FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   190   191   192   193   194  
195   196   197   198   199   200   201   202   203   204   205   206   207   208   209   210   >>  
yhow, I know the rock itself too well to mistake it." "Be there plenty watter?" "Ay; on the east side, close to the rock, there is enough water to float the biggest ship in your navy." "Good; we shall go close." There was a slight lull in the gale at this time, and the clouds broke a little, allowing occasional glimpses of moonlight to break through and tinge the foaming crests of the waves. At last the light, that had at first looked like a bright star, soon increased, and appeared like a glorious sun in the stormy sky. For a few seconds it shone intensely white and strong, then it slowly died away and disappeared; but almost before one could have time to wonder what had become of it, it returned in the form of a brilliant red sun, which also shone for a few seconds, steadily, and then, like the former, slowly died out. Thus, alternating, the red and white suns went round. In a few minutes the tall and graceful column itself became visible, looking pale and spectral against the black sky. At the same time the roar of the surf broke familiarly on Ruby's ears. He steered close past the north end of the rock, so close that he could see the rocks, and knew that it was low water. A gleam of moonlight broke out at the time, as if to encourage him. "Now," said Ruby, "you had better go about, for if we carry on at this rate, in the course we are going, in about an hour you will either be a dead man on the rocks of Forfar, or enjoying yourself in a Scotch prison!" "Ha! ha!" laughed the Frenchman, who immediately gave the order to put the vessel about; "good, ver good; bot I was not wish to see the Scottish prison, though I am told the mountains be ver superb." While he was speaking, the little vessel lay over on her new course, and Ruby steered again past the north side of the rock. He shaved it so close that the Frenchman shouted, "_Prenez garde_", and put a pistol to Ruby's ear. "Do you think I wish to die?" asked Ruby, with a quiet smile. "Now, captain, I want to point out the course, so as to make you sure of it. Bid one of your men take the wheel, and step up on the bulwarks with me, and I will show you." This was such a natural remark in the circumstances, and moreover so naturally expressed, that the Frenchman at once agreed. He ordered a seaman to take the wheel, and then stepped with Ruby upon the bulwarks at the stern of the vessel. "Now, you see the position of the lighthouse," said Ruby, "w
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   190   191   192   193   194  
195   196   197   198   199   200   201   202   203   204   205   206   207   208   209   210   >>  



Top keywords:

vessel

 

Frenchman

 
slowly
 

seconds

 

prison

 

steered

 

moonlight

 

bulwarks

 

enjoying

 

Scotch


Forfar

 

remark

 

lighthouse

 

immediately

 

laughed

 

circumstances

 
agreed
 

ordered

 

seaman

 

stepped


naturally

 

expressed

 

position

 

shouted

 
Prenez
 

shaved

 

pistol

 
captain
 

Scottish

 
speaking

mountains
 
superb
 

natural

 

spectral

 

foaming

 

crests

 

allowing

 
occasional
 
glimpses
 

glorious


stormy

 
intensely
 
appeared
 

increased

 

looked

 

bright

 
clouds
 

plenty

 

watter

 

mistake