English
ItwasoneofthoseMarchdayswhenthesunshineshotandthewindblowscold:whenitissummerinthelight,andwinterintheshade.
Wehadoutpea-coatswithus,andItookabag.
OfallmyworldlypossessionsItooknomorethanthefewnecessariesthatfilledthebag.
WhereImightgo,whatImightdo,orwhenImightreturn,werequestionsutterlyunknowntome;nordidIvexmymindwiththem,foritwaswhollysetonProvis’ssafety.
Ionlywonderedforthepassingmoment,asIstoppedatthedoorandlookedback,underwhatalteredcircumstancesIshouldnextseethoserooms,ifever.
WeloitereddowntotheTemplestairs,andstoodloiteringthere,asifwewerenotquitedecidedtogouponthewateratall.
OfcourseIhadtakencarethattheboatshouldbereadyandeverythinginorder.
Afteralittleshowofindecision,whichtherewerenonetoseebutthetwoorthreeamphibiouscreaturesbelongingtoourTemplestairs,wewentonboardandcastoff;Herbertinthebow,Isteering.
Itwasthenabouthigh-water—half-pasteight.
Ourplanwasthis.Thetide,beginningtorundownatnine,andbeingwithusuntilthree,weintendedstilltocreeponafterithadturned,androwagainstituntildark.
WeshouldthenbewellinthoselongreachesbelowGravesend,betweenKentandEssex,wheretheriverisbroadandsolitary,wherethewatersideinhabitantsareveryfew,andwherelonepublic-housesarescatteredhereandthere,ofwhichwecouldchooseoneforaresting-place.There,wemeanttolieby,allnight.
ThesteamerforHamburg,andthesteamerforRotterdam,wouldstartfromLondonataboutnineonThursdaymorning.
Weshouldknowatwhattimetoexpectthem,accordingtowherewewere,andwouldhailthefirst;sothatifbyanyaccidentwewerenottakenabroad,weshouldhaveanotherchance.
Weknewthedistinguishingmarksofeachvessel.
Thereliefofbeingatlastengagedintheexecutionofthepurpose,wassogreattomethatIfeltitdifficulttorealizetheconditioninwhichIhadbeenafewhoursbefore.
Thecrispair,thesunlight,themovementontheriver,andthemovingriveritself—theroadthatranwithus,seemingtosympathizewithus,animateus,andencourageuson—freshenedmewithnewhope.
Ifeltmortifiedtobeofsolittleuseintheboat;but,therewerefewbetteroarsmenthanmytwofriends,andtheyrowedwithasteadystrokethatwastolastallday.
Atthattime,thesteam-trafficontheThameswasfarbelowitspresentextent,andwatermen’sboatswerefarmorenumerous.
Ofbarges,sailingcolliers,andcoastingtraders,therewereperhapsasmanyasnow;but,ofsteam-ships,greatandsmall,notatitheoratwentiethpartsomany.
Earlyasitwas,therewereplentyofscullersgoinghereandtherethatmorning,andplentyofbargesdroppingdownwiththetide;thenavigationoftheriverbetweenbridges,inanopenboat,wasamucheasierandcommonermatterinthosedaysthanitisinthese;andwewentaheadamongmanyskiffsandwherries,briskly.
OldLondonBridgewassoonpassed,andoldBillingsgatemarketwithitsoyster-boatsandDutchmen,andtheWhiteTowerandTraitor’sGate,andwewereinamongthetiersofshipping.
Here,weretheLeith,Aberdeen,andGlasgowsteamers,loadingandunloadinggoods,andlookingimmenselyhighoutofthewateraswepassedalongside;here,werecolliersbythescoreandscore,withthecoal-whippersplungingoffstagesondeck,ascounterweightstomeasuresofcoalswingingup,whichwerethenrattledoverthesideintobarges;here,athermooringswasto-morrow’ssteamerforRotterdam,ofwhichwetookgoodnotice;andhereto-morrow’sforHamburg,underwhosebowspritwecrossed.
AndnowI,sittinginthestern,couldseewithafasterbeatingheart,MillPondBankandMillPondstairs.
