Part 10 (1/2)

The bold harpooner did it thus--he suddenly unhooked his right hand from the arm-hole of his vest, and gave his right thigh a slap which produced a crack that would have made a small pistol envious; then he uttered a succession of ferocious roars, that might have quite well indicated pain, or grief, or madness, or a drunken cheer, and, un-hooking the left hand, he doubled himself up, and thrust both knuckles into his eyes.

The knuckles were wet when he pulled them out of his eyes, but he dried them on his pantaloons, bolted up the hatchway, and rus.h.i.+ng up to the man at the wheel, demanded in a voice of thunder--”How's 'er head?”

”Sou'-sou'-east-and-by-east,” replied the man, in some surprise.

”Sou'-sou'-east-and-by-east!” repeated Mr Rokens, in a savage growl of authority, as if he were nothing less than the admiral of the Channel Fleet. ”That's two points and a half off yer course, sir. Luff, luff, you--you--”

At this point Tim Rokens turned on his heel, and began to walk up and down the deck as calmly as if nothing whatever had occurred to disturb his equanimity.

”The captain wants Glynn Proctor,” said the second mate, looking down the fore-hatch.

”Ay, ay, sir,” answered Glynn, ascending, and going aft.

”Ailie wants to see you, Glynn, my boy,” said Captain Dunning, as the former entered the cabin; ”and I want to speak to you myself--to thank you Glynn. Ah, lad! you can't know what a father's heart feels when--Go to her, boy.” He grasped the youth's hand, and gave it a squeeze that revealed infinitely more of his feelings than could have been done by words.

Glynn returned the squeeze, and opening the door of Ailie's private cabin, entered and sat down beside her crib.

”Oh, Glynn, I want to speak to you; I want to thank you. I love you so much for jumping into the sea after me,” began the child, eagerly, and raising herself on one elbow while she held out her hand.

”Ailie,” interrupted Glynn, taking her hand, and holding up his finger to impose silence, ”you obeyed me _in_ the water, and now I insist on your obedience _out_ of the water. If you don't, I'll leave you.

You're still too weak to toss about and speak loud in this way. Lie down, my pet.”

Glynn kissed her forehead, and forced her gently back on the pillow.

”Well, I'll be good, but don't leave me yet, Glynn. I'm much better.

Indeed, I feel quite strong. Oh! it was good of you--”

”There you go again.”

”I love you,” said Ailie.

”I've no objection to that,” replied Glynn, ”but don't excite yourself.

But tell me, Ailie, how was it that you managed to keep afloat so long?

The more I think of it the more I am filled with amazement, and, in fact, I'm half inclined to think that G.o.d worked a miracle in order to save you.”

”I don't know,” said Ailie, looking very grave and earnest, as she always did when our Maker's name happened to be mentioned. ”Does G.o.d work miracles still?”

”Men say not,” replied Glynn.

”I'm sure I don't quite understand what a miracle is,” continued Ailie, ”although Aunt Martha and Aunt Jane have often tried to explain it to me. Is floating on your back a miracle?”

”No,” said Glynn, laughing; ”it isn't.”

”Well, that's the way I was saved. You know, ever since I can remember, I have bathed with Aunt Martha and Aunt Jane, and they taught me how to float--and it's so nice, you can't think how nice it is--and I can do it so easily now, that I never get frightened. But, oh!--when I was tossed over the side of the s.h.i.+p into the sea I _was_ frightened just. I don't think I _ever_ got such a fright. And I splashed about for some time, and swallowed some water, but I got upon my back somehow. I can't tell how it was, for I was too frightened to try to do anything. But when I found myself floating as I used to do long ago, I felt my fear go away a little, and I shut my eyes and prayed, and then it went away altogether; and I felt quite sure you would come to save me, and you _did_ come, Glynn, and I know it was G.o.d who sent you. But I became a good deal frightened again when I thought of the sharks, and--”

”Now, Ailie, stop!” said Glynn. ”You're forgetting your promise, and exciting yourself again.”

”So she is, and I must order you out, Master Glynn,” said the doctor, opening the door, and entering at that moment.