the woman-haters-第35节

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climbed　in。

〃Giddap！〃　he　shouted。　　Poor；　tired　Joshua　lifted　his　clay…daubed
hoofs。

〃You're　not　going　back？〃　cried　Gould。　　〃Hold　on；　Atkins！　　Wait！〃

But　Seth　did　not　wait。　　Already　he　had　turned　his　horse's　head
toward　Eastboro；　and　was　driving　off。　　The　lawyer　stood　still；
amazedly　looking　after　him。　　Then　he　went　into　the　house　and　spent
the　next　quarter　of　an　hour　trying　to　call　the　Twin…Lights　by
telephone。　　As　the　northeast　wind　had　finished　what　the　northwest
one　had　begun　and　the　wire　was　down；　his　attempt　was　unsuccessful。
He　gave　it　up　after　a　time　and　sat　down　to　discuss　the　astonishing
affair　with　his　wife。　　He　was　worried。

But　his　worriment　was　as　nothing　compared　to　Seth's。　　The　lawyer's
reference　to　the　Lights　had　driven　even　matrimonial　troubles　from
the　Atkins　mind。　　The　lights！　the　Twin…Lights！　　It　was　long　past　the
time　for　them　to　be　lit；　and　there　was　no　one　to　light　them　but
Brown；　a　green　hand。　　Were　they　lit　at　all？　　If　not；　heaven　knew
what　might　happen　or　had　happened　already。

He　had　thought　of　this　before；　of　course；　had　vaguely　realized　that
he　was　betraying　his　trust；　but　then　he　had　not　cared。　　The　Lights；
his　position　as　keeper；　everything；　were　side　issues　compared　with
the　one　thing　to　be　done；　the　getting　to　Denboro。　　He　had　reached
Denboro　and　found　his　journey　all　a　mistake；　his　wife　and　Bennie　D。
had　not；　apparently；　visited　that　village；　perhaps　had　not　even
started　for　it。　　Therefore；　in　a　measure　relieved；　he　thought　of
other　things。　　He　was　many　miles　from　his　post　of　duty；　and　now　his
sole　idea　was　to　get　back　to　it。

At　ten　o'clock　Mrs。　Hepsibah　Deacon；　a　widow　living　in　a　little
house　in　the　woods　on　the　top　of　the　hill　on　the　Denboro　side　of
Eastboro　Back　Harbor；　with　no　neighbors　for　a　mile　in　either
direction；　was　awakened　by　shouts　under　her　bedroom　window。　　Opening
that　window　she　thrust　forth　her　head。

〃Who　is　it？〃　she　demanded　quaveringly。　　〃What's　the　matter？　　Is
anything　afire？〃

From　the　blackness　of　the　rain　and　fog　emerged　a　vague　shape。

〃It's　me；　Mrs。　Deacon；　Seth　Atkins；　down　to　the　Lights；　you　know。
I've　left　my　horse　and　carriage　in　your　barn。　　Joshhe's　the　horse
is　gone　lame　and　played　himself　out。　　He　can't　walk　another　step。
I've　unharnessed　him　and　left　him　in　the　stall。　　He'll　be　all　right。
I've　given　him　some　water　and　hay。　　Just　let　him　stay　there；　if　it
ain't　too　much　trouble；　and　I'll　send　for　him　to…morrer　and　pay　for
his　keep。　　It's　all　right；　ain't　it？　　Much　obliged。　　Good　night。〃

Before　the　frightened　widow　could　ask　a　question　or　utter　a　word　he
was　gone；　ploughing　down　the　hill　in　the　direction　of　the　Back
Harbor。　　When　he　reached　the　foot　of　that　hill　where　the　road　should
have　been；　he　found　that　it　had　disappeared。　　The　tide　had　risen　and
covered　it。

