Part 29 (1/2)
But instead of theinto the harbour, he turned sharp to his left on catching sight of the boat and staggered up to it
”Who's that?” he said, hoarsely ”You, Toer--Master Aleck? Here, quick, sir; for the love of heaven save a poor fellow! It's the press-gang Got five on us Help, sir! Shove off with me I'm too dead beat to swim”
”I can't help you, Eben I dare not,” cried Aleck ”What could I do?”
”Oh! but, Master Aleck--hark! there's !”
”I tell you I can't I dare not They're the King's men, and--”
”Where are you, your honour?” caroan and a feeble atte out, and there was the rush of feet and a deeper groan
”Eben, you've killed the officer,” whispered Aleck, in his horror
”I was on'y fighting for my liberty, master,” whispered the man, hoarsely ”Master Aleck, you don't likewife and the little weans yonder waiting for h fellow could say noor right, we'll try and cover you”
”It's no good, sir,” whispered theus, and I'ht Aleck's hand, as the lad thought, to cling to it ily, but the next moment he held it to his forehead, and it was snatched away in horror, for theprofusely
”He's wounded badly, Tom,” whispered Aleck, excitedly ”We ruffly
”Ah, the boat! The boat!” panted the sler
”In with you then,” said Aleck
”Nay, nay,” whispered Toht on to her if yer can't shove”
”Hi! hallo there!” cried a voice frole had taken place
In response there was the sound of the boat's keel grating on the water-covered shi+ngle, and the sler pressed close up to Aleck's side
”Do you hear there?” ca's narunted Tom ”Shove, my lads, shove!”
”Come on, my lads! We must have them, whoever they are,” came from apparently close at hand
”Ah, look sharp! There's a boat”
”Now for it,” whispered Tolide frole and water into water alone, while as Aleck thrust with all his ive way, and then it see a feeble clutch at his clothes and uttering a low groan
Aleck's left hand acted as it were upon its own responsibility, closing in the darkness upon Eben's shi+rt and holding fast, while the lad's right hand held up the boat's gunwale