westward ho-第149节

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〃No。　　Hold　on　every　stitch；〃　said　Amyas。　　〃Give　me　the　helm；　man。　Boatswain；　pipe　away　to　clear　for　fight。〃

It　was　done；　and　in　ten　minutes　the　men　were　all　at　quarters；　while　the　thunder　rolled　louder　and　louder　overhead；　and　the　breeze　freshened　fast。

〃The　dog　has　it　now。　　There　he　goes！〃　said　Cary。

〃Right　before　the　wind。　　He　has　no　liking　to　face　us。〃

〃He　is　running　into　the　jaws　of　destruction；〃　said　Yeo。　　〃An　hour　more　will　send　him　either　right　up　the　Channel；　or　smack　on　shore　somewhere。〃

〃There！　he　has　put　his　helm　down。　　I　wonder　if　he　sees　land？〃

〃He　is　like　a　March　hare　beat　out　of　his　country；〃　said　Cary；　〃and　don't　know　whither　to　run　next。〃

Cary　was　right。　　In　ten　minutes　more　the　Spaniard　fell　off　again；　and　went　away　dead　down　wind；　while　the　Vengeance　gained　on　him　fast。　　After　two　hours　more；　the　four　miles　had　diminished　to　one；　while　the　lightning　flashed　nearer　and　nearer　as　the　storm　came　up；　and　from　the　vast　mouth　of　a　black　cloud…arch　poured　so　fierce　a　breeze　that　Amyas　yielded　unwillingly　to　hints　which　were　growing　into　open　murmurs；　and　bade　shorten　sail。

On　they　rushed　with　scarcely　lessened　speed；　the　black　arch　following　fast；　curtained　by　the　flat　gray　sheet　of　pouring　rain；　before　which　the　water　was　boiling　in　a　long　white　line；　while　every　moment　behind　the　watery　veil；　a　keen　blue　spark　leapt　down　into　the　sea；　or　darted　zigzag　through　the　rain。

〃We　shall　have　it　now；　and　with　a　vengeance；　this　will　try　your　tackle；　master；〃　said　Cary。

The　functionary　answered　with　a　shrug；　and　turned　up　the　collar　of　his　rough　frock；　as　the　first　drops　flew　stinging　round　his　ears。　Another　minute　and　the　squall　burst　full　upon　them；　in　rain；　which　cut　like　hailhail　which　lashed　the　sea　into　froth；　and　wind　which　whirled　off　the　heads　of　the　surges；　and　swept　the　waters　into　one　white　seething　waste。　　And　above　them；　and　behind　them　and　before　them；　the　lightning　leapt　and　ran；　dazzling　and　blinding；　while　the　deep　roar　of　the　thunder　was　changed　to　sharp　ear…piercing　cracks。

〃Get　the　arms　and　ammunition　under　cover；　and　then　below　with　you　all；〃　shouted　Amyas　from　the　helm。

〃And　heat　the　pokers　in　the　galley　fire；〃　said　Yeo；　〃to　be　ready　if　the　rain　puts　our　linstocks　out。　　I　hope　you'll　let　me　stay　on　deck；　sir；　in　case〃

〃I　must　have　some　one；　and　who　better　than　you？　　Can　you　see　the　chase？〃

No；　she　was　wrapped　in　the　gray　whirlwind。　　She　might　be　within　half　a　mile　of　them；　for　aught　they　could　have　seen　of　her。

And　now　Amyas　and　his　old　liegeman　were　alone。　　Neither　spoke；　each　knew　the　other's　thoughts；　and　knew　that　they　were　his　own。　　The　squall　blew　fiercer　and　fiercer；　the　rain　poured　heavier　and　heavier。　　Where　was　the　Spaniard？

〃If　he　has　laid…to；　we　may　overshoot　him；　sir！〃

〃If　he　has　tried　to　lay…to；　he　will　not　have　a　sail　left　in　the　bolt…ropes；　or　perhaps　a　mast　on　deck。　　I　know　the　stiff…neckedness　of　those　Spanish　tubs。　　Hurrah！　there　he　is；　right　on　our　larboard　bow！〃

There　she　was　indeed；　two　musket…shots'　off；　staggering　away　with　canvas　split　and　flying。

