the ruby of kishmoor-第6节

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cloud。




V。　The　Unexpected　Encounter　with　the　Sea…captain　with　the　Broken
Nose



If　our　hero　had　been　distracted　and　bedazed　by　the　first
catastrophe　that　had　befallen；　this　second　and　even　more　dreadful
and　violent　occurrence　appeared　to　take　away　from　him；　for　the
moment；　every　power　of　thought　and　of　sensation。　　All　that
perturbation　of　emotion　that　had　before　convulsed　him　he
discovered　to　have　disappeared；　and　in　its　stead　a　benumbed　and
blinded　intelligence　alone　remained　to　him。　　As　he　stood　in　the
presence　of　this　second　death；　of　which　he　had　been　as　innocent
and　as　unwilling　an　instrument　as　he　had　of　the　first；　he　could
observe　no　signs　either　of　remorse　or　of　horror　within　him。　　He
picked　up　his　hat；　which　had　fallen　upon　the　floor　in　the　first
encounter；　and；　brushing　away　the　dust　with　the　cuff　of　his　coat
sleeve　with　extraordinary　care；　adjusted　the　beaver　upon　his　head
with　the　utmost　nicety。　　Then　turning；　still　stupefied　as　with　the
fumes　of　some　powerful　drug；　he　prepared　to　quit　the　scene　of
tragic　terrors　that　had　thus　unexpectedly　accumulated　upon　him。

But　ere　he　could　put　his　design　into　execution　his　ears　were
startled　by　the　sound　of　loud　and　hurried　footsteps　which；　coming
from　below；　ascended　the　stairs　with　a　prodigious　clatter　and
bustle　of　speed。　　At　the　landing　these　footsteps　paused　for　a
while；　and　then　approached；　more　cautious　and　deliberate；　toward
the　room　where　the　double　tragedy　had　been　enacted；　and　where　our
hero　yet　stood　silent　and　inert。

All　this　while　Jonathan　made　no　endeavor　to　escape；　but　stood
passive　and　submissive　to　what　might　occur。　　He　felt　himself　the
victim　of　circumstances　over　which　he　himself　had　no　control。
Gazing　at　the　partly　opened　door；　he　awaited　for　whatever
adventure　might　next　befall　him。　　Once　again　the　footsteps　paused；
this　time　at　the　very　threshold；　and　then　the　door　was　slowly
pushed　open　from　without。

As　our　hero　gazed　at　the　aperture　there　presently　became
disclosed　to　his　view　the　strong　and　robust　figure　of　one　who　was
evidently　of　a　seafaring　habit。　　From　the　gold　braid　upon　his　hat；
the　seals　dangling　from　the　ribbon　at　his　fob；　and　a　certain
particularity　of　custom；　he　was　evidently　one　of　no　small
consideration　in　his　profession。　　He　was　of　a　strong　and　powerful
build；　with　a　head　set　close　to　his　shoulders；　and　upon　a　round；
short　bull　neck。　　He　wore　a　black　cravat；　loosely　tied　into　a
knot；　and　a　red　waistcoat　elaborately　trimmed　with　gold　braid；　a
leather　belt　with　a　brass　buckle　and　hanger；　and　huge　sea…boots
completed　a　costume　singularly　suggestive　of　his　occupation　in
life。　　His　face　was　round　and　broad；　like　that　of　a　cat；　and　a
complexion　stained；　by　constant　exposure　to　the　sun　and　wind；　to
a　color　of　newly　polished　mahogany。　　But　a　countenance　which
otherwise　might　have　been　humorous；　in　this　case　was　rendered
singularly　repulsive　by　the　fact　that　his　nose　had　been　broken　so
flat　to　his　face　that　all　that　remained　to　distinguish　that
feature　were　two　circular　orifices　where　the　nostrils　should　have
been。　　His　eyes　were　by　no　means　so　sinister　as　the　rest　of　his
visage；　being　of　a　light…gray　color　and　exceedingly
vivaciouseven　good…natured　in　the　merry　restlessness　of　their
glancealbeit　they　were　well…nigh　hidden　beneath　a　black　bush　of
overhanging　eyebrows。　　When　he　spoke；　his　voice　was　so　deep　and
resonant　that　it　was　as　though　it　issued　from　a　barrel　rather
than　from　the　breast　of　a　human　being。

