for the term of his natural life-第64章
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and tender thoughts。 Instead of the phantoms of his vanished youth which were wont to visit him； he saw now but one visionthe vision of the child who had loved him。 Instead of conjuring up for himself pictures of that home circle in which he had once moved； and those creatures who in the past years had thought him worthy of esteem and affection； he placed before himself but one idea； one embodiment of happiness； one being who was without sin and without stain； among all the monsters of that pit into which he had fallen。 Around the figure of the innocent child who had lain in his breast； and laughed at him with her red young mouth； he grouped every image of happiness and love。 Having banished from his thoughts all hope of resuming his name and place； he pictured to himself some quiet nook at the world's end a deep…gardened house in a German country town； or remote cottage by the English seashore； where he and his dream…child might have lived together； happier in a purer affection than the love of man for woman。 He bethought him how he could have taught her out of the strange store of learning which his roving life had won for him； how he could have confided to her his real name； and perhaps purchased for her wealth and honour by reason of it。 Yet； he thought； she would not care for wealth and honour； she would prefer a quiet lifea life of unassuming usefulness； a life devoted to good deeds； to charity and love。 He could see herin his visionsreading by a cheery fireside； wandering in summer woods； or lingering by the marge of the slumbering mid…day sea。 He could feelin his dreamsher soft arms about his neck； her innocent kisses on his lips； he could hear her light laugh； and see her sunny ringlets float； back…blown； as she ran to meet him。 Conscious that she was dead； and that he did to her gentle memory no disrespect by linking her fortunes to those of a wretch who had seen so much of evil as himself； he loved to think of her as still living； and to plot out for her and for himself impossible plans for future happiness。 In the noisome darkness of the mine； in the glaring light of the noondaydragging at his loaded wagon； he could see her ever with him； her calm eyes gazing lovingly on his； as they had gazed in the boat so long ago。 She never seemed to grow older； she never seemed to wish to leave him。 It was only when his misery became too great for him to bear； and he cursed and blasphemed； mingling for a time in the hideous mirth of his companions； that the little figure fled away。 Thus dreaming； he had shaped out for himself a sorrowful comfort； and in his dream…world found a compensation for the terrible affliction of living。 Indifference to his present sufferings took possession of him； only at the bottom of this indifference lurked a fixed hatred of the man who had brought these sufferings upon him； and a determination to demand at the first opportunity a reconsideration of that man's claims to be esteemed a hero。 It was in this mood that he had intended to make the revelation which he had made in Court； but the intelligence that Sylvia lived unmanned him； and his prepared speech had been usurped by a passionate torrent of complaint and invective； which convinced no one； and gave Frere the very argument he needed。 It was decided that the prisoner Dawes was a malicious and artful scoundrel； whose only object was to gain a brief respite of the punishment which he had so justly earned。 Against this injustice he had resolved to rebel。 It was monstrous； he thought； that they should refuse to hear the witness who was so ready to speak in his favour； infamous that they should send him back to his doom without allowing her to say a word in his defence。 But he would defeat that scheme。 He had planned a method of escape； and he would break from his bonds； fling himself at her feet； and pray her to speak the truth for him； and so save him。 Strong in his faith in her； and with his love for her brightened by the love he had borne to her dream…image； he felt sure of her power to rescue him now； as he had rescued her before。 〃If she knew I was alive； she would come to me；〃 he said。 〃I am sure she would。 Perhaps they told her that I was dead。〃
Meditating that night in the solitude of his cellhis evil character had gained him the poor luxury of lonelinesshe almost wept to think of the cruel deception that had doubtless been practised on her。 〃They have told her that I was dead； in order that she might learn to forget me； but she could not do that。 I have thought of her so often during these weary years that she must sometimes have thought of me。 Five years！ She must be a woman now。 My little child a woman！ Yet she is sure to be childlike； sweet； and gentle。 How she will grieve when she hears of my sufferings。 Oh！ my darling； my darling； you are not dead！〃 And then； looking hastily about him in the darkness； as though fearful even there of being seen； he pulled from out his breast a little packet； and felt it lovingly with his coarse； toil…worn fingers； reverently raising it to his lips； and dreaming over it； with a smile on his face； as though it were a sacred talisman that should open to him the doors of freedom。
CHAPTER VIII。
AN ESCAPE。
A few days after thison the 23rd of DecemberMaurice Frere was alarmed by a piece of startling intelligence。 The notorious Dawes had escaped from gaol！
Captain Frere had inspected the prison that very afternoon； and it had seemed to him that the hammers had never fallen so briskly； nor the chains clanked so gaily； as on the occasion of his visit。 〃Thinking of their Christmas holiday； the dogs！〃 he had said to the patrolling warder。 〃Thinking about their Christmas pudding； the luxurious scoundrels！〃 and the convict nearest him had laughed appreciatively； as convicts and schoolboys do laugh at the jests of the man in authority。 All seemed contentment。 Moreover； he hadby way of a pleasant stroke of wittormented Rufus Dawes with his ill…fortune。 〃The schooner sails to…morrow； my man；〃 he had said； 〃you'll spend your Christmas at the mines。〃 And congratulated himself upon the fact that Rufus Dawes merely touched his cap； and went on with his stone…cracking in silence。 Certainly double irons and hard labour were fine things to break a man's spirit。 So that； when in the afternoon of that same day he heard the astounding news that Rufus Dawes had freed himself from his fetters； climbed the gaol wall in broad daylight； run the gauntlet of Macquarie Street； and was now supposed to be safely hidden in the mountains； he was dumbfounded。
〃How the deuce did he do it； Jenkins？〃 he asked； as soon as he reached the yard。
〃Well； I'm blessed if I rightly know； your honour；〃 says Jenkins。 〃He was over the wall before you could say 'knife'。 Scott fired and missed him； and then I heard the sentry's musket； but he missed him； too。〃
〃Missed him！〃 cries Frere。 〃Pretty fellows you are； all of you！ I suppose you couldn't hit a haystack at twenty yards？ Why； the man wasn't three feet from the end of your carbine！〃
The unlucky Scott； standing in melancholy attitude by the empty irons； muttered something about the sun having been in his eyes。 〃I don't know how it was； sir。 I ought to have hit him； for certain。 I think I did touch him； too； as he went up the wall。〃
A stranger to the customs of the place might have imagined that he was listening to a conversation about a pigeon match。
〃Tell me all about it；〃 says Frere； with an angry curse。 〃I was just turning； your honour； when I hears Scott sing out 'Hullo！' and when I turned round； I saw Dawes's irons on the ground； and him a…scrambling up the heap o' stones yonder。 The two men on my right jumped up； and I thought it was a made…up thing among 'em； so I covered 'em with my carbine； according to instructions； and called out that I'd shoot the first that stepped out。 Then I heard Scott's piece； and the men gave a shout like。 When I looked round； he was gone。〃
〃Nobody else moved？〃
〃No； sir。 I was confused at first； and thought they were all in it； but Parton and Haines they runs in and gets between me and the wall； and then Mr。 Short he come； and we examined their irons。〃
〃All right？〃
〃All right； your hon
