aaron trow-第4部分

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was　loosed　in　the　struggle；　she　twisted　it　through　his　long　hair；
and　dragged　back　his　head　till　his　eyes　were　nearly　starting　from
their　sockets。　　Anastasia　Bergen　had　hitherto　been　a　sheer　woman；
all　feminine　in　her　nature。　　But　now　the　foam　came　to　her　mouth；　and
fire　sprang　from　her　eyes；　and　the　muscles　of　her　body　worked　as
though　she　had　been　trained　to　deeds　of　violence。　　Of　violence；
Aaron　Trow　had　known　much　in　his　rough　life；　but　never　had　he
combated　with　harder　antagonist　than　her　whom　he　now　held　beneath
his　breast。

〃ByI　will　put　an　end　to　you；〃　he　exclaimed；　in　his　wrath；　as　he
struck　her　violently　across　the　face　with　his　elbow。　　His　hand　was
occupied；　and　he　could　not　use　it　for　a　blow；　but；　nevertheless；　the
violence　was　so　great　that　the　blood　gushed　from　her　nostrils；　while
the　back　of　her　head　was　driven　with　violence　against　the　floor。
But　she　did　not　lose　her　hold　of　him。　　Her　hand　was　still　twined
closely　through　his　thick　hair；　and　in　every　move　he　made　she　clung
to　him　with　all　her　might。　　〃Leave　go　my　hair；〃　he　shouted　at　her；
but　she　still　kept　her　hold；　though　he　again　dashed　her　head　against
the　floor。

There　was　still　light　in　the　room；　for　when　he　first　grasped　her
with　both　his　hands；　he　had　put　the　lamp　down　on　a　small　table。　　Now
they　were　rolling　on　the　floor　together；　and　twice　he　had　essayed　to
kneel　on　her　that　he　might　thus　crush　the　breath　from　her　body；　and
deprive　her　altogether　of　her　strength；　but　she　had　been　too　active
for　him；　moving　herself　along　the　ground；　though　in　doing　so　she
dragged　him　with　her。　　But　by　degrees　he　got　one　hand　at　liberty；
and　with　that　he　pulled　a　clasp　knife　out　of　his　pocket　and　opened
it。　　〃I　will　cut　your　head　off　if　you　do　not　let　go　my　hair；〃　he
said。　　But　still　she　held　fast　by　him。　　He　then　stabbed　at　her　arm；
using　his　left　hand　and　making　short；　ineffectual　blows。　　Her　dress
partly　saved　her；　and　partly　also　the　continual　movement　of　all　her
limbs；　but；　nevertheless；　the　knife　wounded　her。　　It　wounded　her　in
several　places　about　the　arm；　covering　them　both　with　blood；but
still　she　hung　on。　　So　close　was　her　grasp　in　her　agony；　that；　as
she　afterwards　found；　she　cut　the　skin　of　her　own　hands　with　her　own
nails。　　Had　the　man's　hair　been　less　thick　or　strong；　or　her　own
tenacity　less　steadfast；　he　would　have　murdered　her　before　any
interruption　could　have　saved　her。

And　yet　he　had　not　purposed　to　murder　her；　or　even；　in　the　first
instance；　to　inflict　on　her　any　bodily　harm。　　But　he　had　been
determined　to　get　money。　　With　such　a　sum　of　money　as　he　had　named；
it　might；　he　thought；　be　possible　for　him　to　win　his　way　across　to
America。　　He　might　bribe　men　to　hide　him　in　the　hold　of　a　ship；　and
thus　there　might　be　for　him；　at　any　rate；　a　possibility　of　escape。
That　there　must　be　money　in　the　house　he　had　still　thought　when
first　he　laid　hands　on　the　poor　woman；　and　then；　when　the　struggle
had　once　begun；　when　he　had　felt　her　muscles　contending　with　his；
the　passion　of　the　beast　was　aroused　within　him；　and　he　strove
against　her　as　he　would　have　striven　against　a　dog。　　But　yet；　when
the　knife　was　in　his　hand；　he　had　not　driven　it　against　her　heart。

