hard cash-第50节
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mizen top： he had left that mast standing on purpose。
There was no fog here； but great heavy black clouds flying about with amazing swiftness extinguished the moon at intervals： at others she glimmered through a dull mist in which she was veiled； and gave the poor souls on the _Agra_ a dim peep of the frail and narrow bridge they must pass to live。 A thing like a black snake went down from the mizen…top； bellying towards the yawning sea； and soon lost to sight： it was seen rising again among some lanterns on the rock ashore： but what became of it in the middle？ The darkness seemed to cut it in two； the sea to swallow it。 Yet； to get from a ship going to pieces under them； the sailors precipitated themselves eagerly on that black thread bellying to the sea and flickering in the wind。 They went down it； one after another； and anxious eyes straining after them saw them no more： but this was seen； that scarce one in three emerged into the lights ashore。
Then Dodd got an axe； and stood in the top； and threatened to brain the first man who attempted to go on the rope。
〃We must make it taut first；〃 said he； 〃bear a hand here with a tackle。〃
Even while this was being done； the other rope； whose end he had fired ashore； was seen moving to windward。 The natives； it seems； had found it； half buried in sand。
Dodd unlashed the end from the bulwarks and carried it into the top； and made it fast： and soon there were two black snakes dipping shrorewards and waving in the air side by side。
The sailors scrambled for a place； and some of them were lost by their own rashness。 Kenealy waited coolly； and went by himself。
Finally； Dodd was left in the ship with Mr。 Sharpe and the women； and little Murphy； and Ramgolam； whom Robarts had liberated to show his contempt of Dodd。
He now advised Mrs。 Beresford to be lashed to Sharpe and himself； and venture the passage； but she screamed and clung to him； and said； 〃I dare not！ oh I dare not！〃
〃Then I must lash you to a spar；〃 said he； 〃for she can't last much longer。〃 He ordered Sharpe ashore。 Sharpe shook hands with him； and went on the rope with tears in his eyes。
Dodd went hard to work； lashed Mrs。 Beresford to a piece of broken water…butt： filled Fred's pockets with corks and sewed them up （you never caught Dodd without a needle； only； unlike the women's； it was always kept threaded）。 Mrs。 Beresford threw her arms round his neck and kissed him wildly： a way women have in mortal peril： it is but their homage to courage。 〃All right！〃 said Dodd； interpreting it as appeal to his protection； and affecting cheerfulness： 〃we'll get ashore together on the poop awning； or somehow； never you fear。 I'd give a thousand pounds to know where high water is。〃
At this moment； with a report like a cannon； the lower decks burst fore and aft： another still louder； and the _Agra's_ back broke。 She parted amidships with a fearful yawn； and the waves went toppling and curling clean through her。
At this appalling sound and sight； the few creatures left on the poop cowered screaming and clinging at Dodd's knees； and fought for a bit of him。
Yes； as a flood brings incongruous animals together on some little isle in brotherhood of fearcreatures who never met before without one eating the other； and there they cuddleso the thief Ramgolam clung to the man he had tried to rob； the Hindoo Ayan and the English maid hustled their mistress； the haughty Mrs。 Beresford； and were hustled by her； for a bit of this human pillar； and little Murphy and Fred Beresford wriggled in at him where they could： and the poor goat crept into the quivering mass trembling like an aspen； and not a butt left either in his head or his heart。 Dodd stood in the middle of these tremblers； a rock of manhood： and when he was silent and they heard only the voice of the waves； they despaired； and whenever he spoke； they started at the astounding calmness of his voice and words； and life sounded possible。
〃Come；〃 said he； 〃this won't do any longer。 All hands into the mizen…top！〃
He helped them all up； and stood on the ratlines himself： and； if you will believe me； the poor goat wailed like a child below。 He found in that new terror and anguish a voice goat was never heard to speak in before。 But they had to leave him on deck： no help for it。 Dodd advised Mrs。 Beresford once more to attempt the rope： she declined。 〃I dare not！ I dare not！〃 she cried； but she begged Dodd hard to go on it and save himself。
It was a strong temptation： he clutched the treasure in his bosom； and one sob burst from the strong man。