“Ishethere?”saidHerbert.
“Notyet.”
“Right!Hewasnottocomedowntillhesawus.Canyouseehissignal?”
“Notwellfromhere;butIthinkIseeit.—Now,Iseehim!Pullboth.Easy,Herbert.Oars!”
Wetouchedthestairslightlyforasinglemoment,andhewasonboardandwewereoffagain.
Hehadaboat-cloakwithhim,andablackcanvasbag,andhelookedaslikeariver-pilotasmyheartcouldhavewished.“Dearboy!”
hesaid,puttinghisarmonmyshoulderashetookhisseat.“Faithfuldearboy,welldone.Thankye,thankye!”
Againamongthetiersofshipping,inandout,avoidingrustychain-cablesfrayedhempenhawsersandbobbingbuoys,sinkingforthemomentfloatingbrokenbaskets,scatteringfloatingchipsofwoodandshaving,cleavingfloatingscumofcoal,inandout,underthefigure-headoftheJohnofSunderlandmakingaspeechtothewinds(asisdonebymanyJohns),andtheBetsyofYarmouthwithafirmformalityofbosomandhernobbyeyesstartingtwoinchesoutofherhead,inandout,hammersgoinginshipbuilders’yards,sawsgoingattimber,clashingenginesgoingatthingsunknown,pumpsgoinginleakyships,capstansgoing,shipsgoingouttosea,andunintelligiblesea-creaturesroaringcursesoverthebulwarksatrespondentlightermen,inandout—outatlastupontheclearerriver,wheretheships’boysmighttaketheirfendersin,nolongerfishingintroubledwaterswiththemovertheside,andwherethefestoonedsailsmightflyouttothewind.
AttheStairswherewehadtakenhimabroad,andeversince,Ihadlookedwarilyforanytokenofourbeingsuspected.Ihadseennone.
Wecertainlyhadnotbeen,andatthattimeascertainlywewerenot,eitherattendedorfollowedbyanyboat.
Ifwehadbeenwaitedonbyanyboat,Ishouldhaverunintoshore,andhaveobligedhertogoon,ortomakeherpurposeevident.
But,weheldourown,withoutanyappearanceofmolestation.
Hehadhisboat-cloakonhim,andlooked,asIhavesaid,anaturalpartofthescene.
Itwasremarkable(butperhapsthewretchedlifehehadled,accountedforit),thathewastheleastanxiousofanyofus.
Hewasnotindifferent,forhetoldmethathehopedtolivetoseehisgentlemanoneofthebestofgentlemeninaforeigncountry;hewasnotdisposedtobepassiveorresigned,asIunderstoodit;buthehadnonotionofmeetingdangerhalfway.
Whenitcameuponhim,heconfrontedit,butitmustcomebeforehetroubledhimself.
“Ifyouknowed,dearboy,”hesaidtome,“whatitistositherealongermydearboyandhavemysmoke,arterhavingbeendaybydaybetwixtfourwalls,you’denvyme.Butyoudon’tknowwhatitis.”
“IthinkIknowthedelightsoffreedom,”Ianswered.
“Ah,”saidhe,shakinghisheadgravely.“Butyoudon’tknowitequaltome.Youmusthavebeenunderlockandkey,dearboy,toknowitequaltome—butIain’ta-goingtobelow.”
Itoccurredtomeasinconsistent,thatforanymasteringidea,heshouldhaveendangeredhisfreedomandevenhislife.
ButIreflectedthatperhapsfreedomwithoutdangerwastoomuchapartfromallthehabitofhisexistencetobetohimwhatitwouldbetoanotherman.
Iwasnotfarout,sincehesaid,aftersmokingalittle:
“Yousee,dearboy,whenIwasoveryonder,t’othersidetheworld,Iwasalwaysa-lookingtothisside;anditcomeflattobethere,forallIwasa-growingrich.
EverybodyknowedMagwitch,andMagwitchcouldcome,andMagwitchcouldgo,andnobody’sheadwouldbetroubledabouthim.
Theyain’tsoeasyconcerningmehere,dearboy—wouldn’tbe,leastwise,iftheyknowedwhereIwas.”
