westward ho-第91节

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me　to　give　up　that　faith　which　my　husband　promised　me　he　would　respect　and　protect。　　Go；　sir！〃

The　brothers　listened　breathless　with　surprise　as　much　as　with　rage。　　Love　and　conscience；　and　perhaps；　too；　the　pride　of　her　lofty　alliance；　had　converted　the　once　gentle　and　dreamy　Rose　into　a　very　Roxana；　but　it　was　only　the　impulse　of　a　moment。　　The　words　had　hardly　passed　her　lips；　when；　terrified　at　what　she　had　said；　she　burst　into　a　fresh　flood　of　tears；　while　Eustace　answered　calmly：

〃I　go；　madam：　but　how　know　you　that　I　may　not　have　orders；　and　that；　after　your　last　strange　speech；　my　conscience　may　compel　me　to　obey　those　orders；　to　take　you　with　me？〃

〃Me？　with　you？〃

〃My　heart　has　bled　for　you；　madam；　for　many　a　year。　　It　longs　now　that　it　had　bled　itself　to　death；　and　never　known　the　last　worst　agony　of　telling　you〃

And　drawing　close　to　her　he　whispered　in　her　earwhat；　the　brothers　heard　notbut　her　answer　was　a　shriek　which　rang　through　the　woods；　and　sent　the　night…birds　fluttering　up　from　every　bough　above　their　heads。

〃By　Heaven！〃　said　Amyas；　〃I　can　stand　this　no　longer。　　Cut　that　devil's　throat　I　must〃

〃She　is　lost　if　his　dead　body　is　found　by　her。〃

〃We　are　lost　if　we　stay　here；　then；〃　said　Amyas；　〃for　those　negroes　will　hurry　down　at　her　cry；　and　then　found　we　must　be。〃

〃Are　you　mad；　madam；　to　betray　yourself　by　your　own　cries？　　The　negroes　will　he　here　in　a　moment。　　I　give　you　one　last　chance　for　life；　then：〃　and　Eustace　shouted　in　Spanish　at　the　top　of　his　voice；　〃Help；　help；　servants！　　Your　mistress　is　being　carried　off　by　bandits！〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　sir？〃

〃Let　your　woman's　wit　supply　the　rest：　and　forget　not　him　who　thus　saves　you　from　disgrace。〃

Whether　the　brothers　heard　the　last　words　or　not；　I　know　not；　but　taking　for　granted　that　Eustace　had　discovered　them；　they　sprang　to　their　feet　at　once；　determined　to　make　one　last　appeal；　and　then　to　sell　their　lives　as　dearly　as　they　could。

Eustace　started　back　at　the　unexpected　apparition；　but　a　second　glance　showed　him　Amyas's　mighty　bulk；　and　he　spoke　calmly

〃You　see；　madam；　I　did　not　call　without　need。　　Welcome；　good　cousins。　　My　charity；　as　you　perceive；　has　found　means　to　outstrip　your　craft；　while　the　fair　lady；　as　was　but　natural；　has　been　true　to　her　assignation！〃

〃Liar！〃　cried　Frank。　　〃She　never　knew　of　our　being〃

〃Credat　Judaeus！〃　answered　Eustace；　but；　as　he　spoke；　Amyas　burst　through　the　bushes　at　him。　　There　was　no　time　to　be　lost；　and　ere　the　giant　could　disentangle　himself　from　the　boughs　and　shrubs；　Eustace　had　slipped　off　his　long　cloak；　thrown　it　over　Amyas's　head；　and　ran　up　the　alley　shouting　for　help。

Mad　with　rage；　Amyas　gave　chase：　but　in　two　minutes　more　Eustace　was　safe　among　the　ranks　of　the　negroes；　who　came　shouting　and　jabbering　down　the　path。

He　rushed　back。　　Frank　was　just　ending　some　wild　appeal　to　Rose

〃Your　conscience！　your　religion！〃

〃No；　never！　　I　can　face　the　chance　of　death；　but　not　the　loss　of　him。　　Go！　for　God's　sake；　leave　me！〃

