in search of the castaways-第116章

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CHAPTER　XVII　AYRTON'S　OBSTINACY

AYRTON　came。　　He　crossed　the　deck　with　a　confident　tread；　and　mounted　the　steps　to　the　poop。　　His　eyes　were　gloomy；　his　teeth　set；　his　fists　clenched　convulsively。　His　appearance　betrayed　neither　effrontery　nor　timidity。　When　he　found　himself　in　the　presence　of　Lord　Glenarvan　he　folded　his　arms　and　awaited　the　questions　calmly　and　silently。　〃Ayrton；〃　said　Glenarvan；　〃here　we　are　then；　you　and　us；　on　this　very　DUNCAN　that　you　wished　to　deliver　into　the　hands　of　the　convicts　of　Ben　Joyce。〃　The　lips　of　the　quartermaster　trembled　slightly　and　a　quick　flush　suffused　his　impassive　features。　　Not　the　flush　of　remorse；　but　of　shame　at　failure。　　On　this　yacht　which　he　thought　he　was　to　command　as　master；　he　was　a　prisoner；　and　his　fate　was　about　to　be　decided　in　a　few　seconds。　However；　he　made　no　reply。　　Glenarvan　waited　patiently。　But　Ayrton　persisted　in　keeping　absolute　silence。　〃Speak；　Ayrton；　what　have　you　to　say？〃　resumed　Glenarvan。　Ayrton　hesitated；　the　wrinkles　in　his　forehead　deepened；　and　at　length　he　said　in　calm　voice：　〃I　have　nothing　to　say；　my　Lord。　　I　have　been　fool　enough　to　allow　myself　to　be　caught。　　Act　as　you　please。〃　Then　he　turned　his　eyes　away　toward　the　coast　which　lay　on　the　west；　and　affected　profound　indifference　to　what　was　passing　around　him。　One　would　have　thought　him　a　stranger　to　the　whole　affair。　But　Glenarvan　was　determined　to　be　patient。　　Powerful　motives　urged　him　to　find　out　certain　details　concerning　the　mysterious　life　of　Ayrton；　especially　those　which　related　to　Harry　Grant　and　the　BRITANNIA。　　He　therefore　resumed　his　interrogations；　speaking　with　extreme　gentleness　and　firmly　restraining　his　violent　irritation　against　him。　〃I　think；　Ayrton；〃　he　went　on；　〃that　you　will　not　refuse　to　reply　to　certain　questions　that　I　wish　to　put　to　you；　and；　first　of　all；　ought　I　to　call　you　Ayrton　or　Ben　Joyce？　　Are　you；　or　are　you　not；　the　quartermaster　of　the　BRITANNIA？〃　Ayrton　remained　impassive；　gazing　at　the　coast；　deaf　to　every　question。　Glenarvan's　eyes　kindled；　as　he　said　again：　〃Will　you　tell　me　how　you　left　the　BRITANNIA；　and　why　you　are　in　Australia？〃　The　same　silence；　the　same　impassibility。　〃Listen　to　me；　Ayrton；〃　continued　Glenarvan；　〃it　is　to　your　interest　to　speak。　　Frankness　is　the　only　resource　left　to　you；　and　it　may　stand　you　in　good　stead。　　For　the　last　time；　I　ask　you；　will　you　reply　to　my　questions？〃　Ayrton　turned　his　head　toward　Glenarvan；　and　looked　into　his　eyes。　〃My　Lord；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　not　for　me　to　answer。　　Justice　may　witness　against　me；　but　I　am　not　going　to　witness　against　myself。〃　〃Proof　will　be　easy；〃　said　Glenarvan。　〃Easy；　my　Lord；〃　repeated　Ayrton；　in　a　mocking　tone。　〃Your　honor　makes　rather　a　bold　assertion　there；　it　seems　to　me。　For　my　own　part；　I　venture　to　affirm　that　the　best　judge　in　the　Temple　would　be　puzzled　what　to　make　of　me。　　Who　will　say　why　I　came　to　Australia；　when　Captain　Grant　is　not　here　to　tell？　Who　will　prove　that　I　am　the　Ben　Joyce　placarded　by　the　police；　when　the　police　have　never　had　me　in　their　hands；　and　my　companions　are　at　liberty？　　Who　can　damage　me　except　yourself；　by　bringing　forward　a　single　crime　against　me；　or　even　a　blameable　action？　Who　will　affirm　that　I　intended　to　take　possession　of　this　ship　and　deliver　it　into　the　hands　of　the　convicts？　No　one；　I　tell　you；　no　one。　　You　have　your　suspicions；　but　you　need　certainties　to　condemn　a　man；　and　certainties　you　have　none。　Until　there　is　a　proof　to　the　contrary；　I　am　Ayrton；　quartermaster　of　the　BRITANNIA。