the ruby of kishmoor-第6章

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demanded　of　him；　continued：　〃I　am；　indeed；　a　victim　of　a　most
extravagant　and　extraordinary　adventure。　　This　evening；　coming　an
entire　stranger　to　this　country；　I　was　introduced　into　the　house
of　a　beautiful　female；　who　bestowed　upon　me　a　charge　that
appeared　to　me　to　be　at　once　insignificant　and　absurd。　　Behold
this　little　ivory　ball；〃　said　he；　drawing　the　globe　from　his
pocket；　and　displaying　it　between　his　thumb　and　finger。　　〃It　is
this　that　appears　to　have　brought　all　this　disaster　upon　me；　for；
coming　from　the　house　of　the　young　woman；　the　man　whom　thou　now
beholdest　lying　dead　upon　the　floor　induced　me　to　come　to　this
place。　　Having　inveigled　me　hither；　he　demanded　of　me　to　give　him
at　once　this　insignificant　trifle。　　Upon　my　refusing　to　do　so；　he
assaulted　me　with　every　appearance　of　a　mad　and　furious
inclination　to　deprive　me　of　my　life！〃

At　the　sight　of　the　ivory　ball　the　stranger　quickly　arose　from
his　kneeling　posture　and　fixed　upon　our　hero　a　gaze　the　most
extraordinary　that　he　had　ever　encountered。　　His　eyes　dilated　like
those　of　a　cat；　the　breath　expelled　itself　from　his　bosom　in　so
deep　and　profound　an　expiration　that　it　appeared　as　though　it
might　never　return　again。　　Nor　was　it　until　Jonathan　had　replaced
the　ball　in　his　pocket　that　he　appeared　to　awaken　from　the　trance
that　the　sight　of　the　object　had　sent　him　into。　　But　no　sooner　had
the　cause　of　this　strange　demeanor　disappeared　into　our　hero's
breeches…pocket　than　he　arose　as　with　an　electric　shock。　　In　an
instant　he　became　transformed　as　by　the　touch　of　magic。　　A　sudden
and　baleful　light　flamed　into　his　eyes；　his　face　grew　as　red　as
blood；　and　he　clapped　his　hand　to　his　pocket　with　a　sudden　and
violent　motion。　　〃Ze　ball！〃　he　cried；　in　a　hoarse　and　strident
voice。　　〃Ze　ball！　　Give　me　ze　ball！〃　　And　upon　the　next　instant　our
hero　beheld　the　round　and　shining　nozzle　of　a　pistol　pointed
directly　against　his　forehead。

For　a　moment　he　stood　as　though　transfixed；　then　in　the　mortal
peril　that　faced　him；　he　uttered　a　roar　that　sounded　in　his　own
ears　like　the　outcry　of　a　wild　beast；　and　thereupon　flung　himself
bodily　upon　the　other　with　the　violence　and　the　fury　of　a　madman。

The　stranger　drew　the　trigger；　and　the　powder　flashed　in　the　pan。
He　dropped　the　weapon；　clattering；　and　in　an　instant　tried　to
draw　another　from　his　other　pocket。　　Before　he　could　direct　his
aim；　however；　our　hero　had　caught　him　by　both　wrists；　and；
bending　his　hand　backward；　prevented　the　chance　of　any　shot　from
taking　immediate　effect　upon　his　person。　　Then　followed　a　struggle
of　extraordinary　ferocity　and　frenzythe　stranger　endeavoring　to
free　his　hand；　and　Jonathan　striving　with　all　the　energy　of
despair　to　prevent　him　from　effecting　his　murderous　purpose。

In　the　struggle　our　hero　became　thrust　against　the　edge　of　the
table。　　He　felt　as　though　his　back　were　breaking；　and　became
conscious　that　in　such　a　situation　he　could　hope　to　defend
himself　only　a　few　moments　longer。　　The　stranger's　face　was
pressed　close　to　his　own。　　His　hot　breath；　strong　with　the　odor　of
garlic；　fanned　our　hero's　cheek；　while　his　lips；　distended　into　a
ferocious　and　ferine　grin；　displayed　his　sharp　teeth　shining　in
the　candlelight。

〃Give　me　ze　ball！〃　he　said；　in　a　harsh　and　furious　whisper。

At　the　moment　there　rang　in　Jonathan's　ears　the　sudden　and
astounding　detonation　of　a　pistol…shot；　and　for　a　moment　he
wondered　whether　he　had　received　a　mortal　wound　without　being
aware　of　it。　　Then　suddenly　he　beheld　an　extraordinary　and
dreadful　transformation　take　place　in　the　countenance　thrust　so
close　to　his　own；　the　eyes　winked　several　times　with　incredible
rapidity；　and　then　rolled　upward　and　inward；　the　jaws　gaped　into
a　dreadful　and　cavernous　yawn；　the　pistol　fell　with　a　clatter　to
the　floor；　and　the　next　moment　the　muscles；　so　rigid　but　an
instant　before；　relaxed　into　a　limp　and　listless　flaccidity。　　The
joints　collapsed；　and　the　entire　man　fell　into　an
indistinguishable　heap　upon　and　across　the　dead　figure　stretched
out　upon　the　floor；　while　at　the　same　time　a　pungent　and　blinding
cloud　of　gunpowder　smoke　filled　the　apartment。　　For　a　few　moments
the　hands　twitched　convulsively；　the　neck　stretched　itself　to　an
abominable　length；　the　long；　lean　legs　slowly　and　gradually
relaxed；　and　every　fibre　of　the　body　gradually　collapsed　into　the
lassitude　of　death。　　A　spot　of　blood　appeared　and　grew　upon　the
collar　at　the　throat；　and　in　the　same　degree　the　color　ebbed　from
the　face　leaving　it　of　a　dull　and　leaden　pallor。

