按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
No sign of the tide turning yet； and much reason to fear it would turn too late for them and the poor fellows shivering on the bowsprit。
These fears were well founded。
A huge sea rolled in； and turned the forepart of the vessel half over； buried the bowsprit； and washed the men off into the breakers。
Mrs。 Beresford sank down； and prayed； holding Vespasian by the knee。
Fortunately； as in that vessel wrecked long syne on Melita； 〃the hind part of the ship stuck fast and remained immovable。〃
But for how long？
Each wave now struck the ship's weather quarter with a sound like a cannon fired in a church； and sent the water clear into the mizen…top。 It hit them like strokes of a whip。 They were drenched to the skin； chilled to the bone； and frozen to the heart with fear。 They made acquaintance that hour with Death。 Ay； Death itself has no bitterness that forlorn cluster did not feel： only the insensibility that ends that bitterness was wanting。
Now the sea； you must know； was literally strewed with things out of the _Agra_； masts； rigging； furniture； tea…chests； bundles of canes； chairs； tables； but of all this jetsam； Dodd's eye had been for some little time fixed on one object： a live sailor drifting ashore on a great wooden case。 It struck him after a while that the man made very little way； and at last seemed to go up and down in one place。 By…and…bye he saw him nearer and nearer； and recognised him。 It was one of the three washed off the bowsprit。
He cried joyfully； 〃The tide has turned！ here's Thompson coming out to sea。〃
Then there ensued a dialogue； incredible to landsmen； between these two sailors； the captain of the ship and the captain of the foretop； one perched on a stationary fragment of that vessel； the other drifting on a pianoforte； and both bawling at one another across the jaws of death。
〃Thompson ahoy！〃
〃Hal…lo！〃
〃Whither bound？〃
〃Going out with the tide； and be dd to me。〃
〃What； can't ye swim ？〃
〃Like a brass figure…head。 It's all over with poor Jack； sir。〃
〃All over！ Don't tell me！ Look out now as you drift under our stern； and we'll lower you the four…inch hawser。〃
〃Lord bless you； sir； do； pray！〃 cried Thompson； losing his recklessness with the chance of life。
By this time the shore was black with people； and a boat was brought down to the beach； but to attempt to launch it was to be sucked out to sea。
At present all eyes were fixed on Thompson drifting to destruction。
Dodd cut the four…inch hawser； and Vespasian； on deck； lowered it with a line； so that Thompson presently drifted right athwart it。 〃All right； sir！〃 said he； grasping it； and； amidst thundering acclamations； was drawn to land full of salt water and all but insensible。 The piano landed at Dunkirk three weeks later。
In the bustle of this good and smart action the tide retired perceptibly。
By…and…bye the sea struck lower and with less weight。
At 9 P。 M。 Dodd took his little party down on deck again； being now the safest place； for the mast might go。
It was a sad scene： the deck was now dry； and the dead bodies lay quiet around them with glassy eyes； and； grotesquely horrible； the long hair of two or three was stiff and crystallised with the saltpetre in the ship。
Mrs。 Beresford clung to Vespasian： she held his bare black shoulder with one white and jewelled hand； and his wrist with the other； tight。 〃Oh； Mr。 Black；〃 said she； 〃how brave you are！ It is incredible。 Why； you came back！ I must feel a brave man with both my hands or I shall die。 Your skin is nice and soft； too。 I shall never outlive this dreadful day。〃
And now that the water was too low to wash them off the hawser； several of the ship's company came back to the ship to help the women down。
By noon the _Agra's_ deck was thirty feet from the sand。 The rescued ones wanted to break their legs and necks； but Dodd would not permit even that。 He superintended the whole manoeuvre； and lowered； first the dead； then the living； not omitting the poor goat； who was motionless and limp with fright。
When they were all safe on the sand； Dodd stood alone upon the poop a minute； cheered by all the sailors； French and English； ashore； then slid down a rope and rejoined his companions。
To their infinite surprise； the undaunted one was found to be snivelling。
〃Oh； dear！ what is the matter？〃 said Mrs。 Beresford tenderly。
〃The poor _Agra_； ma'am！ She was such a beautiful sea…boat： and just look at her now！ Never sail again： never！ never！ She was a little crank in beating； I can't deny it； but how she did fly with the wind abaft。 She sank a pirate in the straits； and weathered a hurricane off the Mauritius； and after all for a lubber to go and lay her bones ashore in a fair wind： poor dear beauty！〃
He maundered thus； and kept turning back to look at the wreck； till he happened to lay his hand on his breast He stopped in the middle of his ridiculous lament wore a look of self…reproach； and cast his eyes upward in heartfelt gratitude。
The companions of so many adventures dispersed。
A hospitable mayoress entertained Mrs。 Beresford and suite； and she took to her bed； for she fell seriously ill as soon as ever she could do it with impunity。
Colonel Kenealy went off to Paris： 〃I'll gain that； any way； by being wrecked；〃 said he。
If there be a lover of quadrupeds here； let him know that Billy's weakness proved his strength。 Being brandied by a good…natured French sailor； he winked his eye； being brandied greatly； he staggered up and butted his benefactor like a man。
Fullalove had dry clothes and a blazing fire ready for Dodd at a little rude auberge。 He sat over it and dried a few bank…notes。 he had loose about him； and examined his greater treasure； his children's。 The pocket…book was much stained； but no harm whatever done to the contents。
In the midst of this employment the shadow of an enormous head was projected right upon his treasure。
Turning with a start； he saw a face at the window： one of those vile mugs which are found to perfection amongst the _canaille_ of the French nationbloated； blear…eyed； grizzly； and wild…beast like。 The ugly thing； on being confronted； passed slowly out of the sun； and Dodd thought no more of it。
The owner of this sinister visage was Andre Thibout； of whom it might be said； like face like life； for he was one of those ill…omened creatures who feed upon the misfortunes of their kind； and stand on shore in foul weather hoping the worst； instead of praying for the best： briefly； a wrecker。 He and his comrade； Jacques Moinard； had heard the _Agra's_ gun fired； and came down to batten on the wreck： but ho！ at the turn of the tide； there were gensdarmes and soldiers lining the beach； and the Bayonet interposed between Theft and Misfortune。 So now the desperate pair were prowling about like hungry； baffled wolves； curses on their lips and rage at their hearts。
Dodd was extremely anxious to get to Barkington before the news of the wreck； for otherwise he knew his wife and children would suffer a year's agony in a single day。 The only chance he saw was to get to Boulogne in time to catch the _Nancy_ sailing packet； for it was her day。 But then Boulogne was eight leag