Part 61 (1/2)
Roy and the other men followed Adair now jumped on board, and made his way to the stern sheets The bow- to their oars the gig was soon across the bar
Saint Maur and Roy were too ot to ask the reason of the signals they had heard; as, while steering for the bar, and casting a lance over his shoulders, he saw the whole island rocking to and fro, and not only stea forth from several fissures Even now neither he nor his men were in safety: for should the island sink, the rafts and boats would be drawn into the vortex; or should it blow up, as seements would too probably fall down and crush them, or create so violent a co overwhel for the heaviest raft, he joined another boat in towing her As yet they were under the lee of the island, and their sails were of no use Long paddles had been foretically, as the boats, heavily laden as they were, were unable totoohimself, exclai towards the island She's a steaht sight of a wreath of white s above her ,” said Adair
”No, sir, she was standing steadily this way; and the heads of her courses had already risen above the horizon We left the flag flying, so if the hill doesn't co down, she will see that, and know that there is so expressly to look after us”
”Thank Heaven!” cried Adair, in a voice choking with emotion, for the first ti way ”My poor people will be saved!”
The joyful news soon spread fro the wind, sail was set, and the little squadron steered a course as close to it as was possible, not to near the shi+p, but to get further off froained what Adair considered a safe distance, he ordered the first lieutenant, as in one of the boats, to cast off and stand towards the stranger, whose topsails by that time could be seen He had now only earnestly to pray that the weather would continue calm until they were all on board
Meantilance towards the land, which seemed, at the distance they were now fro sounds which reached the, showed theood reason to be thankful that they had escaped it
The first lieutenant's boat was eagerly watched as she glided rapidly over the smooth water At last her white speck of canvas disappeared beneath the horizon, and a further period elapsed
The stranger was pronounced by the cut of her canvas to be a British e her course, and to stand directly for the rafts Soon afterwards the glorious ensign of England blew out at her peak The sight elcomed by a cheer from the whole crew There could be no doubt that the first lieutenant had got on board On she came until she approached, when her canvas was reduced
”Hurrah! she's the _Bellona_!” exclaimed Saint Maur and Adair at the same nised Captain Rogers and several old friends Adair and Des up the side, were heartily welcomed
”We have corasped their hands, and he told them of the information he had received from the master of the Australian trader The _Bellona's_ boats had been lowered and now approached to take off the crew from the rafts, as well as the provisions and water
”We have arrived in the nick of time,” said Jack; ”but as your island now seems tolerably quiet, we s, and your own things, which it will be a pity to lose, and I shall be glad to leave some of these boats which we cannot take away”
The _Bellona_ accordingly stea, as may be supposed, at a safe distance in case of a sudden outbreak By this time the smoke and flames had disappeared, and the boats pulled in, piloted by Adair and his officers
The blue-jackets were highly delighted at recovering their bags, and the marines their kits, which had of necessity been left behind The boats which Saint Maur and Rip had found when they landed were hauled high up on the beach and covered over with canvas to protect them from the weather The h provisions and other articles were left which ht afford assistance to the sufferers of any shi+p which ht be wrecked on the island
The _Bellona_ steered directly for the Cape, in a short tiht the watch on deck declared that they saw a bright glare in the sky above the rock and that a low ru froinia Island had blown up reers did not think that with two shi+ps' companies on board it was his duty to return and ascertain the fact
Crowded as they were, both officers and men were as happy as could be under such circumstances, and wonderful were the yarns which the crew of the _Empress_ had to spin, none of the facts which had occurred losing in the narration, besides which there were many more to describe which are not chronicled in this history
The _Bellona_, immediately on her arrival in Simon's Bay, was ordered home, where Captain Adair and his officers would have, of course, to undergo the usual court-martial for the loss of the _Empress_ Scarcely had she dropped her anchor, when, in one of the first boats which came off, was seen a stout military man, accompanied by two ladies Shortly after, Major Bubsby and the two Misses Bubsby ascended the side Jack, as never wanting in politeness, whatever were his feelings, stood ready to receive therasping hiraph station when you made your nu up Eugenia and Angelica on the way Will you do me a favour?”
”What is it?” inquired Jack