Трек 17_01

_{Chapter Seventeen}

^{The Death of Magwitch}

It was for a moment or two only that I struggled in the water, and then I felt myself seized and lifted into the galley. Herbert was there already, but our boat was gone and so were the two convicts.

What with the shouts from the steamer, and her driving on, and our driving on, I could not at first distinguish sky from water or shore from shore; but the crew of the galley lay upon their oars, every man looking at the water behind. A moment or two, and a dark object was seen, bearing towards us on the tide. As it came nearer, I saw that it was Magwitch, swimming, but very weakly. He was pulled on board and handcuffs were instantly put upon his wrists.

The galley was kept steady and a silent look-out was kept upon the water for the other man. But the other steamer now came up at speed, and in a minute we were rising and falling in a troubled wake of water. The look-out was kept long after all was still again, and the two steamers were gone; but everybody knew that it was hopeless now.

At last we gave it up, and pulled towards the shore and the inn, where we were received in some surprise. There, I was able to get some comforts for Magwitch, who had been badly wounded in the chest and had a deep cut in the head.

He told me that the man in the cloak had been Compeyson. He believed that they had both gone under the steamer and had been struck in rising, most likely by one of the great paddle wheels. He told me in a whisper that they had gone down together, locked in each other’s arms, and that there had been a struggle under the water, but he had managed to free himself and had struck out to the surface.

I asked the officer in charge of the galley if I might change the prisoner’s wet clothes by purchasing any spare clothing I could get at the inn. He agreed in a willing way, but said that he must take charge of everything his prisoner had about him. He also gave me leave to accompany Magwitch back to London, but said that Herbert must return by land.

We remained at the inn till the tide turned, and then Magwitch was carried down to the galley and put on board. Herbert and I took a sad parting of each other, and when I took my seat by Magwitch’s side I felt that that was my place while he still lived.

Трек 17_02

He lay on his back, breathing with great difficulty, and it was clear that he had been badly hurt inside. All my dislike of him had melted away, and in the hunted creature who held my hand in his I saw only a man who had meant to help me—a much better man to me, I thought, than I had been to Joe.

His breathing grew more difficult and painful as the night drew on. I tried to rest him upon my arm. I was sure that he was dying, and I could not be sorry for it, since it was best that he should die. If he lived, he would have to stand his trial—he who had been given a life-sentence, and who had brought about the death of the man he hated.

I told him how sorry I was that he had come home for my sake.

“Dear boy,” he answered, “I was quite content to take my chance. I’ve seen my boy, and he can be a gentleman without me. I’m dying, dear boy, and all I have will come to you.”

He was wrong. I knew that, as a returned convict, all his possessions would pass to the Crown, but I did not tell him so.

When the first pale light of dawn crept into the sky, I could see that the end was near. His breathing was awful to listen to. Though he tried to keep his eyes upon my face, the light left his own eyes ever and again, and he had no idea where he was.

“Are you there, Pip?” he whispered once.

“I’m here,” I answered. “I won’t leave you while you need me.”

I felt his hand tremble in mine, and I thought of something that might comfort him in his last minutes.

“Dear Magwitch,” I said, “I must tell you something. You understand what I say?”

A gentle pressure on my hand.

“You had a child, one whom you loved and lost.”

A stronger pressure on my hand.

“She lived and found powerful friends. She is living now. She is a lady and very beautiful. And I love her!”

With a last faint effort he raised my hand to his lips, then he gently let it sink again. I saw a film come over his eyes as his head dropped, and I knew that he was dead.