for the term of his natural life-第92章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
rturned whale…boat by the under…tow。 He was drifted past his only hope of rescuethe guard…boatwith a velocity that forbade all attempts at rescue； and almost before the poor scoundrel had time to realize his condition； he was in the best possible way of escaping the hanging that his comrades had so often humorously prophesied for him。 Being a strong and vigorous villain； however； he clung tenaciously to his oar； and even unbuckling his leather belt； passed it round the slip of wood that was his salvation； girding himself to it as firmly as he was able。 In this condition； plus a swoon from exhaustion； he was descried by the helmsman of the Pretty Mary； a few miles from Cape Surville； at daylight next morning。 Blunt； with a wild hope that this waif and stray might be the lover of Sarah Purfoy； dead； lowered a boat and picked him up。 Nearly bisected by the belt； gorged with salt water； frozen with cold； and having two ribs broken； the victim of Vetch's murderous quickness retained sufficient life to survive Blunt's remedies for nearly two hours。 During that time he stated that his name was Cox； that he had escaped from Port Arthur with eight others； that John Rex was the leader of the expedition； that the others were all drowned； and that he believed John Rex had been retaken。 Having placed Blunt in possession of these particulars； he further said that it pricked him to breathe； cursed Jemmy Vetch； the settlement； and the sea； and so impenitently died。 Blunt smoked three pipes； and then altered the course of the Pretty Mary two points to the eastward； and ran for the coast。 It was possible that the man for whom he was searching had not been retaken； and was even now awaiting his arrival。 It was clearly his dutyhearing of the planned escape having been actually attemptednot to give up the expedition while hope remained。
〃I'll take one more look along；〃 said he to himself。
The Pretty Mary； hugging the coast as closely as she dared； crawled in the thin breeze all day； and saw nothing。 It would be madness to land at Cape Surville； for the whole station would be on the alert； so Blunt； as night was falling； stood off a little across the mouth of Pirates' Bay。 He was walking the deck； groaning at the folly of the expedition； when a strange appearance on the southern horn of the bay made him come to a sudden halt。 There was a furnace blazing in the bowels of the mountain！ Blunt rubbed his eyes and stared。 He looked at the man at the helm。 〃Do you see anything yonder； Jem？〃
Jema Sydney man； who had never been round that coast before briefly remarked； 〃Lighthouse。〃
Blunt stumped into the cabin and got out his charts。 No lighthouse was laid down there； only a mark like an anchor； and a note； 〃Remarkable Hole at this Point。〃 A remarkable hole indeed； a remarkable 〃lime kiln〃 would have been more to the purpose！
Blunt called up his mate； William Staples； a fellow whom Sarah Purfoy's gold had bought body and soul。 William Staples looked at the waxing and waning glow for a while； and then said； in tones trembling with greed； 〃It's a fire。 Lie to； and lower away the jolly…boat。 Old man； that's our bird for a thousand pounds！〃
The Pretty Mary shortened sail； and Blunt and Staples got into the jolly…boat。
〃Goin' a…hoysterin'； sir？〃 said one of the crew； with a grin； as Blunt threw a bundle into the stern…sheets。
Staples thrust his tongue into his cheek。 The object of the voyage was now pretty well understood among the carefully picked crew。 Blunt had not chosen men who were likely to betray him； though； for that matter； Rex had suggested a precaution which rendered betrayal almost impossible。
〃What's in the bundle； old man？〃 asked Will Staples； after they had got clear of the ship。
〃Clothes；〃 returned Blunt。 〃We can't bring him off； if it is him； in his canaries。 He puts on these duds； d'ye see； sinks Her Majesty's livery； and comes aboard； a 'shipwrecked mariner'。〃
〃That's well thought of。 Whose notion's that？ The Madam's； I'll be bound。〃
〃Ay。〃
〃She's a knowing one。〃
And the sinister laughter of the pair floated across the violet water。
〃Go easy； man；〃 said Blunt； as they neared the shore。 〃They're all awake at Eaglehawk； and if those cursed dogs give tongue there'll be a boat out in a twinkling。 It's lucky the wind's off shore。〃
Staples lay on his oar and listened。 The night was moonless； and the ship had already disappeared from view。 They were approaching the promontory from the south…east； and this isthmus of the guarded Neck was hidden by the outlying cliff。 In the south…western angle of this cliff； about midway between the summit and the sea； was an arch； which vomited a red and flickering light； that faintly shone upon the sea in the track of the boat。 The light was lambent and uncertain； now sinking almost into insignificance； and now leaping up with a fierceness that caused a deep glow to throb in the very heart of the mountain。 Sometimes a black figure would pass across this gigantic furnace…mouth； stooping and rising； as though feeding the fire。 One might have imagined that a door in Vulcan's Smithy had been left inadvertently open； and that the old hero was forging arms for a demigod。
Blunt turned pale。 〃It's no mortal；〃 he whispered。 〃Let's go back。〃
〃And what will Madam say？〃 returned dare…devil Will Staples who would have plunged into Mount Erebus had he been paid for it。 Thus appealed to in the name of his ruling passion； Blunt turned his head； and the boat sped onward。
CHAPTER XXVI。
THE WORK OF THE SEA。
The lift of the water…spout had saved John Rex's life。 At the moment when it struck him he was on his hands and knees at the entrance of the cavern。 The wave； gushing upwards； at the same time expanded； laterally； and this lateral force drove the convict into the mouth of the subterranean passage。 The passage trended downwards； and for some seconds he was rolled over and over； the rush of water wedging him at length into a crevice between two enormous stones； which overhung a still more formidable abyss。 Fortunately for the preservation of his hard…fought…for life； this very fury of incoming water prevented him from being washed out again with the recoil of the wave。 He could hear the water dashing with frightful echoes far down into the depths beyond him； but it was evident that the two stones against which he had been thrust acted as breakwaters to the torrent poured in from the outside； and repelled the main body of the stream in the fashion he had observed from his position on the ledge。 In a few seconds the cavern was empty。
Painfully extricating himself； and feeling as yet doubtful of his safety； John Rex essayed to climb the twin…blocks that barred the unknown depths below him。 The first movement he made caused him to shriek aloud。 His left armwith which he clung to the ropehung powerless。 Ground against the ragged entrance； it was momentarily paralysed。 For an instant the unfortunate wretch sank despairingly on the wet and rugged floor of the cave； then a terrible gurgling beneath his feet warned him of the approaching torrent； and； collecting all his energies； he scrambled up the incline。 Though nigh fainting with pain and exhaustion； he pressed desperately higher and higher。 He heard the hideous shriek of the whirlpool which was beneath him grow louder and louder。 He saw the darkness grow darker as the rising water…spout covered the mouth of the cave。 He felt the salt spray sting his face； and the wrathful tide lick the hand that hung over the shelf on which he fell。 But that was all。 He was out of danger at last！ And as the thought blessed his senses； his eyes closed； and the wonderful courage and strength which had sustained the villain so long exhaled in stupor。
When he awoke the cavern was filled with the soft light of dawn。 Raising his eyes； he beheld； high above his head； a roof of rock； on which the reflection of the sunbeams； playing upwards through a pool of water； cast flickering colours。 On his right hand was the mouth of the cave； on his left a terrific abyss； at the bottom of which he could hear the sea faintly lapping and washing。 He raised himself and stretched his stiffened limbs。 Despite his inju