“Ifallgoeswell,”saidI,“youwillbeperfectlyfreeandsafeagain,withinafewhours.”
“Well,”hereturned,drawingalongbreath,“Ihopeso.”
“Andthinkso?”
Hedippedhishandinthewaterovertheboat’sgunwale,andsaid,smilingwiththatsoftenedairuponhimwhichwasnotnewtome:
“Ay,Is’poseIthinkso,dearboy.We’dbepuzzledtobemorequietandeasy-goingthanweareatpresent.
But—it’sa-flowingsosoftandpleasantthroughthewater,p’raps,asmakesmethinkit—Iwasa-thinkingthroughmysmokejustthen,thatwecannomoreseetothebottomofthenextfewhours,thanwecanseetothebottomofthisriverwhatIcatchesholdof.
Noryetwecan’tnomoreholdtheirtidethanIcanholdthis.
Andit’srunthroughmyfingersandgone,yousee!”holdinguphisdrippinghand.
“Butforyourface,Ishouldthinkyouwerealittledespondent,”saidI.
“Notabitonit,dearboy!Itcomesofflowingonsoquiet,andofthatthereripplingattheboat’sheadmakingasortofaSundaytune.MaybeI’ma-growingatrifleoldbesides.”
Heputhispipebackinhismouthwithanundisturbedexpressionofface,andsatascomposedandcontentedasifwewerealreadyoutofEngland.
Yethewasassubmissivetoawordofadviceasifhehadbeeninconstantterror,for,whenweranashoretogetsomebottlesofbeerintotheboat,andhewassteppingout,IhintedthatIthoughthewouldbesafestwherehewas,andhesaid.“Doyou,dearboy?”andquietlysatdownagain.
Theairfeltcoldupontheriver,butitwasabrightday,andthesunshinewasverycheering.
Thetideranstrong,Itookcaretolosenoneofit,andoursteadystrokecarriedusonthoroughlywell.
Byimperceptibledegrees,asthetideranout,welostmoreandmoreofthenearerwoodsandhills,anddroppedlowerandlowerbetweenthemuddybanks,butthetidewasyetwithuswhenwewereoffGravesend.
Asourchargewaswrappedinhiscloak,Ipurposelypassedwithinaboatortwo’slengthofthefloatingCustomHouse,andsoouttocatchthestream,alongsideoftwoemigrantships,andunderthebowsofalargetransportwithtroopsontheforecastlelookingdownatus.
Andsoonthetidebegantoslacken,andthecraftlyingatanchortoswing,andpresentlytheyhadallswunground,andtheshipsthatweretakingadvantageofthenewtidetogetuptothePool,begantocrowduponusinafleet,andwekeptundertheshore,asmuchoutofthestrengthofthetidenowaswecould,standingcarefullyofffromlowshallowsandmudbanks.
Ouroarsmenweresofresh,bydintofhavingoccasionallyletherdrivewiththetideforaminuteortwo,thataquarterofanhour’srestprovedfullasmuchastheywanted.
Wegotashoreamongsomeslipperystoneswhileweateanddrankwhatwehadwithus,andlookedabout.
Itwaslikemyownmarshcountry,flatandmonotonous,andwithadimhorizon;whilethewindingriverturnedandturned,andthegreatfloatingbuoysuponitturnedandturned,andeverythingelseseemedstrandedandstill.
For,now,thelastofthefleetofshipswasroundthelastlowpointwehadheaded;andthelastgreenbarge,straw-laden,withabrownsail,hadfollowed;andsomeballast-lighters,shapedlikeachild’sfirstrudeimitationofaboat,laylowinthemud;andalittlesquatshoal-lighthouseonopenpiles,stoodcrippledinthemudonstiltsandcrutches;andslimystakesstuckoutofthemud,andslimystonesstuckoutofthemud,andredlandmarksandtidemarksstuckoutofthemud,andanoldlanding-stageandanoldrooflessbuildingslippedintothemud,andallaboutuswasstagnationandmud.
Wepushedoffagain,andmadewhatwaywecould.
