Latest / In the Reign of Terror: The Adventures of a Westminster Boy / 15 - In the Reign of Terror: The Adventures of a Westminster Boy by G A Henty

Transcript

15 - In the Reign of Terror: The Adventures of a Westminster Boy by G A Henty · In the Reign of Terror: The Adventures of a Westminster Boy

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Chapter fourteen the Noyad. When left alone, Harry blew out
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: the other candles, but left that in the lantern burning,
• 0:09
  Speaker 1: and threw himself down on the locker and thought over
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: every detail of the work for the next day. As
• 0:14
  Speaker 1: he had said, the great danger was a virginie struggling
• 0:17
  Speaker 1: and being too frightened to follow his instructions. Certainly he
• 0:21
  Speaker 1: could fasten a rope round her, but even then it
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: might be difficult to manage her. The next danger was
• 0:26
  Speaker 1: that other persons might cling to the hatchway. Harry felt
• 0:29
  Speaker 1: the long knife, which was concealed in his breast. God
• 0:33
  Speaker 1: grant I may not have to use it, he said,
• 0:36
  Speaker 1: But if it must be, I shall not hesitate. They
• 0:38
  Speaker 1: would simply destroy us without saving themselves.
• 0:40
  Speaker 2: That is certain.
• 0:42
  Speaker 1: Therefore I am justified in defending the girls as I
• 0:44
  Speaker 1: would against any other enemy. He knelt down and prayed
• 0:48
  Speaker 1: for some time. Then he replaced the piece they had
• 0:50
  Speaker 1: cut from the hatch and fixed the beams beneath it,
• 0:53
  Speaker 1: and then lay down again. He was worn out by
• 0:55
  Speaker 1: the excitement of the day, and, in spite of his
• 0:58
  Speaker 1: anxiety about the morrow, presently fell off to sleep. It
• 1:02
  Speaker 1: was long before he woke When he did so, he
• 1:05
  Speaker 1: looked through one of the auger holes into the hold
• 1:07
  Speaker 1: and saw the light streaming down the open hatchway, and
• 1:10
  Speaker 1: could tell that the sun was already up. He ate
• 1:13
  Speaker 1: the food which Martha had put into his pocket just
• 1:15
  Speaker 1: as he was starting, saw that the bundles of corks
• 1:17
  Speaker 1: were ready at hand, and the ropes attached to them
• 1:19
  Speaker 1: so placed that they could be fastened on in an instant.
• 1:22
  Speaker 1: Then there was nothing to do but to wait. The
• 1:25
  Speaker 1: time passed slowly. Presently he heard the sound of drums
• 1:29
  Speaker 1: and bugles, and knew that the troops were taking up
• 1:31
  Speaker 1: their positions on the keys. At last, it seemed many
• 1:35
  Speaker 1: hours to him, he heard the splash of wars, and
• 1:37
  Speaker 1: presently a slight shock as a boat ran alongside the lugger.
• 1:41
  Speaker 1: Then there were voices and the sound of feet above
• 1:43
  Speaker 1: as persons mounted on to the deck. There was a
• 1:46
  Speaker 1: scraping noise by the lugger's side, and immediately afterwards another
• 1:49
  Speaker 1: bump as the second boat took the place of the first. This,
• 1:53
  Speaker 1: as far as Harry could hear, did not leave the lugger.
• 1:56
  Speaker 1: There was a great hum of talking on deck, principally
• 1:58
  Speaker 1: in women's voices. And frequently persons stepped on the hatch,
• 2:02
  Speaker 1: and Haerry congratulated himself that the beams gave a solid
• 2:05
  Speaker 1: support to it. Half an hour passed as well as
• 2:08
  Speaker 1: Harry could judge. Then the boom of a cannon was heard,
• 2:11
  Speaker 1: and immediately two men leaped down into the hold, knocked
• 2:14
  Speaker 1: the six plugs out of their place, and climbed up
• 2:17
  Speaker 1: on deck. Again there was again the scraping noise, and
• 2:20
  Speaker 1: Harry knew the boat had pushed off, this time for good.
• 2:23
  Speaker 1: He watched, as if fascinated, the six jets of water
• 2:26
  Speaker 1: for a minute or two, then, saying to himself it
• 2:29
  Speaker 1: is time, he knocked the beams from their ledges, allowed
• 2:32
  Speaker 1: the square of wood to fall, lifted the hatch and
• 2:34
  Speaker 1: pushed it off its combing, and then clambered on to
• 2:37
  Speaker 1: the deck with the corks and ropes.
