for the term of his natural life-第21章
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In another moment the trap…door was closed； the howitzer rumbled back to its cleatings； and the prison breathed again。
* * * * * *
In the meantime； a scene almost as exciting had taken place on the upper deck。 Gabbett； with the blind fury which the consciousness of failure brings to such brute…like natures； had seized Frere by the throat； determined to put an end to at least one of his enemies。 But desperate though he was； and with all the advantage of weight and strength upon his side； he found the young lieutenant a more formidable adversary than he had anticipated。
Maurice Frere was no coward。 Brutal and selfish though he might be； his bitterest enemies had never accused him of lack of physical courage。 Indeed； he had beenin the rollicking days of old that were gonecelebrated for the display of very opposite qualities。 He was an amateur at manly sports。 He rejoiced in his muscular strength； and； in many a tavern brawl and midnight riot of his own provoking； had proved the fallacy of the proverb which teaches that a bully is always a coward。 He had the tenacity of a bulldogonce let him get his teeth in his adversary； and he would hold on till he died。 In fact he was； as far as personal vigour went； a Gabbett with the education of a prize…fighter； and； in a personal encounter between two men of equal courage； science tells more than strength。 In the struggle； however； that was now taking place； science seemed to be of little value。 To the inexperienced eye； it would appear that the frenzied giant； gripping the throat of the man who had fallen beneath him； must rise from the struggle an easy victor。 Brute force was all that was neededthere was neither room nor time for the display of any cunning of fence。
But knowledge； though it cannot give strength； gives coolness。 Taken by surprise as he was； Maurice Frere did not lose his presence of mind。 The convict was so close upon him that there was no time to strike； but； as he was forced backwards； he succeeded in crooking his knee round the thigh of his assailant； and thrust one hand into his collar。 Over and over they rolled； the bewildered sentry not daring to fire； until the ship's side brought them up with a violent jerk； and Frere realized that Gabbett was below him。 Pressing with all the might of his muscles； he strove to resist the leverage which the giant was applying to turn him over； but he might as well have pushed against a stone wall。 With his eyes protruding； and every sinew strained to its uttermost； he was slowly forced round； and he felt Gabbett releasing his grasp； in order to draw back and aim at him an effectual blow。 Disengaging his left hand； Frere suddenly allowed himself to sink； and then； drawing up his right knee； struck Gabbett beneath the jaw； and as the huge head was forced backwards by the blow； dashed his fist into the brawny throat。 The giant reeled backwards； and； falling on his hands and knees； was in an instant surrounded by sailors。
Now began and ended； in less time than it takes to write it； one of those Homeric struggles of one man against twenty； which are none the less heroic because the Ajax is a convict； and the Trojans merely ordinary sailors。 Shaking his assailants to the deck as easily as a wild boar shakes off the dogs which clamber upon his bristly sides； the convict sprang to his feet； and； whirling the snatched…up cutlass round his head； kept the circle at bay。 Four times did the soldiers round the hatchway raise their muskets； and four times did the fear of wounding the men who had flung themselves upon the enraged giant compel them to restrain their fire。 Gabbett； his stubbly hair on end； his bloodshot eyes glaring with fury； his great hand opening and shutting in air； as though it gasped for something to seize； turned himself about from side to sidenow here； now there； bellowing like a wounded bull。 His coarse shirt； rent from shoulder to flank； exposed the play of his huge muscles。 He was bleeding from a cut on his forehead； and the blood； trickling down his face； mingled with the foam on his lips； and dropped sluggishly on his hairy breast。 Each time that an assailant came within reach of the swinging cutlass； the ruffian's form dilated with a fresh access of passion。 At one moment bunched with clinging adversarieshis arms； legs； and shoulders a hanging mass of human bodiesat the next； free； desperate； alone in the midst of his foes； his hideous countenance contorted with hate and rage； the giant seemed less a man than a demon； or one of those monstrous and savage apes which haunt the solitudes of the African forests。 Spurning the mob who had rushed in at him； he strode towards his risen adversary； and aimed at him one final blow that should put an end to his tyranny for ever。 A notion that Sarah Purfoy had betrayed him； and that the handsome soldier was the cause of the betrayal； had taken possession of his mind； and his rage had concentrated itself upon Maurice Frere。 The aspect of the villain was so appalling； that； despite his natural courage； Frere； seeing the backward sweep of the cutlass； absolutely closed his eyes with terror； and surrendered himself to his fate。
As Gabbett balanced himself for the blow； the ship； which had been rocking gently on a dull and silent sea； suddenly lurchedthe convict lost his balance； swayed； and fell。 Ere he could rise he was pinioned by twenty hands。
Authority was almost instantaneously triumphant on the upper and lower decks。 The mutiny was over。
CHAPTER XI。
DISCOVERIES AND CONFESSIONS。
The shock was felt all through the vessel； and Pine； who had been watching the ironing of the last of the mutineers； at once divined its cause。
〃Thank God！〃 he cried； 〃there's a breeze at last！〃 and as the overpowered Gabbett； bruised； bleeding； and bound； was dragged down the hatchway； the triumphant doctor hurried upon deck to find the Malabar plunging through the whitening water under the influence of a fifteen…knot breeze。
〃Stand by to reef topsails！ Away aloft； men； and furl the royals！〃 cries Best from the quarter…deck； and in the midst of the cheery confusion Maurice Frere briefly recapitulated what had taken place； taking care； however； to pass over his own dereliction of duty as rapidly as possible。
Pine knit his brows。 〃Do you think that she was in the plot？〃 he asked。
〃Not she！〃 says Frereeager to avert inquiry。 〃How should she be？ Plot！ She's sickening of fever； or I'm much mistaken。〃
Sure enough； on opening the door of the cabin； they found Sarah Purfoy lying where she had fallen a quarter of an hour before。 The clashing of cutlasses and the firing of muskets had not roused her。
〃We must make a sick…bay somewhere；〃 says Pine； looking at the senseless figure with no kindly glance； 〃though I don't think she's likely to be very bad。 Confound her！ I believe that she's the cause of all this。 I'll find out； too； before many hours are over； for I've told those fellows that unless they confess all about it before to…morrow morning； I'll get them six dozen a…piece the day after we anchor in Hobart Town。 I've a great mind to do it before we get there。 Take her head； Frere； and we'll get her out of this before Vickers comes up。 What a fool you are； to be sure！ I knew what it would be with women aboard ship。 I wonder Mrs。 V。 hasn't been out before now。 Theresteady past the door。 Why； man； one would think you never had your arm round a girl's waist before！ Pooh！ don't look so scaredI won't tell。 Make haste； now； before that little parson comes。 Parsons are regular old women to chatter〃； and thus muttering Pine assisted to carry Mrs。 Vickers's maid into her cabin。
〃By George； but she's a fine girl！〃 he said； viewing the inanimate body with the professional eye of a surgeon。 〃I don't wonder at you making a fool of yourself。 Chances are； you've caught the fever； though this breeze will help to blow it out of us； please God。 That old jackass； Blunt； too！he ought to be ashamed of himself； at his age！〃
〃What do you mean？〃 asked Frere hastily； as he heard a step approach。 〃What has Blunt to say about her？〃
〃Oh； I don't know；〃 returned Pine。 〃He was smitten too