〃　Ayrton　had　become　animated　while　he　was　speaking；　but　soon　relapsed　into　his　former　indifference。　He；　no　doubt；　expected　that　his　reply　would　close　the　examination；　but　Glenarvan　commenced　again；　and　said：　〃Ayrton；　I　am　not　a　Crown　prosecutor　charged　with　your　indictment。　That　is　no　business　of　mine。　　It　is　important　that　our　respective　situations　should　be　clearly　defined。　I　am　not　asking　you　anything　that　could　compromise　you。　That　is　for　justice　to　do。　　But　you　know　what　I　am　searching　for；　and　a　single　word　may　put　me　on　the　track　I　have　lost。　Will　you　speak？〃　Ayrton　shook　his　head　like　a　man　determined　to　be　silent。　〃Will　you　tell　me　where　Captain　Grant　is？〃　asked　Glenarvan。　〃No；　my　Lord；〃　replied　Ayrton。　〃Will　you　tell　me　where　the　BRITANNIA　was　wrecked？〃　〃No；　neither　the　one　nor　the　other。〃　〃Ayrton；〃　said　Glenarvan；　in　almost　beseeching　tones；　〃if　you　know　where　Harry　Grant　is；　will　you；　at　least；　tell　his　poor　children；　who　are　waiting　for　you　to　speak　the　word？〃　Ayrton　hesitated。　　His　features　contracted；　and　he　muttered　in　a　low　voice；　〃I　cannot；　my　Lord。〃　Then　he　added　with　vehemence；　as　if　reproaching　himself　for　a　momentary　weakness：　〃No；　I　will　not　speak。　　Have　me　hanged；　if　you　choose。〃　〃Hanged！〃　exclaimed　Glenarvan；　overcome　by　a　sudden　feeling　of　anger。　But　immediately　mastering　himself；　he　added　in　a　grave　voice：　〃Ayrton；　there　is　neither　judge　nor　executioner　here。　At　the　first　port　we　touch　at；　you　will　be　given　up　into　the　hands　of　the　English　authorities。〃　〃That　is　what　I　demand；〃　was　the　quartermaster's　reply。　Then　he　turned　away　and　quietly　walked　back　to　his　cabin；　which　served　as　his　prison。　　Two　sailors　kept　guard　at　the　door；　with　orders　to　watch　his　slightest　movement。　The　witnesses　of　this　examination　retired　from　the　scene　indignant　and　despairing。　As　Glenarvan　could　make　no　way　against　Ayrton's　obstinacy；　what　was　to　be　done　now？　　Plainly　no　course　remained　but　to　carry　out　the　plan　formed　at　Eden；　of　returning　to　Europe　and　giving　up　for　the　time　this　unsuccessful　enterprise；　for　the　traces　of　the　BRITANNIA　seemed　irrevocably　lost；　and　the　document　did　not　appear　to　allow　any　fresh　interpretation。　On　the　37th　parallel　there　was　not　even　another　country；　and　the　DUNCAN　had　only　to　turn　and　go　back。　After　Glenarvan　had　consulted　his　friends；　he　talked　over　the　question　of　returning；　more　particularly　with　the　captain。　John　examined　the　coal　bunkers；　and　found　there　was　only　enough　to　last　fifteen　days　longer　at　the　outside。　It　was　necessary；　therefore；　to　put　in　at　the　nearest　port　for　a　fresh　supply。　John　proposed　that　he　should　steer　for　the　Bay　of　Talcahuano；　where　the　DUNCAN　had　once　before　been　revictualed　before　she　commenced　her　voyage　of　circumnavigation。　　It　was　a　direct　route　across；　and　lay　exactly　along　the　37th　parallel。　From　thence　the　yacht；　being　amply　provisioned；　might　go　south；　double　Cape　Horn；　and　get　back　to　Scotland　by　the　Atlantic　route。　This　plan　was　adopted；　and　orders　were　given　to　the　engineer　to　get　up　the　steam。　　Half　an　hour　afterward　the　beak…head　of　the　yacht　was　turned　toward　Talcahuano；　over　a　sea　worthy　of　being　called　the　Pacific；　and　at　six　P。　M。　the　last　mountains　of　New　Zealand　had　disappeared　in　warm；　hazy　mist　on　the　horizon。　The　return　voyage　was　fairly　commenced。　　A　sad　voyage；　for　the　courageous　searching　party　to　come　back　to　the　port　without　bringing　home　Harry　Grant　with　them！　　The　crew；　so　joyous　at　departure　and　so　hopeful；　were　coming　back　to　Europe　defeated　and　discouraged。　There　was　not　one　among　the　brave　fellows　whose　heart　did　not　swell　at　the　thought　of　seeing　his　own　country　once　more；　and　yet　there　was　not　one　among　them　either　who　would　not　have　been　willing　to　brave　the