FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133  
134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   >>   >|  
up alongside, Captain Reay, the master, and half a dozen other officers were standing on the main deck. "By Heavens, gentlemen, it's true!" cried Captain Reay to the others. "Here, show more light at the gangway!" And then amid a babble of excitement, Lieutenant Channing, pale, hatless, and excited, ascended the gangway, carrying in his arms a woman whose white face and dark hair stood clearly revealed under the blaze of lights held aloft by the seamen. As he touched the deck, the sleeping babe in her arms awoke, and uttered a wailing cry. "Take her to my cabin, Channing," said Reay, without waiting to question him. "Here! give me the youngster, quick! Sentry, pass the word for the doctor." The moment the officers had disappeared a buzz of talk hummed, and Private Watts was besieged with questions. "Give us a tot, an' I'll tell ye all about it, afore I'm sent for by the captain," was his prompt answer; and then swallowing the generous draught provided him, he told his story in as few words as possible. A big, bony sergeant slapped him on the shoulder, "Mon, ye'll hae your stripes for this." "Ay, that he will," said a hairy-chested boatswain. "Well, it's a uncommon curious ewent: this 'ere young covey goes a-shootin', and bags a Frenchman, and the soger officer brings a hangel and a cherrybim aboard." ***** The officers of the Triton sat long over their wine that night, and Lieutenant Channing was the recipient of much merry badinage; but there was behind it all a sincere feeling of joy that he had escaped such a treacherous death. Private Watts being sent for, was excused by the Scotch sergeant, who gravely reported that he was bad in the legs, whereat the officers laughed, and straightway made up a purse of guineas for him. Suddenly, as Captain Reay entered, the babble ceased. "Gentlemen, let Mr. Channing turn in; he wants rest. The lady and her baby are now sound asleep. She has told me her strange story. To-morrow, Mr. West, you can take a boat's crew, and bring aboard a large sum of money concealed in a spot of which I shall give you an exact description. It belongs to this lady undoubtedly, now that Watts's lucky shot has settled her ruffianly husband." ***** Two days after, the frigate had cleared her harbour of refuge, and was bowling along on her course for Ternate when Captain Reay sent for Lieutenant Channing to come to his cabin. "Channing," he said, taking his hand with a smile,
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133  
134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Channing
 

Captain

 

officers

 
Lieutenant
 

sergeant

 

aboard

 

Private

 

gangway

 

babble

 

treacherous


escaped

 
Ternate
 

sincere

 
feeling
 
excused
 

harbour

 

gravely

 

reported

 

refuge

 

bowling


Scotch

 

Triton

 

cherrybim

 

hangel

 

brings

 
shootin
 

Frenchman

 

officer

 

badinage

 

taking


recipient

 

frigate

 
strange
 

morrow

 

description

 

belongs

 

asleep

 

undoubtedly

 

concealed

 

guineas


Suddenly
 
straightway
 

whereat

 

laughed

 

husband

 
entered
 

settled

 
ceased
 
Gentlemen
 

ruffianly