〃You　are　lost；　then；and　I　have　ruined　you！〃

〃Come　off；　now　or　never；〃　cried　Amyas；　clutching　him　by　the　arm；　and　dragging　him　away　like　a　child。

〃You　forgive　me？〃　cried　he。

〃Forgive　you？〃　and　she　burst　into　tears　again。

Frank　burst　into　tears　also。

〃Let　me　go　back；　and　die　with　herAmyas！my　oath！my　honor！〃　and　he　struggled　to　turn　back。

Amyas　looked　back　too；　and　saw　her　standing　calmly；　with　her　hands　folded　across　her　breast；　awaiting　Eustace　and　the　servants；　and　he　half　turned　to　go　back　also。　　Both　saw　how　fearfully　appearances　had　put　her　into　Eustace's　power。　　Had　he　not　a　right　to　suspect　that　they　were　there　by　her　appointment；　that　she　was　going　to　escape　with　them？　　And　would　not　Eustace　use　his　power？　　The　thought　of　the　Inquisition　crossed　their　minds。　　〃Was　that　the　threat　which　Eustace　had　whispered？〃　asked　he　of　Frank。

〃It　was；〃　groaned　Frank；　in　answer。

For　the　first　and　last　time　in　his　life；　Amyas　Leigh　stood　irresolute。

〃Back；　and　stab　her　to　the　heart　first！〃　said　Frank；　struggling　to　escape　from　him。

Oh；　if　Amyas　were　but　alone；　and　Frank　safe　home　in　England！　　To　charge　the　whole　mob；　kill　her；　kill　Eustace；　and　then　cut　his　way　back　again　to　the　ship；　or　die；what　matter？　as　he　must　die　some　day；sword　in　hand！　　But　Frank！and　then　flashed　before　his　eyes　his　mother's　hopeless　face；　then　rang　in　his　ears　his　mother's　last　bequest　to　him　of　that　frail　treasure。　　Let　Rose；　let　honor；　let　the　whole　world　perish；　he　must　save　Frank。　　See！　the　negroes　were　up　with　her　nowpast　heraway　for　life！　and　once　more　he　dragged　his　brother　down　the　hill；　and　through　the　wicket；　only　just　in　time；　for　the　whole　gang　of　negroes　were　within　ten　yards　of　them　in　full　pursuit。

〃Frank；〃　said　he；　sharply；　〃if　you　ever　hope　to　see　your　mother　again；　rouse　yourself；　man；　and　fight！〃　　And；　without　waiting　for　an　answer；　he　turned；　and　charged　up…hill　upon　his　pursuers；　who　saw　the　long　bright　blade；　and　fled　instantly。

Again　he　hurried　Frank　down　the　hill；　the　path　wound　in　zigzags；　and　he　feared　that　the　negroes　would　come　straight　over　the　cliff；　and　so　cut　off　his　retreat：　but　the　prickly　cactuses　were　too　much　for　them；　and　they　were　forced　to　follow　by　the　path；　while　the　brothers　（Frank　having　somewhat　regained　his　senses）　turned　every　now　and　then　to　menace　them：　but　once　on　the　rocky　path；　stones　began　to　fly　fast；　small　ones　fortunately；　and　wide　and　wild　for　want　of　lightbut　when　they　reached　the　pebble…beach？　　Both　were　too　proud　to　run；　but；　if　ever　Amyas　prayed　in　his　life；　he　prayed　for　the　last　twenty　yards　before　he　reached　the　water…mark。

〃Now；　Frank！　down　to　the　boat　as　hard　as　you　can　run；　while　I　keep　the　curs　back。〃

〃Amyas！　what　do　you　take　me　for？　　My　madness　brought　you　hither：　your　devotion　shall　not　bring　me　back　without　you。〃

〃Together；　then！〃

And　putting　Frank's　arm　through　his；　they　hurried　down；　shouting　to　their　men。

The　boat　was　not　fifty　yards　off：　but　fast　travelling　over　the　pebbles　was　impossible；　and　long　ere　half　the　distance　was　crossed；　the　negroes　were　on　the　beach；　and　the　storm　burst。　　A　volley　of　great　quartz　pebbles　whistled　round　their　heads。

