Part 26 (1/2)
But the sea rolled in very heavily, and they feared, if it increased, that the ice round the shi+p would break up Still there would be aer The raft and boat were both got ready Should the shi+p sink, the fore should the boat be unable to live
”And now all our preparations are made, we'll pipe to dinner,” said Devereux
And the whole party sat down to a not unsubstantial meal round the cabin stove Dinner was over It had been so to do, and they had been talking of by-gone days, and fighting their battles over again It was tiress they had been of lateIt was O'Grady's watch, and when he opened the cabin door to go out, he saw around in the fore-part of the deck His companions soon joined him to ascertain beyond a doubt that the shi+p was on fire It ht still be overcome But the fresh water had been started; there was only ice alongside, and the pumps were choked The partyit out; but they were soon convinced that it had gained hold of the shi+p, and that no efforts they could inated there was no tialley-fire had found its way below, and had ignited some of the stores The flah the hatchways and ports, and soon enveloping the whole of the fore-part of the shi+p The party were now exposed to even a er than any they had anticipated Their raft would no longer avail them Their entire dependence must be on their frail boat Still till the lastto leave the once stout shi+p which had so long been their hoo, h, as the flames, fanned by the wind, rapidly approached the quarter-deck ”One good thing is, that should she drive on shore, and the French be in the neighbourhood, they will not benefit by her”
”Hurrah! one cheer for the old barkie before we leave her!” cried Reuben Cole, as they launched the boat on to the ice ”Another good is, that not another mortal man will set his foot on her deck after us”
”Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!” they shouted, as they ran the boat over the ice
They did not leave the shi+p a ot their boat into the water to the leeward of the floe, than the fore-mast, already a pyramid of fire, fell with a loud crash on the ice
”There is so, and the further off we are, the better,” cried Devereux ”I should have thought of that before Give way, lads; the fire will soon reach theas the boat was under the lee of the floe she made tolerably fine weather of it; but as she increased her distance, the seas caulph her AThis was now run up, and assisted her greatly Devereux steered, and even he could scarcely keep his eyes fro shi+p A cry from his companionsdeep report; and as he looked for an instant, the whole shi+p see masts and spars one mass of flame, to be lifted bodily up out of her icy cradle into the air Up, up it went, and then, splitting into ten thousand frag, so sea, and others on to the ice, where they continued to burn brilliantly There was no cheering this time Paul felt allant frigate
”If the wreckers on shore were expecting a prize, they'll be mistaken,”
observed Reuben, when all had been silent for soh to do to look after their own safety It was already dusk Masses of ice were floating about, not very thickly, but thick enough to make it a matter of difficulty to avoid them The land was flat, and they were nearer to it than they supposed A point appeared on the right If they could get round it without being swaave the point a sufficient berth A heavy sea ca up, they ran in, and in anotherup a river of some size in perfectly smooth water The weather was very cold, and they were anxious to get on shore as soon as possible The further up they went, however, the ht, to find satisfactory shelter, for as yet no houses of any sort could be seen Shelter, however, h they had provisions, the weather was too cold to allow them to remain out, if it could be helped They stood on for nearly half an hour, when a light was seen gli on the opposite shore They steered towards it, fortunately lowering the sail when at some distance froainst the ice which fringed the bank, and very nearly stove in her bow Searching about, however, they at length found a landing-place, and with hearts thankful for their escape sprang on shore That they ht not be a burden to the people whose hospitality they intended to seek, they loaded themselves, not only with the valuables they had rescued froood supply of provisions They proceeded, therefore, boldly along a tolerable road in the direction of the light, or rather lights, for several appeared as they advanced
”Oh, depend on it we shall have a cordial reception,” said O'Grady
”Very likely that is so a ball, or an entertainment of some sort, for which we shall cohts we see are from its s,” remarked Devereux
”We shall soon settle the point, for we shall be up to the place directly,” said Paul ”The lights are lower than I at first thought, and appear to be in the s of several houses Hark! I hear the tra the road”
”Qui va la?” shouted a voice, in sharp, stern accents ”Stand and declare yourselves!”
”We are in for it,” whispered O'Grady ”What can the fellows be?”
”French dragoons, I a to deceive them They ask e are”
”Gerrard, you speak French better than I do; tell them,” said Devereux
”Naval officers who have lost their shi+p, and are seeking for shelter this bitter cold night,” shouted Paul
”Coeant in co up ”Your story, friends, may or may not be true If you are spies, the consequences may be unpleasant”
Escorted by the horse they had seen It appeared to be a large country house All the outhouses and lower roo been taken to remove rich Brussels carpets or valuable furniture They were led upstairs to a large room, where several officers were seated at supper, and were announced as prisoners just captured on the road, reporting themselves as naval officers
”A likely story,” observed the coeneral apparently by his uniform ”What have you to say for yourselves?”
”That our tale is true,” answered Devereux ”Any person on the coastIf you will send, you can ascertain the truth of that part of our account”