The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-03
low through her frame II was only a. IN

low through her frame IL WIS only u :n'
tervals. However, that water fell upon the
decks. for the ice broke the boat OF the mod
Grating surge. and forced IL TO exTcnd its
weigh. in spume, which there was not
strength Of wind enough TO raise and heave'
Since the vessel continued 10 lie head W sea,
| NV passionate hope was that these reica,cl
| washings Of the waves would in time loosen
the ice about her keel, in which case IL wouid
not need much of hillow, smiting
her frll bows fair, TO ,slde her clean
down and off her bed, and so launch
her. There were many clouds in the
heavens. but the blue was very pure between.
The morning Frightening with the rising OF
the sun, directed an earnest gaze along the
horizon, but there was nothing to see but ice.
Some of the bergs, however, and more par
| tic,.larly the distant one stole out OF the blue
atmosphere 10 the sunshine with so complete
a resemblance 20 the lifting canvas OF SHIPS
that would catch myself staring fixedly my
| heart beating fast. But there was no de-
lection in thee disappointrDents; the ecstasy
that filed me on be,lolding the terrible Island
the hideous frozen prison, whose crystal
bars had again and again believed were
never 10 h. broken-now lying at distance
with It's northern cape impcrcoptibly open
ing 10 our subtle movement, was so violent
that could not have found my voice for the
tears in my heart.
This. then, was the result of my scheme; it
was no failure, as Tassard had said; as he
owed his life to me, so now did he owe me
his liberty. Nay, my transports were so
great that would not suffer myself 10 feel
an instants anxiety touching the condition
of the schooner mean whether she would
leak or prove sound when she floated-and
how We two men were tomanagc to navigate
so large craft, that was still rs much spell
bound aloft in her frozen canvas and tackle
rs ever she had been IN the sepulcher in which
discovered her.
| went below, and put the provisions we
needed for breakfast into the oven, and
entered Tassards cabin. On bringing the
lantern 20 his face rs he lay under half n
score of coats upon the deck, perceived that
he was awake, and my heart being full
cried cut cheerly, GOOD newsi good news
the prlnTowder did its work The ice is
rupturel and we are a1oat, Mr.. Tassard-
a1oat, and progressing north!f'
He looked at me vacantly, and giving his
head shake, exclaimed, "lIow can / crawl
from this mound, Ny strength is gone"
II ] was amazed that the joy ful intelligence
had delivered produced no other response
than this Querulous inquiry, / was far more
astonished by the sound OF his voice. IL was
the most cracked and venerable pipe that
ever ,ickled the throat of old 1ge-a min
Cling Of wailing falsettos and of hollow, gasp
ing erowls, the whole very weak threw
the clothes off him, and said, DO You wish
20 rise; will bring you your breakfast here
if you wish
He looked al me. but made no answer.
bawlcd again. and Observed by the dim Ian
t.rn light, that he watched my lips with an
mir Of attention; and while / waited for 8
reply he said, IL dct't hear YOU
Anxious 70 ascertain TO what extent his
hearing was impaired, kneeled on the deck,
AID, putting ny lips to his ear, said, not very
loud. "Will You come 10 the cook house"
which he did not hear; and then louder,
own YOU come TO the cook house, which he
dd not hear either. believed him stone deaf
t.ll. on roaring with all the power Of my
lungs, be answered, Yes"
took him by the hands and hauled him
gently on 10 his feet, and had to continue
holding him, a he must have fallen. Time
was beginning with him when he had gone 10
bed, and the rcmorseleSs old soldier had COM
plctely finished his work while his victim
slept viewed the Frcnchnan while /
grasped his hands, and there stood before me
a shrunk, lettering, deaf, bowed, feeble old
man. What was yesterday polished head
was now a shriveled pate-as though the
very skull had shrunk and left the skin 10 rip
pie into wrinkles, and sit loose and puckered
His hands trembled excessively. But his
lower Jaw was held in its place by his teeth:
and this perFetuated in the aged, dwindlcd
something of the Likeness OF the
fierce and sinister visage that had confronted
me yesterday. | was thunderstrIck by the
altorat ION. and stood overwhelmed with awe
confusion and alarm. Then, re-collcctiug my
FIRE. putting his bench 10 the dresser, that he
might have a hack to lean against.
He could scarce feed himself-indeed. he
could hardly hold his chin Off his breast. He
had gone 70 bed a man, as | might take it.
of %, and during the night the angel Of Time
had visited him, and there he sat l03 years Of
age!
He looked il. Ia, thought !. was dread
ing your treachery yesterday there is moth
ing more 10 fear. Besides that he was nearly
stone deaf, he could hardly see and was
sure, il he should te able 10 move at nll he
could not stir leg without the bel p of sticks
was going TO roar out to him that we were
adrift, but he looked so imbecile that |
what purposef II there b. aught
Of memory in him, let him sit and chew the
cud thereof He cannot last long-the cold
must soon stop his heart. And with that
went on eating my breakfast in silence, but
greatly affected by this astonishing mark Of
the hand Of Providence, and under very
heavy and constant sense Of awe: for the like
of such transformation am sure had never
before encountered mortal eyes and il was
terrifying 20 bo alone with il.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE FRENCHMAN DIES.
However, if | expected my Frenchman