Part 21 (2/2)

I said; ”and I a those belonging to him”

There was, however, no ti forh litters with our oars and ropes, we placed my old schoolfellow on one and the elder lady on the other, while I and the other gentle ladies, we proceeded back to the boats The provisions we had brought so was approaching, and when I looked out for the shi+p I could but just distinguish her topsails above the horizon We had a long pull before us, and I feared we should not reach her before dark, and, if so, we ht tossed about on the stormy sea I cheered my men, and they did their utmost dick had taken the seaers in mine They were much cast down at the loss of their coh

I found that the young lady who had at first landed was Henri's sister; the other I had saved was Sophie, his cousin; and the old lady and gentleman her father and mother Thus the whole of one faers, men, and women, and children on board, had lost their lives

They belonged, they told me, to the island of Saint Lucia, and were on their way to pay a visit to England, which neither of the young ladies had seen

Eirl, and appearedto support hied in the stern-sheets I was, however, entle and sweet look of Sophie, whose features also were decidedly prettier than those of her cousin, though few girls under the circue that I should have thought about the matter, but I had saved her life, and naturally felt an interest in her Henri, I observed every now and then, gazed at her when he could lift up his head, but she turned away her eyes, as if unwilling to h

While we pulled southward inside the reef, although the sea was somewhat heavy, it was ht have soers on board I had fortunately brought a hts, from the shi+p The sun set before we reached the southern end of the reef, and we had barely light sufficient to steer with any degree of safety round it At length, however, I judged that I ht venture to do so, and we commenced our pull out to sea The waves broke with a loud roar on the rocks close to us, and I could distinguish the surf rising up like a white wall as we made our way to the ard I was thankful when I saell over the quarter My ot to a sufficient distance froht There was no answer from the shi+p We pulled out still farther, and in half an hour ed aclearly her rigging and sails as she bore doards us

Scarcely an expression of anxiety or alar seas, as we ht, must have appeared truly terrible

In a short ti over the ocean

I let off another blue light, to show our position She hove-to, and we pulled up under her lee As we approached, I ordered a chair to be slung, to hoist our passengers on board The operation would be a dangerous one

By the tiside the chair was ready, with lanterns let down on either side of it The old lady was first sent up, and then his sister and cousin entreated that Henri th to hold on He groaned as I did so, the boat all the ti, and there was a risk that, before he could be hoisted clear of her, she ht be lifted up and strike the chair This risk, indeed, was run by all the party I was anxious to get the old gentlereater ease carry the lighter for ladies up in my arms

Henri was lifted on deck, and then, almost by main force, I placed Monsieur de Villereine in the chair As soon as I saw hi Sophie round the waist, and tellingup the side It ell that I did so, for at thatround almost stove in the boat and half filled her ater; but theon, the falls were let down, and the boat was hoisted up in ti completely knocked to pieces The party in dick's boat took but a short ti on board, and she also was quickly hoisted up

While the shi+p stood off the land, I went down to the cabin to attend to ers

I fortunately had plenty of berths The steward set to work to get the hot soup and arrowroot, and other things which he thoughtserved in passenger shi+ps, I was at no loss what to do, and thewhich ht serve while that of the party ashed in fresh water and dried

The night was stored constantly to be on deck, but whenever I went below, I visited poor Henri, as suffering much I did all I could to relieve him, and directed my steward, as a trustworthymy absence

The next day the weather reatly recovered They all expressed their gratitude to et,” I answered, ”that he is an old schoolfellow, and that I have the greatest satisfaction possible in being of service to him”

”Ah, you must be the friend then of whom he has often spoken to us, as so kind to hied to see you, to return the kindness you showed him when he was a boy, and we hope to do so, as he said you promised to pay us a visit should you ever come to the West Indies”

I replied that I should be very glad to avail e to do go, but that I feared e

Henri appeared to getthe day While I sat by hiiven , his father and mother, he was sure, would be most anxious to see me

None of the rest of the party suffered much from the exposure and alarm to which they had been subjected

Within a ere safely at anchor in Carlisle Bay, on the shore of which, Bridgetown, the capital of the beautiful island of Barbadoes, is situated