The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-13
Ice Bound.
BY w. CLARK RUSSELL.
.AxGaor ef"The Wreck Of the Groso'n"r,'
"Jaek's Co1rt.Aip," Ny Watch Be-
1w," "TM Lady Aaad," Ete.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE PIRATES STORY.

ing he would presently awake; but his Stun
Der was as deep rs the stiffness had thawet
him out Of had been, and he lay 70 motion
less that, but for his snoring and harsh breath
ing, should have believed him lapsed int
his former lifelessness.
At 8 o'clock the fire was very low. Ma
ture was working out her own way with
this Frcnchman, and determined to let him
sleep where he was, and take my chance OF
the night
The gale made great roaring. The ships
stern lay open to the gorge, and but for her
seadiness might have supposed myself ut
sea snugged me down amid the coats and
cloaks in my cot, and. obstinately holding
my eyes closed, ultimately fell asleep
IL was a little after when j awoke
j lighted the lantern, but upOn entering the
passage that lead TO the cabin observed by
my own posture that the schooner had not
only hcclcd more TO larboard, but was far
Their "down by the stern" to the extent of
several feet. Indeed, the angle of inclina-
ton was now considerable enough to bring
my shoulder lin the PASSAGE close against tho
starbOard side when | stood erect The noise
p
ing and boiling of the sea was uncomnonly
loud. walked straight to the cook room,
and, putting the lantern TO the Frcnchman,
perceived that he was still in a heavy sleep,
and that he had lain through the night pre-
cisely in the attitude in which had left him
His face was so mufIled that little more than
his long hawks bill nose was discernible. 1t
was freczingly cold, and | made haste to
light tho fire. There was Still coal enough
III the corner TO last for the day, and before
long the furnace was burning cheerfully. /
went to work to make some broth and fry
some ham, and melt q little block of ruby
colored wine and while thus occupied turn.
ing my head q moment y look at the French.
man, found him half started up, staring in
tently at me.
Ibis sudden confrontment threw me into
such confusion that could not speak lie
moved his head from side to side, taking q
view of the scene, with an expression Of the
most inimitable establishment painted upon
his countenance He then brought the fiat
of his hand with dramatic blow to bis fore
head, the scar on which showed black az ink
TO the fire glow, and sat erect
"Where have ] beenr' he exclaimed in
French.
"Sir," said l, speaking with the utmost
difficulty, ~ do not understand your len
g,iage l am English. You speak my tongue.
Will you address me in itf
"Englishfn be exclaimed in English, drop |
ping his head ON one side, and peering at me !
with an incredible air of arnazement "How |
came you herea You are not Of our COM
Mnvf Let me seq Here be struccled !
with recollection, continuing to stare ut me
from under his shaggy eyebrows as if ] was
some frightful vision.
II am shipwrecked British mariner, said !,
1 land have been cast away upon this ice |
where found your schooner"
"Haln he interrupted, with prodigious
vehemence, Certainly, We are frozen up-1
remember. That sleep should serve my
memory son He mado as If to rise, but sat
again. 1.-THE cold is numbing; it would
weaken lion. Give me hot drink, SIR"
. filled a pannikin with the melted wine,
which he swallowed thirstily.
"Morel" cried he. ~ seem to want lfo."
Again filled the pannikin.
4, "Goodl" said he, fetching a sigh, as he re-
turned the vessel; ''you are very obliging,
sir. If you have food there we Will eat to-
gether."
give the substance of his speech, but not
his delivery of it nor is 1t necessary that
should interpolate my rendering with the
French words he used.
The broth being boiled, gave him a good
bowl of il along with q plate OF bacon and
tongue, some biscuit and a pannikin of hot
brandy and water, all which things | put
upon his knees rs he sat upon the mattress;
and to it he fell, making rare meal. Yet
all the while he ate he acted like a man be-
witched, as well he might, staring at me and
looking round and round him, and then drop
ping his knife to strike his brow, as if by
that kind Of blow he would quicken the &C
Gvity of memory there.
''There is something wrong" said he, pres
entity. "What is it, sirl This is the cook
SOON. How does it happen that am lying
herer'
told him exactly how it was, adding that
II It had not been for his posture, which
Obliged me to thaw in order TO carry hiIu, b.
would now be OH deck with the others, await
ing the best funeral l could give him.
"Who are the othersf' asked he.
IL know not" said l. "There were four il.
all, counting yourself; one sits frozen 20 death
on the rocks. met him first, and took his
watch from his pocket that might tell the
time"
He took the watch in his hands, and asked
me to bring the lantern close.
"Har cried he this was Mendoza's-the
captains. | remember: he took it for tho
sake Of this letter upon it. He lies dead on
the rocks! We missed him, but did not know
where he had gone" Then, raising lis hand |
and impu!sively starting upon the mattress,
he cried, whils he tapped his forehead, 1T
has come backl have it! Giuseppe Tren-
tanove and l were in the cabin; he had fallen
blind with the glare Of the ice-if that was
it. We confronted each other. On a sudden
he screamed out. had put my face into my
arms and felt myself dying. His cry aroused
me. looked up and saw him leaning back
from the table with his eyes fixed and horror
In his countenanca / was too feeble to speak
too languid to rise. watched him a while,
and then the drowsiness stole over me again,
and my head sank and remember no mora"
He shuddered and extended the pannikin
for more liuuOr filled il with two thirds