It　was　pitch…dark；　the　rain　was　less　heavy；　and　clouds　of　fog　were
drifting　in　before　the　wind。　　Seth　waded　on　for　a　short　distance；
but　soon　realized　that　wading　would　be　an　impossibility。　　Then；　as
in　despair；　he　was　about　ready　to　give　up　the　attempt；　a　dark　object
came　into　view　beside　him。　　It　was　a　dory　belonging　to　one　of　the
lobstermen；　which；　at　the　end　of　its　long　anchor　rope；　had　swung
inshore　until　it　floated　almost　over　the　road。　　Seth　seized　it　in
time　to　prevent　collision　with　his　knees。　　The　thole　pins　were　in
place；　and　the　oars　laid　lengthwise　on　its　thwarts。　　As　his　hands
touched　the　gunwale　a　new　idea　came　to　him。

He　had　intended　walking　the　rest　of　the　way　to　Eastboro；　routing　out
the　liveryman　and　hiring　a　horse　and　buggy　with　which　to　reach　the
Lights。　　Now　he　believed　chance　had　offered　him　an　easier　and　more
direct　method　of　travel。　　He　could　row　up　the　Harbor　and　Slough；
land　close　to　where　the　Daisy　M。　lay；　and　walk　the　rest　of　the　way
in　a　very　short　time。　　He　climbed　into　the　dory；　pulled　up　the
anchor；　and　seated　himself　at　the　oars。

The　bottom　of　the　boat　was　two　inches　deep　with　rain　water；　and　the
thwart　was　dripping　and　cold。　　Seth；　being　already　about　as　wet　as
he　could　be；　did　not　mind　this；　but　pulled　with　long　strokes　out
into　the　harbor。　　The　vague　black　shadows　of　the　land　disappeared；
and　in　a　minute　he　was；　so　far　as　his　eyes　could　tell　him；　afloat　on
a　shoreless　sea。　　He　had　no　compass；　but　this　did　not　trouble　him。
The　wind；　he　knew；　was　blowing　directly　from　the　direction　he　wished
to　go；　and　he　kept　the　dory's　bow　in　the　teeth　of　it。　　He　rowed　on
and　on。　　The　waves；　out　here　in　the　deep　water；　were　of　good　size；
and　the　spray　flew　as　he　splashed　into　them。　　He　knew　that　he　was
likely　to　get　off　the　course；　but　the　Back　Harbor　was；　except　for
its　upper　entrance；　landlocked；　and　he　could　not　go　far　astray；　no
matter　where　he　might　hit　the　shore。

The　fog　clouds；　driven　by　the　squalls；　drifted　by　and　passed。　　At
rare　intervals　the　sky　was　almost　clear。　　After　he　had　rowed　for
half　an　hour　and　was　beginning　to　think　he　must　be　traveling　in
circles；　one　of　these　clear　intervals　came　and；　far　off　to　the　left
and　ahead；　he　saw　something　which　caused　him　to　utter　an　exclamation
of　joy。　　Two　fiery　eyes　shone　through　the　dark。　　The　fog　shut　them
in　again　almost　immediately；　but　that　one　glance　was　sufficient　to
show　that　all　was　well　at　the　post　he　had　deserted。　　The　fiery　eyes
were　the　lanterns　in　the　Twin…Lights　towers。　　John　Brown　had　been
equal　to　the　emergency；　and　the　lamps　were　lighted。

Seth's　anxiety　was　relieved；　but　that　one　glimpse　made　him　even　more
eager　for　home。　　He　rowed　on　for　a　short　time；　and　then　began　edging
in　toward　the　invisible　left…hand　shore。　　Judging　by　the　length　of
time　he　had　been　rowing；　he　must　be　close　to　the　mouth　of　the
Slough；　where；　winding　through　the　salt　marshes；　it　emerged　into　the
Back　Harbor。

He　crept　in　nearer　and　nearer；　but　no　shore　came　in　sight。　　The　fog
was　now　so　thick　that　he　could　see　not　more　than　ten　feet　from　the
boat；　but　if　he　was　in　the　mouth　of　the　Slough　he　should　have
grounded　on　the　marsh　bank　long　before。　　The　reason　that　he　did　not；
a　reason　which　did　not　occur　to　him　at　the　time；　was　that　the
marshes　were　four　feet　under　water。　　Owing　to　the　tremendous　tide
Pounddug　Slough　was　now　merely　a　continuation　of　the　Harbor　and
almost　as　wide。

