Part 10 (1/2)
CHAPTER EIGHT
”WILL MORNING NEVER COME?”
For the full space of an hour there was utter silence in the boat, where the lieutenant and his stricken crew lay as in a stupor The black clouds had rolled away, and the calht
The air ar day, the temperature was delicious
To and laid it back in the locker, after which he had seated himself to wait for orders At last, after quite an effort, Mark roused his, and turned to his coht I to do?”
”Nothing, sir,” said theyou can
Soot to wait”
”But couldback to the port?”
”Without biscuit or water, sir, and with that sun sure to come up to-morrow ready to 'most scorch out our brains What do you think?”
”I think it's impossible, Tom”
”Don't say think, sir It's what you say without the think, and so I tell you I to work I'll take an oar, and row till I drop if you like, but what good will one entleman? You needn't say you think it's impossible, sir, for you know it is, and that all we can do is to sit and wait To- over an oar, so as to keep the sun off Mr Russell, sir”
”If the shi+p hasn't come and picked us up, Tom”
The sailor was silent
”Don't say you think she will not,” cried the lad
”Very well, sir, but I'll say this she can't sir, till there's some wind, and that's why it is The captain has either took the schooner or give it up; and then, as he was coot becalh and the wind come, he'll make all sail, but whether he'll find any of us left to pick up ishis chin upon his hands, sat watching the glittering water stretching right away beneath the rand that for the moment it thrilled Mark, but only for that moment; the next he was in utter despair, fa fro of horror which made him shrink within hiering death
”Beg pardon, sir,” said Tom Fillot, suddenly, their co in no wise interfered with the sailor's respect for his superior, ”like to try a bit o' 'bacco, sir?”
Mark shook his head
”O' course not You ain't used to it and don't want it Try and go to sleep, sir I'll keep the watch”
”Sleep?” cried Mark, bitterly; ”what for? to wake up and find itwith the sun up, ready to scorch us to death?”
”That's looking at the very worst side of things, sir,” replied the sailor, cheerfully ”There's always a best side as well as a worst, and we're as likely to see one side as the other”
”Don't, don't keep on talking,” cried Mark, passionately
”All right, sir,” said Tom Fillot ”I'll be as dumb as a shi+p's lead”