Part 53 (2/2)
”Give her another copy of verses,” whispered Toet theelica,” he added, as the young lady passed hi a reply The reater hurry to be off had he not knohat he was to expect on landing He had so hi by turned him from his intention The ladies followed; and as they took their seats they put their handkerchiefs to their eyes, but whether to weep at parting from the naval officers or on account of their harsh treatment, it was impossible to say Alick, who steered the boat, declared that he did not think they were crying at all The ot up, ”with fury in his countenance,” as Alick afterwards described; but his wife and daughters pulled hith he and they were landed safe on the beach, their various articles of baggage being carried up after the ready to escort theeous position inland They ht at any time be attacked by the Caffres; but the force was sufficient to keep at bay any number of the enemy likely to be in that part of the country
”Have you any elica?”
asked Alick, touching his cap with perfect gravity to that lady, alking last; he having already wished the major and the rest ”Good-bye”
”Yes; tell hielica, ”and that I hope he may catch a tartar the next time he atte her with any of his abominable verses”
”Yes, e”
And as he had been ordered to return without delay, he hurried back to the boat
”Well, Alick, what did they say?” asked Tom, as he returned on board
Alick described what had happened, and did not fail to repeat Miss Angelica's e to Lieutenant Blewitt
”I would rather not deliver it myself Perhaps you will, sir, as itfroht,” said Toets it”
Tom took the opportunity, when most of the officers were collected at the e
Billy laughed as heartily as any one ”I don't care what she called ed to you, Rogers, for your verses, although I confess that at the time I certainly did feel considerably annoyed”
Jack, having got rid of his guests, and being anxious to repair the dae caused by the fire, without delay steae to Simon's Bay
The man who had been picked up just before the fire broke out had been carefully tended by the surgeon During the whole tiuish it, he had remained in a state of insensibility, and only recovered after the troops had landed Tom, whose berth he occupied, visited hiive any account of hireatly recovered
”I understand from the doctor, sir,” he said, when Tom soon afterwards went to see him, ”that you have placed er than possible I aer to enjoy any of the comforts of life, until I can retrieve my fortunes, if that can ever be done”
”Pray do not consider that you have inconvenienced me,” answered Tom
”I am very happy to be of service to you All we know is that we found you nearly perishi+ng, and are happy to render you any aid in our power
We are naturally so all by yourself on a raft”
”That's very natural, sir My story is not a long one My name is Cooper I wasto Hobart Town, in Tas sohted a rock not laid down in my chart I call it a rock, but it was rather a s in lofty precipices out of the sea The weather clearing, so-staff, and on standing in close I could see throughthat some shi+pwrecked people were there, I stood still closer in, when a sudden squall struck hted without e, as far as could be discovered; but the weather coed to keep off the shore I ain driven off, and soon afterwards as heavy a gale as ever I experienced co lost my main and mizzen masts, and very nearly my fore-top into Siht feet of water in the hold I sent the crew to the pumps, but all their efforts could not free the shi+p, for the water kept rushi+ng in with fearful rapidity A butt had been started A heavy sea was running at the time, but I hoped the boats would live I ordered them to be lowered when the cry arose that the shi+p was sinking A panic seized my crew, and all hands rushed to the sides Some leaped into one boat, some into another Almost immediately the boats were swamped, and I had the misery to see the poor fellows drowned before er than I expected, and I had tiether the iet it overboard, and to leap upon it, and with only a few biscuits which I stuffed into my pockets and a bottle of water Had I not taken them I must have perished How I could have existed for a whole week, as I did, I know not; but I h the mercy of Heaven you found me”