by shore and sedge(沙滩和苔草旁)-第28节
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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 all； and demanded from her an equal
confidence； he began to hate his feeble； purposeless； and inefficient
alliance with her father； who believed but dare not tax his daughter with
complicity in this outrage。 What could be done with a man whose only
idea of action at such a moment was to nail up an undisturbed entrance in
his invaded house！ He was so preoccupied with these thoughts that when
Nott rejoined him in the cabin he scarcely heeded his presence； and was
entirely oblivious of the furtive looks which the old man from time to time
cast upon his face。
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〃I reckon ye wouldn't mind；〃 broke in Nott； suddenly； 〃ef I asked a
favor of ye； Mr。 Renshaw。 Mebbee ye'll allow it's askin' too much in the
matter of expense； mebbee ye'll allow it's askin' too much in the matter o'
time。 But I kalkilate to pay all the expense； and if you'd let me know what
yer vally yer time at； I reckon I could stand that。 What I'd be askin' is this。
Would ye mind takin' a letter from me to Rosey； and bringin' back an
answer？〃
Renshaw stared speechlessly at this absurd realization of his wish of a
moment before。 〃I don't think I understand you；〃 he stammered。
〃P'r'aps not；〃 returned Nott； with great gravity。 〃But that's not so much
matter to you ez your time and expenses。〃
〃I meant I should be glad to go if I can be of any service to you；〃 said
Renshaw； hastily。
〃You kin ketch the seven o'clock boat this morning； and you'll reach
San Rafael at ten〃
〃But I thought Miss Rosey went to Petaluma；〃 interrupted Renshaw
quickly。
Nott regarded him with an expression of patronizing superiority。
〃That's what we ladled out to the public gin'rally； and to Ferrers and his
gang in partickler。 We SAID Petalumey； but if you go to Madrono Cottage；
San Rafael； you'll find Rosey thar。〃
If Mr。 Renshaw required anything more to convince him of the
necessity of coming to some understanding with Rosey at once it would
have been this last evidence of her father's utterly dark and supremely
inscrutable designs。 He assented quickly； and Nott handed him a note。
〃Ye'll be partickler to give this inter her own hands； and wait for an
answer；〃 said Nott gravely。
Resisting the proposition to enter then and there into an elaborate
calculation of the value of his time and the expenses of the trip； Renshaw
found himself at seven o'clock on the San Rafael boat。 Brief as was the
journey it gave him time to reflect upon his coming interview with Rosey。
He had resolved to begin by confessing all； the attempt of last night had
released him from any sense of duty to Sleight。 Besides； he did not doubt
that Nott's letter contained some reference to this affair only known to
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Nott's dark and tortuous intelligence。
VIII
Madrono Cottage lay at the entrance of a little canada already green
with the early winter rains； and nestled in a thicket of the harlequin painted
trees that gave it a name。 The young man was a little relieved to find that
Rosey had gone to the post…office a mile away； and that he would probably
overtake her or meet her returningalone。 The roadlittle more than a
trailwound along the crest of the hill looking across the canada to the
long； dark； heavily…wooded flank of Mount Tamalpais tha