That sob was but the tax paid by Nature； for pride； humanity； and manhood stood staunch in spite of it。 〃No； no； I can't；〃 said he 〃I mustn't。 Don't tempt me to leave you in this plight； and be a cur！ Live or die； I must be the last man on her。 Here's something coming out to us； the Lord in Heaven be praised！〃
A bright light was seen moving down the black line that held them to the shore； it descended slowly within a foot of the billows； and lighting them up showed their fearful proximity to the rope in mid…passage： they had washed off many a poor fellow at that part。
〃Look at that！ Thank Heaven you did not try it！〃 said Dodd to Mrs。 Beresford。
At tins moment a higher wave than usual swallowed up the light： there was a loud cry of dismay from the shore； and a wail of despair from the ship。
No！ not lost after all！ The light emerged； and mounted； and mounted towards the ship。
It came near； and showed the black shiny body of Vespasian； with very little on but a handkerchief and a lanternthe former round his waist； and the latter lashed to his back： he arrived with a 〃Yah！ yah！〃 and showed his white teeth in a grin。
Mrs。 Beresford clutched his shoulder； and whimpered； 〃 Oh； Mr。 Black！〃
〃Iss； Missy； dis child bring good news。 Cap'n！ Massah Fullalove send you his congratulations； and the compliments of the season； and take the liberty to observe the tide am turn in twenty minutes。〃
The good news thus quaintly announced caused an outburst of joy from Dodd； and； sailor…like； he insisted on all hands joining in a cheer。 The shore re…echoed it directly。 And this encouraged the forlorn band still more； to hear other hearts beating for them so near。 Even the intervening waves could not quite annul the sustaining power of sympathy。
At this moment came the first faint streaks of welcome dawn； and revealed their situation more fully。
The vessel lay on the edge of a sandbank。 She was clean in two； the stern lying somewhat higher than the stem。 The sea rolled through her amidships six feet broad； frightful to look at； and made a clean breach over her forward； all except the bowsprit to the end of which the poor sailors were now discovered to be clinging。 The afterpart of the poop was out of water； and in a corner of it the goat crouched like a rabbit： four dead bodies washed about beneath the party trembling in the mizen…top； and one had got jammed in the wheel； face uppermost and glared up at them； gazing terror…stricken down。
No sign of the tide turning yet； and much reason to fear it would turn too late for them and the poor fellows shivering on the bowsprit。
These fears were well founded。
A huge sea rolled in； and turned the forepart of the vessel half over； buried the bowsprit； and washed the men off into the breakers。
Mrs。 Beresford sank down； and prayed； holding Vespasian by the knee。
Fortunately； as in that vessel wrecked long syne on Melita； 〃the hind part of the ship stuck fast and remained immovable。〃
But for how long？
Each wave now struck the ship's weather quarter with a sound like a cannon fired in a church； and sent the water clear into the mizen…top。 It hit them like strokes of a whip。 They were drenched to the skin； chilled to the bone； and frozen to the heart with fear。 They made acquaintance that hour with Death。 Ay； Death itself has no bitterness that forlorn cluster did not feel： only the insensibility that ends that bitterness was wanting。
Now the sea； you must know； was literally strewed with things out of the _Agra_； masts； rigging； furniture； tea…chests； bundles of canes； chairs； tables； but of all this jetsam； Dodd's eye had been for some little time fixed on one object： a live sailor drifting ashore on a great wooden case。 It struck him after a while that the man made very little way； and at last seemed to go up and down in one place。 By…and…bye he saw him nearer and nearer； and recognised him。 It was one of the three washed off the bowsprit。
He cried joyfully； 〃The tide has turned！ here's Thompson coming out to sea。〃
Then there ensued a dialogue； incredible to landsmen； between these two sailors； the captain of the ship and the captain of the foretop； one perched on a stationary fragment of that vessel； the other drifting on a pianoforte； and both bawling at one another across the jaws of death。
〃Thompson ahoy！〃
〃Hal…lo！〃
〃Whither bound？〃
〃Going out with the tide； and be dd to me。〃
〃What； can't ye swim ？〃
〃Like a brass figure…head。 It's all over with poor Jack； sir。〃
〃All over！ Don't tell me！ Look out now as you drift under our stern； and we'll lower you the four…inch hawser。〃
〃Lord bless you； sir； do； pray！〃 cried Thompson； losi
