for the term of his natural life-第24章
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off roofs and levelled boat…sheds。 The little town was set； as it were； in defiance of Nature； at the very extreme of civilization； and its inhabitants maintained perpetual warfare with the winds and waves。
But the gaol of Sarah Island was not the only prison in this desolate region。
At a little distance from the mainland is a rock； over the rude side of which the waves dash in rough weather。 On the evening of the 3rd December； 1833； as the sun was sinking behind the tree…tops on the left side of the harbour； the figure of a man appeared on the top of this rock。 He was clad in the coarse garb of a convict； and wore round his ankles two iron rings； connected by a short and heavy chain。 To the middle of this chain a leathern strap was attached； which； splitting in the form of a T； buckled round his waist； and pulled the chain high enough to prevent him from stumbling over it as he walked。 His head was bare； and his coarse； blue…striped shirt； open at the throat； displayed an embrowned and muscular neck。 Emerging from out a sort of cell； or den； contrived by nature or art in the side of the cliff； he threw on a scanty fire； which burned between two hollowed rocks； a small log of pine wood； and then returning to his cave； and bringing from it an iron pot； which contained water； he scooped with his toil…hardened hands a resting…place for it in the ashes； and placed it on the embers。 It was evident that the cave was at once his storehouse and larder； and that the two hollowed rocks formed his kitchen。
Having thus made preparations for supper； he ascended a pathway which led to the highest point of the rock。 His fetters compelled him to take short steps； and； as he walked； he winced as though the iron bit him。 A handkerchief or strip of cloth was twisted round his left ankle； on which the circlet had chafed a sore。 Painfully and slowly； he gained his destination； and flinging himself on the ground； gazed around him。 The afternoon had been stormy； and the rays of the setting sun shone redly on the turbid and rushing waters of the bay。 On the right lay Sarah Island； on the left the bleak shore of the opposite and the tall peak of the Frenchman's Cap； while the storm hung sullenly over the barren hills to the eastward。 Below him appeared the only sign of life。 A brig was being towed up the harbour by two convict…manned boats。
The sight of this brig seemed to rouse in the mind of the solitary of the rock a strain of reflection； for； sinking his chin upon his hand； he fixed his eyes on the incoming vessel； and immersed himself in moody thought。 More than an hour had passed； yet he did not move。 The ship anchored； the boats detached themselves from her sides； the sun sank； and the bay was plunged in gloom。 Lights began to twinkle along the shore of the settlement。 The little fire died； and the water in the iron pot grew cold； yet the watcher on the rock did not stir。 With his eyes staring into the gloom； and fixed steadily on the vessel； he lay along the barren cliff of his lonely prison as motionless as the rock on which he had stretched himself。
This solitary man was Rufus Dawes。
CHAPTER III。
A SOCIAL EVENING。
In the house of Major Vickers； Commandant of Macquarie Harbour； there was； on this evening of December 3rd； unusual gaiety。
Lieutenant Maurice Frere； late in command at Maria Island； had unexpectedly come down with news from head…quarters。 The Ladybird； Government schooner； visited the settlement on ordinary occasions twice a year； and such visits were looked forward to with no little eagerness by the settlers。 To the convicts the arrival of the Ladybird meant arrival of new faces； intelligence of old comrades； news of how the world； from which they were exiled； was progressing。 When the Ladybird arrived； the chained and toil…worn felons felt that they were yet human； that the universe was not bounded by the gloomy forests which surrounded their prison； but that there was a world beyond； where men； like themselves； smoked； and drank； and laughed； and rested； and were Free。 When the Ladybird arrived； they heard such news as interested themthat is to say； not mere foolish accounts of wars or ship arrivals； or city gossip； but matters appertaining to their own worldhow Tom was with the road gangs； Dick on a ticket…of…leave； Harry taken to the bush； and Jack hung at the Hobart Town Gaol。 Such items of intelligence were the only news they cared to hear； and the new…comers were well posted up in such matters。 To the convicts the Ladybird was town talk； theatre； stock quotations； and latest telegrams。 She was their newspaper and post…office； the one excitement of their dreary existence； the one link between their own misery and the happiness of their fellow…creatures。 To the Commandant and the 〃free men〃 this messenger from the outer life was scarcely less welcome。 There was not a man on the island who did not feel his heart grow heavier when her white sails disappeared behind the shoulder of the hill。
On the present occasion business of more than ordinary importance had procured for Major Vickers this pleasurable excitement。 It had been resolved by Governor Arthur that the convict establishment should be broken up。 A succession of murders and attempted escapes had called public attention to the place； and its distance from Hobart Town rendered it inconvenient and expensive。 Arthur had fixed upon Tasman's Peninsulathe earring of which we have spokenas a future convict dep魌； and naming it Port Arthur； in honour of himself； had sent down Lieutenant Maurice Frere with instructions for Vickers to convey the prisoners of Macquarie Harbour thither。
In order to understand the magnitude and meaning of such an order as that with which Lieutenant Frere was entrusted； we must glance at the social condition of the penal colony at this period of its history。
Nine years before； Colonel Arthur； late Governor of Honduras； had arrived at a most critical moment。 The former Governor； Colonel Sorrell； was a man of genial temperament； but little strength of character。 He was； moreover； profligate in his private life； and； encouraged by his example； his officers violated all rules of social decency。 It was common for an officer to openly keep a female convict as his mistress。 Not only would compliance purchase comforts； but strange stories were afloat concerning the persecution of women who dared to choose their own lovers。 To put down this profligacy was the first care of Arthur； and in enforcing a severe attention to etiquette and outward respectability； he perhaps erred on the side of virtue。 Honest； brave； and high…minded； he was also penurious and cold； and the ostentatious good humour of the colonists dashed itself in vain against his polite indifference。 In opposition to this official society created by Governor Arthur was that of the free settlers and the ticket…of…leave men。 The latter were more numerous than one would be apt to suppose。 On the 2nd November； 1829； thirty…eight free pardons and fifty…six conditional pardons appeared on the books； and the number of persons holding tickets…of…leave； on the 26th of September the same year； was seven hundred and forty…five。
Of the social condition of these people at this time it is impossible to speak without astonishment。 According to the recorded testimony of many respectable persons…Government officials； military officers； and free settlers…the profligacy of the settlers was notorious。 Drunkenness was a prevailing vice。 Even children were to be seen in the streets intoxicated。 On Sundays； men and women might be observed standing round the public…house doors； waiting for the expiration of the hours of public worship； in order to continue their carousing。 As for the condition of the prisoner population； that； indeed； is indescribable。 Notwithstanding the severe punishment for sly grog…selling； it was carried on to a large extent。 Men and women were found intoxicated together； and a bottle of brandy was considered to be cheaply bought at the price of twenty lashes。 In the factorya prison for femalesthe vilest abuses were committed； while the infamies current； as matters of course； in chain gangs and penal settlements； were of too
