"Shut up!" ordered Peterson. "Safe as a church, here or there, you

lubbers. Stand by your tackle, and keep your chin. Mr. Harry, tell the

ladies just to wrap up a bit, because--well, maybe, because----"

"Call me when it is time, Peterson," said I; and moved aft, holding

Jean Lafitte by the arm.

"Gee!" said he, as he dropped, wet and out of breath, into the cabin;

and "Gee!" remarked a very pale L'Olonnois in return, gamely as he

could. And Mrs. Daniver's moans went rhythmic with the pound of the

keel on the shoal.

"What shall we do?" asked Helena at last calmly. "Auntie is very sick.

I am beginning to fear for her, it is such a bad attack. This is as

rough as I ever saw it on the Channel."

"There is no danger," said I, "but Peterson and I just thought that if

she kept on pounding in this way, it might be better to go ashore."

I spoke lightly, but well enough I knew the risk of trying to launch a

boat in such a sea; and what the surf might be, none could say. Ah,

how I wished that my empty assurance might be the truth. For I knew

that, anyway we looked, only danger stared back at us now, on every

hand.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024