• 2:39
  Speaker 2: There were some fifty.
• 2:40
  Speaker 1: Persons on board, for the most part of women and children,
• 2:43
  Speaker 1: but with two or three men among them. They were
• 2:45
  Speaker 1: gathered near the stern and were apparently watching the scene
• 2:48
  Speaker 1: ashore with astonishment. He hurried aft, having no fear that
• 2:52
  Speaker 1: at this distance from the shore his figure would be
• 2:54
  Speaker 1: recognized from the rest, and if it were, it mattered.
• 2:57
  Speaker 2: Not Two or three.
• 2:58
  Speaker 1: Turned round as the suppose os it sailor came aft, exclaiming,
• 3:02
  Speaker 1: what does this mean? Why are we put here on
• 3:05
  Speaker 1: board these white ships? What are they going to do
• 3:07
  Speaker 1: with us? Alas, ladies, he said, they have put you
• 3:11
  Speaker 1: here to die. They have bored holes in the ship's bottoms,
• 3:14
  Speaker 1: and in a few minutes they will sink. It is
• 3:17
  Speaker 1: a wholesale execution. As he began to speak, one of
• 3:20
  Speaker 1: the ladies in the stern pushed her way through the rest. Oh, Harry,
• 3:24
  Speaker 1: is it you, she exclaimed? As he finished, Is it true?
• 3:27
  Speaker 1: Are we to die together? We are in God's hands, John,
• 3:31
  Speaker 1: But there is hope yet. Bring Virginnie forward with me.
• 3:34
  Speaker 1: At Harry's first words, the panic had seized all round.
• 3:37
  Speaker 1: One or two ran to the hatchway and looked down
• 3:39
  Speaker 1: into the hold and screamed out that the water was
• 3:41
  Speaker 1: rushing in. Then some cried to the distant crowd descend
• 3:45
  Speaker 1: to save them. Others ran up and down as if demented,
• 3:48
  Speaker 1: while some threw themselves on their knees. But the panic
• 3:50
  Speaker 1: soon passed away. All had for weeks looked death in
• 3:53
  Speaker 1: the face, and though the unexpected form in which it
• 3:56
  Speaker 1: appeared had for the moment shaken them. They soon recovered
• 3:59
  Speaker 1: mother's asped their daughters to their breasts for a last farewell,
• 4:03
  Speaker 1: and then all with bowed heads, kneeled and listened in
• 4:05
  Speaker 1: silence to an old man who began to pray aloud. Jean,
• 4:09
  Speaker 1: without another word, had taken Virginie's hands and accompanied Harry
• 4:12
  Speaker 1: forward to the fore part of the deck. Jean, I'm
• 4:16
  Speaker 1: going to try to save you and Virginnye. But everything
• 4:19
  Speaker 1: depends upon your being cool and brave. I need not
• 4:22
  Speaker 1: urge you because I'm sure of you. Virginnie, will you
• 4:25
  Speaker 1: try to be so for Jean's sake and for your own.
• 4:28
  Speaker 1: If you do not, we must all die together. What
• 4:31
  Speaker 1: are we to do, Harry, Jean said steadily, while Virginnie
• 4:34
  Speaker 1: clung to her sister's sobbing bitterly. Fasten the spundle of
• 4:38
  Speaker 1: corks between Virginie's shoulders high up, yes there. While Jean
• 4:42
  Speaker 1: was doing this, Harry fastened a rope to a ring
• 4:45
  Speaker 1: in the side of the hatch. Then he tied the
• 4:47
  Speaker 1: corks under Jean's shoulders and adjusted the third bundle to
• 4:49
  Speaker 1: his own. Now, Jean, he said, I will tell you
• 4:53
  Speaker 1: what we are going to do you see this hatch?