〃He　has　been　trying　to　hull；　sir；　and　caught　a　buffet；〃　said　Yeo；　rubbing　his　hands。　　〃What　shall　we　do　now？〃

〃Range　alongside；　if　it　blow　live　imps　and　witches；　and　try　our　luck　once　more。　　Pah！　how　this　lightning　dazzles！〃

On　they　swept；　gaining　fast　on　the　Spaniard。　　〃Call　the　men　up；　and　to　quarters；　the　rain　will　be　over　in　ten　minutes。〃

Yeo　ran　forward　to　the　gangway；　and　sprang　back　again；　with　a　face　white　and　wild

〃Land　right　ahead！　　Port　your　helm；　sir！　　For　the　love　of　God；　port　your　helm！〃

Amyas；　with　the　strength　of　a　bull；　jammed　the　helm　down；　while　Yeo　shouted　to　the　men　below。

She　swung　round。　　The　masts　bent　like　whips；　crack　went　the　fore…　sail　like　a　cannon。　　What　matter？　　Within　two　hundred　yards　of　them　was　the　Spaniard；　in　front　of　her；　and　above　her；　a　huge　dark　bank　rose　through　the　dense　hail；　and　mingled　with　the　clouds；　and　at　its　foot；　plainer　every　moment；　pillars　and　spouts　of　leaping　foam。

〃What　is　it；　Morte？　　Hartland？〃

It　might　be　anything　for　thirty　miles。

〃Lundy！〃　said　Yeo。　　〃The　south　end！　　I　see　the　head　of　the　Shutter　in　the　breakers！　　Hard　a…port　yet；　and　get　her　close…hauled　as　you　can；　and　the　Lord　may　have　mercy　on　us　still！　　Look　at　the　Spaniard！〃

Yes；　look　at　the　Spaniard！

On　their　left　hand；　as　they　broached…to；　the　wall　of　granite　sloped　down　from　the　clouds　toward　an　isolated　peak　of　rock；　some　two　hundred　feet　in　height。　　Then　a　hundred　yards　of　roaring　breaker　upon　a　sunken　shelf；　across　which　the　race　of　the　tide　poured　like　a　cataract；　then；　amid　a　column　of　salt　smoke；　the　Shutter；　like　a　huge　black　fang；　rose　waiting　for　its　prey；　and　between　the　Shutter　and　the　land；　the　great　galleon　loomed　dimly　through　the　storm。

He；　too；　had　seen　his　danger；　and　tried　to　broach…to。　　But　his　clumsy　mass　refused　to　obey　the　helm；　he　struggled　a　moment；　half　hid　in　foam；　fell　away　again；　and　rushed　upon　his　doom。

〃Lost！　lost！　lost！〃　cried　Amyas　madly；　and　throwing　up　his　hands；　let　go　the　tiller。　　Yeo　caught　it　just　in　time。

〃Sir！　sir！　　What　are　you　at？　　We　shall　clear　the　rock　yet。〃

〃Yes！〃　shouted　Amyas；　in　his　frenzy；　〃but　he　will　not！〃

Another　minute。　　The　galleon　gave　a　sudden　jar；　and　stopped。　　Then　one　long　heave　and　bound；　as　if　to　free　herself。　　And　then　her　bows　lighted　clean　upon　the　Shutter。

An　awful　silence　fell　on　every　English　soul。　　They　heard　not　the　roaring　of　wind　and　surge；　they　saw　not　the　blinding　flashes　of　the　lightning；　but　they　heard　one　long　ear…piercing　wail　to　every　saint　in　heaven　rise　from　five　hundred　human　throats；　they　saw　the　mighty　ship　heel　over　from　the　wind；　and　sweep　headlong　down　the　cataract　of　the　race；　plunging　her　yards　into　the　foam；　and　showing　her　whole　black　side　even　to　her　keel；　till　she　rolled　clean　over；　and　vanished　for　ever　and　ever。

〃Shame！〃　cried　Amyas；　hurling　his　sword　far　into　the　sea；　〃to　lose　my　right；　my　right！　when　it　was　in　my　very　grasp！　　Unmerciful！〃