All　these　terrible　and　formidable　changes　of　aspect　our　hero
stood　watching　with　a　motionless　and　riveted　attention；　and　as
though　they　were　to　him　matters　of　the　utmost　consequence　and
importance；　and　only　when　the　last　flicker　of　life　had　departed
from　his　second　victim　did　he　lift　his　gaze　from　this　terrible
scene　of　dissolution　to　stare　about　him；　this　way　and　that；　his
eyes　blinded；　and　his　breath　stifled　by　the　thick　cloud　of
sulphurous　smoke　that　obscured　the　objects　about　him　in　a　pungent
cloud。




V。　The　Unexpected　Encounter　with　the　Sea…captain　with　the　Broken
Nose



If　our　hero　had　been　distracted　and　bedazed　by　the　first
catastrophe　that　had　befallen；　this　second　and　even　more　dreadful
and　violent　occurrence　appeared　to　take　away　from　him；　for　the
moment；　every　power　of　thought　and　of　sensation。　　All　that
perturbation　of　emotion　that　had　before　convulsed　him　he
discovered　to　have　disappeared；　and　in　its　stead　a　benumbed　and
blinded　intelligence　alone　remained　to　him。　　As　he　stood　in　the
presence　of　this　second　death；　of　which　he　had　been　as　innocent
and　as　unwilling　an　instrument　as　he　had　of　the　first；　he　could
observe　no　signs　either　of　remorse　or　of　horror　within　him。　　He
picked　up　his　hat；　which　had　fallen　upon　the　floor　in　the　first
encounter；　and；　brushing　away　the　dust　with　the　cuff　of　his　coat
sleeve　with　extraordinary　care；　adjusted　the　beaver　upon　his　head
with　the　utmost　nicety。　　Then　turning；　still　stupefied　as　with　the
fumes　of　some　powerful　drug；　he　prepared　to　quit　the　scene　of
tragic　terrors　that　had　thus　unexpectedly　accumulated　upon　him。

But　ere　he　could　put　his　design　into　execution　his　ears　were
startled　by　the　sound　of　loud　and　hurried　footsteps　which；　coming
from　below；　ascended　the　stairs　with　a　prodigious　clatter　and
bustle　of　speed。　　At　the　landing　these　footsteps　paused　for　a
while；　and　then　approached；　more　cautious　and　deliberate；　toward
the　room　where　the　double　tragedy　had　been　enacted；　and　where　our
hero　yet　stood　silent　and　inert。

All　this　while　Jonathan　made　no　endeavor　to　escape；　but　stood
passive　and　submissive　to　what　might　occur。　　He　felt　himself　the
victim　of　circumstances　over　which　he　himself　had　no　control。
Gazing　at　the　partly　opened　door；　he　awaited　for　whatever
adventure　might　next　befall　him。　　Once　again　the　footsteps　paused；
this　time　at　the　very　threshold；　and　then　the　door　was　slowly
pushed　open　from　without。

As　our　hero　gazed　at　the　aperture　there　presently　became
disclosed　to　his　view　the　strong　and　robust　figure　of　one　who　was
evidently　of　a　seafaring　habit。　　From　the　gold　braid　upon　his　hat；
the　seals　dangling　from　the　ribbon　at　his　fob；　and　a　certain
particularity　of　custom；　he　was　evidently　one　of　no　small
consideration　in　his　profession。　　He　was　of　a　strong　and　powerful
build；　with　a　head　set　close　to　his　shoulders；　and　upon　a　round；
short　bull　neck。　　He　wore　a　black　cravat；　loosely　tied　into　a
knot；　and　a　red　waistcoat　elaborately　trimmed　with　gold　braid；　a
leather　belt　with　a　brass　buckle　and　hanger；　and　huge　sea…boots
completed　a　costume　singularly　suggestive　of　his　occupation　in
life。　　His　face　was　round　and　broad；　like　that　of　a　cat；　and　a
complexion　stained；　by　constant　exposure　to　the　sun　and　wind；　to
a　color　of　newly　polished　mahogany。　　But　a　countenance　which
otherwise　might　have　been　humorous；　in　this　case　was　rendered
singularly　repulsive　by　the　fact　that　his　nose　had　been　broken　so
flat　to　his　face　that　all　that　remained　to　distinguish　that
feature　were　two　circular　orifices　where　the　nostrils　should　have
been。　　His　eyes　were　by　no　means　so　sinister　as　the　rest　of　his
visage；　being　o