• 4:55
  Speaker 1: When the vessel sinks, it will float, and we must
• 4:58
  Speaker 1: float on our backs with our faces underneath it, so
• 5:00
  Speaker 1: that it will hide us from the sight of the
• 5:01
  Speaker 1: wretches on shore. And even if they put out in
• 5:04
  Speaker 1: boats to kill any who may be swimming or clinging
• 5:06
  Speaker 1: to spars, they will not suspect that there was any
• 5:09
  Speaker 1: one under this. We may not succeed, an accident may
• 5:12
  Speaker 1: betray us, but there is a possibility. At any rate, Dear,
• 5:16
  Speaker 1: we shall live or die together. I am content, John
• 5:19
  Speaker 1: said quietly. You know, Jean, Harry said, putting his hands
• 5:23
  Speaker 1: on the girl's shoulders, that I love you. I should
• 5:26
  Speaker 1: never have told you so until I got you home
• 5:28
  Speaker 1: if it hadn't been for this. But though I've never
• 5:30
  Speaker 1: said it, you know I love you. I know, Harry,
• 5:33
  Speaker 1: and I love you too with all my heart, so
• 5:35
  Speaker 1: much that I can feel almost happy that we are
• 5:37
  Speaker 1: going to die together. We are fierencenar, Dear, come what will?
• 5:41
  Speaker 1: And she lift her face to his. He gave her
• 5:44
  Speaker 1: one long kiss. Then there was a crash. Impatient at
• 5:47
  Speaker 1: the length of time the vessels were in sinking, those
• 5:49
  Speaker 1: ashore had opened fire with cannons upon them, and the
• 5:52
  Speaker 1: shot had struck the lugger just above the water. With
• 5:55
  Speaker 1: a little cry. Virginie fell senseless on the deck. That's
• 5:59
  Speaker 1: the best thing that could have happened, Harry said, as
• 6:01
  Speaker 1: Jean stooped over her sister. Lie down on the deck. Dear,
• 6:04
  Speaker 1: you may be struck. They are firing with muskets. Now
• 6:07
  Speaker 1: I am going to lie down too, he said in
• 6:09
  Speaker 1: answer to her. Look, but I shall first twist this
• 6:12
  Speaker 1: cord round Virginie so as to keep her arms by
• 6:14
  Speaker 1: her side. Otherwise when the water touches her, she may
• 6:16
  Speaker 1: come to her senses and struggle.
• 6:18
  Speaker 2: That's all right.
• 6:19
  Speaker 1: Then he lay down on the deck between the girls,
• 6:21
  Speaker 1: with his head against the hatch and holding the rope.
• 6:25
  Speaker 1: Put your head on my shoulder, John, and I will
• 6:26
  Speaker 1: put my arm round you. I will hold Virginie the
• 6:28
  Speaker 1: same way the other side. Hold tight by me for
• 6:31
  Speaker 1: a moment. As we sink, I may have to use
• 6:33
  Speaker 1: my arms to get the hatch over our faces. Do
• 6:35
  Speaker 1: not breathe while you are under the water, for we
• 6:37
  Speaker 1: shall no doubt go down with the lugger, although I
• 6:40
  Speaker 1: shall try to keep you afloat.
• 6:41
  Speaker 2: When you are under the hatch.
• 6:42
  Speaker 1: You will find you a float with your mouth well
• 6:44
  Speaker 1: out of the water, and we will be able to breathe.
• 6:46
  Speaker 2: The corks will keep you up.
• 6:48
  Speaker 1: I understand, Harry. Now let us pray until the time comes.
• 6:53
  Speaker 1: Shot after shot struck the lugger. Then Harry felt her
• 6:56
  Speaker 1: give a sudden lurch. There was a wild cry, and
• 6:59
  Speaker 1: the next moment she wa down stirn first. She was
• 7:02
  Speaker 1: so nearly even with the water when she sank that
• 7:04
  Speaker 1: there was less downward suck than Harry had expected, and
• 7:07
  Speaker 1: striking out with his feet, his head was.
• 7:09
  Speaker 2: Soon above the surface.
