Part 21 (1/2)
”Jem!”
”I often said I wished I could be took away, but I didn't mean it, Mas'
Don; I didn't mean it What will my Sally do?”
”Jem, are you mad?” shouted Don ”This darkness--this cellar It's all black, and I can't think; e Don't play tricks Try and open the door and let's go”
”What, don't you knohat it all roaned Jem
”No, I don't seem as if I could think What does it ot us, and unless we can let 'em know at home, we shall be took aboard shi+p and sent off to sea”
”What?”
The light had coht which drove away the cloud of darkness which had obscured Don Lavington's brain He could think now, and he saw oncelanthorn, and felt, as it were, the struggle going on; and then, sitting up with his hands to his throbbing head, he listened to a lowsound close at hand
”Jem,” he said ”Jem! Why don't you speak?”
There was no answer, for it was poor Jem's turn now; the injuries he had received in his desperate struggle for liberty had had their effect, and he lay there insensible to the great trouble which had corew more terrible to Don, in the darkness of that cellar, with every breath he drew
CHAPTER TWELVE
PRISONERS
”What's theup, as there was the sound of bolts being shot back, and a light shone in upon the darkness
Don could hardly believe it possible, but it was quite true In spite of pain and anxiety, weariness had ht shone in, Don could see Je, apparently asleep, but in a very uncomfortable position, and that they were in a low, arched cellar, one which at so casks; for in one corner there were some mouldy staves, and, close by, a barrel, whose hoops seemed to have slipped down, so that it was in a state of collapse
He had no time to see more, for half a dozen well-ar man, who crossed at once to the prisoners
”Hold the lanthorn here,” he said sharply ”Now let's have a look at you”
He exahly, but not unkindly
”All right, my lad,” he said to Don; ”you will not die this tier over Jem, who roused up and looked at him curiously, as if he did not quite understand
”Been rather rough with this one, my lads”