He would return to bondage. The law would claim him as an absconder, and would mete out to him such punishment as was fitting. Perhaps he might escape severest punishment, as a reward for his exertions in saving the child. He might consider himself fortunate if such was permitted to him. Fortunate! Suppose he did not go back at all, but wandered away into the wilderness and died? Better death than such a doom as his. Yet need he die?英文原著 · 《For the Term of His Natural Life》
With the mother at the point of death, and the child delirious, who could testify to this hated convict's skilfulness? No one but Mr. Maurice Frere, and Mr. Maurice Frere, as Commandant of convicts, could not but give up an "absconder" to justice. The ship changed her course, and came towards this strange fire in the middle of the ocean. The boat, the fore part of her blazing like a pine torch, could not float above an hour. The little group of the convict and the child remained motionless. Vickers was lying senseless, ignorant even of the approaching succour.英文原著 · 《For the Term of His Natural Life》
A ball ran up to the top of the post. That meant ONE THOUSAND. Number 1306, or, being interpreted, "PRISONERS ABSCONDED". "By George, Harry," said Jones, the signalman, "there's a bolt!"
The semaphore signalled again: "Number 1411". "WITH ARMS!" Jones said, translating as he read. "Come here, Harry! here's a go!"
But Harry did not reply, and, looking down, the watchman saw a dark figure suddenly fill the doorway. The boasted semaphore had failed this time, at all events.英文原著 · 《For the Term of His Natural Life》
A small boat was just arriving from Lake Bennett. I saw Steve give a start, and heard him say something that was not nice and that was not under his breath. Then I looked; and there, in the bow of the boat, with ears pricked up, sat Spot. Steve and I sneaked immediately, like beaten curs, like cowards, like absconders from justice. It was this last that the lieutenant of police thought when he saw us sneaking. He surmised that there were law-officers in the boat who were after us. He didn't wait to find out, but kept us in sight, and in the M. saloon got us in a corner.英文原著 · 《Lost Face》
And then to the turmoil of Uncle Bushrod's thoughts came the corroborating recollection of preceding events--Mr. Robert's increasing intemperance and consequent many moods of royal high spirits and stern tempers; the casual talk he had heard in the bank of the decrease in business and difficulty in collecting loans. What else could it all mean but that Mr. Robert Weymouth was an absconder--was about to fly with the bank's remaining funds, leaving Mr. William, Miss Letty, little Nab, Guy, and Uncle Bushrod to bear the disgrace?英文原著 · 《Roads of Destiny》