for the term of his natural life-第37章
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to the mainland。
It was night when they reached it； but the clear sky began to thrill with a late moon as yet unrisen； and the waves； breaking gently upon the beach； glimmered with a radiance born of their own motion。 Frere and Bates； jumping ashore； helped out Mrs。 Vickers； Sylvia； and the wounded Grimes。 This being done under the muzzles of the muskets； Rex commanded that Bates and Frere should push the jolly…boat as far as they could from the shore； and Riley catching her by a boat…hook as she came towards them； she was taken in tow。
〃Now； boys；〃 says Cheshire； with a savage delight； 〃three cheers for old England and Liberty！〃
Upon which a great shout went up； echoed by the grim hills which had witnessed so many miseries。
To the wretched five； this exultant mirth sounded like a knell of death。 〃Great God！〃 cried Bates； running up to his knees in water after the departing boats； 〃would you leave us here to starve？〃
The only answer was the jerk and dip of the retreating oars。
CHAPTER XI。
LEFT AT 〃HELL'S GATES。〃
There is no need to dwell upon the mental agonies of that miserable night。 Perhaps； of all the five； the one least qualified to endure it realized the prospect of suffering most acutely。 Mrs。 Vickers lay…figure and noodle as she washad the keen instinct of approaching danger； which is in her sex a sixth sense。 She was a woman and a mother； and owned a double capacity for suffering。 Her feminine imagination pictured all the horrors of death by famine； and having realized her own torments； her maternal love forced her to live them over again in the person of her child。 Rejecting Bates's offer of a pea…jacket and Frere's vague tenders of assistance； the poor woman withdrew behind a rock that faced the sea； and； with her daughter in her arms； resigned herself to her torturing thoughts。 Sylvia； recovered from her terror； was almost content； and； curled in her mother's shawl； slept。 To her little soul this midnight mystery of boats and muskets had all the flavour of a romance。 With Bates； Frere； and her mother so close to her； it was impossible to be afraid； besides； it was obvious that papathe Supreme Being of the settlementmust at once return and severely punish the impertinent prisoners who had dared to insult his wife and child； and as Sylvia dropped off to sleep； she caught herself； with some indignation； pitying the mutineers for the tremendous scrape they had got themselves into。 How they would be flogged when papa came back！ In the meantime this sleeping in the open air was novel and rather pleasant。
Honest Bates produced a piece of biscuit； and； with all the generosity of his nature； suggested that this should be set aside for the sole use of the two females； but Mrs。 Vickers would not hear of it。 〃We must all share alike；〃 said she； with something of the spirit that she knew her husband would have displayed under like circumstance； and Frere wondered at her apparent strength of mind。 Had he been gifted with more acuteness； he would not have wondered； for when a crisis comes to one of two persons who have lived much together； the influence of the nobler spirit makes itself felt。 Frere had a tinder…box in his pocket； and he made a fire with some dry leaves and sticks。 Grimes fell asleep； and the two men sitting at their fire discussed the chances of escape。 Neither liked to openly broach the supposition that they had been finally deserted。 It was concluded between them that unless the brig sailed in the nightand the now risen moon showed her yet lying at anchor the convicts would return and bring them food。 This supposition proved correct； for about an hour after daylight they saw the whale…boat pulling towards them。
A discussion had arisen amongst the mutineers as to the propriety of at once making sail； but Barker； who had been one of the pilot…boat crew； and knew the dangers of the Bar； vowed that he would not undertake to steer the brig through the Gates until morning； and so the boats being secured astern； a strict watch was set； lest the helpless Bates should attempt to rescue the vessel。 During the eveningthe excitement attendant upon the outbreak having passed away； and the magnitude of the task before them being more fully apparent to their mindsa feeling of pity for the unfortunate party on the mainland took possession of them。 It was quite possible that the Osprey might be recaptured； in which case five useless murders would have been committed； and however callous in bloodshed were the majority of the ten； not one among them could contemplate in cold blood； without a twinge of remorse； the death of the harmless child of the Commandant。
John Rex； seeing how matters were going； made haste to take to himself the credit of mercy。 He ruled； and had always ruled； his ruffians not so much by suggesting to them the course they should take； as by leading them on the way they had already chosen for themselves。 〃I propose；〃 said he； 〃that we divide the provisions。 There are five of them and twelve of us。 Then nobody can blame us。〃
〃Ay；〃 said Porter； mindful of a similar exploit； 〃and if we're taken； they can tell what we have done。 Don't let our affair be like that of the Cypress； to leave them to starve。〃 〃Ay； ay；〃 says Barker； 〃you're right！ When Fergusson was topped at Hobart Town； I heard old Troke say that if he'd not refused to set the tucker ashore； he might ha' got off with a whole skin。〃
Thus urged； by self…interest； as well as sentiment； to mercy； the provision was got upon deck by daylight； and a division was made。 The soldiers； with generosity born of remorse； were for giving half to the marooned men； but Barker exclaimed against this。 〃When the schooner finds they don't get to headquarters； she's bound to come back and look for 'em；〃 said he； 〃and we'll want all the tucker we can get； maybe； afore we sights land。〃
This reasoning was admitted and acted upon。 There was in the harness…cask about fifty pounds of salt meat； and a third of this quantity； together with half a small sack of flour； some tea and sugar mixed together in a bag； and an iron kettle and pannikin； was placed in the whale…boat。 Rex； fearful of excesses among his crew； had also lowered down one of the two small puncheons of rum which the store…room contained。 Cheshire disputed this； and stumbling over a goat that had been taken on board from Philip's Island； caught the creature by the leg； and threw it into the sea； bidding Rex take that with him also。 Rex dragged the poor beast into the boat； and with this miscellaneous cargo pushed off to the shore。 The poor goat； shivering； began to bleat piteously； and the men laughed。 To a stranger it would have appeared that the boat contained a happy party of fishermen； or coast settlers； returning with the proceeds of a day's marketing。
Laying off as the water shallowed； Rex called to Bates to come for the cargo； and three men with muskets standing up as before； ready to resist any attempt at capture； the provisions； goat and all； were carried ashore。 〃There！〃 says Rex； 〃you can't say we've used you badly； for we've divided the provisions。〃 The sight of this almost unexpected succour revived the courage of the five； and they felt grateful。 After the horrible anxiety they had endured all that night； they were prepared to look with kindly eyes upon the men who had come to their assistance。
〃Men；〃 said Bates； with something like a sob in his voice； 〃I didn't expect this。 You are good fellows； for there ain't much tucker aboard； I know。〃
〃Yes；〃 affirmed Frere； 〃you're good fellows。〃
Rex burst into a savage laugh。 〃Shut your mouth； you tyrant；〃 said he； forgetting his dandyism in the recollection of his former suffering。 〃It ain't for your benefit。 You may thank the lady and the child for it。〃
Julia Vickers hastened to propitiate the arbiter of her daughter's fate。 〃We are obliged to you；〃 she said； with a touch of quiet dignity resembling her husband's； 〃and if I ever get back safely； I will take care that your kindness shall be known。〃
The swindler and forger took off his leather cap with quite an air。 It was five years since a lady had spoken to him； and the old time when he was Mr。 Lionel Crofton； a 〃gentleman
