by shore and sedge(沙滩和苔草旁)-第31章
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himself down to the further depth。 The moving flash of his light revealed
the recesses of the upper hold； the abyss of the well amidships； and
glanced from the shining backs of moving zig…zags of rats that seemed to
outline the shadowy beams and transoms。 Disregarding those curious
spectators of his movements； he turned his attention eagerly to the inner
casings of the hold； that seemed in one spot to have been strengthened by
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fresh timbers。 Attacking this stealthily with the aid of some tools hidden in
his oil…skin clothing； in the light of the lantern he bore a fanciful
resemblance to the predatory animals around him。 The low continuous
sound of rasping and gnawing of timber which followed heightened the
resemblance。 At the end of a few minutes he had succeeded in removing
enough of the outer planking to show that the entire filling of the casing
between the stanchions was composed of small boxes。 Dragging out one
of them with feverish eagerness to the light； the Lascar forced it open。 In
the rays of the bull's… eye； a wedged mass of discolored coins showed with
a lurid glow。 The story of the Pontiac was truethe treasure was there！
But Mr。 Sleight had overlooked the logical effect of this discovery on
the natural villainy of his tool。 In the very moment of his triumphant
execution of his patron's suggestions the idea of keeping the treasure to
himself flashed upon his mind。 HE had discovered itwhy should he give
it up to anybody？ HE had run all the risks； if he were detected at that
moment； who would believe that his purpose there at midnight was only to
satisfy some one else that the treasure was still intact？ No。 The
circumstances were propitious； he would get the treasure out of the ship at
once； drop it over her side； hastily conceal it in the nearest lot adjacent；
and take it away at his convenience。Who would be the wiser for it？
But it was necessary to reconnoitre first。 He knew that the loft
overhead was empty。 He knew that it communicated with the alley； for he
had tried the door that morning。 He would convey the treasure there； and
drop it into the alley。 The boxes were heavy。 Each one would require a
separate journey to the ship's side； but he would at least secure something
if he were interrupted。 He stripped the casing； and gathered the boxes
together in a pile。
Ah； yes； it was funny too that hethe Lascar houndthe dd nigger
should get what bigger and bullier men than he had died for！ The mate's
blood was on those boxes； if the salt water had not washed it out。 It was a
hell of a fight when they dragged the captainOh； what was that？ Was it
the splash of a rat in the bilge； or what？
A superstitious terror had begun to seize him at the thought of blood。
The stifling hold seemed again filled with struggling figures he had known；
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the air thick with cries and blasphemies that he had forgotten。 He rose to
his feet； and running quickly to the hatchway； leaped to the deck above。
All was quiet。 The door leading to the empty loft yielded to his touch。 He
entered； and； gliding through； unbarred and opened the door that gave
upon the alley。 The cold air and moonlight flowed in silently； the way of
escape was clear。 Bah！ He would go back for the treasure。
He had reached the passage when the door he had just opened was
suddenly darkened。 Turning rapidly； he was conscious of a gaunt figure；
grotesque； silent； and erect； looming on the threshold between him and the
sky。 Hidden in the shadow； he made a stealthy step towards it； with an iron
wrench in his uplifted hand。 But the next moment his eyes dilated with
superstitious horror； the iron fell from this hand； and with a scream； like a
frightened animal； he turned and fled into the passage。 In the first access
of his blind terror he tried to reach the deck above through the forehatch；
but was stopped by the sound of a heavy tread overhead。 The immediate
fear of detection now overcame his superstition； he would have even faced
the apparition again to escape through the loft； but； before he could return
there； other footsteps approached rapidly from the end of the passage he
would have to traverse。 There was but one chance of escape left nowthe
forehold he had just quitted。 He might hide there until the alarm was over。
He glided back to the hatch； lifted it； and it closed softly over his head as
the upper hatch was simultaneously raised； and the small round eyes of
Abner Nott peered down upon it。 The other footsteps proved to be
Renshaw's but； attracted by the open door of the loft； he turned aside and
entered。 As soon as he disappeared Mr。 Nott cautiously dropped through
the opening to the deck below； and； going to the other hatch through which
the Lascar had vanished； deliberately refastened it。 In a few moments
Renshaw returned with a light； and found the old man sitting on the hatch。
〃The loft door was open；〃 said Renshaw。 〃There's little doubt whoever
was here escaped that way。〃
〃Surely；〃 said Nott。 There was a peculiar look of Machiavellian
sagacity in his face which irritated Renshaw。
〃Then you're sure it was Ferrieres you saw pass by your window
before you called me？〃 he asked。
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Nott nodded his head with an expression of infinite profundity。
〃But you say he was going FROM the ship。 Then it could not have
been he who made the noise we heard down here。〃
〃Mebbee no； and mebbee yes；〃 returned Nott； cautiously。 〃But if he
was already concealed inside the ship； as that open door； which you say
you barred from the inside； would indicate； what the devil did he want
with this？〃 said Renshaw； producing the monkey…wrench he had picked
up。
Mr。 Nott examined the tool carefully； and shook his head with
momentous significance。 Nevertheless； his eyes wandered to the hatch on
which he was seated。
〃Did you find anything disturbed THERE？〃 said Renshaw； following
the direction of his eye。 〃Was that hatch fastened as it is now？〃
〃It was；〃 said Nott； calmly。 〃But ye wouldn't mind fetchin' me a
hammer and some o' them big nails from the locker； would yer； while I
hang round here just so ez to make sure against another attack。〃
Renshaw complied with his request； but as Nott proceeded to gravely
nail down the fastenings of the hatch； he turned impatiently away to
complete his examination of the ship。 The doors of the other lofts and their
fastenings appeared secure and undisturbed。 Yet it was undeniable that a
felonious entrance had been made； but by whom or for what purpose still
remained uncertain。 Even now； Renshaw found it difficult to accept Nott's
theory that de Ferrieres was the aggressor and Rosey the object； nor could
he justify his own suspicion that the Lascar had obtained a surreptitious
entrance under Sleight's directions。 With a feeling that if Rosey had been
present he would have confessed
