stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第14节
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desk and effects of Mr。 Bransome。 But Jackson was not in the factory。 I
guessed； however； where he was； and sure enough I found him in his
accustomed haunt at the end of the Point。 The moment he saw me he tried
to hide himself among the brushwood； but I was too quick for him； and
spied him as he crouched behind a dwarf palm。
〃I know； I know；〃 he cried； as I ran up to him； 〃I saw you come along
the beach。 Bury them； bury them out of sight。〃
〃Come； Mr。 Jackson；〃 I replied； 〃it isn't fair to put all the trouble on to
me。 I am sure I have had enough of the weariness and anxiety of this sad
business。 You must take your share of it。 I want you to read the service for
the dead over them。〃
〃No； no；〃 he almost shrieked； 〃bury them quick； never mind me。 Put
them out of sight。〃
〃I will not；〃 I said； resolutely。 〃For your own sake you must； at any
rate； view the bodies。〃
〃They have not been murdered？〃 He replied。 But the startled look with
which I received the suggestion his words implied seemed to make him
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recollect himself； for he rose and took my arm without saying more。 As he
did so； I felt for the first time a sort of repugnance toward him。 Up to that
moment my feeling had been one of pity and anxiety on his account； but
now I loathed him。 This he seemed instinctively to feel； and he clung
closely to me。
Once at the factory I determined that there should be no more delay on
his part； and I took him to the door of the room where the bodies had been
laid； but at it he made a sudden halt and would not enter。 Covering his face
with his hands； he trembled violently as I pushed the door open and
advanced to the bedside。 The room； hushed and in semi…darkness； the
white sheet； whose surface showed too plainly the forms beneath it； and
the scared； terrified face of the man who； with brain afire； stood watching；
with staring eyes； the bed； made a scene I have never forgotten。
Slowly I turned down the upper part of the sheet； and Jackson； as if
fascinated by the act； advanced a step or two into the room； but with face
averted。 Gradually he turned it toward the bodies； and for a moment his
gaze rested upon them。 The next instant he staggered forward； looked at
the woman's face； panted for breath once or twice； and then； with uplifted
hands and a wild cry of 〃Lucy！〃 fell his length upon the floor。 When I
stooped over him he was in convulsions； and dark matter was oozing out
of his mouth。 The climax had come。 I shouted for the servants； and they
carried him to his own room； and placed him on his own bed。
How I got through that day I hardly know。 Alone I buried Bransome
and his wife； and alone I returned from the hurried task to watch by
Jackson's bedside。 None of the natives would stay near him。 For two days
he lay unconscious。 At the end of that time he seemed to have some idea
of the outside world； for his eyes met mine with intelligence in their look；
and on bending over him I heard him whisper； 〃Forgive me！〃 Then he
relapsed into unconsciousness again。 Through the long hours his eyes
remained ever open and restless； he could not eat； nor did he sleep； and I
was afraid he would pass away through weakness without a sign； being an
old man。 On the third day he became delirious； and commenced chattering
and talking to himself； and imagining that all kinds of horrid shapes and
creatures were around and near him。 I had to watch him narrowly in order
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to prevent him stealing out of his bed； which he was ready to do at any
moment to avoid the tortures which he fearfully imagined awaited him。 By
these signs I knew that he was in the middle of an attack of delirium
tremens； and I tried to quiet him by means of laudanum； but it had no
effect upon him。 I got him； however； to swallow a little soup； which
sustained him。 My own boy was the only negro I had been able to induce
to stay in the room； and he would only remain in it while I was there。
I had sent a messenger to the nearest station； where I remembered
there was a Portuguese doctor； but he had not returned by the evening of
the fourth day。 That night； worn out with watching； I had dozed off to
sleep on a chair placed by the sick man's bed； when all at once I was
awakened by a loud report； and I jumped up to find the room filled with
smoke。 As it cleared away I saw that Jackson was standing in the middle
of the room with a revolver in his hand。 As I confronted him he laughed a
devilish laugh and cocked the weapon； crying as he did so； 〃It was you
who tempted me with your smooth face and unsuspicious way； and you
shall die； though I suffer doubly in hell for it。 Hist！〃 and he stopped
suddenly and listened。 〃Don't you hear the breakers？ Hark； how they roar！
They say they are ready； always ready；〃 and staring in front of him； he
advanced； as if following the sign of an invisible hand； to the door；
unconsciously placing； to my infinite relief； the revolver on the top of a
chest of drawers as he passed by it。 I did not dare to move； and he opened
the door and walked into the front room。 Then I followed him。 For a little
he remained in the room； glaring vacantly about him； and muttering to
himself； but seeing the outer door open he made a rush toward it； and
disappeared into the darkness of the night。 Calling to the boy； I ran after
him； and easily came up to him； when he turned； and picking up a heavier
stone than I thought he could have lifted； threw it at me。 I dodged it and
closed with him。 Once in my arms I found I could hold him； and my
servant and I carried him back into the factory。 We placed him on the floor
of the dining…room； and he was too exhausted to move for a while。 By
degrees； however； he recovered sufficiently to stand； and as soon as he
could do so by himself； with devilish cunning he made for the lamp； which
he struck； quick as lightning； with a stick that had been lying on the table。
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In an instant the great round globe fell to pieces； but luckily the chimney
was not broken； and the lamp remained alight； and before he could strike
another blow at it I had grappled with him again。 This time he struggled
violently for a few moments； and seemed to think that he was dealing with
Bransome； for he shrieked； 〃What！ have you come back from the sea？ You
are wet！ you are wet！〃 and shuddering； he tried to free himself from my
hold； and I； not liking to hurt him； let him go； taking care to keep myself
between him and the lamp。
〃Back from me； you villain of hell！〃 he cried； as soon as he was free。
〃What have you done with her？ what have you done with her？〃 And then；
in a tone of weird and pathetic sorrow； 〃Where is my little one that I loved？
I have sought her many a year； oh； why did she forsake me？ Aha； Sooka！
we were right to send him to the hell whence he camethe lying； false…
hearted scoundrel； to steal away my white dove！〃
After which he drew from his finger a solid gold ring which he always
wore； and threw it from him； saying； with a wild laugh； 〃There！ that's for
any one that likes it； I'm a dead man。〃 He then staggered toward his own
room； and I； remembering the loaded revolver which still lay on the chest
of drawers； tried to intercept him。 In his rage； for I verily believe that he
also remembered that the weapon was there； he spat in my face； and struck
me with all his force between the eyes； but I stuck to him； and with the
help of the boy； who had been all this time in hiding； but who came
forward at my call； I laid him for the last time upon his bed。 There he lay
exhausted for the remainder of the night； but there was no rest for me； I
felt that I had to watch him now for my own safety。
Toward morning； however； his breathing became； all at once； very
heavy and slow； and I bent over him in alarm。 As I did so； I heard him sigh
faintly； 〃Lucy！〃 and
