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the frozen deep(冰渊)-第22章

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recognition   while   there   was   yet   time。   〃Richard;   speak   to   me!   Speak   to 

your old friend!〃 

     He look round; he vacantly repeated Crayford's last word。 



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     〃Friend?〃 he said。 〃My eyes are dim; friendmy mind is dull。 I have 

lost   all  memories     but   the  memory      of  _her_。   Dead    thoughtsall    dead 

thoughts but that one! And yet you look at me kindly! Why has your face 

gone down with the wreck of all the rest?〃 

     He paused; his face changed; his thoughts drifted back from present to 

past; he looked at Crayford vacantly; lost in the terrible remembrances that 

were rising in him; as the shadows rise with the coming night。 

     〃Hark ye; friend;〃 he whispered。 〃Never let Frank know it。 There was a 

time when the fiend within me hungered for his life。 I had my hands on the 

boat。 I heard the voice of the Tempter speaking to me: Launch it; and leave 

him to die! I waited with my hands on the boat; and my eyes on the place 

where he slept。 'Leave him! leave him!' the voice whispered。 'Love him!' 

the lad's voice answered; moaning and murmuring in his sleep。 'Love him; 

Clara; for helping _me!_' I heard the morning wind come up in the silence 

over the great deep。 Far and near; I heard the groaning of the floating ice; 

floating;   floating   to   the   clear   water   and   the   balmy   air。  And   the   wicked 

Voice   floated   away   with   itaway;   away;   away   forever!   'Love   him!   love 

him; Clara; for helping _me!_' No wind could float that away! 'Love him; 

Clara'〃 

     His   voice   sank   into   silence;   his   head   dropped   on   Crayford's   breast。 

Frank   saw   it。   Frank   struggled   up   on   his   bleeding   feet   and   parted   the 

friendly   throng   round   him。   Frank   had   not   forgotten   the   man   who   had 

saved him。 

     〃Let me go to him!〃 he cried。 〃I must and will go to him! Clara; come 

with me。〃 

     Clara and Steventon supported him between them。 He fell on his knees 

at Wardour's s ide; he put his hand on Wardour's bosom。 

     〃Richard!〃 

     The   weary   eyes   opened   again。   The   sinking   voice   was   heard   feebly 

once more。 

     〃Ah! poor Frank。 I didn't forget you; Frank; when I came here to beg。 I 

remembered you lying down outside in the shadow of the boats。 I saved 

you your share of the food and drink。 Too weak to get at it now! A little 



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                                     THE FROZEN DEEP 



rest; Frank! I shall soon be strong enough to carry you down to the ship。〃 

     The end was near。 They all saw it now。 The men reverently uncovered 

their   heads    in  the  presence    of  Death。    In  an  agony    of  despair;   Frank 

appealed to the friends round him。 

     〃Get   something   to   strengthen   him;   for   God's   sake!  Oh;   men!   men!   I 

should never have been here but for him! He has given all his strength to 

my weakness; and now; see how strong I am; and how weak _he_ is! Clara; 

I held by his arm all over the ice and snow。 _He_ kept watch when I was 

senseless in the open boat。 _His_ hand dragged me out of the waves when 

we were   wrecked。   Speak to him;  Clara!   speak   to him!〃   His   voice   failed 

him; and his head dropped on Wardour's breast。 

     She spoke; as well as her tears would let her。 

     〃Richard; have you forgotten me?〃 

     He rallied at the sound of that beloved voice。 He looked up at her as 

she knelt at his head。 

     〃Forgotten you?〃 Still looking at her; he lifted his hand with an effort; 

and laid it on Frank。 〃Should I have been strong enough to save him; if I 

could have forgotten you?〃 He waited a moment and turned his face feebly 

toward Crayford。 〃Stay!〃 he said。 〃Someone was here and spoke to me。〃 A 

faint light of recognition glimmered in his eyes。 〃Ah; Crayford! I recollect 

now。 Dear Crayford! come nearer! My mind clears; but my eyes grow dim。 

You will remember me kindly for Frank's sake? Poor Frank! why does he 

hide his face? Is he crying? Nearer; ClaraI want to look my last at _you_。 

My sister; Clara! Kiss me; sister; kiss me before I die!〃 

     She stooped and kissed his forehead。 A faint smile trembled on his lips。 

It passed away; and stillness possessed the facethe stillness of Death。 

     Crayford's voice was heard in the silence。 

     〃The loss is ours;〃 he said。 〃The gain is his。 He has won the greatest of 

all conqueststhe conquest of himself。 And he has died in the moment of 

victory。 Not one of us here but may live to envy _his_ glorious death。〃 

     The   distant   report   of   a   gun   came   from   the   ship   in   the   offing;   and 

signaled the return to England and to home。 



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