Part 3 (1/2)
”I shall see it clearly enough e get there,” said Roger ”But I propose that we first visit Ben Rullock's cottage, and get him and his boy to help us; he will knohereabouts the shi+p lies”
”But you do not think we can go off to the shi+p in his boat?” remarked Stephen
”No; my fear is that the shi+p may be driven in close to the shore, and that her crew er
He, knowing the locality well, even in the darkness, ed to hit the path which led down to the old fishere; he and his companion, however, had to walk cautiously, for it was narrow and winding, and a false stepthe door they knocked loudly
”Ben Rullock, turn out! turn out! there is a shi+p in danger!” shouted Roger But the dashi+ng of the breakers on the shore, and the howling of the wind, produced so wild an uproar that his voice was not heard
Again and again he and Stephen shouted and knocked louder and louder
”Who's there wanting th heard a voice froer repeated what he had before said, and at length old Ben came to the door with a candle, which was i , or other signal of distress, and my ears are pretty sharp, even when I aate, as we are afraid that she may have been driven on shore”
”Her captain knows too hat he is about to allow her to do that,”
answered old Ben ”He had not been aboard yesterday evening two ood offing before the gale came on”
”I heartily hope that such may be the case,” observed Stephen
”I a back,”
said Roger
”We shall soon know,” observed Ben ”Dawn is just breaking, and it will be daylight ere long--Coentleh, I will rouse up young Toby, and ill have a fire lighted to dry your wet duds”
The lads were glad enough to accept old Ben's invitation, for though they had strained their eyes to the utate, but they fancied that the darkness, which is generally the greatest an hour before dawn, had concealed her fro called, quickly lighted a fire with the driftwood, of which there was generally an abundant supply on the beach, and they sat before it for so theth Roger starting up exclaiht: we shall be well able to see the shi+p where she lay at anchor”
”I doubt if you will see her there or anywhere else,” said old Ben, as he accoe
Though the rain had ceased, the gale was blowing as hard as ever, while the spray which rose fro on the shore beneath their feet filled the air as they reached a point where, by shading their eyes with their hands, they could obtain a view over the whole bay They eagerly looked out, but nowhere was the _Benbow_ frigate to be seen Ben's information was correct
It was evident that Captain Benbow, on perceiving the approach of bad weather, had i In vain the lads gazed along the whole line of the horizon extending from the Bill of Portland to the Start--not a sail was visible
”Maybe she's run in for shelter on the other side of Portland, or, still e to bring up inside the Isle of Wight,” observed Ben ”She will not be co reatly disappointed, returned with Stephen to the lad to find that the shi+p had escaped, but he was afraid that itto sea on board her would be realised
The gale lasted scarcely the usual three days, when the weather becaer paidthe _Benbow_ frigate coh many shi+ps passed by, they were bound up or down Channel, and none careat disappointer had ever had Day after day went by, but still the _Benbow_ frigate did not make her appearance
Sometimes he hoped that he should receive a letter fro hio on board, but no letter was received The thought occurred to hi that dreadful night, but old Ben assured hih while the as sufficiently to ard to enable her to weather Portland Bill and its dreaded Race, and that she ell out at sea before the worst of it commenced