"But he must remain where he is for some time," said the medical man.
"He can remain as long as he pleases," declared Mrs. Ruthven. "I have no wish to hurry his departure."
She was anxious to learn the truth concerning the colonel's past, yet realized that she must move with caution, otherwise he might be thrown into another fever.
"Colonel Stanton," she said, seating herself at his side, "were you ever in the neighborhood before—I mean some ten or eleven years ago?"
At this question Colonel Stanton became immediately interested, and his wide-open eyes showed it.
"I do not know if I was in this neighborhood," he answered slowly.
"You do not know? Surely you must remember where you were at the time I mention."
"The time you speak about was a very bitter one to me, madam," was his slow answer.
"And you do not wish to speak about it?" she said softly, seeing the pain in his face.
"I have spoken to nobody about it for years, madam. Yet I would not mind speaking to you—you are so kind to me. During the time you mention I took an ocean voyage which was very disastrous3 to me and mine. The ship went down with all on board, including my wife and child."
"Did the ship go down on this coast?"
"She struck somewhere along the coast; where, I am not exactly sure."
"May I ask the name of the vessel4?"
"She was the Nautilus."
Mrs. Ruthven's breast began to heave. "It must be true!" she murmured.
"What must be true, madam?"
"The Nautilus was wrecked6 on our coast here, not over half a mile from this plantation."
"You are sure of this?"
"I am. The wreck5 is still on the rocks in the bay."
"And were you living here at the time?"
"I was, and I know all about the wreck, and so does Old Ben, the negro who has the boathouse on the shore."
The wounded officer's interest increased.
"I would like to visit that wreck some time, if it is still intact," he said. "I left some valuable papers in a secret closet. It is possible they are still on board."
"Do you know who was saved from the wreck?"
"Saved? No one was saved."
"You are mistaken—a lady and her child were saved. The lady died two days later, but the child still lives."
"What was the name of that lady? Tell me, quick?" gasped7 the officer, and tried to sit up, but fell back through weakness.
"Do not excite yourself, Colonel Stanton, I beg of you!" pleaded Mrs. Ruthven, in alarm, fearful of the patient's agitation8.
"But tell me the name of that lady—and was the child a boy?"
"I do not know the name of the lady, for she was badly hurt and could not give it. The boy's name was Jack9."
"Jack! My child's name was Jack. And you say he still lives?"
"He does. The child is our Jack, for my husband and I adopted him."
"Your Jack? That fine, manly10 fellow? Oh, Mrs. Ruthven, send him to me at once!"
"I cannot do that just now, Colonel Stanton."
"If only we can prove he is my son! Have you nothing belonging to the lady?"
"Yes, I have her clothing, also the little boy's, and some jewelry11."
"Bring them to me," and now the colonel sank back, too weak to say more.
As much agitated12 as her patient, Mrs. Ruthven hurried from the room, and presently returned with the clothing, the lace handkerchief, and the wedding ring.
"They were my darling Laura's!" murmured Colonel Stanton, as he gazed at the things. "And this was little Jack's dress. Mrs. Ruthven, beyond a doubt Jack is my son!"
"I suspected as much two days ago, Colonel Stanton. When you had a fever you spoke2 of a shipwreck13 and of the loss of your wife and son Jack. Yes, Jack must be your son. But how were you saved?"
"It is a strange tale, madam. As you know, my wife and my son were washed ashore14. I thought them drowned. Hours after I found myself, I scarcely know how, clinging to a spar, tossing up and down on the dreary15 waste of waters, far out to sea."
"And you were picked up?"
"Not for twenty-four hours or more. Then those on a passing ship espied16 me, and sent out a small boat to my rescue. I can remember how they hauled me in, and how I shrieked17 with joy, and then fell to the deck unconscious."
"The exposure was too much for you."
"Yes, and it not only affected18 my body, but likewise my mind, for it is only in a dim, uncertain way that I remember being taken on a voyage of several weeks' duration, and then finding myself in a strange-looking hospital. There I remained for two months, and was then transferred to an insane asylum19."
"An insane asylum! Colonel Stanton, how you must have suffered!" cried Mrs. Ruthven sympathetically.
"That was not the worst of it, madam. At the asylum I was treated most brutally20 by a good-for-nothing physician, who did his best to pry21 into my family affairs."
"And who was that physician, Colonel Stanton? Excuse my curiosity, but I have a strong motive22 for wanting to know."
"He was a tall, wicked-looking fellow, who went by the name of Mackenzie, although I have since learned that his real name is Mackwell or Mackey."
"Dr. Mackey! He has been here."
"Here?"
"Exactly, and he claims Jack as his son!"
"The vile23 impostor!" cried the wounded officer wrathfully. "He is a villain24 to his very finger tips. It is to him that I owe my long term in the insane asylum. Where is he now?"
"That I cannot tell you. I refused to give Jack up, for I did not like the looks of the man, and moreover Jack did not wish to go with him. I told him he would have to prove his claim at court."
"That was right. If I can get my hands on him, I will either shoot him or place him behind the bars."
"He certainly deserves arrest for plotting to take Jack."
"I presume he is scheming to obtain the property which is rightfully mine. During my lucid25 intervals26 at the asylum he got me to tell him my story. There was property in England coming to me, and also an estate in Virginia coming to my wife. The trip on the ocean was taken to obtain the property coming to Laura. He drew from me all the details he could, and then drugged me, so that for a long time I knew scarcely anything of what happened. When I regained27 my own mind, I learned that he had left the asylum several weeks before, and departed for parts unknown."
"And were you kept at the asylum?"
"I was, for years, for this rascal28 had put me on the books as being incurable29, and subject to attacks of great violence."
"Of course he did this to obtain possession of the property."
"Undoubtedly30."
"It is strange he did not put in an appearance before."
"You must remember he knew no more than I about the exact fate of the Nautilus. How he found out the vessel was wrecked here I do not know."
"He has paid the wreck a visit—Old Ben rowed him over to it!" cried Mrs. Ruthven, struck with a sudden idea.
"Did he bring anything away with him?"
"Old Ben thought he brought with him a tin box."
"It must have been my box—the one I placed in the secret closet! I must get it away from him. But tell me of Jack. When will he be back?"
"I—I cannot say, Colonel Stanton."
"Did you send him away on an errand?"
"I—I did not."
"But he is not here. Tell me, is he—is he missing—shot?"
"He is missing, yes. I do not believe he has been shot."
"It must be more of Dr. Mackey's work," muttered the wounded officer, and then sank down. The conversation had exhausted31 him utterly32, and it was a long while before he spoke again.
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1
plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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2
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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3
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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4
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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6
wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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7
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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8
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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9
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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10
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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11
jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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12
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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13
shipwreck
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| n.船舶失事，海难 | |
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14
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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15
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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16
espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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17
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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19
asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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20
brutally
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| adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地 | |
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pry
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| vi.窥(刺)探，打听；vt.撬动(开，起) | |
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22
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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23
vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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24
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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25
lucid
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| adj.明白易懂的，清晰的，头脑清楚的 | |
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26
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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27
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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28
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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29
incurable
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| adj.不能医治的，不能矫正的，无救的；n.不治的病人，无救的人 | |
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30
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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31
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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32
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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