the sign of the four(那四个的记号)-第31节
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he was known to have been in the company of the murdered man。 Not a
word about the jewels came out at the trial； for the rajah had been deposed
and driven out of India： so no one had any particular interest in them。
The murder； however； was clearly made out； and it was certain that we
must all have been concerned in it。 The three Sikhs got penal servitude
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for life； and I was condemned to death； though my sentence was
afterwards commuted into the same as the others。
〃It was rather a queer position that we found ourselves in then。 There
we were all four tied by the leg and with precious little chance of ever
getting out again； while we each held a secret which might have put each
of us in a palace if we could only have made use of it。 It was enough to
make a man eat his heart out to have to stand the kick and the cuff of every
petty jack…in… office； to have rice to eat and water to drink； when that
gorgeous fortune was ready for him outside； just waiting to be picked up。
It might have driven me mad； but I was always a pretty stubborn one； so I
just held on and bided my time。
〃At last it seemed to me to have come。 I was changed from Agra to
Madras； and from there to Blair Island in the Andamans。 There are very
few white convicts at this settlement； and； as I had behaved well from the
first； I soon found myself a sort of privileged person。 I was given a hut in
Hope Town； which is a small place on the slopes of Mount Harriet； and I
was left pretty much to myself。 It is a dreary； fever…stricken place； and all
beyond our little clearings was infested with wild cannibal natives； who
were ready enough to blow a poisoned dart at us if they saw a chance。
There was digging； and ditching； and yam… planting； and a dozen other
things to be done； so we were busy enough al day； though in the evening
we had a little time to ourselves。 Among other things； I learned to
dispense drugs for the surgeon； and picked up a smattering of his
knowledge。 All the time I was on the lookout for a chance of escape； but
it is hundreds of miles from any other land； and there is little or no wind in
those seas： so it was a terribly difficult job to get away。
〃The surgeon； Dr。 Somerton； was a fast； sporting young chap； and the
other young officers would meet in his rooms of an evening and play cards。
The surgery； where I used to make up my drugs； was next to his sitting…
room； with a small window between us。 Often； if I felt lonesome； I used
to turn out the lamp in the surgery； and then； standing there； I could hear
their talk and watch their play。 I am fond of a hand at cards myself； and
it was almost as good as having one to watch the others。 There was
Major Sholto； Captain Morstan； and Lieutenant Bromley Brown； who
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were in command of the native troops； and there was the surgeon himself；
and two or three prison…officials； crafty old hands who played a nice sly
safe game。 A very snug little party they used to make。
〃Well； there was one thing which very soon struck me； and that was
that the soldiers used always to lose and the civilians to win。 Mind； I
don't say that there was anything unfair； but so it was。 These prison…
chaps had done little else than play cards ever since they had been at the
Andamans； and they knew each other's game to a point； while the others
just played to pass the time and threw their cards down anyhow。 Night
after night the soldiers got up poorer men； and the poorer they got the
more keen they were to play。 Major Sholto was the hardest hit。 He
used to pay in notes and gold at first； but soon it came to notes of hand and
for big sums。 He sometimes would win for a few deals； just to give him
heart； and then the luck would set in against him worse than ever。 All
day he would wander about as black as thunder； and he took to drinking a
deal more than was good for him。
〃One night he lost even more heavily than usual。 I was sitting in my
hut when he and Captain Morstan came stumbling along on the way to
their quarters。 They were bosom friends； those two； and never far apart。
The major was raving about his losses。
〃'It's all up； Morstan；' he was saying； as they passed my hut。 'I shall
have to send in my papers。 I am a ruined man。'
〃'Nonsense； old chap！' said the other； slapping him upon the shoulder。
'I've had a nasty facer myself； but' That was all I could hear； but it was
enough to set me thinking。
A couple of days later Major Sholto was strolling on the beach： so I
took the chance of speaking to him。
〃'I wish to have your advice； major；' said I。
〃'Well； Small； what is it？' he asked； taking his cheroot from his lips。
〃'I wanted to ask you； sir；' said I； 'who is the proper person to whom
hidden treasure should be handed over。 I know where half a million
worth lies； and； as I cannot use it myself； I thought perhaps the best thing
that I could do would be to hand it over to the proper authorities； and then
perhaps they would get my sentence shortened for me。'
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〃'Half a million； Small？' he gasped； looking hard at me to see if I was
in earnest。
〃'Quite that； sir；in jewels and pearls。 It lies there ready for any one。
And the queer thing about it is that the real owner is outlawed and cannot
hold property； so that it belongs to the first comer。'
〃'To government； Small；' he stammered；'to government。' But he
said it in a halting fashion； and I knew in my heart that I had got him。
〃'You think； then； sir； that I should give the information to the
Governor…General？' said I； quietly。
〃'Well； well； you must not do anything rash； or that you might repent。
Let me hear all about it； Small。 Give me the facts。'
〃I told him the whole story； with small changes so that he could not
identify the places。 When I had finished he stood stock still and full of
thought。 I could see by the twitch of his lip that there was a struggle
going on within him。
〃'This is a very important matter； Small；' he said； at last。 'You must
not say a word to any one about it； and I shall see you again soon。'
〃Two nights later he and his friend Captain Morstan came to my hut in
the dead of the night with a lantern。
〃'I want you just to let Captain Morstan hear that story from your own
lips； Small；' said he。
〃I repeated it as I had told it before。
〃'It rings true； eh？' said he。 'It's good enough to act upon？'
〃Captain Morstan nodded。
〃'Look here； Small；' said the major。 'We have been talking it over； my
friend here and I； and we have come to the conclusion that this secret of
yours is hardly a government matter； after all； but is a private concern of
your own； which of course you have the power of disposing of as you
think best。 Now； the question is； what price would you ask for it？ We
might be inclined to take it up； and at least look into it； if we could agree
as to terms。' He tried to speak in a cool； careless way； but his eyes were
shining with excitement and greed。
〃'Why； as to that； gentlemen；' I answered； trying also to be cool； but
feeling as excited as he did； 'there is only one bargain which a man in my
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position can make。 I shall want yo to help me to my freedom； and to help
my three companions to theirs。 We shall then take yo into partnership；
and give you a fifth share to divide between you。'
〃'Hum！' said he。 'A fifth share！
