for the term of his natural life-第26章

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　It　tames　them　wonderfully。〃

〃Does　it？〃　said　Frere。　　〃By　Jove！　　it's　a　capital　notion。　　I　wish　I　had　a　place　of　that　sort　at　Maria。〃

〃I've　a　fellow　there　now；〃　says　Vickers；　〃Dawes。　　You　remember　him；　of　coursethe　ringleader　of　the　mutiny　in　the　Malabar。　A　dreadful　ruffian。　　He　was　most　violent　the　first　year　I　was　here。　Barton　used　to　flog　a　good　deal；　and　Dawes　had　a　childish　dread　of　the　cat。　When　I　came　inwhen　was　it？in　'29；　he'd　made　a　sort　of　petition　to　be　sent　back　to　the　settlement。　　Said　that　he　was　innocent　of　the　mutiny；　and　that　the　accusation　against　him　was　false。〃

〃The　old　dodge；〃　said　Frere　again。　　〃A　match？　　Thanks。〃

〃Of　course；　I　couldn't　let　him　go；　but　I　took　him　out　of　the　chain…gang；　and　put　him　on　the　Osprey。　　You　saw　her　in　the　dock　as　you　came　in。　He　worked　for　some　time　very　well；　and　then　tried　to　bolt　again。〃

〃The　old　trick。　　Ha！　ha！　don't　I　know　it？〃　says　Mr。　Frere；　emitting　a　streak　of　smoke　in　the　air；　expressive　of　preternatural　wisdom。

〃Well；　we　caught　him；　and　gave　him　fifty。　　Then　he　was　sent　to　the　chain…gang；　cutting　timber。　　Then　we　put　him　into　the　boats；　but　he　quarrelled　with　the　coxswain；　and　then　we　took　him　back　to　the　timber…rafts。　About　six　weeks　ago　he　made　another　attempttogether　with　Gabbett；　the　man　who　nearly　killed　youbut　his　leg　was　chafed　with　the　irons；　and　we　took　him。　　Gabbett　and　three　more；　however；　got　away。〃

〃Haven't　you　found　'em？〃　asked　Frere；　puffing　at　his　pipe。

〃No。　　But　they'll　come　to　the　same　fate　as　the　rest；〃　said　Vickers；　with　a　sort　of　dismal　pride。　　〃No　man　ever　escaped　from　Macquarie　Harbour。〃

Frere　laughed。　　〃By　the　Lord！〃　said　he；　〃it　will　be　rather　hard　for　'em　if　they　don't　come　back　before　the　end　of　the　month；　eh？〃

〃Oh；〃　said　Vickers；　〃they're　sure　to　comeif　they　can　come　at　all；　but　once　lost　in　the　scrub；　a　man　hasn't　much　chance　for　his　life。〃

〃When　do　you　think　you　will　be　ready　to　move？〃　asked　Frere。

〃As　soon　as　you　wish。　　I　don't　want　to　stop　a　moment　longer　than　I　can　help。　It　is　a　terrible　life；　this。〃

〃Do　you　think　so？〃　asked　his　companion；　in　unaffected　surprise。　〃I　like　it。　　It's　dull；　certainly。　　When　I　first　went　to　Maria　I　was　dreadfully　bored；　but　one　soon　gets　used　to　it。　　There　is　a　sort　of　satisfaction　to　me；　by　George；　in　keeping　the　scoundrels　in　order。　I　like　to　see　the　fellows'　eyes　glint　at　you　as　you　walk　past　'em。　Gad；　they'd　tear　me　to　pieces；　if　they　dared；　some　of　'em！〃　and　he　laughed　grimly；　as　though　the　hate　he　inspired　was　a　thing　to　be　proud　of。

〃How　shall　we　go？〃　asked　Vickers。　　〃Have　you　got　any　instructions？〃

〃No；〃　says　Frere；　〃it's　all　left　to　you。　　Get　'em　up　the　best　way　you　can；　Arthur　said；　and　pack　'em　off　to　the　new　peninsula。　　He　thinks　you　too　far　off　here；　by　George！　　He　wants　to　have　you　within　hail。〃