〃How　now；　my　hearty！〃　cried　he；　in　stentorian　tones；　so　loud　that
they　seemed　to　stun　the　tensely　drawn　drums　of　our　hero's　ears。
〃How　now；　my　hearty！　　What's　to…do　here？　　Who　is　shooting　pistols
at　this　hour　of　the　night？〃　　Then；　catching　sight　of　the　figures
lying　in　a　huddle　upon　the　floor；　his　great；　thick　lips　parted
into　a　gape　of　wonder　and　his　gray　eyes　rolled　in　his　head　like
two　balls；　so　that　what　with　his　flat　face　and　the　round　holes　of
his　nostrils　he　presented　an　appearance　which；　under　other
circumstances；　would　have　been　at　once　ludicrous　and　grotesque。

〃By　the　blood！〃　cried　he；　〃to　be　sure　it　is　murder　that　has
happened　here。〃

〃Not　murder！〃　cried　Jonathan；　in　a　shrill　and　panting　voice。　　〃Not
murder！　　It　was　all　an　accident；　and　I　am　as　innocent　as　a　baby。〃

The　new…comer　looked　at　him　and　then　at　the　two　figures　upon　the
floor；　and　then　back　at　him　again　with　eyes　at　once　quizzical　and
cunning。　　Then　his　face　broke　into　a　grin　that　might　hardly　be
called　of　drollery。　　〃Accident！〃　　quoth　he。　　〃By　the　blood！　d'ye　see
'tis　a　strange　accident；　indeed；　that　lays　two　men　by　the　heels
and　lets　the　third　go　without　a　scratch！〃　　Delivering　himself
thus；　he　came　forward　into　the　room；　and；　taking　the　last　victim
of　Jonathan's　adventure　by　the　arm；　with　as　little　compunction　as
he　would　have　handled　a　sack　of　grain　he　dragged　the　limp　and
helpless　figure　from　where　it　lay　to　the　floor　beside　the　first
victim。　　Then；　lifting　the　lighted　candle；　he　bent　over　the　two
prostrate　bodies；　holding　the　illumination　close　to　the
lineaments　first　of　one　and　then　of　the　other。　　He　looked　at　them
very　carefully　for　a　long　while；　with　the　closest　and　most　intent
scrutiny；　and　in　perfect　silence。　　〃They　are　both　as　dead；〃　says
he；　〃as　Davy　Jones；　and；　whoever　you　be；　I　protest　that　you　have
done　your　business　the　most　completest　that　I　ever　saw　in　all　of
my　life。〃

Indeed；〃　cried　Jonathan；　in　the　same　shrill　and　panting　voice；
〃it　was　themselves　who　did　it。　　First　one　of　them　attacked　me　and
then　the　other；　and　I　did　but　try　to　keep　them　from　murdering　me。
This　one　fell　on　his　knife；　and　that　one　shot　himself　in　his
efforts　to　destroy　me。〃

〃That；〃　says　the　seaman；　〃you　may　very　well　tell　to　a　dry…lander；
and　maybe　he　will　believe　you；　but　you　cannot　so　easily　pull　the
wool　over　the　eyes　of　Captain　Benny　Willitts。　　And　what；　if　I　may
be　so　bold　as　for　to　ask　you；　was　the　reason　for　their　attacking
so　harmless　a　man　as　you　proclaim　yourself　to　be？〃

