My mind and body were alike active and full
of energy. No sooner was the last thrilling fear of danger past,
however, than my faculties went utterly relaxed; and when I felt the
cool breezes of the Pacific playing around my fevered brow, and heard
the free waves rippling at the schooner's prow, as we left the hated
island behind us, my senses forsook me, and I fell in a swoon upon the
deck.
From this state I was quickly aroused by Bill, who shook me by the arm,
saying--
"Hallo, Ralph boy! rouse up, lad; we're safe now. Poor thing! I believe
he's fainted." And, raising me in his arms, he laid me on the folds of
the gaff top-sail, which lay upon the deck near the tiller. "Here, take
a drop o' this; it'll do you good, my boy," he added, in a voice of
tenderness which I had never heard him use before, while he held a
brandy-flask to my lips.
I raised my eyes gratefully as I swallowed a mouthful; next moment my
head sank heavily upon my arm, and I fell fast asleep. I slept long,
for when I awoke the sun was a good way above the horizon, I did not
move on first opening my eyes, as I felt a delightful sensation of rest
pervading me, and my eyes were riveted on and charmed with the gorgeous
splendour of the mighty ocean that burst upon my sight. It was a dead
calm; the sea seemed a sheet of undulating crystal, tipped and streaked
with the saffron hues of sunrise, which had not yet merged into the
glowing heat of noon; and there was a deep calm in the blue dome above
that was not broken even by the usual flutter of the sea-fowl.
Pages:
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282