〃It's　dangerous　taking　so　many　at　once；〃　suggested　Vickers。

〃Not　a　bit。　　Batten　'em　down　and　keep　the　sentries　awake；　and　they　won't　do　any　harm。〃

〃But　Mrs。　Vickers　and　the　child？〃

〃I've　thought　of　that。　　You　take　the　Ladybird　with　the　prisoners；　and　leave　me　to　bring　up　Mrs。　Vickers　in　the　Osprey。〃

〃We　might　do　that。　　Indeed；　it's　the　best　way；　I　think。　　I　don't　like　the　notion　of　having　Sylvia　among　those　wretches；　and　yet　I　don't　like　to　leave　her。〃

〃Well；〃　says　Frere；　confident　of　his　own　ability　to　accomplish　anything　he　might　undertake；　〃I'll　take　the　Ladybird；　and　you　the　Osprey。　Bring　up　Mrs。　Vickers　yourself。〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　Vickers；　with　a　touch　of　his　old　pomposity；　〃that　won't　do。　　By　the　King's　Regulations〃

〃All　right；〃　interjected　Frere；　〃you　needn't　quote　'em。　'The　officer　commanding　is　obliged　to　place　himself　in　charge'all　right；　my　dear　sir。　　I've　no　objection　in　life。〃

〃It　was　Sylvia　that　I　was　thinking　of；〃　said　Vickers。

〃Well；　then；〃　cries　the　other；　as　the　door　of　the　room　inside　opened；　and　a　little　white　figure　came　through　into　the　broad　verandah。　〃Here　she　is！　　Ask　her　yourself。　　Well；　Miss　Sylvia；　will　you　come　and　shake　hands　with　an　old　friend？〃

The　bright…haired　baby　of　the　Malabar　had　become　a　bright…haired　child　of　some　eleven　years　old；　and　as　she　stood　in　her　simple　white　dress　in　the　glow　of　the　lamplight；　even　the　unaesthetic　mind　of　Mr。　Frere　was　struck　by　her　extreme　beauty。　　Her　bright　blue　eyes　were　as　bright　and　as　blue　as　ever。　　Her　little　figure　was　as　upright　and　as　supple　as　a　willow　rod；　and　her　innocent；　delicate　face　was　framed　in　a　nimbus　of　that　fine　golden　hairdry　and　electrical；　each　separate　thread　shining　with　a　lustre　of　its　ownwith　which　the　dreaming　painters　of　the　middle　ages　endowed　and　glorified　their　angels。

〃Come　and　give　me　a　kiss；　Miss　Sylvia！〃　cries　Frere。　〃You　haven't　forgotten　me；　have　you？〃

But　the　child；　resting　one　hand　on　her　father's　knee；　surveyed　Mr。　Frere　from　head　to　foot　with　the　charming　impertinence　of　childhood；　and　then；　shaking　her　head；　inquired：　〃Who　is　he；　papa？〃

〃Mr。　Frere；　darling。　　Don't　you　remember　Mr。　Frere；　who　used　to　play　ball　with　you　on　board　the　ship；　and　who　was　so　kind　to　you　when　you　were　getting　well？　　For　shame；　Sylvia！〃

There　was　in　the　chiding　accents　such　an　undertone　of　tenderness；　that　the　reproof　fell　harmless。

〃I　remember　you；〃　said　Sylvia；　tossing　her　head；　〃but　you　were　nicer　then　than　you　are　now。　　I　don't　like　you　at　all。〃

〃You　don't　remember　me；〃　said　Frere；　a　little　disconcerted；　and　affecting　to　be　intensely　at　his　ease。　　〃I　am　sure　you　don't。　What　is　my　name？〃

〃Lieutenant　Frere。　　You　knocked　down　a　prisoner　who　picked　up　my　ball。　I　don't　like　you。〃

