the frozen deep(冰渊)-第21节
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portions。 One portion he put into an old canvas wallet that hung over his
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shoulder； the other he devoured voraciously。 Steventon questioned him。
〃Where do you come from？〃
〃From the sea。〃
〃Wrecked？〃
〃Yes。〃
Steventon turned to Mrs。 Crayford。
〃There may be some truth in the poor wretch's story；〃 he said。 〃I heard
something of a strange boat having been cast on the beach thirty or forty
miles higher up the coast。 When were you wrecked； my man？〃
The starving creature looked up from his food； and made an effort to
collect his thoughtsto exert his memory。 It was not to be done。 He gave
up the attempt in despair。 His language； when he spoke； was as wild as his
looks。
〃I can't tell you；〃 he said。 〃I can't get the wash of the sea out of my
ears。 I can't get the shining stars all night； and the burning sun all day； out
of my brain。 When was I wrecked？ When was I first adrift in the boat？
When did I get the tiller in my hand and fight against hunger and sleep？
When did the gnawi ng in my breast； and the burning in my head； first
begin？ I have lost all reckoning of it。 I can't think； I can't sleep； I can't get
the wash of the sea out of my ears。 What are you baiting me with
questions for？ Let me eat！〃
Even the sailors pitied him。 The sailors asked leave of their officer to
add a little drink to his meal。
〃We've got a drop of grog with us； sir； in a bottle。 May we give it to
him？〃
〃Certainly！〃
He took the bottle fiercely； as he had taken the food； drank a little；
stopped； and considered with himself again。 He held up the bottle to the
light； and； marking how much liquor it contained； carefully drank half of it
only。 This done； he put the bottle in his wallet along with the food。
〃Are you saving it up for another time？〃 said Steventon。
〃I'm saving it up；〃 the man answered。 〃Never mind what for。 That's my
secret。〃
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He looked round the boat…house as he made that reply； and noticed
Mrs。 Crayford for the first time。
〃A woman among you！〃 he said。 〃Is she English？ Is she young？ Let
me look closer at her。〃
He advanced a few steps toward the table。
〃Don't be afraid； Mrs。 Crayford；〃 said Steventon。
〃I am not afraid；〃 Mrs。 Crayford replied。 〃He frightened me at firsthe
interests me now。 Let him speak to me if he wishes it！〃
He never spoke。 He stood； in dead silence； looking long and anxiously
at the beautiful Englishwoman。
〃Well？〃 said Steventon。
He shook his head sadly； and drew back again with a heavy sigh。
〃No！〃 he said to himself； 〃that's not _her_ face。 No！ not found yet。〃
Mrs。 Crayford's interest was strongly excited。 She ventured to speak to
him。
〃Who is it you want to find？〃 she asked。 〃Your wife？〃
He shook his head again。
〃Who； then？ What is she like？〃
He answered that question in words。 His hoarse； hollow voice softened；
little by little； into sorrowful and gentle tones。
〃Young；〃 he said； 〃with a fair； sad facewith kind； tender eyeswith a
soft； clear voice。 Young and loving and merciful。 I keep her face in my
mind； though I can keep nothing else。 I must wander； wander； wander
restless； sleepless； homelesstill I find _her！_ Over the ice and over the
snow； tossing on the sea； tramping over the land； awake all night； awake
all day； wander； wander； wander； till I find _her！_〃
He waved his hand with a gesture of farewell； and turned wearily to go
out。
At the same moment Crayford opened the yard door。
〃I think you had better come to Clara；〃 he began； and checked himself；
noticing the stranger。 〃Who is that？〃
The shipwrecked man； hearing another voice in the room； looked
round slowly over his shoulder。 Struck by his appearance； Crayford
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advanced a little nearer to him。 Mrs。 Crayford spoke to her husband as he
passed her。
〃It's only a poor； mad creature； William；〃 she whispered
〃shipwrecked and starving。〃
〃Mad？〃 Crayford repeated； approaching nearer and nearer to the man。
〃Am _I_ in my right senses？〃 He suddenly sprang on the outcast； and
seized him by the throat。 〃Richard Wardour！〃 he cried； in a voice of fury。
〃Alive！alive； to answer for Frank！〃
The man struggled。 Crayford held him。
〃Where is Frank？〃 he said。 〃You villain； where is Frank？〃
The man resisted no longer。 He repeated vacantly；
〃Villain？ and where is Frank？〃
As the name escaped his lips； Clara appeared at the open yard door；
and hurried into the room。
〃I heard Richard's name！〃 she said。 〃I heard Frank's name！ What does
it mean？〃
At the sound of her voice the outcast renewed the struggle to free
himself； with a sudden frenzy of strength which Crayford was not able to
resist。 He broke away before the sailors could come to their officer's
assistance。 Half…way down the length of the room he and Clara met one
another face to face。 A new light sparkled in the poor wretch's eyes； a cry
of recognition burst from his lips。 He flung one hand up wildly in the air。
〃Found！〃 he shouted； and rushed out to the beach before any of the men
present could stop him。
Mrs。 Crayford put her arms round Clara and held her up。 She had not
made a movement： she had not spoken a word。 The sight of Wardour's face
had petrified her。
The minutes passed； and there rose a sudden burst of cheering from the
sailors on the beach； near the spot where the fishermen's boats were drawn
up。 Every man left his work。 Every man waved his cap in the air。 The
passengers； near at hand； caught the infection of enthusiasm； and joined
the crew。 A moment more； and Richard Wardour appeared again in the
doorway； carrying a man in his arms。 He staggered； breathless with the
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effort that he was making； to the place where Clara stood； held up in Mrs。
Crayford's arms。
〃Saved； Clara！〃 he cried。 〃Saved for _you！_〃
He released the man； and placed him in Clara's arms。
Frank！ foot…sore and wearybut livingsaved； saved for _her！_
〃Now； Clara！〃 cried Mrs。 Crayford； 〃which of us is right？ I who
believed in the mercy of God？ or you who believed in a dream？〃
She never answered； she clung to Frank in speechless ecstasy。 She
never even looked at the man who had preserved him； in the first
absorbing joy of seeing Frank alive。 Step by step； slower and slower；
Richard Wardour drew back； and left them by themselves。
〃I may rest now；〃 he said； faintly。 〃I may sleep at last。 The task is done。
The struggle is over。〃
His last reserves of strength had been given to Frank。 He stoppedhe
staggeredhis hands waved feebly in search of support。 But for one
faithful friend he would have fallen。 Crayford caught him。 Crayford laid
his old comrade gently on some sails strewn in a corner； and pillowed
Wardour's weary head on his own bosom。 The tears streamed over his face。
〃Richard！ dear Richard！〃 he said。 〃Rememberand forgive me。〃
Richard neither heeded nor heard him。 His dim eyes still looked across
the room at Clara and Frank。
〃I have made _her_ happy！〃 he murmured。 〃I may lay down my weary
head now on the mother earth that hushes all her children to rest at last。
Sink； heart！ sink； sink to rest！ Oh； look at them！〃 he said to Crayford； with
a burst of grief。 〃They have forgotten _me_ already。〃
It was true！ The interest was all with the two lovers。 Frank was young
and handsome and popular。 Officers； passengers； and sailors； they all
crowded round Frank。 They all forgot the martyred man who had saved
himthe man who was dying in Crayford's arms。
Crayford tried once more to attract his attentionto win his
recognition while there was yet time。 〃Richard； speak to me！ Sp