Itwasmuchharderworknow,butHerbertandStartoppersevered,androwed,androwed,androwed,untilthesunwentdown.
Bythattimetheriverhadliftedusalittle,sothatwecouldseeabovethebank.
Therewastheredsun,onthelowleveloftheshore,inapurplehaze,fastdeepeningintoblack;andtherewasthesolitaryflatmarsh;andfarawaythereweretherisinggrounds,betweenwhichandusthereseemedtobenolife,savehereandthereintheforegroundamelancholygull.
Asthenightwasfastfalling,andasthemoon,beingpastthefull,wouldnotriseearly,weheldalittlecouncil:ashortone,forclearlyourcoursewastoliebyatthefirstlonelytavernwecouldfind.
So,theypliedtheiroarsoncemore,andIlookedoutforanythinglikeahouse.
Thusweheldon,speakinglittle,forfourorfivedullmiles.
Itwasverycold,and,acolliercomingbyus,withhergalley-firesmokingandflaring,lookedlikeacomfortablehome.
Thenightwasasdarkbythistimeasitwouldbeuntilmorning;andwhatlightwehad,seemedtocomemorefromtheriverthanthesky,astheoarsintheirdippingstruckatafewreflectedstars.
Atthisdismaltimewewereevidentlyallpossessedbytheideathatwewerefollowed.
Asthetidemade,itflappedheavilyatirregularintervalsagainsttheshore;andwheneversuchasoundcame,oneorotherofuswassuretostartandlookinthatdirection.
Hereandthere,thesetofthecurrenthadworndownthebankintoalittlecreek,andwewereallsuspiciousofsuchplaces,andeyedthemnervously.Sometimes,“Whatwasthatripple?”oneofuswouldsayinalowvoice.Oranother,“Isthataboatyonder?”
Andafterwards,wewouldfallintoadeadsilence,andIwouldsitimpatientlythinkingwithwhatanunusualamountofnoisetheoarsworkedinthethowels.
Atlengthwedescriedalightandaroof,andpresentlyafterwardsranalongsidealittlecausewaymadeofstonesthathadbeenpickeduphardby.
Leavingtherestintheboat,Isteppedashore,andfoundthelighttobeinawindowofapublic-house.
Itwasadirtyplaceenough,andIdaresaynotunknowntosmugglingadventurers;buttherewasagoodfireinthekitchen,andtherewereeggsandbacontoeat,andvariousliquorstodrink.
Also,thereweretwodouble-beddedrooms—”suchastheywere,”thelandlordsaid.
Noothercompanywasinthehousethanthelandlord,hiswife,andagrizzledmalecreature,the“Jack”ofthelittlecauseway,whowasasslimyandsmearyasifhehadbeenlow-watermarktoo.
Withthisassistant,Iwentdowntotheboatagain,andweallcameashore,andbroughtouttheoars,andrudder,andboat-hook,andallelse,andhauledherupforthenight.
Wemadeaverygoodmealbythekitchenfire,andthenapportionedthebedrooms:HerbertandStartopweretooccupyone;Iandourchargetheother.
Wefoundtheairascarefullyexcludedfromboth,asifairwerefataltolife;andthereweremoredirtyclothesandbandboxesunderthebedsthanIshouldhavethoughtthefamilypossessed.
But,weconsideredourselveswelloff,notwithstanding,foramoresolitaryplacewecouldnothavefound.
Whilewewerecomfortingourselvesbythefireafterourmeal,theJack—whowassittinginacorner,andwhohadabloatedpairofshoeson,whichhehadexhibitedwhilewewereeatingoureggsandbacon,asinterestingrelicsthathehadtakenafewdaysagofromthefeetofadrownedseamanwashedashore—askedmeifwehadseenafour-oaredgalleygoingupwiththetide?
WhenItoldhimNo,hesaidshemusthavegonedownthen,andyetshe“tookuptoo,”whensheleftthere.
“Theymustha’thoughtbetteron’tforsomereasonoranother,”saidtheJack,“andgonedown.”
“Afour-oaredgalley,didyousay?”saidI.
“Afour,”saidtheJack,“andtwositters.”
