Volume I Part 65 (1/2)
”The door was too narrow to allow them both to pass; dick seized Osborne by the throat; a struggle ensued, and the next round with dick's bowie-knife plunged up to the hilt in his breast The snake, aroused by the noise, sprang up and struck dick a deadly blow
”In a moment he was in convulsions”
Wharton paused The perspiration stood on his forehead and the muscles of his lips twitched Clary buried her face in her hands, and Madalass of brandy
”I beg your pardon, ladies,” the captain proceeded, ”but the memory of that awful tiht unmanned me The rattlesnake looked at me with its hideous eyes The fear of death nerved ed it full at the monster and then lost consciousness When I recovered nextand saw the dead bodies of dick and Osborne I broke into tears”
”Captain,” interrupted Clary, ”your tale is so interesting that one is apt to forget, but--”
”But what?” asked Wharton expectantly
”I a”
”Ah! I was not thinking of that I ao on deck”
”And my story?”
”Can be continued later on; I am to know yet how the Indian'sbecame your wife”
Wharton preceded the ladies to the deck He knew his shi+p and had no fears The weather was nificent and the vessel's sails were swelled by the breeze Clary looked in every direction to catch a glimpse of the Ice Bird, but could not see it
”Captain, where is the Ice Bird?” she said, turning to Wharton
”The Ice Bird? It's far behind How could it compare in speed with the Crocodile?”
”Are you sure of it?”
”Yes, my lady”
”Please ask one of the sailors!”
Wharton did so, and was astonished when he was told that the ”peanut-shell,” as he called the Ice Bird, made twenty-three knots an hour, whereas the Crocodileface he made at this announceh
”You see it is folly to attempt to overtake the Count of Monte-Cristo,”
said Madame Caraman to Clary; ”if you follow my advice, return to Marseilles, where we can wait for news of the Ice Bird and--”
”Go back?” interrupted Clary ”Never!”
”But Monte-Cristo will arrive before us, and two hours after his arrival at Bona he will be on his way to the desert, and you do not intend to follow hiers and jackals, do you?”
”Mao back to France,” said Clary, gently
Captain Wharton now came back