Part 60 (1/2)
The store as fiercely as at first, and it was impossible to secure any portions of the wreck except those which ashed ashore in the harbour, and even to do that was a service of danger, as they were tossed about, threatening to crush those who approached theht be possible to save wood sufficient for the building of a vessel It would, at all events, give theto do and keep up their spirits with a prospect of getting off The carpenter shook his head when he spoke to him on the subject
”I am afraid, sir, it will be a rum sort of craft we should build, but if you will perthen some of the boats and rise upon them two or three feet, we should produce a better style of craft than we are likely to put together”
Adair thought the reed that it was possible, and that, should some fearful convulsion of the island take place, it would be as well to have the boats thus fitted, in order that soht be preserved
”We will hope that soht before the land sinks down to the bottom of the sea,” said Saint Maur, in a cheerful tone
The captain just then re without breakfast
”Pipe to breakfast, Mr S out to the boatswain, as near
The shrill pipe of the boatsas heard sounding above the roaring of the breakers, the howling of the wind, and the crash of the falling rocks, which still, though in s down fro waters of the harbour
The ly obeyed the call, and were quickly seated at theiraway as usual Adair and Saint Maur returned to their cottage The roofs of the huts had been too securely fastened down to be bloay, and all hands were soon beneath their shelter All day long the gale raged In spite of it, the carpenter, with the hands he required, set to work in preparing the wood they had obtained for enlarging the boats The largest had, it must be remembered, been left just above the influence of the sea, where it was fancied she was free fro, as usual, a party was sent off to the flag-staff, which was not visible from the town So to take their place, when they were observed co on to the rocks as they slowly made their way
”What has happened?” asked Charley Roy, who coone and ere all well-nigh carried off with it,”
was the answer ”There is no shi+p in sight; and if there were, she would take good care not to come near this rock if she could help it, so that there is no use in your going on and running the chance of losing your lives”
”You are quite right,” said Roy, and he returned to obtain further orders
Adair, of course, told hi-staff ready to set up as soon as the gale is over,” and he at once issued orders to the carpenter to prepare it
When night closed in there was no appearance of a cessation of the gale; indeed, if anything, matters looked worse than they had done all day
At the usual hour all hands turned in to obtain the rest they required, while the men on watch stowed themselves away in theeven during four hours could have stood exposed to the pitiless teht when those nearest the water were aroused by a crashi+ng sound, and before they had tiht up to their huts, far higher than it had done the day before Adair, who slept lightly, was also awakened by the voices and the shouts of the s out of their huts He and Saint Maur hurried down to ascertain as the e boat had been left, on which their hopes of safety depended, she was nowhere to be seen Awater, alone marked the spot A portion of the wreck, it was evident, had been driven against her, and the retiring sea had carried her off knocked to pieces The re the huts exposed to the waves to a safer spot
Adair allowed no word of coht next happen
Towardsup the fragood size, while others were broken into small pieces, which could be of no use but to saw into planks With the large ones the carpenter contrived, in the course of a couple of days, to build a fresh mast to supply the place of the old one By this tiain calm, and Adair and Saint Maur and several officers accompanied the party ere selected to set it up They carried their telescopes, hoping against hope that a shi+p ht appear But not a sail was to be seen in the horizon, nor a wreath of s-staff was erected, the ensign run up, and the gun fired to do it honour
But we must hasten on with the account of the adventures of the captain and crew of the unfortunate _Empress_ Day after day, week after ent by Occasionally the earth treas burst forth, and the orifices of those which had first appeared were stopped up The surgeon's face grew longer and longer
”Well, doctor,” said Adair, when the latter was paying him a visit, ”we are not to be blown up yet, and I hope that the old rock will stand fir after we have left it, unless we are to spend our lives here”
”That's no reason why that fearful event should not soht heard worse rus than have yet occurred My bunk moved up and down in a curious fashi+on”
”You htly, and heard no noises nor did I feel the slightest movement of the earth”
”Pardon me, Captain Adair I was broad awake at the ti inquiries, was surprised to find that several other persons had heard noises and felt a eant of marines, who averred that he was very nearly thrown out of his bunk
His statement, however, was somewhat discredited by the warrant officers, who expressed their belief that he was addicted to ro prevailed both a themselves away from so treacherous a locality A few days after this a coth and breadth of the island, which left thedown fro up the beach, although the sky was serene and the wind blew gently fro the er we must launch the boats and build rafts sufficient to carry all the people, to give some of us a chance for our lives, at all events,” observed Adair to Saint Maur