for the term of his natural life-第39章
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e； and that one of the number should fish daily。
The condition of the unfortunate Grimes now gave cause for the greatest uneasiness。 From maundering foolishly he had taken to absolute violence； and had to be watched by Frere。 After much muttering and groaning； the poor fellow at last dropped off to sleep； and Frere； having assisted Bates to his sleeping…place in front of the rock； and laid him down on a heap of green brushwood； prepared to snatch a few hours' slumber。 Wearied by excitement and the labours of the day； he slept heavily； but； towards morning； was awakened by a strange noise。
Grimes； whose delirium had apparently increased； had succeeded in forcing his way through the rude fence of brushwood； and had thrown himself upon Bates with the ferocity of insanity。 Growling to himself； he had seized the unfortunate pilot by the throat； and the pair were struggling together。 Bates； weakened by the sickness that had followed upon his wound in the head； was quite unable to cope with his desperate assailant； but calling feebly upon Frere for help； had made shift to lay hold upon the jack…knife of which we have before spoken。 Frere； starting to his feet； rushed to the assistance of the pilot； but was too late。 Grimes； enraged by the sight of the knife； tore it from Bates's grasp； and before Frere could catch his arm； plunged it twice into the unfortunate man's breast。
〃I'm a dead man！〃 cried Bates faintly。
The sight of the blood； together with the exclamation of his victim； recalled Grimes to consciousness。 He looked in bewilderment at the bloody weapon； and then； flinging it from him； rushed away towards the sea； into which he plunged headlong。
Frere； aghast at this sudden and terrible tragedy； gazed after him； and saw from out the placid water； sparkling in the bright beams of morning； a pair of arms； with outstretched hands； emerge； a black spot； that was a head； uprose between these stiffening arms； and then； with a horrible cry； the whole disappeared； and the bright water sparkled as placidly as before。 The eyes of the terrified Frere； travelling back to the wounded man； saw； midway between this sparkling water and the knife that lay on the sand； an object that went far to explain the maniac's sudden burst of fury。 The rum cask lay upon its side by the remnants of last night's fire； and close to it was a clout； with which the head of the wounded man had been bound。 It was evident that the poor creature； wandering in his delirium； had come across the rum cask； drunk a quantity of its contents； and been maddened by the fiery spirit。
Frere hurried to the side of Bates； and lifting him up； strove to staunch the blood that flowed from his chest。 It would seem that he had been resting himself on his left elbow； and that Grimes； snatching the knife from his right hand； had stabbed him twice in the right breast。 He was pale and senseless； and Frere feared that the wound was mortal。 Tearing off his neck…handkerchief； he endeavoured to bandage the wound； but found that the strip of silk was insufficient for the purpose。 The noise had roused Mrs。 Vickers； who； stifling her terror； made haste to tear off a portion of her dress； and with this a bandage of sufficient width was made。 Frere went to the cask to see if； haply； he could obtain from it a little spirit with which to moisten the lips of the dying man； but it was empty。 Grimes； after drinking his fill； had overturned the unheaded puncheon； and the greedy sand had absorbed every drop of liquor。 Sylvia brought some water from the spring； and Mrs。 Vickers bathing Bates's head with this； he revived a little。 By…and…by Mrs。 Vickers milked the goatshe had never done such a thing before in all her lifeand the milk being given to Bates in a pannikin； he drank it eagerly； but vomited it almost instantly。 It was evident that he was sinking from some internal injury。
None of the party had much appetite for breakfast； but Frere； whose sensibilities were less acute than those of the others； ate a piece of salt meat and damper。 It struck him； with a curious feeling of pleasant selfishness； that now Grimes had gone； the allowance of provisions would be increased； and that if Bates went also； it would be increased still further。 He did not give utterance to his thoughts； however； but sat with the wounded man's head on his knees； and brushed the settling flies from his face。 He hoped； after all； that the pilot would not die； for he should then be left alone to look after the women。 Perhaps some such thought was agitating Mrs。 Vickers also。 As for Sylvia； she made no secret of her anxiety。
〃Don't die； Mr。 Batesoh； don't die！〃 she said； standing piteously near； but afraid to touch him。 〃Don't leave mamma and me alone in this dreadful place！〃
Poor Bates； of course； said nothing； but Frere frowned heavily； and Mrs。 Vickers said reprovingly； 〃Sylvia！〃 just as if they had been in the old house on distant Sarah Island。
In the afternoon Frere went away to drag together some wood for the fire； and when he returned he found the pilot near his end。 Mrs。 Vickers said that for an hour he had lain without motion； and almost without breath。 The major's wife had seen more than one death…bed； and was calm enough； but poor little Sylvia； sitting on a stone hard by； shook with terror。 She had a dim notion that death must be accompanied by violence。 As the sun sank； Bates rallied； but the two watchers knew that it was but the final flicker of the expiring candle。 〃He's going！〃 said Frere at length； under his breath； as though fearful of awaking his half…slumbering soul。 Mrs。 Vickers； her eyes streaming with silent tears； lifted the honest head； and moistened the parched lips with her soaked handkerchief。 A tremor shook the once stalwart limbs； and the dying man opened his eyes。 For an instant he seemed bewildered； and then； looking from one to the other； intelligence returned to his glance； and it was evident that he remembered all。 His gaze rested upon the pale face of the affrighted Sylvia； and then turned to Frere。 There could be no mistaking the mute appeal of those eloquent eyes。
〃Yes； I'll take care of her；〃 said Frere。
Bates smiled； and then； observing that the blood from his wound had stained the white shawl of Mrs。 Vickers； he made an effort to move his head。 It was not fitting that a lady's shawl should be stained with the blood of a poor fellow like himself。 The fashionable fribble； with quick instinct； understood the gesture； and gently drew the head back upon her bosom。 In the presence of death the woman was womanly。 For a moment all was silent； and they thought he had gone； but all at once he opened his eyes and looked round for the sea
〃Turn my face to it once more；〃 he whispered； and as they raised him； he inclined his ear to listen。 〃It's calm enough here； God bless it；〃 he said； 〃but I can hear the waves a…breaking hard upon the Bar！〃
And so his head dropped； and he died。
As Frere relieved Mrs。 Vickers from the weight of the corpse； Sylvia ran to her mother。 〃Oh； mamma； mamma；〃 she cried； 〃why did God let him die when we wanted him so much？〃
Before it grew dark； Frere made shift to carry the body to the shelter of some rocks at a little distance； and spreading the jacket over the face； he piled stones upon it to keep it steady。 The march of events had been so rapid that he scarcely realized that since the previous evening two of the five human creatures left in this wilderness had escaped from it。 As he did realize it； he began to wonder whose turn it would be next。
Mrs。 Vickers； worn out by the fatigue and excitement of the day； retired to rest early； and Sylvia； refusing to speak to Frere； followed her mother。 This manifestation of unaccountable dislike on the part of the child hurt Maurice more than he cared to own。 He felt angry with her for not loving him； and yet he took no pains to conciliate her。 It was with a curious pleasure that he remembered how she must soon look up to him as her chief protector。 Had Sylvia been just a few years older； the young man would have thought himself in love with her。
The following day passed gloomily。 It was hot and sultry； and a dull haze hung over the mountains。 Frere spent t
