for the term of his natural life-第95章

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he　floor。　　The　livid　encrustations　of　a　hundred　years　of　humidity　slipped　from　off　the　walls　and　painfully　heaved　their　mushroom　surfaces　to　the　blaze。　　The　red　glow　of　the　unwonted　fire；　crimsoning　the　wet　sides　of　the　cavern；　seemed　to　attract　countless　blisterous　and　transparent　shapelessnesses；　which　elongated　themselves　towards　him。　　Bloodless　and　bladdery　things　ran　hither　and　thither　noiselessly。　Strange　carapaces　crawled　from　out　of　the　rocks。　　All　the　horrible　unseen　life　of　the　ocean　seemed　to　be　rising　up　and　surrounding　him。　He　retreated　to　the　brink　of　the　gulf；　and　the　glare　of　the　upheld　brand　fell　upon　a　rounded　hummock；　whose　coronal　of　silky　weed　out…floating　in　the　water　looked　like　the　head　of　a　drowned　man。　　He　rushed　to　the　entrance　of　the　gallery；　and　his　shadow；　thrown　into　the　opening；　took　the　shape　of　an　avenging　phantom；　with　arms　upraised　to　warn　him　back。　　The　naturalist；　the　explorer；　or　the　shipwrecked　seaman　would　have　found　nothing　frightful　in　this　exhibition　of　the　harmless　life　of　the　Australian　ocean。　But　the　convict's　guilty　conscience；　long　suppressed　and　derided；　asserted　itself　in　this　hour　when　it　was　alone　with　Nature　and　Night。　The　bitter　intellectual　power　which　had　so　long　supported　him　succumbed　beneath　imaginationthe　unconscious　religion　of　the　soul。　　If　ever　he　was　nigh　repentance　it　was　then。　　Phantoms　of　his　past　crimes　gibbered　at　him；　and　covering　his　eyes　with　his　hands；　he　fell　shuddering　upon　his　knees。　　The　brand；　loosening　from　his　grasp；　dropped　into　the　gulf；　and　was　extinguished　with　a　hissing　noise。　　As　if　the　sound　had　called　up　some　spirit　that　lurked　below；　a　whisper　ran　through　the　cavern。

〃John　Rex！〃　The　hair　on　the　convict's　flesh　stood　up；　and　he　cowered　to　the　earth。

〃John　Rex？〃

It　was　a　human　voice！　　Whether　of　friend　or　enemy　he　did　not　pause　to　think。　His　terror　over…mastered　all　other　considerations。

〃Here！　　here！〃　he　cried；　and　sprang　to　the　opening　of　the　vault。　　

Arrived　at　the　foot　of　the　cliff；　Blunt　and　Staples　found　themselves　in　almost　complete　darkness；　for　the　light　of　the　mysterious　fire；　which　had　hitherto　guided　them；　had　necessarily　disappeared。　Calm　as　was　the　night；　and　still　as　was　the　ocean；　the　sea　yet　ran　with　silent　but　dangerous　strength　through　the　channel　which　led　to　the　Blow…hole；　and　Blunt；　instinctively　feeling　the　boat　drawn　towards　some　unknown　peril；　held　off　the　shelf　of　rocks　out　of　reach　of　the　current。　A　sudden　flash　of　fire；　as　from　a　flourished　brand；　burst　out　above　them；　and　floating　downwards　through　the　darkness；　in　erratic　circles；　came　an　atom　of　burning　wood。　　Surely　no　one　but　a　hunted　man　would　lurk　in　such　a　savage　retreat。

Blunt；　in　desperate　anxiety；　determined　to　risk　all　upon　one　venture。　〃John　Rex！〃　he　shouted　up　through　his　rounded　hands。　　The　light　flashed　again　at　the　eye…hole　of　the　mountain；　and　on　the　point　above　them　appeared　a　wild　figure；　holding　in　its　hands　a　burning　log；　whose　fierce　glow　illumined　a　face　so　contorted　by　deadly　fear　and　agony　of　expectation　that　it　was　scarce　human。

〃Here！　　here！〃

〃The　poor　devil　seems　half…crazy；〃　said　Will　Staples；　under　his　breath；　and　then　aloud；　〃We're　FRIENDS！〃　A　few　moments　sufficed　to　explain　matters。　The　terrors　which　had　oppressed　John　Rex　disappeared　in　human　presence；　and　the　villain's　coolness　returned。　　Kneeling　on　the　rock　platform；　he　held　parley。

〃It　is　impossible　for　me　to　come　down　now；〃　he　said。　　〃The　tide　covers　the　only　way　out　of　the　cavern。〃

〃Can't　you　dive　through　it？〃　said　Will　Staples。

〃No；　nor　you　neither；〃　said　Rex；　shuddering　at　the　thought　of　trusting　himself　to　that　horrible　whirlpool。

〃What's　to　be　done？　You　can't　come　down　that　wall。〃　〃Wait　until　morning；〃　returned　Rex　coolly。　　〃It　will　be　dead　low　tide　at　seven　o'clock。　You　must　send　a　boat　at　six；　or　there…abouts。　　It　will　be　low　enough　for　me　to　get　out；　I　dare　say；　by　that　time。〃

〃But　the　Guard？〃

〃　Won't　come　here；　my　man。　　They've　got　their　work　to　do　in　watching　the　Neck　and　exploring　after　my　mates。　　They　won't　come　here。　　Besides；　I'm　dead。〃

〃Dead！〃

〃Thought　to　be　so；　which　is　as　wellbetter　for　me；　perhaps。　If　they　don't　see　your　ship；　or　your　boat；　you're　safe　enough。〃