〃You're　a　forward　young　lady；　upon　my　word！〃　said　Frere；　with　a　great　laugh。　〃Ha！　ha！　so　I　did；　begad；　I　recollect　now。　　What　a　memory　you've　got！〃

〃He's　here　now；　isn't　he；　papa？〃　went　on　Sylvia；　regardless　of　interruption。　〃Rufus　Dawes　is　his　name；　and　he's　always　in　trouble。　　Poor　fellow；　I'm　sorry　for　him。　　Danny　says　he's　queer　in　his　mind。〃

〃And　who's　Danny？〃　asked　Frere；　with　another　laugh。

〃The　cook；〃　replied　Vickers。　　〃An　old　man　I　took　out　of　hospital。　Sylvia；　you　talk　too　much　with　the　prisoners。　　I　have　forbidden　you　once　or　twice　before。〃

〃But　Danny　is　not　a　prisoner；　papahe's　a　cook；〃　says　Sylvia；　nothing　abashed；　〃and　he's　a　clever　man。　　He　told　me　all　about　London；　where　the　Lord　Mayor　rides　in　a　glass　coach；　and　all　the　work　is　done　by　free　men。　　He　says　you　never　hear　chains　there。　　I　should　like　to　see　London；　papa！〃

〃So　would　Mr。　Danny；　I　have　no　doubt；〃　said　Frere。

〃Nohe　didn't　say　that。　　But　he　wants　to　see　his　old　mother；　he　says。　　Fancy　Danny's　mother！　　What　an　ugly　old　woman　she　must　be！　He　says　he'll　see　her　in　Heaven。　　Will　he；　papa？〃

〃I　hope　so；　my　dear。〃

〃Papa！〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Will　Danny　wear　his　yellow　jacket　in　Heaven；　or　go　as　a　free　man？〃

Frere　burst　into　a　roar　at　this。

〃You're　an　impertinent　fellow；　sir！〃　cried　Sylvia；　her　bright　eyes　flashing。　〃How　dare　you　laugh　at　me？　　If　I　was　papa；　I'd　give　you　half　an　hour　at　the　triangles。　　Oh；　you　impertinent　man！〃　and；　crimson　with　rage；　the　spoilt　little　beauty　ran　out　of　the　room。　　Vickers　looked　grave；　but　Frere　was　constrained　to　get　up　to　laugh　at　his　ease。

〃Good！　　'Pon　honour；　that's　good！　　The　little　vixen！Half　an　hour　at　the　triangles！　　Ha…ha！　ha；　ha；　ha！〃

〃She　is　a　strange　child；〃　said　Vickers；　〃and　talks　strangely　for　her　age；　but　you　mustn't　mind　her。　　She　is　neither　girl　nor　woman；　you　see；　and　her　education　has　been　neglected。　　Moreover；　this　gloomy　place　and　its　associationswhat　can　you　expect　from　a　child　bred　in　a　convict　settlement？〃

〃My　dear　sir；〃　says　the　other；　〃she's　delightful！　　Her　innocence　of　the　world　is　amazing！〃

〃She　must　have　three　or　four　years　at　a　good　finishing　school　at　Sydney。　Please　God；　I　will　give　them　to　her　when　we　go　backor　send　her　to　England　if　I　can。　　She　is　a　good…hearted　girl；　but　she　wants　polishing　sadly；　I'm　afraid。〃

Just　then　someone　came　up　the　garden　path　and　saluted。

〃What　is　it；　Troke？〃

〃Prisoner　given　himself　up；　sir。〃

〃Which　of　them？〃

〃Gabbett。　　He　came　back　to…night。〃

〃Alone？〃　〃Yes；　sir。　　The　rest　have　diedhe　says。〃

〃What's　that？〃　asked　Frere；　suddenly　interested。

〃The　bolter　I　was　telling　you　aboutGabbett；　your　old　friend。　　He's　returned。〃

〃How　long　ha