for the term of his natural life-第70章
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e accordingly launched the boat under convoy of the soldiers； and reached the town the same evening； in some trepidation。 I feared lest the Spaniards had obtained a clue as to our real character； and was not deceivedthe surviving soldier having betrayed us。 This fellow was thus doubly a traitorfirst； in deserting his officer； and then in betraying his comrades。
〃We were immediately escorted to prison； where we found our four companions。 Some of them were for brazening out the story of shipwreck； but knowing how confused must necessarily be our accounts； were we examined separately； I persuaded them that open confession would be our best chance of safety。 On the 14th we were taken before the Intendente or Governor； who informed us that we were free； on condition that we chose to live within the limits of the town。 At this intelligence I felt my heart grow light； and only begged in the name of my companions that we might not be given up to the British Government； 'rather than which；' said I； 'I would beg to be shot dead in the palace square。' The Governor regarded us with tears in his eyes； and spoke as follows： 'My poor men； do not think that I would take that advantage over you。 Do not make an attempt to escape； and I will be your friend； and should a vessel come tomorrow to demand you； you shall find I will be as good as my word。 All I have to impress upon you is； to beware of intemperance； which is very prevalent in this country； and when you find it convenient； to pay Government the money that was allowed you for subsistence while in prison。'
〃The following day we all procured employment in launching a vessel of three hundred tons burden； and my men showed themselves so active that the owner said he would rather have us than thirty of his own countrymen； which saying pleased the Governor； who was there with almost the whole of the inhabitants and a whole band of music； this vessel having been nearly three years on the stocks。 After she was launched； the seamen amongst us helped to fit her out； being paid fifteen dollars a month； with provisions on board。 As for myself； I speedily obtained employment in the shipbuilder's yard； and subsisted by honest industry； almost forgetting； in the unwonted pleasures of freedom； the sad reverse of fortune which had befallen me。 To think that I； who had mingled among gentlemen and scholars； should be thankful to labour in a shipwright's yard by day； and sleep on a bundle of hides by night！ But this is personal matter； and need not be obtruded。
〃In the same yard with me worked the soldier who had betrayed us； and I could not but regard it as a special judgment of Heaven when he one day fell from a great height and was taken up for dead； dying in much torment in a few hours。 The days thus passed on in comparative happiness until the 20th of May； 1836； when the old Governor took his departure； regretted by all the inhabitants of Valdivia； and the Achilles； a one…and…twenty…gun brig of war； arrived with the new Governor。 One of the first acts of this gentleman was to sell our boat； which was moored at the back of Government…house。 This proceeding looked to my mind indicative of ill…will； and； fearful lest the Governor should deliver us again into bondage； I resolved to make my escape from the place。 Having communicated my plans to Barker； Lesly； Riley； Shiers； and Russen； I offered the Governor to get built for him a handsome whale…boat； making the iron work myself。 The Governor consented； and in a little more than a fortnight we had completed a four…oared whale…boat； capable of weathering either sea or storm。 We fitted her with sails and provisions in the Governor's name； and on the 4th of July； being a Saturday night； we took our departure from Valdivia； dropping down the river shortly after sunset。 Whether the Governor； disgusted at the trick we had played him； decided not to pursue us； or whetheras I rather thinkour absence was not discovered until the Monday morning； when we were beyond reach of capture； I know not； but we got out to sea without hazard； and； taking accurate bearings； ran for the Friendly Islands； as had been agreed upon amongst us。
〃But it now seemed that the good fortune which had hitherto attended us had deserted us； for after crawling for four days in sultry weather； there fell a dead calm； and we lay like a log upon the sea for forty…eight hours。 For three days we remained in the midst of the ocean； exposed to the burning rays of the sun； in a boat without water or provisions。 On the fourth day； just as we had resolved to draw lots to determine who should die for the sustenance of the others； we were picked up by an opium clipper returning to Canton。 The captain； an American； was most kind to us； and on our arrival at Canton； a subscription was got up for us by the British merchants of that city； and a free passage to England obtained for us。 Russen； however； getting in drink； made statements which brought suspicion upon us。 I had imposed upon the Consul with a fictitious story of a wreck； but had stated that my name was Wilson； forgetting that the sextant which had been preserved in the boat had Captain Bates's name engraved upon it。 These circumstances together caused sufficient doubts in the Consul's mind to cause him to give directions that； on our arrival in London； we were to be brought before the Thames Police Court。 There being no evidence against us； we should have escaped； had not a Dr。 Pine； who had been surgeon on board the Malabar transport； being in the Court； recognized me and swore to my identity。 We were remanded； and； to complete the chain of evidence； Mr。 Capon； the Hobart Town gaoler； was； strangely enough； in London at the time； and identified us all。 Our story was then made public； and Barker and Lesly； turning Queen's evidence against Russen； he was convicted of the murder of Lyons； and executed。 We were then placed on board the Leviathan hulk； and remained there until shipped in the Lady Jane； which was chartered； with convicts； for Van Diemen's Land； in order to be tried in the colony； where the offence was committed； for piratically seizing the brig Osprey； and arrived here on the 15th December； 1838。〃
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Coming； breathless； to the conclusion of this wonderful relation； Sylvia suffered her hand to fall into her lap； and sat meditative。 The history of this desperate struggle for liberty was to her full of vague horror。 She had never before realized among what manner of men she had lived。 The sullen creatures who worked in the chain…gangs； or pulled in the boatstheir faces brutalized into a uniform blankness must be very different men from John Rex and his companions。 Her imagination pictured the voyage in the leaky brig； the South American slavery； the midnight escape； the desperate rowing； the long； slow agony of starvation； and the heart…sickness that must have followed upon recapture and imprisonment。 Surely the punishment of 〃penal servitude〃 must have been made very terrible for men to dare such hideous perils to escape from it。 Surely John Rex； the convict； who； alone； and prostrated by sickness； quelled a mutiny and navigated a vessel through a storm…ravaged ocean； must possess qualities which could be put to better use than stone…quarrying。 Was the opinion of Maurice Frere the correct one after all； and were these convict monsters gifted with unnatural powers of endurance； only to be subdued and tamed by unnatural and inhuman punishments of lash and chain？ Her fancies growing amid the fast gathering gloom； she shuddered as she guessed to what extremities of evil might such men proceed did an opportunity ever come to them to retaliate upon their gaolers。 Perhaps beneath each mask of servility and sullen fear that was the ordinary prison face； lay hid a courage and a despair as mighty as that which sustained those ten poor wanderers over the Pacific Ocean。 Maurice had told her that these people had their secret signs； their secret language。 She had just seen a specimen of the skill with which this very Rexstill bent upon escapecould send a hidden message to his friends beneath the eyes of his gaolers。 What if the whole island was but