“Didtheycomeashorehere?”
“Theyputinwithastonetwo-gallonjar,forsomebeer.I’dha’beengladtopisonthebeermyself,”saidtheJack,“orputsomerattlingphysicinit.”
“Why?”
“Iknowwhy,”saidtheJack.Hespokeinaslushyvoice,asifmuchmudhadwashedintohisthroat.
“Hethinks,”saidthelandlord:aweaklymeditativemanwithapaleeye,whoseemedtorelygreatlyonhisJack:“hethinkstheywas,whattheywasn’t.”
“IknowswhatIthinks,”observedtheJack.
“YouthinksCustum‘Us,Jack?”saidthelandlord.
“Ido,”saidtheJack.
“Thenyou’rewrong,Jack.”
“AmI!”
Intheinfinitemeaningofhisreplyandhisboundlessconfidenceinhisviews,theJacktookoneofhisbloatedshoesoff,lookedintoit,knockedafewstonesoutofitonthekitchenfloor,andputitonagain.
HedidthiswiththeairofaJackwhowassorightthathecouldaffordtodoanything.
“Why,whatdoyoumakeoutthattheydonewiththeirbuttonsthen,Jack?”askedthelandlord,vacillatingweakly.
“Donewiththeirbuttons?”returnedtheJack.“Chucked‘emoverboard.Swallered‘em.Sowed‘em,tocomeupsmallsalad.Donewiththeirbuttons!”
“Don’tbecheeky,Jack,”remonstratedthelandlord,inamelancholyandpatheticway.
“ACustum‘UsofficerknowswhattodowithhisButtons,”saidtheJack,repeatingtheobnoxiouswordwiththegreatestcontempt,“whentheycomesbetwixthimandhisownlight.
AFourandtwosittersdon’tgohangingandhovering,upwithonetideanddownwithanother,andbothwithandagainstanother,withouttherebeingCustum‘Usatthebottomofit.”
Sayingwhichhewentoutindisdain;andthelandlord,havingnoonetoreplyupon,founditimpracticabletopursuethesubject.
Thisdialoguemadeusalluneasy,andmeveryuneasy.
Thedismalwindwasmutteringroundthehouse,thetidewasflappingattheshore,andIhadafeelingthatwewerecagedandthreatened.
Afour-oaredgalleyhoveringaboutinsounusualawayastoattractthisnotice,wasanuglycircumstancethatIcouldnotgetridof.
WhenIhadinducedProvistogouptobed,Iwentoutsidewithmytwocompanions(Startopbythistimeknewthestateofthecase),andheldanothercouncil.
Whetherweshouldremainatthehouseuntilnearthesteamer’stime,whichwouldbeaboutoneintheafternoon;orwhetherweshouldputoffearlyinthemorning;wasthequestionwediscussed.
Onthewholewedeemeditthebettercoursetoliewherewewere,untilwithinanhourorsoofthesteamer’stime,andthentogetoutinhertrack,anddrifteasilywiththetide.
Havingsettledtodothis,wereturnedintothehouseandwenttobed.
Ilaydownwiththegreaterpartofmyclotheson,andsleptwellforafewhours.
WhenIawoke,thewindhadrisen,andthesignofthehouse(theShip)wascreakingandbangingabout,withnoisesthatstartledme.
Risingsoftly,formychargelayfastasleep,Ilookedoutofthewindow.
Itcommandedthecausewaywherewehadhauledupourboat,and,asmyeyesadaptedthemselvestothelightofthecloudedmoon,Isawtwomenlookingintoher.
Theypassedbyunderthewindow,lookingatnothingelse,andtheydidnotgodowntothelanding-placewhichIcoulddiscerntobeempty,butstruckacrossthemarshinthedirectionoftheNore.
MyfirstimpulsewastocallupHerbert,andshowhimthetwomengoingaway.
But,reflectingbeforeIgotintohisroom,whichwasatthebackofthehouseandadjoinedmine,thatheandStartophadhadaharderdaythanI,andwerefatigued,Iforbore.
Goingbacktomywindow,Icouldseethetwomenmovingoverthemarsh.
