The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-20
IL was not long before he could sec without
main. He stood n minute gazing mt the glO-

light noticed the unwhOleSOmc color OF MS
face. His cap hid the scar, and no. hirg Of
his countenance was TO be seen but the
cheeks, eyes and nose He was much more
wrinked thnn / had supposed, and me
thought the spirit Of cruelty lay visible in
every line. ! had never seen eyes ~ full Of
cunning and treachery - 50 expressive,
should say, Of these qualities: yet they were
no bigger than mere punctures. | was sen
sible of n momentary fear of the rnai'-not,
let me say, an emotion Of cowardico, but
sort of mixture of alarm and awe, such as a
ghost might inspire This l put down TO
the searching light in which | watched him
for moment or two-an irradiation subtle
enough to give the sharpest form 10 express
sion, TO exqusitely define every meaning
that was dIstinguishable in his graveyard
physiogn0my. left him to stare and Judge
for himself of the posture in which the long,
hard gale had put the schooner, and stepped
over TO the two bodies They were shrouded
in ice from head to foot, as though they had
each man been packed in a glass ease cum
ningly wrought to their shapes. Their faces
were hid by the crystal masks. Tassard
Joined me.
Small chance for your friends now" said
posal TO attempt to revive them"
'Sor' cried he, touching the body Of the
mate with his foot; "and this is the end Of
the irresistible Trentanove! for what con
quests has Death robed him 50 bravelyi
See, the colors shine IN him like fifty differ
ent kinds of ribbons Poor fellow he could
not curl his mustaches now though the
loveliest eyes in Europe were fixed in pas
sionate admiration on him He'll never slit
another throat nor hiccough Petrarch over
a gobletful, nor demonstrate with me for my
humanity. Shall We toss the bodies over
the sdef
"They are your friends" said | "do as
you please"
But we must empty their pockets first
Business before sentiment, Mr. Rodney"
He stirred the figure again with his foot.
"Well, presently" said he this armor
will want the Ratchet Now, my friend to
view the work Of the gale
The increased heel of the ship brought the
larboard fore channel low, and We stepped
without difficulty from il on TO the ice The
rent or fissure that have before spoken of
went very deepit was nearly two icet wide
in places; but, though the light poured bril-
liantly upon it, could See no bottom
IF only such another split as this would
happen tother side said the Frcnchman,
IL believe this block would go adrift
| "Well, SAID |, after musing little while, as
l ran nay eye over the ho!lows, "l'll tell you
what was in my mind just now. There is u
great quantity Of gunpowder in the hold
ten or a dozen barrels BY dropping large
parcels Of it into tao crevices on the right
there, and firing it with slow matches'--
He interrupted me with u cry: BY st.
Paul, you have it, What crevices have youp
| We walked briskly round the vessel. and
all about her beam and starboard quarter
found, in addition 70 the seams had before
noticed, many grea. cracks ana lssures,
caused no doubt 10y tho fall Of the shoulder
of the slope Ipushed on farther yet, going
down the ravine, as / have called it, until
came to the edge and here | looked down
from a height of some twelve or fourteen
feet-so greatly had the ice sunk or been
changed by the weather-upon the ocean |
called TO TaSard Ie approached warily
firmly believe he feared ght be tempted
to give him a friendly shove over the edge
"Observe this hollow" said |, 1.-THE split
there goes down 10 the water and YOU may
take il that the block is wholly disconnected
on that side Now look at the face Of inc
ice said |, pointing to the starboard or right
hand side; that crack goes as far us the
vessels quarter, and the weakness is carried
on 10 past the bows by the other rents Mr.
Tassard, if we could burst this body of ico
by an explosion from It's mornings ahead Of
the bowsprit. where it is all too compact, this
cradle with the schooner in 1t will 60 tree of
the parent body
lie answered promptly, "Yes, it is the one
and only plan. That crack TO starboarl is ike
telling us what to do. 1t is well YOU came
here We should not have seen it from the
top. This valley runs steep. You must expect
10 more than the surface to BE- liberated, for
the foot Of the cliff Will 90 deep
Il desire no more
"Will the ship stand such a launch, suppos-
ing we bring it about" said he
/ responded with one Of his own shIugs,
and said Nothing is certain. We ha't
one Of two courses TO choose. 10 venture
this launch, or stay till the ice breaks ~,
and take our chance of floating or Of being
smashed.
"You are right" he exclaimed Here is
al opportunity IL VIC NdiAg btiHp may
gather abou; this point and build Us in. As
to this island disSolving, we are yet TO know
which way It's heading Suppose it should
be travelling south hey"
He struck the ice with his spear, and we
toiled up the slippery rocks with difficulty to
thu ship. We walked past the bows 20 the
distance Of the vessels length Here were
many deep holes and cracks, and, as if ~"
were to 10 taught how these came about,
even while we were viewing them, an ear
splitting crash Of noise happened within
twenty fathoms OF rs. n rock many tons in
weight rolled over and left u black gulf be-
hind il.
The Frcnchman started, mutter4I and
crossed himself. Holy Virgin be cried,
rolling his eyes. ."Let Us return. The pow
der barrel must have the first chauce. And
he made for the schooner savaseIy striking
the ice with his spear, and growing curses 10
himself o., he plowed aud climbed and jumped
his way along.
CHAPTER Xxx.
MERRY EVENING