按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the missing men。
They were well provided with supplies of all kinds； and there was a
general hope that they might be holding out。 A new expedition was
sentand sent vainlyin search of them overland。 Rewards were offered
to whaling vessels to find them； and were never earned。 We wore mourning
for Nugent； we were a melancholy household。 Two more years passedbefore
the fate of the expedition was discovered。 A ship in the whale trade；
driven out of her course； fell in with a wrecked and dismantled vessel；
lost in the ice。 Let the last sentences of the captain's report tell the
story。
〃*** The wreck was drifting along a channel of open water； when we first
saw it。 Before long； it was brought up by an iceberg。 I got into my boat
with some of my sailors； and we rowed to the vessel。
〃Not a man was to be seen on the deck； which was covered with snow。 We
hailed； and got no reply。 I looked in through one of the circular glazed
port…holes astern； and saw dimly the figure of a man seated at a table。 I
knocked on the thick glass； but he never moved。 We got on deck； and
opened the cabin hatchway； and went below。 The man I had seen was before
us； at the end of the cabin。 I led the way； and spoke to him。 He made no
answer。 I looked closer； and touched one of his hands which lay on the
table。 To my horror and astonishment； he was a frozen corpse。
〃On the table before him was the last entry in the ship's log！
〃 'Seventeen days since we have been shut up in the ice： Our fire went
out yesterday。 The captain tried to light it again； and has failed。 The
surgeon and two seamen died of cold this morning。 The rest of us must
soon follow。 If we are ever discovered； I beg the person who finds me to
send this'
〃There the hand that held the pen had dropped into the writer's lap。 The
left hand still lay on the table。 Between the frozen fingers； we found a
long lock of a woman's hair； tied at each end with a blue ribbon。 The
open eyes of the corpse were still fixed on the lock of hair。
〃The name of this man was found in his pocket…book。 It was Nugent
Dubourg。 I publish the name in my report； in case it may meet the eyes of
his friends。
〃Examination of the rest of the vessel； and comparison of dates with the
date of the log…book； showed that the officers and crew had been dead for
more than two years。 The positions in which we found the frozen men； and
the names； where it was possible to discover them； are here set forth as
follows。 * * *〃
That 〃lock of a woman's hair〃 is now in Lucilla's possession。 It will be
buried with her； at her own request； when she dies。 Ah； poor Nugent！ Are
we not all sinners？ Remember the best of him； and forget the worst； as I
do。
I still linger over my writingreluctant to leave it； if the truth must
be told。 But what more is there to say？ I hear Oscar hammering away at
his chasing； and whistling blithely over his work。 In another room；
Lucilla is teaching the piano to her little girl。 On my table is a letter
from Mrs。 Finch； dated from one of our distant coloniesover which Mr。
Finch （who has risen gloriously in the world） presides pastorally as
bishop。 He harangues the 〃natives〃 to his heart's content： and the
wonderful natives like it。 〃Jicks〃 is in her element among the aboriginal
members of her father's congregation： there are fears that the wandering
Arab of the Finch family will end in marrying 〃a chief。〃 Mrs。 FinchI
don't expect you to believe thisis anticipating another confinement。
Lucilla's eldest boycalled Nugenthas just come in； and stands by my
desk。 He lifts his bright blue eyes up to mine； his round rosy face
expresses strong disapproval of what I am doing。 〃Aunty；〃 he says； 〃you
have written enough。 Come and play。〃
The boy is right。 I must put away my manuscript and leave you。 My
excellent spirits are a little dashed at parting。 I wonder whether you
are sorry too？ I shall never know！ Well； I have many blessings to comfort
me； on closing my relations with you。 I have kind souls who love me；
andobserve this！I stand on my political principles as firmly as ever。
The world is getting converted to my way of thinking： the Pratolungo
programme； my friends； is coming to the front with giant steps。 Long live
the Republic！ Farewell。
End