for the term of his natural life-第94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！
John Rex； gazing up at this memento of a forgotten agony； felt a sensation of the most vulgar pleasure。 〃There's wood for my fire！〃 thought he； and mounting to the spot； he essayed to fling down the splinters of timber upon the platform。 Long exposed to the sun； and flung high above the water…mark of recent storms； the timber had dried to the condition of touchwood； and would burn fiercely。 It was precisely what he required。 Strange accident that had for years stored； upon a desolate rock； this fragment of a vanished and long…forgotten vessel； that it might aid at last to warm the limbs of a villain escaping from justice！
Striking the disintegrated mass with his iron…shod heel； John Rex broke off convenient portions； and making a bag of his shirt by tying the sleeves and neck； he was speedily staggering into the cavern with a supply of fuel。 He made two trips； flinging down the wood on the floor of the gallery that overlooked the sea； and was returning for a third； when his quick ear caught the dip of oars。 He had barely time to lift the seaweed curtain that veiled the entrance to the chasm； when the Eaglehawk boat rounded the promontory。 Burgess was in the stern…sheets； and seemed to be making signals to someone on the top of the cliff。 Rex； grinning behind his veil； divined the manoeuvre。 McNab and his party were to search above； while the Commandant examined the gulf below。 The boat headed direct for the passage； and for an instant John Rex's undaunted soul shivered at the thought that； perhaps； after all； his pursuers might be aware of the existence of the cavern。 Yet that was unlikely。 He kept his ground； and the boat passed within a foot of him； gliding silently into the gulf。 He observed that Burgess's usually florid face was pale； and that his left sleeve was cut open； showing a bandage on the arm。 There had been some fighting； then； and it was not unlikely that all his fellow…desperadoes had been captured！ He chuckled at his own ingenuity and good sense。 The boat； emerging from the archway； entered the pool of the Blow…hole； and； held with the full strength of the party； remained stationary。 John Rex watched Burgess scan the rocks and eddies； saw him signal to McNab； and then； with much relief； beheld the boat's head brought round to the sea…board。
He was so intent upon watching this dangerous and difficult operation that he was oblivious of an extraordinary change which had taken place in the interior of the cavern。 The water which； an hour ago； had left exposed a long reef of black hummock…rocks； was now spread in one foam…flecked sheet over the ragged bottom of the rude staircase by which he had descended。 The tide had turned； and the sea； apparently sucked in through some deeper tunnel in the portion of the cliff which was below water； was being forced into the vault with a rapidity which bid fair to shortly submerge the mouth of the cave。 The convict's feet were already wetted by the incoming waves； and as he turned for one last look at the boat he saw a green billow heave up against the entrance to the chasm； and； almost blotting out the daylight； roll majestically through the arch。 It was high time for Burgess to take his departure if he did not wish his whale…boat to be cracked like a nut against the roof of the tunnel。 Alive to his danger； the Commandant abandoned the search after his late prisoner's corpse； and he hastened to gain the open sea。 The boat； carried backwards and upwards on the bosom of a monstrous wave； narrowly escaped destruction； and John Rex； climbing to the gallery； saw with much satisfaction the broad back of his out…witted gaoler disappear round the sheltering promontory。 The last efforts of his pursuers had failed； and in another hour the only accessible entrance to the convict's retreat was hidden under three feet of furious seawater。
His gaolers were convinced of his death； and would search for him no more。 So far； so good。 Now for the last desperate venturethe escape from the wonderful cavern which was at once his shelter and his prison。 Piling his wood together； and succeeding after many efforts； by the aid of a flint and the ring which yet clung to his ankle； in lighting a fire； and warming his chilled limbs in its cheering blaze； he set himself to meditate upon his course of action。 He was safe for the present； and the supply of food that the rock afforded was amply sufficient to sustain life in him for many days； but it was impossible that he could remain for many days concealed。 He had no fresh water； and though； by reason of the soaking he had received； he had hitherto felt little inconvenience from this cause； the salt and acrid mussels speedily induced a raging thirst； which he could not alleviate。 It was imperative that within forty…eight hours at farthest he should be on his way to the peninsula。 He remembered the little stream into whichin his flight of the previous night he had so nearly fallen； and hoped to be able； under cover of the darkness； to steal round the reef and reach it unobserved。 His desperate scheme was then to commence。 He had to run the gauntlet of the dogs and guards； gain the peninsula； and await the rescuing vessel。 He confessed to himself that the chances were terribly against him。 If Gabbett and the others had been recapturedas he devoutly trustedthe coast would be comparatively clear； but if they had escaped； he knew Burgess too well to think that he would give up the chase while hope of re…taking the absconders remained to him。 If indeed all fell out as he had wished； he had still to sustain life until Blunt found himif haply Blunt had not returned； wearied with useless and dangerous waiting。
As night came on； and the firelight showed strange shadows waving from the corners of the enormous vault； while the dismal abysses beneath him murmured and muttered with uncouth and ghastly utterance； there fell upon the lonely man the terror of Solitude。 Was this marvellous hiding…place that he had discovered to be his sepulchre？ Was hea monster amongst his fellow…mento die some monstrous death； entombed in this mysterious and terrible cavern of the sea？ He had tried to drive away these gloomy thoughts by sketching out for himself a plan of action but in vain。 In vain he strove to picture in its completeness that as yet vaguedesign by which he promised himself to wrest from the vanished son of the wealthy ship…builder his name and heritage。 His mind； filled with forebodings of shadowy horror； could not give the subject the calm consideration which it needed。 In the midst of his schemes for the baffling of the jealous love of the woman who was to save him； and the getting to England； in shipwrecked and foreign guise； as the long…lost heir to the fortune of Sir Richard Devine； there arose ghastly and awesome shapes of death and horror； with whose terrible unsubstantiality he must grapple in the lonely recesses of that dismal cavern。 He heaped fresh wood upon his fire； that the bright light might drive out the gruesome things that lurked above； below； and around him。 He became afraid to look behind him； lest some shapeless mass of mid…sea birthsome voracious polype； with far…reaching arms and jellied mouth ever open to devourmight slide up over the edge of the dripping caves below； and fasten upon him in the darkness。 His imaginationalways sufficiently vivid； and spurred to an unnatural effect by the exciting scenes of the previous nightpainted each patch of shadow； clinging bat…like to the humid wall； as some globular sea…spider ready to drop upon him with its viscid and clay…cold body； and drain out his chilled blood； enfolding him in rough and hairy arms。 Each splash in the water beneath him； each sigh of the multitudinous and melancholy sea； seemed to prelude the laborious advent of some mis…shapen and ungainly abortion of the ooze。 All the sensations induced by lapping water and regurgitating waves took material shape and surrounded him。 All creatures that could be engendered by slime and salt crept forth into the firelight to stare at him。 Red dabs and splashes that were living beings； having a strange phosphoric light of their own； glowed upon the floor。 The livid encrustations of a hundred years of humidity slip