• 7:10
  Speaker 1: The cord had kept the hatch within a couple of
• 7:12
  Speaker 1: feet of him, and with some difficulty, owing to the
• 7:15
  Speaker 1: buoyancy of the corks, he thrust himself and the girls
• 7:18
  Speaker 1: under it. The tarpaulin was old and rotten, and the
• 7:21
  Speaker 1: light penetrated in several places, and Harry could see that
• 7:24
  Speaker 1: in the position in which they were lying, the faces
• 7:27
  Speaker 1: of both girls were above the water. It was useless
• 7:30
  Speaker 1: to speak, for their ears were submerged. But a slight
• 7:33
  Speaker 1: motion from Jean responded to a pressure of his arm,
• 7:35
  Speaker 1: and he knew that she was sensible. Although she had
• 7:37
  Speaker 1: not made the slightest motion from the moment the vessel sank,
• 7:41
  Speaker 1: Virginie had not, as he feared would be the case,
• 7:43
  Speaker 1: recovered her senses with the shock of the immersion, but
• 7:46
  Speaker 1: lay insensible on his shoulder. He could see, by the
• 7:49
  Speaker 1: movement of Jean's lips that she was praying, and he too,
• 7:52
  Speaker 1: thanked God that he had given success to the plan
• 7:54
  Speaker 1: so far, and prayed for protection to the end. With
• 7:58
  Speaker 1: every minute that passed, his hopes ran. Everything had answered
• 8:01
  Speaker 1: beyond his expectation. The other victims had apparently not even
• 8:05
  Speaker 1: noticed what he was doing, and therefore had not, as
• 8:07
  Speaker 1: he feared might be, the case, interfered with his preparations,
• 8:11
  Speaker 1: nor had any of them striven to gain a hold
• 8:13
  Speaker 1: on the hatchway. The sinking of the vessels and the
• 8:16
  Speaker 1: tearing up of the water by the shot would render
• 8:18
  Speaker 1: the surface disturbed and broken, and increase the chances of
• 8:21
  Speaker 1: the floating hatch attracting attention. After ten minutes had passed,
• 8:25
  Speaker 1: he felt certain that they must be below the point
• 8:27
  Speaker 1: where the troops were assembled. The tide was running out strong,
• 8:31
  Speaker 1: for the time for the massacre had been fixed at
• 8:32
  Speaker 1: an hour, which would insure the bodies being swept down
• 8:35
  Speaker 1: to sea half an hour would, he thought, take them
• 8:38
  Speaker 1: past the bend, where their friends would be waiting for them.
• 8:41
  Speaker 1: The time seemed endless, for although Harry felt the coldness
• 8:44
  Speaker 1: of the water, but little for himself, he knew that
• 8:46
  Speaker 1: it must be trying. Indeed, for John, as far as
• 8:49
  Speaker 1: he could see her face it was as white as
• 8:51
  Speaker 1: her sister's. But he had hold of one of her
• 8:53
  Speaker 1: hands now and knew that she was still conscious. At
• 8:56
  Speaker 1: last he heard the sound of oars. It might not
• 8:59
  Speaker 1: be one of the friendly Bark, but the probability was
• 9:01
  Speaker 1: that it was one or other of them. Had they
• 9:04
  Speaker 1: seen any other fishermen's boats near the point, they would
• 9:07
  Speaker 1: have rowed high. Ups was to intercept the hatch before
• 9:09
  Speaker 1: it reached the stranger. Harry could not hear voices. For
• 9:12
  Speaker 1: all the water had conveyed the sound of the oars
• 9:14
  Speaker 1: a considerable distance, he could hear no sound in the air.
• 9:19
  Speaker 1: The oars came nearer and nearer, and by the quickness
• 9:21
  Speaker 1: with which the strokes followed each other, he knew that
• 9:24
  Speaker 1: two boats were at hand. Then the hatch was suddenly lifted,
• 9:27
  Speaker 1: and as Harry raised his head above the water, there
• 9:29
  Speaker 1: was a loud cheer, and he saw Adolph and Pierre,
• 9:32
  Speaker 1: one on each side, stretch out their arms to him.
• 9:35
  Speaker 1: The girls were first lifted into Pierre's boat, for Jean
• 9:38
  Speaker 1: was as incapable of movement as her sister. Then Harry
• 9:41
  Speaker 1: was dragged in the rough sailors shaking his hand and
• 9:43
  Speaker 1: patching him on the shoulder while the tears ran down
• 9:45
  Speaker 1: their cheeks.
• 9:47
  Speaker 2: Give them some hot.
• 9:48
  Speaker 1: Brandy and water, were his first words. Pierre had a
• 9:50
  Speaker 1: kettle boiling. A glass of hot liquor was placed at
• 9:53
  Speaker 1: Jean's lips. At first she could not swallow, but after
• 9:56
  Speaker 1: a few drops had passed her lips, she was able
• 9:59
  Speaker 1: to take a sip and would then have stopped, but
• 10:01
  Speaker 1: Harry insisted upon her drinking the whole contents of the glass.
• 10:05
  Speaker 1: You must do as you are told, Jean, he said
• 10:07
  Speaker 1: in her ear.
• 10:07
  Speaker 2: You belong to me.
