the vanished messenger-第6章

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from　where　the　rain　s　coming　sopping　in。　　And　if　so　be　you　can
remember　while　you　do　it　that　this　is　a　judgment　that's　come　upon　us；
why；　so　much　the　better。　　We　are　evil…doers；　all　of　us；　though　them
as　likes　the　easy　ways　generally　manage　to　forget　it。〃

The　man　retreated　silently。　　The　woman　sat　down　upon　a　stool　and
waited。　　Gerald　sat　opposite　to　her；　the　battered　dressing…case
upon　his　knees。　　Between　them　was　stretched　the　body　of　the
unconscious　man。

〃Are　you　used　to　prayer；　young　sir？〃　the　woman　asked。

Gerald　shook　his　head；　and　the　woman　did　not　pursue　the　subject。
Only　once　her　eyes　were　half　closed　and　her　words　drifted　across
the　room。

〃The　Lord　have　mercy　on　this　man；　a　sinner！〃




CHAPTER　IV

〃My　advice　to　you；　sir；　is　to　chuck　it！〃

Gerald　turned　towards　the　chauffeur　by　whose　side　he　was　seated　a
little　stiffly；　for　his　limbs　were　numbed　with　the　cold　and
exhaustion。　　The　morning　had　broken　with　a　grey　and　uncertain　light。
A　vaporous　veil　of　mist　seemed　to　have　taken　the　place　of　the
darkness。　　Even　from　the　top　of　the　hill　where　the　car　had　come　to
a　standstill；　there　was　little　to　be　seen。

〃We　must　have　come　forty　miles　already；〃　the　chauffeur　continued；
〃what　with　going　out　of　our　way　all　the　time　because　of　the　broken
bridges。　　I'm　pretty　well　frozen　through；　and　as　for　him；〃　he　added；
jerking　his　thumb　across　his　shoulder；　〃it　seems　to　me　you're　taking
a　bit　of　a　risk。〃

〃The　doctor　said　he　would　remain　in　exactly　the　same　condition　for
twenty…four　hours；〃　Gerald　declared。

〃Yes；　but　he　didn't　say　anything　about　shaking　him　up　over　forty
miles　of　rough　road；〃　the　other　protested。　　〃You'll　excuse　me；　sir；〃
he　continued；　in　a　slightly　changed　tone；　〃it　isn't　my　business；　of
course；　but　I'm　fairly　done。　　It　don't　seem　reasonable　to　stick　at
it　like　this。　　There's　Holt　village　not　a　mile　away；　and　a　comfortable
inn　and　a　fire　waiting。　　I　thought　that　was　as　far　as　you　wanted　to
come。　　We　might　lie　up　there　for　a　few　hours；　at　any　rate。〃

His　passenger　slipped　down　from　his　place；　and；　lifting　the　rug；
peered　into　the　tonneau　of　the　car；　over　which　they　had　tied　a　hood。
To　all　appearance；　the　condition　of　the　man　who　lay　there　was
unchanged。　　There　was　a　slightly　added　blueness　about　the　lps　but
his　breathing　was　still　perceptible。　　It　seemed　even　a　little
stronger。　　Gerald　resumed　his　seat。

〃It　isn't　worth　while　to　stay　at　Holt；〃　he　said　quietly。　　〃We　are
scarcely　seven　miles　from　home　now。　　Sit　still　for　a　few　minutes
and　get　your　wind。〃

〃Only　seven　miles；〃　the　chauffeur　repeated　more　cheerfully。　　〃That's
something；　anyway。〃

〃And　all　downhill。〃

〃Towards　the　sea；　then？〃

〃Straight　to　the　sea；〃　Gerald　told　him。　　〃The　place　we　are　making
for　is　St。　David's　Hall；　near　Salthouse。〃

The　chauffeur　seemed　a　little　startled。

〃'Why；　that's　Squire　Fentolin's　house！〃

Gerald　nodded。

〃That　is　where　we　are　going。　　You　follow　this　road　almost　straight
ahead。〃

The　chauffeur　slipped　in　the　clutch。

〃Oh；　I　know　the　way　now；　sir；　right　enough！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃There's
Salthouse　marsh　to　cross；　though。　　I　don't　know　about　that。〃

〃We　shall　manage　that　all　right；〃　Gerald　declared。　　〃'We've　more
light　now；　too。〃

They　both　looked　around。　　During　the　last　few　minutes　the　late
morning　seemed　to　have　forced　its　way　through　the　clouds。　　They　had
a　dim；　phantasmagoric　view　of　the　stricken　country：　a　watery　plain；
with　here　and　there　great　patches　of　fields；　submerged　to　the
hedges；　and　houses　standing　out　amidst　the　waste　of　waters　like
toy　dwellings。　　There　were　whole　plantations　of　uprooted　trees。
Close　to　the　road；　on　their　left；　was　a　roofless　house；　and　a
family　of　children　crying　underneath　a　tarpaulin　shelter。　　As　they
crept　on；　the　wind　came　to　them　with　a　brackish　flavour；　salt　with
the　sea。　　The　chauffeur　was　gazing　ahead　doubtfully。

〃I　don't　like　the　look　of　the　marsh；〃　he　grumbled。　　〃Can't　see　the
road　at　all。　　However；　here　goes。〃

〃Another　half…hour；〃　Gerald　assured　him　encouragingly；　〃and　we　shall
be　at　St。　David's　Hall。　　You　can　have　as　much　rest　as　you　like　then。〃