The　lightkeeper　began　to　think　that　he　must　have　miscalculated　his
distance。　　He　could　not　have　rowed　as　far　as　he　thought。　　Therefore；
he　again　turned　the　dory's　nose　into　the　teeth　of　the　wind　and
pulled　steadily　on。　　At　intervals　he　stopped　and　listened。　　All　he
heard　was　the　moan　of　distant　foghorns　and　the　whistling　of　the
gusts　in　trees　somewhere　at　his　left。　　There　were　pine　groves
scattered　all　along　the　bluffs　on　the　Eastboro　side；　so　this　did　not
help　him　much　except　to　prove　that　the　shore　was　not　far　away。　　He
pulled　harder　on　the　right　oar。　　Then　he　stopped　once　more　to
listen。

Another　blast　howled　through　the　distant　trees　and　swept　down　upon
him。　　Then；　borne　on　the　wind；　he　heard　from　somewhere　ahead；　and
alarmingly　near　at　hand；　other　sounds；　voices；　calls　for　help。

〃Ahoy！〃　he　shouted。　　〃Ahoy　there！　　Who　is　it？　　Where　are　you？〃

〃Help！〃　came　the　calls　againand　nearer。　　〃Help！〃

〃Look　out！〃　roared　Seth；　peering　excitedly　over　his　shoulder　into
the　dark。　　〃Where　are　you？　　Look　out　or　you'll　be　afoul　of　。　。　。
Jumpin'　Judas！〃

For　out　of　the　fog　loomed　a　bulky　shape　driving　down　upon　him。　　He
pulled　frantically　at　the　oars；　but　it　was　too　late。　　A　mast　rocked
against　the　sky；　a　stubby　bowsprit　shot　over　the　dory；　and　the
little　boat；　struck　broadside　on；　heeled　to　the　water's　edge。　　Seth；
springing　frantically　upward；　seized　the　bowsprit　and　clung　to　it。
The　dory；　pushed　aside　and　half　full　of　water；　disappeared。　　From
the　deck　behind　the　bowsprit　two　voices；　a　man's　voice　and　a
woman's；　screamed　wildly。

Seth　did　not　scream。　　Clinging　to　the　reeling　bowsprit；　he　swung　up
on　it；　edged　his　way　to　the　vessel's　bows　and　stepped　upon　the　deck。

〃For　thunder　sakes！〃　he　roared　angrily；　〃what　kind　of　navigation's
this？　　Where's　your　lights；　you　lubbers？　　What　d'you　mean　by
Where　are　you　anyhow？　　Andand　what　schooner's　this？〃

For　the　deck；　as　much　as　he　could　see　of　it　in　the　dark；　looked
astonishingly　familiar。　　As　he　stumbled　aft　it　became　more　familiar
still。　　The　ropes；　a　combination　of　new　and　old；　the　new　boards　in
the　deck　planking；　the　general　arrangement　of　things；　as　familiar　to
him　as　the　arrangement　of　furniture　in　the　kitchen　of　the　Lights！
It　could　not　be　。　。　。　but　it　was！　　The　little　schooner　was　his　own；
his　hobby；　his　afternoon　workshopthe　Daisy　M。　herself。　　The　Daisy
M。；　which　he　had　last　seen　stranded　and；　as　he　supposed；　hard　and
fast　aground！　　The　Daisy　M。　afloat；　after　all　these　years！

From　the　stern　by　the　cabin　hatch　a　man　came　reeling　toward　him；
holding　to　the　rail　for　support　with　one　hand　and　brandishing　the
other。

〃Help！〃　cried　the　man　wildly。　　〃Who　is　it？　　Help　us！　we're　drowning！
We're　。　。　。　　Can't　you　put　us　ashore。　　Please　put　us　。　。　。　　Good
Lord！〃

Seth　made　no　answer。　　How　could　he？　　The　man　was　Bennie　D。

And　then　another　figure　followed　the　first；　and　a　woman's　voice
spoke　pleadingly。

〃Have　you　got　a　boat？〃　it　cried。　　〃We're　adrift　on　this　dreadful