Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-06-28

ure,r said l. "What did You suppose-that
the blast would blow the ice, with the
schooner OH it, into the ocean clear of the
islandi If the ice is so shaken as to enable
the swell to detach it, my scheme will have
accomplished all proposed
'Ifr' he cried. scornfully and passionately
'if will not deliver us and save the treasure.
/ tell You the schooner is fixed-as fixed as
the damned in everlasting fire. Be it soln hc
cried, clenching his fist "But you must
NEEDLE no morel The Boca del Dragon is
mine-mine. dye see, now that they're all
dead and gone but me"-sniting his bosom
sand if ever she is to float let nature or the
devil launch her, no more explosions, with
the risks your failure has made her and me
run!n
His voice sank; he looked at me in silence,
and then, with wild grin of anger, he ex-
claimed: "What made you awake met /
was at peace-neither cold, hungry nor hops
less What demon forced you to bring me
to this-to bring me back to thisln
'Mr TasSard,n said l, coldly, ~ don't ask
your pardon for my experiment; l meant
well, and to my mind it is no failure yet
But for disturbing your repose l do sincerely
beg your forgiveness, and solemnly promise
YOU, if you will return to the state in which
/ found you, that viii not repeat the Of
Tense"
He eyed me from top to toe in silence,
filed and lighted his hideous pipe, and
smoked with his back turned upon me.
Had there been another warm place in the
schooner should have retired to it, and left
this surly and scandalous savage TO the en-
joyment of his own company.
After sitting long while sullenly smolI-
ing in silence, he fetched his mattress and
some covers, lay down upon it, and fell fast
asleep. / admired and envied this display of
confidence in me, and heartily wished myself
as safe i'll his hands as he was in mine. The
afternoon passed. | was on deck a half
dozen times, but never witnessed the least
alteration in the ice. My spirits sank very
low
sat before the furnace extremely detected,
while the Frenchman snored on his mattress.
could no longer flatter myself that the OK
plosisns had made the impression / had ex-
pected on the ice, and my mind was utterly
at loss. How to deliver myself from this
horrible situation l could not imagine.
The sole ray of hope that CLEANED upon me
broke out Of the belief that this island waS
going north, and that when we had come to
the height of the summer in these seas, the
wasting Of tho coast or the dislocation Of the
northern mass would release us.
Yet this was but poor comfort too; it
threatened terrible long spell of waiting,
with perhaps disappointment in the end and
months of enforced association with wretch
with whom l should have to live in fear of
my life.
When was getting supper Tassard
awoke, quilted his mattress and came to his
bench.
"Has anything happened while l sleptg'
said he.
nothing" answered.
"The ice shows no signs Of givingm he
asked
Il see nonc,n said /.
"Well," cried he, with a sarcastic sneer,
shave you any more fine schemesF'
Otis your turn now" l replied. TRY
your hand. If you fail promise you shall
not be disappointed"
"But you English sailors" said he, wag-
ging his head and regarding me with great
deal of wildncss in his eye, ''speal Of your
selves as the finest seamen in the world.
Justify the maritime reputation of your
nation by showing me how we arc to escape
with the schooner from the ice.n
''Mr. Tassard," said l, approaching him
and looking him full i'll the face, 81 would
advise you to sweeten your temper and
change your tone. have borne myself very
moderately toward you, submitted TO your
insults with patience, and have done you
some kindness. l am not afraid of you. On
the contrary, l look upon you as a swagger-
ing bully and hoary villain. Do you UNDER
stand mel am n desperate man In des-
perate situation. But il don't fear death,
depend upon it don't fear you; and take
God to witness that If you do not use mo
with the civility have the.right to expect, 1
will kill you'll"
My temper had given way; meant every
word l spoke, and my air and sincerity
rendered my speech very formidable. APP
preached him by another stride; he started
up, rs l thought, to seize me, but in reality
to recoil, and this he did SO effectually as to
tumble over his bench, and down he fell,
striking his bald head so hard that he lay
for several minutes motionless