by shore and sedge(沙滩和苔草旁)-第27节
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in thar；〃 he added； lifting part of a theatrical wardrobe； 〃that you think
you'd fancyanythin' you'd like to put on when ye promenade the wharf
down yonderit's yours。 Don't ye be bashful； but help yourself。〃
It was fully a minute before Renshaw fairly grasped the old man's
meaning。 But when he didwhen the suggested spectacle of himself
arrayed a la Ferrieres； gravely promenading the wharf as a last gorgeous
appeal to the affections of Rosey； rose before his fancy； he gave way to a
fit of genuine laughter。 The nervous tension of the past few hours relaxed；
he laughed until the tears came into his eyes； he was still laughing when
the door of the cabin was suddenly opened and Rosey appeared cold and
distant on the threshold。
〃Ibeg your pardon；〃 stammered Renshaw hastily。 〃I didn't mean to
disturb youI〃
Without looking at him Rosey turned to her father。 〃I am ready；〃 she
said coldly； and closed the door again。
A glance of artful intelligence came into Nott's eyes； which had
remained blankly staring at Renshaw's apparently causeless hilarity。
Turning to him he winked solemnly。 〃That keerless kind o' hoss…laff jist
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fetched her；〃 he whispered； and vanished before his chagrined companion
could reply。
When Mr。 Nott and his daughter departed Renshaw was not in the ship；
neither did he make a spectacular appearance on the wharf as Mr。 Nott had
fondly expected； nor did he turn up again until after nine o'clock； when he
found the old man in the cabin awaiting his return with some agitation。
〃A minit ago；〃 he said； mysteriously closing the door behind Renshaw；
〃I heard a voice in the passage； and goin' out who should I see agin but
that darned furrin nigger ez I told yer 'bout； kinder hidin' in the dark； his
eyes shinin like a catamount； I was jist reachin' for my weppins when he
riz up with a grin and handed me this yer letter。 I told him I reckoned
you'd gone to Sacramento； but he said he wez sure you was in your room；
and to prove it I went thar。 But when I kem back the dd skunk had
vamoosedgot frightened I reckonand wasn't nowhar to be seen。〃
Reashaw took the letter hastily。 It contained only a line in Sleight's
hand。 〃If you change your mind； the bearer may be of service to you。〃
He turned abruptly to Nott。 〃You say it was the same Lascar you saw
before。〃
〃It was。〃
〃Then all I can say is he is no agent of de Ferrieres's；〃 said Renshaw；
turning away with a disappointed air。 Mr。 Nott would have asked another
question； but with an abrupt 〃Good…night〃 the young man entered his
room； locked the door； and threw himself on his bed to reflect without
interruption。
But if he was in no mood to stand Nott's fatuous conjectures； he was
less inclined to be satisfied with his own。 Had he been again carried away
through his impulses evoked by the caprices of a pretty coquette and the
absurd theories of her half imbecile father？ Had he broken faith with
Sleight and remained in the ship for nothing； and would not his change of
resolution appear to be the result of Sleight's note？ But why had the Lascar
been haunting the ship before？ In the midst of these conjectures he fell
asleep。
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VII
Between three and four in the morning the clouds broke over the
Pontiac； and the moon； riding high； picked out in black and silver the long
hulk that lay cradled between the iron shells of warehouses and the
wooden frames of tenements on either side。 The galley and covered
gangway presented a mass of undefined shadow； against which the white
deck shone brightly； stretching to the forecastle and bows； where the tiny
glass roof of the photographer glistened like a gem in the Pontiac's crest。
So peaceful and motionless she lay that she might have been some
petrifaction of a past age now first exhumed and laid bare to the cold light
of the stars。
Nevertheless this calm security was presently invaded by a sense of
stealthy life and motion。 What had seemed a fixed shadow suddenly
detached itself from the deck； and began to slip stanchion by stanchion
along the bulwarks toward the companion way。 At the cabin door it halted
and crouched motionless。 Then rising； it glided forward with the same
staccato movement until opposite the slight elevation of the forehatch。
Suddenly it darted to the hatch； unfastened and lifted it with a swift；
familiar dexterity； and disappeared in the opening。 But as the moon shone
upon its vanishing face； it revealed the whitening eyes and teeth of the
Lascar seaman。
Dropping to the lower deck lightly； he felt his way through the dark
passage between the partitions； evidently less familiar to him； halting
before each door to listen。 Returning forward he reached the second
hatchway that had attracted Rosey's attention； and noiselessly unclosed its
fastenings。 A penetrating smell of bilge arose from the opening。 Drawing a
small bull's…eye lantern from his breast he lit it； and unhesitatingly let
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