Inthatlight,however,Isoonlostthem,andfeelingverycold,laydowntothinkofthematter,andfellasleepagain.
Wewereupearly.Aswewalkedtoandfro,allfourtogether,beforebreakfast,IdeemeditrighttorecountwhatIhadseen.
Againourchargewastheleastanxiousoftheparty.
ItwasverylikelythatthemenbelongedtotheCustomHouse,hesaidquietly,andthattheyhadnothoughtofus.
Itriedtopersuademyselfthatitwasso—as,indeed,itmighteasilybe.
However,IproposedthatheandIshouldwalkawaytogethertoadistantpointwecouldsee,andthattheboatshouldtakeusaboardthere,orasnearthereasmightprovefeasible,ataboutnoon.
Thisbeingconsideredagoodprecaution,soonafterbreakfastheandIsetforth,withoutsayinganythingatthetavern.
Hesmokedhispipeaswewentalong,andsometimesstoppedtoclapmeontheshoulder.
OnewouldhavesupposedthatitwasIwhowasindanger,nothe,andthathewasreassuringme.Wespokeverylittle.
Asweapproachedthepoint,Ibeggedhimtoremaininashelteredplace,whileIwentontoreconnoitre;for,itwastowardsitthatthemenhadpassedinthenight.Hecomplied,andIwentonalone.
Therewasnoboatoffthepoint,noranyboatdrawnupanywherenearit,norwerethereanysignsofthemenhavingembarkedthere.
But,tobesurethetidewashigh,andtheremighthavebeensomefootpintsunderwater.
Whenhelookedoutfromhisshelterinthedistance,andsawthatIwavedmyhattohimtocomeup,herejoinedme,andtherewewaited;sometimeslyingonthebankwrappedinourcoats,andsometimesmovingabouttowarmourselves:untilwesawourboatcominground.
Wegotaboardeasily,androwedoutintothetrackofthesteamer.
Bythattimeitwantedbuttenminutesofoneo’clock,andwebegantolookoutforhersmoke.
But,itwashalf-pastonebeforewesawhersmoke,andsoonafterwardswesawbehinditthesmokeofanothersteamer.
Astheywerecomingonatfullspeed,wegotthetwobagsready,andtookthatopportunityofsayinggood-byetoHerbertandStartop.
Wehadallshakenhandscordially,andneitherHerbert’seyesnorminewerequitedry,whenIsawafour-oaredgalleyshootoutfromunderthebankbutalittlewayaheadofus,androwoutintothesametrack.
Astretchofshorehadbeenasyetbetweenusandthesteamer’ssmoke,byreasonofthebendandwindoftheriver;butnowshewasvisible,comingheadon.
IcalledtoHerbertandStartoptokeepbeforethetide,thatshemightseeuslyingbyforher,andIadjuredProvistositquitestill,wrappedinhiscloak.
Heansweredcheerily,“Trusttome,dearboy,”andsatlikeastatue.
Meantimethegalley,whichwasveryskilfullyhandled,hadcrossedus,letuscomeupwithher,andfallenalongside.
Leavingjustroomenoughfortheplayoftheoars,shekeptalongside,driftingwhenwedrifted,andpullingastrokeortwowhenwepulled.
Ofthetwosittersoneheldtherudderlines,andlookedatusattentively—asdidalltherowers;theothersitterwaswrappedup,muchasProviswas,andseemedtoshrink,andwhispersomeinstructiontothesteererashelookedatus.Notawordwasspokenineitherboat.
Startopcouldmakeout,afterafewminutes,whichsteamerwasfirst,andgavemetheword“Hamburg,”inalowvoiceaswesatfacetoface.
Shewasnearingusveryfast,andthebeatingofherpeddlesgrewlouderandlouder.
Ifeltasifhershadowwereabsolutelyuponus,whenthegalleyhailedus.Ianswered.
“YouhaveareturnedTransportthere,”saidthemanwhoheldthelines.“That’stheman,wrappedinthecloak.
HisnameisAbelMagwitch,otherwiseProvis.
Iapprehendthatman,andcalluponhimtosurrender,andyoutoassist.”