They　were　facing　the　wind　now；　and　conversation　became　impossible。
Twice　they　had　to　pull　up　sharp　and　make　a　considerable　detour；　once
on　account　of　a　fallen　tree　which　blocked　the　road；　and　another
time　because　of　the　yawning　gap　where　a　bridge　had　fallen　away。
Gerald；　however；　knew　every　inch　of　the　country　they　were　in　and
was　able　to　give　the　necessary　directions。　　They　began　to　meet　farm
wagons　now；　full　of　people　who　had　been　driven　from　their　homes。
Warnings　and　information　as　to　the　state　of　the　roads　were　shouted
to　them　continually。　　Presently　they　came　to　the　last　steep　descent；
and　emerged　from　the　devastated　fragment　of　a　wood　almost　on　to　the
sea　level。　　The　chauffeur　clapped　on　his　brakes　and　stopped　short。

〃My　God！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Here's　more　trouble！〃

Gerald　for　a　moment　was　speechless。　　They　seemed　to　have　come
suddenly　upon　a　huge　plain　of　waters；　an　immense　lake　reaching　as　
ar　as　they　could　see　on　either　side。　　The　road　before　them　stretched
like　a　ribbon　for　the　next　three　miles。　　Here　and　there　it
disappeared　and　reappeared　again。　　In　many　places　it　was　lapped　by
little　waves。　　Everywhere　the　hedges　were　either　altogether　or　half
under　water。　　In　the　distance　was　one　farmhouse；　only　the　roof　of
which　was　visible；　and　from　which　the　inhabitants　were　clambering
into　a　boat。　　And　beyond；　with　scarcely　a　break　save　for　the　rising
of　one　strangely…shaped　hill；　was　the　sea。　　Gerald　pointed　with　his
finger。

〃　There's　St。　David's　Hall；〃　he　said；　〃on　the　other　side　of　the
hill。　　The　road　seems　all　right。〃

〃Does　it！〃　the　chauffeur　grunted。　　〃It's　under　water　more　than　half
the　way；　and　Heaven　knows　how　deep　it　is　at　the　sides！　　I'm　not
going　to　risk　my　life　along　there。　　I　am　going　to　take　the　car　back
to　Holt。〃

His　hand　was　already　upon　the　reverse　lever；　but　Gerald　gripped　it。

〃Look　here；〃　he　protested；　〃we　haven't　come　all　this　way　to　turn　back。
You　don't　look　like　a　coward。〃

〃I　am　not　a　coward；　sir；〃　was　the　quiet　answer。　　〃Neither　am　I　a
fool。　　I　don't　see　any　use　in　risking　our　lives　and　my　master's
motor…car；　because　you　want　to　get　home。〃

〃Naturally；〃　Gerald　answered　calmly；　〃but　remember　this。　　I　am
responsible　for　your　car　…　not　you。　　Mr。　Fentolin　is　my　uncle。〃

The　chauffeur　nodded　shortly。

〃You're　Mr。　Gerald　Fentolin；　aren't　you；　sir？〃　he　remarked。　　〃I
thought　I　recognised　you。〃

〃I　am；〃　Gerald　admitted。　　〃We've　had　a　rough　journey；　but　it　doesn't
seem　sense　to　turn　back　now；　does　it；　with　the　house　in　sight？〃

〃That's　all　very　well；　sir；〃　the　chauffeur　objected　doubtfully；　〃but
I　don't　believe　the　road's　even　passable；　and　the　floods　seem　to　me
to　be　rising。〃

〃Try　it；〃　the　young　man　begged。　　〃Look　here；　I　don't　want　to　bribe
you；　or　anything　of　that　sort。　　You　know　you're　coming　out　of　this
well。　　It's　a　serious　matter　for　me；　and　I　shan't　be　likely　to　forget
it。　　I　want　to　take　this　gentleman　to　St。　David's　Hall　and　not　to
a　hospital。　　You've　brought　me　here　so　far　like　a　man。　　Let's　go
through　with　it。　　If　the　worst　comes　to　the　worst；　we　can　both　swim；
I　suppose；　and　we　are　not　likely　to　get　out　of　our　depth。〃

The　chauffeur　moved　his　head　backwards。

〃How　about　him？〃

〃He　must　take　his　chance；〃　Gerald　replied。　　〃He's　all　right　where
he　is。　　The　car　won't　upset　and　there　are　plenty　of　people　who'll
see　if　we　get　into　trouble。　　Come；　let's　make　a　dash　for　it。〃

The　chauffeur　thrust　in　his　clutch　and　settled　himself　down。　　They
glided　off　along　that　winding　stretch　of　road。　　To　its　very　edge；
on　either　side　of　them；　so　close　that　they　could　almost　touch　it；
came　the　water；　water　which　stretched　as　far　as　they　could　see；
swaying；　waveless；　sinister…looking。　　Even　Gerald；　after　his　first
impulse　of　wonder；　kept　his　eyes　averted　and　fixed　upon　the　road
ahead。　　Soon　they　reached　a　place　where　the　water　met　in　front。
There　were　only　the　rows　of　white　palings　on　either　side　to　guide
them。　　The　chauffeur　muttered　to　himself　as　he　changed　to　his　first
speed。

〃If　the　engine　gets　stopped；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　know　how　we　shall
get　out　of