• 10:08
  Speaker 1: Now you know it can do you no harm, chilled
• 10:11
  Speaker 1: as you are, and may save you from illness. In
• 10:14
  Speaker 1: the meantime, Pierre had poured several spoonfuls of nearly neat
• 10:17
  Speaker 1: brandy between Virginie's lips. Adolf and one of the men
• 10:20
  Speaker 1: with him had changed over into Pierre's boat and were
• 10:23
  Speaker 1: rowing lustily down the river. As soon as Jean was
• 10:26
  Speaker 1: able to sit up, she began to chafe one of
• 10:28
  Speaker 1: Virginie's hands, while Harry took the other. Take off her shoes,
• 10:32
  Speaker 1: Pierre and soak a swab with the hot water and
• 10:34
  Speaker 1: put it to her feet. But with all these efforts,
• 10:36
  Speaker 1: it was not until they were close to Pierre's village
• 10:38
  Speaker 1: that Virginie opened her eyes. When they arrived at the
• 10:41
  Speaker 1: little causeway, the two girls were wrapped up in the
• 10:43
  Speaker 1: peasant's cloaks, which Pierre had brought with him. Jean took
• 10:46
  Speaker 1: Harry's arm, while Adolf lifted Virginia and carried her up.
• 10:50
  Speaker 1: Henriette was standing at the door as Jean staggered in
• 10:52
  Speaker 1: with Harry. That is right, mademoiselle. Thank god it has
• 10:56
  Speaker 1: brought you straight through the danger. Now do not stop
• 10:59
  Speaker 1: a moment, but come here and get into bed. It
• 11:01
  Speaker 1: is all ready for you. The blankets have been before
• 11:03
  Speaker 1: the fire until the moment you landed. They will soon
• 11:06
  Speaker 1: give you warmth. Hurry in, Mademoiselle. I will address your sister,
• 11:10
  Speaker 1: and do you monsieur Sandwyth. Hurry up, soloft and get
• 11:12
  Speaker 1: on dry clothes. Harry soon rejoined the party in the kitchen,
• 11:17
  Speaker 1: the strong glass of hot spirits he had drunk, had
• 11:19
  Speaker 1: sent the blood quickly through his veins, and he felt
• 11:21
  Speaker 1: in a glow of warmth. Now, he said, my friends,
• 11:25
  Speaker 1: I can thank you all for the aid you have
• 11:27
  Speaker 1: given us. It is to you we owe our lives,
• 11:29
  Speaker 1: for without your aid I never should have succeeded. Say
• 11:33
  Speaker 1: nothing about it, monsieur. We are happy to have saved
• 11:35
  Speaker 1: such a brave young man, and to have rescued two
• 11:38
  Speaker 1: victims from those monsters. Do you think there is any
• 11:42
  Speaker 1: danger of any one here taking the news of our
• 11:43
  Speaker 1: landing to the town, Harry asked. They must have seen
• 11:47
  Speaker 1: us come up to the cottage. There is no fear,
• 11:49
  Speaker 1: Pierre said, confidently. There is not a man or woman
• 11:52
  Speaker 1: here who would not tear the sculerat to pieces if
• 11:55
  Speaker 1: they had the chance. Have they not spoiled our market
• 11:57
  Speaker 1: by killing all our best customers?
• 12:00
  Speaker 2: And now how are we to earn our living?
• 12:01
  Speaker 1: I should like to know why not even the poorest
• 12:04
  Speaker 1: beggar and not would buy fish out of the river
• 12:06
  Speaker 1: for months after this? No, you need have no fear
• 12:09
  Speaker 1: of them. They may guess who you are, but it
• 12:11
  Speaker 1: is no business of theirs, and they will hold their tongues.
• 12:14
  Speaker 1: At any rate, Pierre, you had better distribute a few
• 12:17
  Speaker 1: crowns among them to help them live till the fishing
• 12:19
  Speaker 1: is good again. That I will do, monsieur. It is
• 12:22
  Speaker 1: quite safe, but it is as well to make it
• 12:24
  Speaker 1: even safer. In half an hour, Pierre's wife came in
• 12:27
  Speaker 1: from the inner room and said that both girls were
• 12:30
  Speaker 1: sound asleep. Now, Adolf, it only remains for you to
• 12:33
  Speaker 1: arraigne with your captain for a passage. That I will
• 12:36
  Speaker 1: do this afternoon, Adolf said, confidently. Considerate as good as done.