Atthesamemoment,withoutgivinganyaudibledirectiontohiscrew,heranthegalleyabroadofus.
Theyhadpulledonesuddenstrokeahead,hadgottheiroarsin,hadrunathwartus,andwereholdingontoourgunwale,beforeweknewwhattheyweredoing.
Thiscausedgreatconfusiononboardthesteamer,andIheardthemcallingtous,andheardtheordergiventostopthepaddles,andheardthemstop,butfeltherdrivingdownuponusirresistibly.
Inthesamemoment,Isawthesteersmanofthegalleylayhishandonhisprisoner’sshoulder,andsawthatbothboatswereswingingroundwiththeforceofthetide,andsawthatallhandsonboardthesteamerwererunningforwardquitefrantically.
Stillinthesamemoment,Isawtheprisonerstartup,leanacrosshiscaptor,andpullthecloakfromtheneckoftheshrinkingsitterinthegalley.
Stillinthesamemoment,Isawthatthefacedisclosed,wasthefaceoftheotherconvictoflongago.
Stillinthesamemoment,IsawthefacetiltbackwardwithawhiteterroronitthatIshallneverforget,andheardagreatcryonboardthesteamerandaloudsplashinthewater,andfelttheboatsinkfromunderme.
ItwasbutforaninstantthatIseemedtostrugglewithathousandmill-weirsandathousandflashesoflight;thatinstantpast,Iwastakenonboardthegalley.
Herbertwasthere,andStartopwasthere;butourboatwasgone,andthetwoconvictsweregone.
Whatwiththecriesaboardthesteamer,andthefuriousblowingoffofhersteam,andherdrivingon,andourdrivingon,Icouldnotatfirstdistinguishskyfromwaterorshorefromshore;but,thecrewofthegalleyrightedherwithgreatspeed,and,pullingcertainswiftstrongstrokesahead,layupontheiroars,everymanlookingsilentlyandeagerlyatthewaterastern.
Presentlyadarkobjectwasseeninit,bearingtowardsusonthetide.
Nomanspoke,butthesteersmanhelduphishand,andallsoftlybackedwater,andkepttheboatstraightandtruebeforeit.
Asitcamenearer,IsawittobeMagwitch,swimming,butnotswimmingfreely.
Hewastakenonboard,andinstantlymanacledatthewristsandankles.
Thegalleywaskeptsteady,andthesilenteagerlook-outatthewaterwasresumed.
But,theRotterdamsteamernowcameup,andapparentlynotunderstandingwhathadhappened,cameonatspeed.
Bythetimeshehadbeenhailedandstopped,bothsteamersweredriftingawayfromus,andwewererisingandfallinginatroubledwakeofwater.
Thelook-outwaskept,longafterallwasstillagainandthetwosteamersweregone;but,everybodyknewthatitwashopelessnow.
Atlengthwegaveitup,andpulledundertheshoretowardsthetavernwehadlatelyleft,wherewewerereceivedwithnolittlesurprise.
Here,IwasabletogetsomecomfortsforMagwitch—Provisnolonger—whohadreceivedsomeverysevereinjuryinthechestandadeepcutinthehead.
Hetoldmethathebelievedhimselftohavegoneunderthekeelofthesteamer,andtohavebeenstruckontheheadinrising.
Theinjurytohischest(whichrenderedhisbreathingextremelypainful)hethoughthehadreceivedagainstthesideofthegalley.
HeaddedthathedidnotpretendtosaywhathemightormightnothavedonetoCompeyson,but,thatinthemomentofhislayinghishandonhiscloaktoidentifyhim,thatvillainhadstaggeredupandstaggeredback,andtheyhadbothgoneoverboardtogether;whenthesuddenwrenchingofhim(Magwitch)outofourboat,andtheendeavourofhiscaptortokeephiminit,hadcapsizedus.
Hetoldmeinawhisperthattheyhadgonedown,fiercelylockedineachother’sarms,andthattherehadbeenastruggleunderwater,andthathehaddisengagedhimself,struckout,andswumaway.
