for the term of his natural life-第89章
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Between Eaglehawk and Signal Hill were； for the absconders； other dangers。 Along the indented coast of Port Bunche were four constables' stations。 These stationsmere huts within signalling distance of each otherfringed the shore； and to avoid them it would be necessary to make a circuit into the scrub。 Unwilling as he was to lose time； John Rex saw that to attempt to run the gauntlet of these four stations would be destruction。 The safety of the party depended upon the reaching of the Neck while the guard was weakened by the absence of some of the men along the southern shore； and before the alarm could be given from the eastern arm of the peninsula。 With this view； he ranged his men in single file； and； quitting the road near Norfolk Bay； made straight for the Neck。 The night had set in with a high westerly wind； and threatened rain。 It was pitch dark； and the fugitives were guided only by the dull roar of the sea as it beat upon Descent Beach。 Had it not been for the accident of a westerly gale； they would not have had even so much assistance。
The Crow walked first； as guide； carrying a musket taken from Harry。 Then came Gabbett； with an axe； followed by the other six； sharing between them such provisions as they had obtained at Signal Hill。 John Rex； with the carbine； and Troke's pistols； walked last。 It had been agreed that if attacked they were to run each one his own way。 In their desperate case； disunion was strength。 At intervals； on their left； gleamed the lights of the constables' stations； and as they stumbled onward they heard plainer and more plainly the hoarse murmur of the sea； beyond which was liberty or death。
After nearly two hours of painful progress； Jemmy Vetch stopped； and whispered them to approach。 They were on a sandy rise。 To the left was a black objecta constable's hut； to the right was a dim white line the ocean； in front was a row of lamps； and between every two lamps leapt and ran a dusky； indistinct body。 Jemmy Vetch pointed with his lean forefinger。
〃The dogs！〃
Instinctively they crouched down； lest even at that distance the two sentries； so plainly visible in the red light of the guard…house fire； should see them。
〃Well； bo's；〃 said Gabbett； 〃what's to be done now？〃
As he spoke； a long low howl broke from one of the chained hounds； and the whole kennel burst into hideous outcry。 John Rex； who perhaps was the bravest of the party； shuddered。 〃They have smelt us；〃 he said。 〃We must go on。〃
Gabbett spat in his palm； and took firmer hold of the axe…handle。
〃Right you are；〃 he said。 〃I'll leave my mark on some of them before this night's out！〃
On the opposite shore lights began to move； and the fugitives could hear the hurrying tramp of feet。
〃Make for the right…hand side of the jetty；〃 said Rex in a fierce whisper。 〃I think I see a boat there。 It is our only chance now。 We can never break through the station。 Are we ready？ Now！ All together！〃
Gabbett was fast outstripping the others by some three feet of distance。 There were eleven dogs； two of whom were placed on stages set out in the water； and they were so chained that their muzzles nearly touched。 The giant leapt into the line； and with a blow of his axe split the skull of the beast on his right hand。 This action unluckily took him within reach of the other dog； which seized him by the thigh。
〃Fire！〃 cried McNab from the other side of the lamps。
The giant uttered a cry of rage and pain； and fell with the dog under him。 It was； however； the dog who had pulled him down； and the musket…ball intended for him struck Travers in the jaw。 The unhappy villain fell like Virgil's Dares〃spitting blood； teeth； and curses。〃
Gabbett clutched the mastiff's throat with iron hand； and forced him to loose his hold； then； bellowing with fury； seized his axe and sprang forward； mangled as he was； upon the nearest soldier。 Jemmy Vetch had been beforehand with him。 Uttering a low snarl of hate； he fired； and shot the sentry through the breast。 The others rushed through the now broken cordon； and made headlong for the boat。
〃Fools！〃 cried Rex behind them。 〃You have wasted a shot！ LOOK TO YOUR LEFT！〃
Burgess； hurried down the tramroad by his men； had tarried at Signal Hill only long enough to loose the surprised guard from their bonds； and taking the Woody Island boat was pulling with a fresh crew to the Neck。 The reinforcement was not ten yards from the jetty。
The Crow saw the danger； and； flinging himself into the water； desperately seized McNab's boat。
〃In with you for your lives！〃 he cried。 Another volley from the guard spattered the water around the fugitives； but in the darkness the ill…aimed bullets fell harmless。 Gabbett swung himself over the sheets； and seized an oar。
〃Cox； Bodenham； Greenhill！ Now； push her off！ Jump； Tom； jump！〃 and as Burgess leapt to land； Cornelius was dragged over the stern； and the whale…boat floated into deep water。
McNab； seeing this； ran down to the water…side to aid the Commandant。
〃Lift her over the Bar； men！〃 he shouted。 〃With a willSo！〃 And； raised in twelve strong arms； the pursuing craft slid across the isthmus。
〃We've five minutes' start；〃 said Vetch coolly； as he saw the Commandant take his place in the stern sheets。 〃Pull away； my jolly boys； and we'll best 'em yet。〃
The soldiers on the Neck fired again almost at random； but the blaze of their pieces only served to show the Commandant's boat a hundred yards astern of that of the mutineers； which had already gained the deep water of Pirates' Bay。
Then； for the first time； the six prisoners became aware that John Rex was not among them。
CHAPTER XXIV。
IN THE NIGHT。
John Rex had put into execution the first part of his scheme。
At the moment when； seeing Burgess's boat near the sand…spit； he had uttered the warning cry heard by Vetch； he turned back into the darkness； and made for the water's edge at a point some distance from the Neck。 His desperate hope was that； the attention of the guard being concentrated on the escaping boat； he might； favoured by the darkness and the confusionswim to the peninsula。 It was not a very marvellous feat to accomplish； and he had confidence in his own powers。 Once safe on the peninsula； his plans were formed。 But； owing to the strong westerly wind； which caused an incoming tide upon the isthmus； it was necessary for him to attain some point sufficiently far to the southward to enable him； on taking the water； to be assisted； not impeded； by the current。 With this view； he hurried over the sandy hummocks at the entrance to the Neck； and ran backwards towards the sea。 In a few strides he had gained the hard and sandy shore； and； pausing to listen； heard behind him the sound of footsteps。 He was pursued。 The footsteps stopped； and then a voice cried
〃Surrender！〃
It was McNab； who； seeing Rex's retreat； had daringly followed him。 John Rex drew from his breast Troke's pistol and waited。
〃Surrender！〃 cried the voice again； and the footsteps advanced two paces。
At the instant that Rex raised the weapon to fire； a vivid flash of lightning showed him； on his right hand； on the ghastly and pallid ocean； two boats； the hindermost one apparently within a few yards of him。 The men looked like corpses。 In the distance rose Cape Surville； and beneath Cape Surville was the hungry sea。 The scene vanished in an instantswallowed up almost before he had realized it。 But the shock it gave him made him miss his aim； and； flinging away the pistol with a curse； he turned down the path and fled。 McNab followed。
The path had been made by frequent passage from the station； and Rex found it tolerably easy running。 He had acquiredlike most men who live much in the darkthat cat…like perception of obstacles which is due rather to increased sensitiveness of touch than increased acuteness of vision。 His feet accommodated themselves to the inequalities of the ground； his hands instinctively outstretched themselves towards the overhanging boughs； his head ducked of its own accord to any obtrusive sapling which bent to obstruct his progress。 His pursuer was not so fortunate。 Twice did John Rex laugh mentally； at a crash and scr
