Part 14 (2/2)

”All--except yourself and the cook”

She shuddered fro closer to Brandon, she whispered: ”And , but, with a face full of irl understood him She reeled, and would have fallen had not Brandon supported her Then she covered her face with her hands, and, staggering away to a seat, sank down and wept bitterly

All were silent Even the rough sailors respected that grief Rough! Who does not know that sailors are often the most tender-hearted of men, and always the most impulsive, and , but stood in groups sorrowing in her sorrow

The Captain,around upon the scene The Hindu also had gained strength with every throb of his heart and every breath of the air

But suddenly a cry arose from one of the men who stood nearest the hatchway

”The shi+p is sinking!”

Every one started Yes, the shi+p was sinking No one had noticed it; but the water was already within a few feet of the top No doubt Zangorri had been scuttling her when he rushed out of the hold at the noise of the attack

There was nothing left but to hasten away There was ti The bodies of the dead had to be left with the shi+p for their tomb In a short ti away But not too soon For scarcely had they pulled away half a dozen boat-lengths froher and higher, more rapidly every moment, rushed roan like that of so the shi+p went down

A yell came from over the water It rose fro sweeps could carry her But the dead were not revenged only They were re the _Falcon_ the sailors were summoned to the side which looked toward the spot where the shi+p had sunk, and the solemn voice of Brandon read the burial-service of the Church

And as he read that service he understood the fate which he had escaped when the shi+p passed Coffin Island without noticing his signal

CHAPTER X

BEATRICE

It was natural that a young girl who had gone through so fearful an ordeal should for some time feel its effects Her situation excited the warmest sympathy of all on board the shi+p; and her appearance was such as h but kindly and sensitive sailors who had taken part in her rescue

Her whole appearance marked her as one of no corace which inspired involuntary respect; an elegance of manner and co Added to this, her face had soreater even than beauty--or at least so without which beauty itself is feeble--namely, character and expression Her soul spoke out in every lineament of her noble features, and threw around her the charm of spiritual exaltation

To such a charm as this Brandon did not seem indifferent His usual self-abstraction seemed to desert him for a time The part that he had taken in her rescue of itself formed a tie between them; but there was another bond in the fact that he alone of all on board could associate with her on equal terh-bred lady

The Hindu had at once found occupation, for Brandon, who had seen the stuff that was in him, offered to take hieelo, but he was commonly called Cato, and preferred that naarded Brandon as his saviour, with all the superstition which Hindus can feel, and looked up to this saviour as a superior being The offer of eerly accepted, and Cato at once entered upon the few duties which his situation could require on shi+p-board

Meanwhile the young lady rereater part of her time in her room, and only came out atexcept the most distant and respectful courtesy No one knew her nanorant of it She and the old nurse had only been known to hi missis and the old missis

Brandon, roused froloo creature, whom fate had thrown in his way

He found that his attentions were not unacceptable At length she came out more frequently, and they became companions on the quarter-deck

Brandon was touched by the exhibition which she hadhiized to hirief After a tie which she had been land Her father lived in England, but she had passed her life in Hong-Kong, having been brought up there by the old nurse, who had accoe until that fearful calamity

She told him at different times that her father was a merchant who had business all over the world, and that he had of late taken up his station in his own home and sent for her

Of her father she did not say much, and did not seem to knowever since she could reland, but did not know for certain Her nurse had not known her till she had gone to China