Ineverhadanyreasontodoubttheexacttruthofwhathethustoldme.Theofficerwhosteeredthegalleygavethesameaccountoftheirgoingoverboard.
WhenIaskedthisofficer’spermissiontochangetheprisoner’swetclothesbypurchasinganysparegarmentsIcouldgetatthepublic-house,hegaveitreadily:merelyobservingthathemusttakechargeofeverythinghisprisonerhadabouthim.
Sothepocketbookwhichhadoncebeeninmyhands,passedintotheofficer’s.
HefurthergavemeleavetoaccompanytheprisonertoLondon;but,declinedtoaccordthatgracetomytwofriends.
TheJackattheShipwasinstructedwherethedrownedmanhadgonedown,andundertooktosearchforthebodyintheplaceswhereitwaslikeliesttocomeashore.
Hisinterestinitsrecoveryseemedtometobemuchheightenedwhenheheardthatithadstockingson.
Probably,ittookaboutadozendrownedmentofithimoutcompletely;andthatmayhavebeenthereasonwhythedifferentarticlesofhisdresswereinvariousstagesofdecay.
Weremainedatthepublic-houseuntilthetideturned,andthenMagwitchwascarrieddowntothegalleyandputonboard.
HerbertandStartopweretogettoLondonbyland,assoonastheycould.
Wehadadolefulparting,andwhenItookmyplacebyMagwitch’sside,Ifeltthatthatwasmyplacehenceforthwhilehelived.
Fornow,myrepugnancetohimhadallmeltedaway,andinthehuntedwoundedshackledcreaturewhoheldmyhandinhis,Ionlysawamanwhohadmeanttobemybenefactor,andwhohadfeltaffectionately,gratefully,andgenerously,towardsmewithgreatconstancythroughaseriesofyears.
IonlysawinhimamuchbettermanthanIhadbeentoJoe.
Hisbreathingbecamemoredifficultandpainfulasthenightdrewon,andoftenhecouldnotrepressagroan.
ItriedtoresthimonthearmIcoulduse,inanyeasyposition;but,itwasdreadfultothinkthatIcouldnotbesorryatheartforhisbeingbadlyhurt,sinceitwasunquestionablybestthatheshoulddie.
Thattherewere,stillliving,peopleenoughwhowereableandwillingtoidentifyhim,Icouldnotdoubt.
Thathewouldbelenientlytreated,Icouldnothope.
Hewhohadbeenpresentedintheworstlightathistrial,whohadsincebrokenprisonandhadbeentriedagain,whohadreturnedfromtransportationunderalifesentence,andwhohadoccasionedthedeathofthemanwhowasthecauseofhisarrest.
Aswereturnedtowardsthesettingsunwehadyesterdayleftbehindus,andasthestreamofourhopesseemedallrunningback,ItoldhimhowgrievedIwastothinkthathehadcomehomeformysake.
“Dearboy,”heanswered,“I’mquitecontenttotakemychance.I’veseenmyboy,andhecanbeagentlemanwithoutme.”
No.Ihadthoughtaboutthat,whilewehadbeentheresidebyside.No.
Apartfromanyinclinationsofmyown,IunderstoodWemmick’shintnow.
Iforesawthat,beingconvicted,hispossessionswouldbeforfeitedtotheCrown.
“Lookeehere,dearboy,”saidhe“It’sbestasagentlemanshouldnotbeknowedtobelongtomenow.
OnlycometoseemeasifyoucomebychancealongerWemmick.
SitwhereIcanseeyouwhenIamsworeto,forthelasto’manytimes,andIdon’tasknomore.”
“Iwillneverstirfromyourside,”saidI,“whenIamsufferedtobenearyou.PleaseGod,Iwillbeastruetoyou,asyouhavebeentome!”
Ifelthishandtrembleasitheldmine,andheturnedhisfaceawayashelayinthebottomoftheboat,andIheardthatoldsoundinhisthroat—softenednow,likealltherestofhim.
Itwasagoodthingthathehadtouchedthispoint,foritputintomymindwhatImightnototherwisehavethoughtofuntiltoolate:Thatheneedneverknowhowhishopesofenrichingmehadperished.
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