for the term of his natural life-第91章
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ch should make itself heard above the roar of the wind and water； when a strange appearance on the face of the cliff made him pause。 About six feet from himglowing like molten gold in the gusty glow of the burning treea round sleek stream of water slipped from the rock into the darkness； like a serpent from its hole。 Above this stream a dark spot defied the torchlight； and John Rex felt his heart leap with one last desperate hope as he comprehended that close to him was one of those tortuous drives which the worm…like action of the sea bores in such caverns as that in which he found himself。 The drive； opened first to the light of the day by the natural convulsion which had raised the mountain itself above ocean level； probably extended into the bowels of the cliff。 The stream ceased to let itself out of the crevice； it was then likely that the rising column of water did not penetrate far into this wonderful hiding…place。
Endowed with a wisdom； which in one placed in less desperate position would have been madness； John Rex shouted to his pursuers。 〃The rope！ the rope！〃 The words； projected against the sides of the enormous funnel； were pitched high above the blast； and； reduplicated by a thousand echoes； reached the ears of those above。
〃He's alive！〃 cried McNab； peering into the abyss。 〃I see him。 Look！〃
The soldier whipped the end of the bullock…hide lariat round the tree to which he held； and began to oscillate it； so that the blazing bush might reach the ledge on which the daring convict sustained himself。 The groan which preceded the fierce belching forth of the torrent was cast up to them from below。
〃God be gude to the puir felly！〃 said the pious young Scotchman； catching his breath。
A white spume was visible at the bottom of the gulf； and the groan changed into a rapidly increasing bellow。 John Rex； eyeing the blazing pendulum； that with longer and longer swing momentarily neared him； looked up to the black heaven for the last time with a muttered prayer。 The bushthe flame fanned by the motionflung a crimson glow upon his frowning features which； as he caught the rope； had a sneer of triumph on them。 〃Slack out！ slack out！〃 he cried； and then； drawing the burning bush towards him； attempted to stamp out the fire with his feet。
The soldier set his body against the tree trunk； and gripped the rope hard； turning his head away from the fiery pit below him。 〃Hold tight； your honour；〃 he muttered to McNab。 〃She's coming！〃
The bellow changed into a roar； the roar into a shriek； and with a gust of wind and spray； the seething sea leapt up out of the gulf。 John Rex； unable to extinguish the flame； twisted his arm about the rope； and the instant before the surface of the rising water made a momentary floor to the mouth of the cavern； he spurned the cliff desperately with his feet； and flung himself across the chasm。 He had already clutched the rock； and thrust himself forward； when the tremendous volume of water struck him。 McNab and the soldier felt the sudden pluck of the rope and saw the light swing across the abyss。 Then the fury of the waterspout burst with a triumphant scream； the tension ceased； the light was blotted out； and when the column sank； there dangled at the end of the lariat nothing but the drenched and blackened skeleton of the she…oak bough。 Amid a terrific peal of thunder； the long pent…up rain descended； and a sudden ghastly rending asunder of the clouds showed far below them the heaving ocean； high above them the jagged and glistening rocks； and at their feet the black and murderous abyss of the Blowholeempty。
They pulled up the useless rope in silence； and another dead tree lighted and lowered showed them nothing。
〃God rest his puir soul；〃 said McNab； shuddering。 〃He's out o' our han's now。〃
CHAPTER XXV。
THE FLIGHT。
Gabbett； guided by the Crow； had determined to beach the captured boat on the southern point of Cape Surville。 It will be seen by those who have followed the description of the topography of Colonel Arthur's Penitentiary； that nothing but the desperate nature of the attempt could have justified so desperate a measure。 The perpendicular cliffs seemed to render such an attempt certain destruction； but Vetch； who had been employed in building the pier at the Neck； knew that on the southern point of the promontory was a strip of beach； upon which the company might； by good fortune； land in safety。 With something of the decision of his leader； Rex； the Crow determined at once that in their desperate plight this was the only measure； and setting his teeth as he seized the oar that served as a rudder； he put the boat's head straight for the huge rock that formed the northern horn of Pirates' Bay。
Save for the faint phosphorescent radiance of the foaming waves； the darkness was intense； and Burgess for some minutes pulled almost at random in pursuit。 The same tremendous flash of lightning which had saved the life of McNab； by causing Rex to miss his aim； showed to the Commandant the whale…boat balanced on the summit of an enormous wave； and apparently about to be flung against the wall of rock whichmagnified in the flash seemed frightfully near to them。 The next instant Burgess himself his boat lifted by the swiftly advancing billowsaw a wild waste of raging seas scooped into abysmal troughs； in which the bulk of a leviathan might wallow。 At the bottom of one of these valleys of water lay the mutineers' boat； looking； with its outspread oars； like some six…legged insect floating in a pool of ink。 The great cliff； whose every scar and crag was as distinct as though its huge bulk was but a yard distant； seemed to shoot out from its base towards the struggling insect； a broad； flat straw； that was a strip of dry land。 The next instant the rushing water； carrying the six…legged atom with it； creamed up over this strip of beach； the giant crag； amid the thunder…crash which followed upon the lightning； appeared to stoop down over the ocean； and as it stooped； the billow rolled onwards； the boat glided down into the depths； and the whole phantasmagoria was swallowed up in the tumultuous darkness of the tempest。
Burgesshis hair bristling with terrorshouted to put the boat about； but he might with as much reason have shouted at an avalanche。 The wind blew his voice away； and emptied it violently into the air。 A snarling billow jerked the oar from his hand。 Despite the desperate efforts of the soldiers； the boat was whirled up the mountain of water like a leaf on a water…spout； and a second flash of lightning showed them what seemed a group of dolls struggling in the surf； and a walnut…shell bottom upwards was driven by the recoil of the waves towards them。 For an instant all thought that they must share the fate which had overtaken the unlucky convicts； but Burgess succeeded in trimming the boat； and； awed by the peril he had so narrowly escaped； gave the order to return。 As the men set the boat's head to the welcome line of lights that marked the Neck； a black spot balanced upon a black line was swept under their stern and carried out to sea。 As it passed them； this black spot emitted a cry； and they knew that it was one of the shattered boat's crew clinging to an oar。
〃He was the only one of 'em alive；〃 said Burgess； bandaging his sprained wrist two hours afterwards at the Neck； 〃and he's food for the fishes by this time！〃
He was mistaken； however。 Fate had in reserve for the crew of villains a less merciful death than that of drowning。 Aided by the lightning； and that wonderful 〃good luck〃 which urges villainy to its destruction； Vetch beached the boat； and the party； bruised and bleeding； reached the upper portion of the shore in safety。 Of all this number only Cox was lost。 He was pulling stroke…oar； and； being something of a laggard； stood in the way of the Crow； who； seeing the importance of haste in preserving his own skin； plucked the man backwards by the collar； and passed over his sprawling body to the shore。 Cox； grasping at anything to save himself； clutched an oar； and the next moment found himself borne out with the overturned whale…boat by the under…tow。 He was drifted past his only hope of rescuethe guard…boatwith