A　crack　which　rent　the　sky；　and　made　the　granite　ring　and　quiver；　a　bright　world　of　flame；　and　then　a　blank　of　utter　darkness；　against　which　stood　out；　glowing　red…hot　every　mast；　and　sail；　and　rock；　and　Salvation　Yeo　as　he　stood　just　in　front　of　Amyas；　the　tiller　in　his　hand。　　All　red…hot；　transfigured　into　fire；　and　behind；　the　black；　black　night。

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A　whisper；　a　rustling　close　beside　him；　and　Brimblecombe's　voice　said　softly：

〃Give　him　more　wine；　Will；　his　eyes　are　opening。〃

〃Hey　day？〃　said　Amyas；　faintly；　〃not　past　the　Shutter　yet！　　How　long　she　hangs　in　the　wind！〃

〃We　are　long　past　the　Shutter；　Sir　Amyas；〃　said　Brimblecombe。

〃Are　you　mad？　　Cannot　I　trust　my　own　eyes？〃

There　was　no　answer　for　awhile。

〃We　are　past　the　Shutter；　indeed；〃　said　Cary；　very　gently；　〃and　lying　in　the　cove　at　Lundy。〃

〃Will　you　tell　me　that　that　is　not　the　Shutter；　and　that　the　Devil's…limekiln；　and　that　the　cliffthat　villain　Spaniard　only　goneand　that　Yeo　is　not　standing　here　by　me；　and　Cary　there　forward；　andwhy；　by　the　by；　where　are　you；　Jack　Brimblecombe；　who　were　talking　to　me　this　minute？〃

〃Oh；　Sir　Amyas　Leigh；　dear　Sir　Amyas　Leigh；　blubbered　poor　Jack；　〃put　out　your　hand；　and　feel　where　you　are；　and　pray　the　Lord　to　forgive　you　for　your　wilfulness！〃

A　great　trembling　fell　upon　Amyas　Leigh；　half　fearfully　he　put　out　his　hand；　he　felt　that　he　was　in　his　hammock；　with　the　deck　beams　close　above　his　head。　　The　vision　which　had　been　left　upon　his　eye…　balls　vanished　like　a　dream。

〃What　is　this？　　I　must　be　asleep？　　What　has　happened？　　Where　am　I？〃

〃In　your　cabin；　Amyas；〃　said　Cary。

〃What？　　And　where　is　Yeo？〃

〃Yeo　is　gone　where　he　longed　to　go；　and　as　he　longed　to　go。　　The　same　flash　which　struck　you　down；　struck　him　dead。〃

〃Dead？　　Lightning？　　Any　more　hurt？　　I　must　go　and　see。　　Why；　what　is　this？〃　and　Amyas　passed　his　hand　across　his　eyes。　　〃It　is　all　darkdark；　as　I　live！〃　　And　he　passed　his　hand　over　his　eyes　again。

There　was　another　dead　silence。　　Amyas　broke　it。

〃Oh；　God！〃　shrieked　the　great　proud　sea…captain；　〃Oh；　God；　I　am　blind！　blind！　blind！〃　　And　writhing　in　his　great　horror；　he　called　to　Cary　to　kill　him　and　put　him　out　of　his　misery；　and　then　wailed　for　his　mother　to　come　and　help　him；　as　if　he　had　been　a　boy　once　more；　while　Brimblecombe　and　Cary；　and　the　sailors　who　crowded　round　the　cabin…door；　wept　as　if　they　too　had　been　boys　once　more。

Soon　his　fit　of　frenzy　passed　off；　and　he　sank　back　exhausted。

They　lifted　him　into　their　remaining　boat；　rowed　him　ashore；　carried　him　painfully　up　the　hill　to　the　old　castle；　and　made　a　bed　for　him　on　the　floor；　in　the　very　room　in　which　Don　Guzman　and　Rose　Salterne　had　plighted　their　troth　to　each　other；　five　wild　years　before。

Three　miserable　days　were　passed　within　that　lonely　tower。　　Amyas；　utterly　unnerved　by　the　horror　of　his　misfortune；　and　by　the　over…　excitement　of　the　last　few　weeks；　was　incessantly　delirious；　while　Cary；　and　Brimblecombe；　and　the　men　nursed　him　by　turns；　as　sailors　and　wives　only　can　nurse；　and　listened　with　awe　to　his　piteous　self…reproaches　and　entreaties　to　Heaven　to　remove　that　woe；　which；　as　he　shrieked　again　and