Then　suddenly；　while　they　were　yet　rolling　on　the　floor；　there　was　a
sound　of　footsteps　in　the　passage。　　Aaron　Trow　instantly　leaped　to
his　feet；　leaving　his　victim　on　the　ground；　with　huge　lumps　of　his
thick　clotted　hair　in　her　hand。　　Thus；　and　thus　only；　could　he　have
liberated　himself　from　her　grasp。　　He　rushed　at　the　door；　and　there
he　came　against　the　two　negro　servant…girls　who　had　returned　down　to
their　kitchen　from　the　road　on　which　they　had　been　straying。　　Trow；
as　he　half　saw　them　in　the　dark；　not　knowing　how　many　there　might
be；　or　whether　there　was　a　man　among　them；　rushed　through　them；
upsetting　one　scared　girl　in　his　passage。　　With　the　instinct　and
with　the　timidity　of　a　beast；　his　impulse　now　was　to　escape；　and　he
hurried　away　back　to　the　road　and　to　his　lair；　leaving　the　three
women　together　in　the　cottage。　　Poor　wretch！　　As　he　crossed　the
road；　not　skulking　in　his　impotent　haste；　but　running　at　his　best；
another　pair　of　eyes　saw　him；　and　when　the　search　became　hot　after
him；　it　was　known　that　his　hiding…place　was　not　distant。

It　was　some　time　before　any　of　the　women　were　able　to　act；　and　when
some　step　was　taken；　Anastasia　was　the　first　to　take　it。　　She　had
not　absolutely　swooned；　but　the　reaction；　after　the　violence　of　her
efforts；　was　so　great；　that　for　some　minutes　she　had　been　unable　to
speak。　　She　had　risen　from　the　floor　when　Trow　left　her；　and　had
even　followed　him　to　the　door；　but　since　that　she　had　fallen　back
into　her　father's　old　arm…chair；　and　there　sat　gasping　not　only　for
words；　but　for　breath　also。

At　last　she　bade　one　of　the　girls　to　run　into　St。　George；　and　beg
Mr。　Morton　to　come　to　her　aid。　　The　girl　would　not　stir　without　her
companion；　and　even　then；　Anastasia；　covered　as　she　was　with　blood；
with　dishevelled　hair；　and　her　clothes　half　torn　from　her　body；
accompanied　them　as　far　as　the　road。　　There　they　found　a　negro　lad
still　hanging　about　the　place；　and　he　told　them　that　he　had　seen　the
man　cross　the　road；　and　run　down　over　the　open　ground　towards　the
rocks　of　the　sea…coast。　　〃He　must　be　there；〃　said　the　lad；　pointing
in　the　direction　of　a　corner　of　the　rocks；　〃unless　he　swim　across
the　mouth　of　the　ferry。〃　　But　the　mouth　of　that　ferry　is　an　arm　of
the　sea；　and　it　was　not　probable　that　a　man　would　do　that　when　he
might　have　taken　the　narrow　water　by　keeping　on　the　other　side　of
the　road。

At　about　one　that　night　Caleb　Morton　reached　the　cottage　breathless
with　running；　and　before　a　word　was　spoken　between　them；　Anastasia
had　fallen　on　his　shoulder　and　had　fainted。　　As　soon　as　she　was　in
the　arms　of　her　lover；　all　her　power　had　gone　from　her。　　The　spirit
and　passion　of　the　tiger　had　gone；　and　she　was　again　a　weak　woman
shuddering　at　the　thought　of　what　she　had　suffered。　　She　remembered
that　she　had　had　the　man's　hand　between　her　teeth；　and　by　degrees
she　found　his　hair　still　clinging　to　her　fingers；　but　even　then　she
could　hardly　call　to　mind　the　nature　of　the　struggle　she　had
undergone。　　His　hot　breath　close　to　her　own　cheek　she　did　remember；
and　his　glaring　eyes；　and　even　the　roughness　of　his　beard　as　he
pressed　his　face　against　her　own；　but　she　could　not　say　whence　had
come　the　blood；　nor　till　her　arm　became　stiff　and　motionless　did　she
know　that　she　had　been　wounded。