〃That　I　know　not；〃　cried　Jonathan；　〃but　I　am　entirely　willing　to
tell　thee　all　the　circumstances。　　Thou　must　know　that　I　am　a
member　of　the　Society　of　Friends。　　This　day　I　landed　here　in
Kingston；　and　met　a　young　woman　of　very　comely　appearance；　who
intrusted　me　with　this　little　ivory　ball；　which　she　requested　me
to　keep　for　her　a　few　days。　　The　sight　of　this　ballin　which　I
can　detect　nothing　that　could　be　likely　to　arouse　any　feelings　of
violenceappears　to　have　driven　these　two　men　entirely　mad；　so
that　they　instantly　made　the　most　ferocious　and　murderous　assault
upon　me。　　See！　wouldst　thou　have　believed　that　so　small　a　thing　as
this　would　have　caused　so　much　trouble？〃　　And　as　he　spoke　he　held
up　to　the　gaze　of　the　other　the　cause　of　the　double　tragedy　that
had　befallen。　　But　no　sooner　had　Captain　Willitts's　eyes　lighted
upon　the　ball　than　the　most　singular　change　passed　over　his
countenance。　　The　color　appeared　to　grow　dull　and　yellow　in　his
ruddy　cheeks；　his　fat　lips　dropped　apart；　and　his　eyes　stared
with　a　fixed　and　glassy　glare。　　He　arose　to　his　feet　and；　still
with　the　expression　of　astonishment　and　wonder　upon　his　face；
gazed　first　at　our　hero　and　then　at　the　ivory　ball　in　his　hands；
as　though　he　were　deprived　both　of　reason　and　of　speech。　　At　last；
as　our　hero　slipped　the　trifle　back　in　his　pocket　again；　the
mariner　slowly　recovered　himself；　though　with　a　prodigious
effort；　and　drew　a　deep　and　profound　breath　as　to　the　very　bottom
of　his　lungs。　　He　wiped；　with　the　corner　of　his　black　silk　cravat；
his　brow；　upon　which　the　sweat　appeared　to　have　gathered。　　〃Well；
messmate；〃　says　he；　at　last；　with　a　sudden　change　of　voice；　〃you
have；　indeed；　had　a　most　wonderful　adventure。〃　　Then　with　another
deep　breath：　〃Well；　by　the　blood！　　I　may　tell　you　plainly　that　I
am　no　poor　hand　at　the　reading　of　faces。　　Well；　I　think　you　to　be
honest；　and　I　am　inclined　to　believe　every　word　you　tell　me。　　By
the　blood！　　I　am　prodigiously　sorry　for　you；　and　am　inclined　to
help　you　out　of　your　scrape。

〃The　first　thing　to　do；〃　he　continued；　〃is　to　get　rid　of　these
two　dead　men；　and　that　is　an　affair　I　believe　we　shall　have　no
trouble　in　handling。　　One　of　them　we　will　wrap　up　in　the　carpet
here；　and　t'other　we　can　roll　into　yonder　bed…curtain。　　You　shall
carry　the　one　and　I　the　other；　and；　the　harbor　being　at　no　great
distance；　we　can　easily　bring　them　thither　and　tumble　them
overboard；　and　no　one　will　be　the　wiser　of　what　has　happened。　　For
your　own　safety；　as　you　may　easily　see；　you　can　hardly　go　away
and　leave　these　objects　here　to　be　found　by　the　first…comer；　and
to　arise　up　in　evidence　against　you。〃

This　reasoning；　in　our　hero's　present　bewildered　state；　appeared
to　him　to　be　so　extremely　just　that　he　raised　not　the　least
objection　to　it。　　Accordingly；　each　of　the　two　silent；　voiceless
victims　of　the　evening's　occurrences　were　wrapped　into　a　bundle
that　from　without　appeared　to　be　neither　portentous　nor　terrible
in　appearance。

Thereupon；　Jonathan　shouldering　the　rug　containing　the　little
gentleman　in　black；　and　the　sea…captain　doing　the　like　for　the
other；　they　presently　made　their　way　down　the　stairs　through　the
darkness；　and　so　out　into　the　street。　　Her