按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
him to fix his clutches in the throat of the man who had ill…used
his love； for the rest it might all go as it would。
In the earlier part of the morning； while they were all searching
for their victim； they had brought a boat up into this very inlet
among the rocks； and the same boat had been at hand during the whole
day。 Unluckily； before they had come hither； it had been taken
round the headland to a place among the rocks at which a government
skiff is always moored。 The sea was still so quiet that there was
hardly a ripple on it； and the boat had been again sent for when
first it was supposed that they had at last traced Aaron Trow to his
hiding…place。 Anxiously now were all eyes turned to the headland；
but as yet no boat was there。
The two men rose to the surface； each struggling in the arms of the
other。 Trow； though he was in an element to which he was not used；
though he had sprung thither as another suicide might spring to
certain death beneath a railway engine； did not altogether lose his
presence of mind。 Prompted by a double instinct； he had clutched
hold of Morton's body when he encountered it beneath the waters。 He
held on to it； as to his only protection； and he held on to him also
as to his only enemy。 If there was a chance for a life struggle；
they would share that chance together； and if not； then together
would they meet that other fate。
Caleb Morton was a very strong man； and though one of his arms was
altogether encumbered by his antagonist； his other arm and his legs
were free。 With these he seemed to succeed in keeping his head
above the water； weighted as he was with the body of his foe。 But
Trow's efforts were also used with the view of keeping himself above
the water。 Though he had purposed to destroy himself in taking that
leap； and now hoped for nothing better than that they might both
perish together； he yet struggled to keep his head above the waves。
Bodily power he had none left to him； except that of holding on to
Morton's arm and plunging with his legs； but he did hold on； and
thus both their heads remained above the surface。
But this could not last long。 It was easy to see that Trow's
strength was nearly spent； and that when he went down Morton must go
with him。 If indeed they could be separated；if Morton could once
make himself free from that embrace into which he had been so
anxious to leap；then indeed there might be a hope。 All round that
little inlet the rock fell sheer down into the deep sea； so that
there was no resting…place for a foot； it but round the headlands on
either side； even within forty or fifty yards of that spot； Morton
might rest on the rocks； till a boat should come to his assistance。
To him that distance would have been nothing； if only his limbs had
been at liberty。
Upon the platform of rocks they were all at their wits' ends。 Many
were anxious to fire at Trow； but even if they hit him； would
Morton's position have been better？ Would not the wounded man have
still clung to him who was not wounded？ And then there could be no
certainty that any one of them would hit the right man。 The ripple
of the waves； though it was very slight； nevertheless sufficed to
keep the bodies in motion； and then； too； there was not among them
any marksman peculiar for his skill。
Morton's efforts in the water were too severe to admit of his
speaking； but he could hear and understand the words which were
addressed to him。 〃Shake him off； Caleb。〃 〃Strike him from you
with your foot。〃 〃Swim to the right shore； swim for it； even if you
take him with you。〃 Yes； he could hear them all； but hearing and
obeying were very different。 It was not easy to shake off that
dying man； and as for swimming with him； that was clearly
impossible。 It was as much as he could do to keep his head above
water； let alone any attempt to move in one settled direction。
For some four or five minutes they lay thus battling on the waves
before the head of either of them went down。 Trow had been twice
below the surface； but it was before he had succeeded in supporting
himself by Morton's arm。 Now it seemed as though he must sink
again；as though both must sink。 His mouth was barely kept above
the water； and as Morton shook him with his arm； the tide would pass
over him。 It was horrid to watch from the shore the glaring
upturned eyes of the dying wretch； as his long streaming hair lay
back upon the wave。 〃Now； Caleb； hold him down。 Hold him under；〃
was shouted in the voice of some eager friend。 Rising up on the
water； Morton made a last effort to do as he was bid。 He did press
the man's head down；well down below the surface；but still the
hand clung to him； and as he struck out against the water； he was
powerless against that grasp。
Then there came a loud shout along the shore； and all those on the
platform； whose eyes had been fixed so closely on that terrible
struggle beneath them； rushed towards the rocks on the other coast。
The sound of oars was heard close to them；an eager pressing
stroke； as of men who knew well that they were rowing for the
salvation of a life。 On they came； close under the rocks； obeying
with every muscle of their bodies the behests of those who called to
them from the shore。 The boat came with such rapidity；was so
recklessly urged； that it was driven somewhat beyond the inlet； but
in passing； a blow was struck which made Caleb Morton once more the
master of his own life。 The two men had been carried out in their
struggle towards the open sea； and as the boat curved in； so as to
be as close as the rocks would allow； the bodies of the men were
brought within the sweep of the oars。 He in the bowfor there were
four pulling in the boathad raised his oar as he neared the
rocks；had raised it high above the water； and now； as they passed
close by the struggling men； he let it fall with all its force on
the upturned face of the wretched convict。 It was a terrible；
frightful thing to do；thus striking one who was so stricken； but
who shall say that the blow was not good and just？ Methinks；
however； that the eyes and face of that dying man will haunt for
ever the dreams of him who carried that oar！
Trow never rose again to the surface。 Three days afterwards his
body was found at the ferry； and then they carried him to the
convict island and buried him。 Morton was picked up and taken into
the boat。 His life was saved； but it may be a question how the
battle might have gone had not that friendly oar been raised in his
behalf。 As it was； he lay at the cottage for days before he was
able to be moved； so as to receive the congratulations of those who
had watched that terrible conflict from the shore。 Nor did he feel
that there had been anything in that day's work of which he could be
proud；much rather of which it behoved him to be thoroughly
ashamed。 Some six months after that he obtained the hand of
Anastasia Bergen； but they did not remain long in Bermuda。 〃He went
away； back to his own country；〃 my informant told me； 〃because he
could not endure to meet the ghost of Aaron Trow； at that point of
the road which passes near the cottage。〃 That the ghost of