It　was　all　joy　with　her　now；　as　she　sat　motionless　without　speaking；
while　he　administered　to　her　wants　and　spoke　words　of　love　into　her
ears。　　She　remembered　the　man's　horrid　threat；　and　knew　that　by
God's　mercy　she　had　been　saved。　　And　he　was　there　caressing　her；
loving　her；　comforting　her！　　As　she　thought　of　the　fate　that　had
threatened　her；　of　the　evil　that　had　been　so　imminent；　she　fell
forward　on　her　knees；　and　with　incoherent　sobs　uttered　her
thanksgivings；　while　her　head　was　still　supported　on　his　arms。

It　was　almost　morning　before　she　could　induce　herself　to　leave　him
and　lie　down。　　With　him　she　seemed　to　be　so　perfectly　safe；　but　the
moment　he　was　away　she　could　see　Aaron　Trow's　eyes　gleaming　at　her
across　the　room。　　At　last；　however；　she　slept；　and　when　he　saw　that
she　was　at　rest；　he　told　himself　that　his　work　must　then　begin。
Hitherto　Caleb　Morton　had　lived　in　all　respects　the　life　of　a　man　of
peace；　but　now；　asking　himself　no　questions　as　to　the　propriety　of
what　he　would　do；　using　no　inward　arguments　as　to　this　or　that　line
of　conduct；　he　girded　the　sword　on　his　loins；　and　prepared　himself
for　war。　　The　wretch　who　had　thus　treated　the　woman　whom　he　loved
should　be　hunted　down　like　a　wild　beast；　as　long　as　he　had　arms　and
legs　with　which　to　carry　on　the　hunt。　　He　would　pursue　the　miscreant
with　any　weapons　that　might　come　to　his　hands；　and　might　Heaven　help
him　at　his　need　as　he　dealt　forth　punishment　to　that　man；　if　he
caught　him　within　his　grasp。　　Those　who　had　hitherto　known　Morton　in
the　island；　could　not　recognise　the　man　as　he　came　forth　on　that
day；　thirsty　after　blood；　and　desirous　to　thrust　himself　into
personal　conflict　with　the　wild　ruffian　who　had　injured　him。　　The
meek　Presbyterian　minister　had　been　a　preacher；　preaching　ways　of
peace；　and　living　in　accordance　with　his　own　doctrines。　　The　world
had　been　very　quiet　for　him；　and　he　had　walked　quietly　in　his
appointed　path。　　But　now　the　world　was　quiet　no　longer；　nor　was
there　any　preaching　of　peace。　　His　cry　was　for　blood；　for　the　blood
of　the　untamed　savage　brute　who　had　come　upon　his　young　doe　in　her
solitude；　and　striven　with　such　brutal　violence　to　tear　her　heart
from　her　bosom。

He　got　to　his　assistance　early　in　the　morning　some　of　the　constables
from　St。　George；　and　before　the　day　was　over；　he　was　joined　by　two
or　three　of　the　warders　from　the　convict　establishment。　　There　was
with　him　also　a　friend　or　two；　and　thus　a　party　was　formed；
numbering　together　ten　or　twelve　persons。　　They　were　of　course　all
armed；　and　therefore　it　might　be　thought　that　there　would　be　but
small　chance　for　the　wretched　man　if　they　should　come　upon　his
track。　　At　first　they　all　searched　together；　thinking　from　the
tidings　which　had　reached　them　that　he　must　be　near　to　them；　but
gradually　they　spread　themselves　along　the　rocks　between　St。　George
and　the　ferry；　keeping　watchman　on　the　road；　so　that　he　should　not
escape　unnoticed　into　the　island。

Ten　times　during　the　day　did　Anastasia　send　from　the　cottage　up　to
Morton；　begging　him　to　leave　the　search　to　others；　and　come　down　to
her。　　But　not　for　a　moment　would　he　lose　the　scent　of　his　prey。
What！　should　it　be　said　that　she　had　been　so　treated；　and　that
others　had　avenged　her？　　He　sent　back　to　say　that　her　father　was
with　her　now；　and　that　he　would　come　when　his　work　was　over。　　And　in
that　job　of　work　the　life…blood　of　Aaron　Trow　was　counted　up。

Towards　evening　they　were　all　congregated　on　the　road　near　to　the
spot　at　which　the　path　turns　off　towards　the　cottage；　when　a　voice
was　heard　hallooing　to　them　from　the　summit　of　a　little　hill　which
lies　between　the　road　and　the　sea　on　the　side　towards　the　ferry；　and
presently　a　boy　came　running　down　to