〃Come　on；　Frank！　for　life's　sake！　　Men；　to　the　rescue！　　Ah！　what　was　that？〃

The　dull　crash　of　a　pebble　against　Frank's　fair　head！　　Drooping　like　Hyacinthus　beneath　the　blow　of　the　quoit；　he　sank　on　Amyas's　arm。　　The　giant　threw　him　over　his　shoulder；　and　plunged　blindly　on；himself　struck　again　and　again。

〃Fire；　men！　　Give　it　the　black　villains！〃

The　arquebuses　crackled　from　the　boat　in　front。　　What　were　those　dull　thuds　which　answered　from　behind？　　Echoes？　　No。　　Over　his　head　the　caliver…balls　went　screeching。　　The　governors'　guard　have　turned　out；　followed　them　to　the　beach；　fixed　their　calivers；　and　are　firing　over　the　negroes'　heads；　as　the　savages　rush　down　upon　the　hapless　brothers。

If；　as　all　say；　there　are　moments　which　are　hours；　how　many　hours　was　Amyas　Leigh　in　reaching　that　boat's　bow？　　Alas！　the　negroes　are　there　as　soon　as　he；　and　the　guard；　having　left　their　calivers；　are　close　behind　them；　sword　in　hand。　　Amyas　is　up　to　his　knees　in　waterbattered　with　stonesblinded　with　blood。　　The　boat　is　swaying　off　and　on　against　the　steep　pebble…bank：　he　clutches　at　itmissesfalls　headlongrises　half…choked　with　water：　but　Frank　is　still　in　his　arms。　　Another　heavy　blowa　confused　roar　of　shouts；　shots；　cursesa　confused　mass　of　negroes　and　English；　foam　and　pebblesand　he　recollects　no　more。

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He　is　lying　in　the　stern…sheets　of　the　boat；　stiff；　weak；　half　blind　with　blood。　　He　looks　up；　the　moon　is　still　bright　overhead：　but　they　are　away　from　the　shore　now；　for　the　wave…crests　are　dancing　white　before　the　land…breeze；　high　above　the　boat's　side。　The　boat　seems　strangely　empty。　　Two　men　are　pulling　instead　of　six！　　And　what　is　this　lying　heavy　across　his　chest？　　He　pushes；　and　is　answered　by　a　groan。　　He　puts　his　hand　down　to　rise；　and　is　answered　by　another　groan。

〃What's　this？〃

〃All　that　are　left　of　us；〃　says　Simon　Evans　of　Clovelly。

〃All？〃　　The　bottom　of　the　boat　seemed　paved　with　human　bodies。　　〃Oh　God！　oh　God！〃　moans　Amyas；　trying　to　rise。　　〃And　wherewhere　is　Frank？　　Frank！〃

〃Mr。　Frank！〃　cries　Evans。　　There　is　no　answer。

〃Dead？〃　shrieks　Amyas。　　〃Look　for　him；　for　God's　sake；　look！〃　and　struggling　from　under　his　living　load；　he　peers　into　each　pale　and　bleeding　face。

〃Where　is　he？　　Why　don't　you　speak；　forward　there？〃

〃Because　we　have　naught　to　say；　sir；〃　answers　Evans；　almost　surlily。

Frank　was　not　there。

〃Put　the　boat　about！　　To　the　shore！〃　roars　Amyas。

〃Look　over　the　gunwale；　and　judge　for　yourself；　sir！〃

The　waves　are　leaping　fierce　and　high　before　a　furious　land…breeze。　Return　is　impossible。

〃Cowards！　villains！　traitors！　hounds！　to　have　left　him　behind。〃

〃Listen　you　to　me；　Captain　Amyas　Leigh；〃　says　Simon　Evans；　resting　on　his　oar；　〃and　hang　me　for　mutiny；　if　you　will；　when　we're　aboard；　if　we　ever　get　there。　　Isn't　it　enough　to　bring　us　out　to　death　（as　you　knew　yourself；　sir；　for　you're　prudent　enough）　to　please　that　poor　young　gentleman's　fancy　about　a　wench；　but　you　must　call　coward　an　honest　man　that　have