〃I　don't　like　to　risk　it；〃　said　Blunt。　　〃It's　Life　if　we're　caught。〃

〃It's　Death　if　I'm　caught！〃　returned　the　other；　with　a　sinister　laugh。　〃But　there's　no　danger　if　you　are　cautious。　　No　one　looks　for　rats　in　a　terrier's　kennel；　and　there's　not　a　station　along　the　beach　from　here　to　Cape　Pillar。　　Take　your　vessel　out　of　eye…shot　of　the　Neck；　bring　the　boat　up　Descent　Beach；　and　the　thing's　done。〃

〃Well；〃　says　Blunt；　〃I'll　try　it。〃

〃You　wouldn't　like　to　stop　here　till　morning？　　It　is　rather　lonely；〃　suggested　Rex；　absolutely　making　a　jest　of　his　late　terrors。

Will　Staples　laughed。　　〃You're　a　bold　boy！〃　said　he。　　〃We'll　come　at　daybreak。〃

〃Have　you　got　the　clothes　as　I　directed？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Then　good　night。　　I'll　put　my　fire　out；　in　case　somebody　else　might　see　it；　who　wouldn't　be　as　kind　as　you　are。〃

〃Good　night。〃

〃Not　a　word　for　the　Madam；〃　said　Staples；　when　they　reached　the　vessel。

〃Not　a　word；　the　ungrateful　dog；〃　asserted　Blunt；　adding；　with　some　heat；　〃That's　the　way　with　women。　　They'll　go　through　fire　and　water　for　a　man　that　doesn't　care　a　snap　of　his　fingers　for　'em；　but　for　any　poor　fellow　who　risks　his　neck　to　pleasure　'em　they've　nothing　but　sneers！　I　wish　I'd　never　meddled　in　the　business。〃

〃There　are　no　fools　like　old　fools；〃　thought　Will　Staples；　looking　back　through　the　darkness　at　the　place　where　the　fire　had　been；　but　he　did　not　utter　his　thoughts　aloud。

At　eight　o'clock　the　next　morning　the　Pretty　Mary　stood　out　to　sea　with　every　stitch　of　canvas　set；　alow　and　aloft。　　The　skipper's　fishing　had　come　to　an　end。　　He　had　caught　a　shipwrecked　seaman；　who　had　been　brought　on　board　at　daylight；　and　was　then　at　breakfast　in　the　cabin。　The　crew　winked　at　each　other　when　the　haggard　mariner；　attired　in　garments　that　seemed　remarkably　well　preserved；　mounted　the　side。　　But　they；　none　of　them；　were　in　a　position　to　controvert　the　skipper's　statement。

〃Where　are　we　bound　for？〃　asked　John　Rex；　smoking　Staples's　pipe　in　lingering　puffs　of　delight。　　〃I'm　entirely　in　your　hands；　Blunt。〃

〃My　orders　are　to　cruise　about　the　whaling　grounds　until　I　meet　my　consort；〃　returned　Blunt　sullenly；　〃and　put　you　aboard　her。　　She'll　take　you　back　to　Sydney。　　I'm　victualled　for　a　twelve…months'　trip。〃

〃Right！〃　cried　Rex；　clapping　his　preserver　on　the　back。　　〃I'm　bound　to　get　to　Sydney　somehow；　but；　as　the　Philistines　are　abroad；　I　may　as　well　tarry　in　Jericho　till　my　beard　be　grown。　　Don't　stare　at　my　Scriptural　quotation；　Mr。　Staples；〃　he　added；　inspirited　by　creature　comforts；　and　secure　amid　his　purchased　friends。　〃I　assure　you　that　I've　had　the　very　best　religious　instruction。　Indeed；　it　is　chiefly　owing　to　my　worthy　spiritual　pastor　and　master　that　I　am　enabled　to　smoke　this　very　villainous　tobacco　of　yours　at　the　present　moment！〃




CHAPTER　XXVII。

THE　VALLEY　OF　THE　SHADOW　OF　DEATH。



It　was　not　until　they　had　scrambled　up　the　beach　to　safety　that　the　absconders　became　fully　aware　of　the　loss　of　another　of　their　companions。　As　they　stood　on　the　break　of　the　beach；　wringing　the　water　from　their　clothes；　Gabbett's　small　eye；　counting　their　number；　missed　the　stroke　oar。　　

〃Where's　Cox？〃　

〃The　fool　fell　overboard；〃　said　Jemmy　Vetch　shortly。　　〃He　never　had　as　much　sense　in　that　skull　of　his　as　would　keep　it　sound　on　his　shoulders。〃

Gabbett　scowled。　　〃That's　three　of　us　gone；〃　he　said；　in　the　tones　of　a　man　suffering　some　personal　injury。

They　summed　up　their　means　of　defence　against　attack。　　Sanders　and　Greenhill　had　knives。　　Gabbett　still　retained　the　axe　in　his　belt。　　Vetch　had　dropped　his　musket　at　the　Neck；　and　Bodenham　and　Cornelius　were　unarmed。

〃Let's　have　a　look　at　the　tucker；〃　said　Vetch。

There　was　but　one　bag　of　provisions。　　It　contained　a　piece　of　salt　pork；　two　loaves；　and　some　uncooked　potatoes。　　Signal　Hill　station　was　not　rich　in　edibles。

〃That　ain't　much；〃　said　the　Crow；　with　rueful　face。　　〃Is　it；　Gabbett？〃

〃It　must　do；　any　way；〃　returned　the　giant　carelessly。

The　inspect