；〃　said　he；　opening　it。　　〃I've　carried　this　little　box　for　years；　but　it　ain't　often　I　want　to　use　it；　thank　God。　　Now；　then；　put　some　o'　this　into　your　mouth；　and　hold　it　there。〃

〃Good　gracious；　Captain　Blunt；　you'll　poison　me！　　Give　me　the　bottle；　I'll　help　myself。〃

〃Don't　take　too　much；〃　says　Blunt。　　〃It's　dangerous　stuff；　you　know。〃

〃You　need　not　fear。　　I've　used　it　before。〃

The　door　was　shut；　and　as　she　put　the　bottle　in　her　pocket；　the　amorous　captain　caught　her　in　his　arms。

〃What　do　you　say？　　Come；　I　think　I　deserve　a　kiss　for　that。〃

Her　tears　were　all　dry　long　ago；　and　had　only　given　increased　colour　to　her　face。　　This　agreeable　woman　never　wept　long　enough　to　make　herself　distasteful。　　She　raised　her　dark　eyes　to　his　for　a　moment；　with　a　saucy　smile。　〃By　and　by；〃　said　she；　and　escaping；　gained　her　cabin。　　It　was　next　to　that　of　her　mistress；　and　she　could　hear　the　sick　child　feebly　moaning。　Her　eyes　filled　with　tearsreal　ones　this　time。

〃Poor　little　thing；〃　she　said；　〃I　hope　she　won't　die。〃

And　then　she　threw　herself　on　her　bed；　and　buried　her　hot　head　in　the　pillow。　The　intelligence　of　the　fever　seemed　to　have　terrified　her。　　Had　the　news　disarranged　some　well…concocted　plan　of　hers？　　Being　near　the　accomplishment　of　some　cherished　scheme　long　kept　in　view；　had　the　sudden　and　unexpected　presence　of　disease　falsified　her　carefully…made　calculations；　and　cast　an　almost　insurmountable　obstacle　in　her　path？

〃She　die！　　and　through　me？　　How　did　I　know　that　he　had　the　fever？　Perhaps　I　have　taken　it　myselfI　feel　ill。〃　She　turned　over　on　the　bed；　as　if　in　pain；　and　then　started　to　a　sitting　position；　stung　by　a　sudden　thought。　　〃Perhaps　he　might　die！　　The　fever　spreads　quickly；　and　if　so；　all　this　plotting　will　have　been　useless。　　It　must　be　done　at　once。　It　will　never　do　to　break　down　now；〃　and　taking　the　phial　from　her　pocket；　she　held　it　up；　to　see　how　much　it　contained。　　It　was　three　parts　full。　〃Enough　for　both；〃　she　said；　between　her　set　teeth。　　The　action　of　holding　up　the　bottle　reminded　her　of　the　amorous　Blunt；　and　she　smiled。　〃A　strange　way　to　show　affection　for　a　man；〃　she　said　to　herself；　〃and　yet　he　doesn't　care；　and　I　suppose　I　shouldn't　by　this　time。　I'll　go　through　with　it；　and；　if　the　worst　comes　to　the　worst；　I　can　fall　back　on　Maurice。〃　She　loosened　the　cork　of　the　phial；　so　that　it　would　come　out　with　as　little　noise　as　possible；　and　then　placed　it　carefully　in　her　bosom。　　〃I　will　get　a　lit