• 12:41
  Speaker 1: After Adolf had started for the town, Harry was persuaded
• 12:44
  Speaker 1: by Pierre to lie down for a bit, but he
• 12:46
  Speaker 1: soon gave up the idea of going to sleep. His
• 12:48
  Speaker 1: brain was in a whirl from the events of the
• 12:50
  Speaker 1: last twenty four hours, and above all, he felt so
• 12:53
  Speaker 1: brimming over with happiness that the girls had been saved
• 12:55
  Speaker 1: that he soon found it impossible to lie still. He
• 12:58
  Speaker 1: therefore went down again and joined Pierre, who was doing
• 13:01
  Speaker 1: some repairs to his boat. It is no use my
• 13:04
  Speaker 1: trying to sleep, Pierre. I am too delighted that everything
• 13:07
  Speaker 1: has turned out right. I want to break out into
• 13:09
  Speaker 1: shouting and singing. I can understand, monsieur, Yes, yes, after
• 13:13
  Speaker 1: great trouble, great joy.
• 13:15
  Speaker 2: I know it myself. I was once a drift in.
• 13:17
  Speaker 1: A boat for three weeks. I was on a voyage
• 13:20
  Speaker 1: to Guadalupe when we were blown in a hurricane on
• 13:22
  Speaker 1: a key, as they called the low sandy islands out there.
• 13:26
  Speaker 1: It was, in fact no more than a sand bank.
• 13:28
  Speaker 1: More than half of those on board were drowned, but
• 13:30
  Speaker 1: eight of us got ashore, and we managed to haul
• 13:32
  Speaker 1: up a woman with her child of two years old
• 13:34
  Speaker 1: in her arms. We thought at first the mother was dead,
• 13:37
  Speaker 1: but she came round. The ship went to pieces, and
• 13:39
  Speaker 1: we saved nothing. The current swept everything away but a
• 13:42
  Speaker 1: boat which had been thrown up beyond the reach of
• 13:44
  Speaker 1: the waves.
• 13:45
  Speaker 2: For two days, we had no food or water.
• 13:48
  Speaker 1: And suffered terribly, for the sun had shone down straight
• 13:51
  Speaker 1: on our heads, and we envied those who had died
• 13:53
  Speaker 1: at once. The woman set us a good example. She
• 13:56
  Speaker 1: spent her time tending her child and praying to God.
• 13:59
  Speaker 1: And we sailors who are roough, you know, but who
• 14:01
  Speaker 1: know that God protects us, and never go for a
• 14:03
  Speaker 1: long voyage without going to the chapel and praying for
• 14:05
  Speaker 1: a mass for our safety. We pray too, And the
• 14:09
  Speaker 1: third morning there were three turtles asleep on the shore.
• 14:11
  Speaker 1: We turned them over on their backs, and there was
• 14:14
  Speaker 1: meat for us for a long time. We killed one
• 14:16
  Speaker 1: and drank the blood and ate our first meal raw.
• 14:19
  Speaker 2: Then we cut up the.
• 14:20
  Speaker 1: Rest of the flesh and hung it up in the
• 14:21
  Speaker 1: sun to dry. That very night we saw the clouds
• 14:24
  Speaker 1: banking up and knew it was going to rain.
• 14:27
  Speaker 2: Now.
• 14:27
  Speaker 1: Our mates said, if we had but a barrel, we
• 14:29
  Speaker 1: could catch water and start in a boat. But without
• 14:32
  Speaker 1: that the water will last only a day or two.
• 14:34
  Speaker 1: For if we kill all the turtles and fill their shells,
• 14:37
  Speaker 1: it will evaporate in a day under this hot sun,
• 14:39
  Speaker 1: and it may be weeks before there is rain again,
• 14:42
  Speaker 1: And we might.
• 14:42
  Speaker 2: As well have died at once for shame.
• 14:45
  Speaker 1: The woman said, you are doubting the good God again,
• 14:48
  Speaker 1: after he has saved your life and has sent you food,
• 14:50
  Speaker 1: and is now going to send you water. Do you
• 14:52
  Speaker 1: think he has done all this for nothing? There must
• 14:54
  Speaker 1: be some way out of the difficulty, if we could
• 14:55
  Speaker 1: about to think of it. She sat looking at the
• 14:58
  Speaker 1: turtle for two or three minutes, and the and said.
• 15:01
  Speaker 2: It is easy. Why have you not thought of it.
• 15:03
  Speaker 1: See there, cut off one of their heads, and then
• 15:05
  Speaker 1: you can catch your arm in if you take the biggest.
• 15:07
  Speaker 1: Then cut out all the meat and bones, piece by piece,
• 15:09
  Speaker 1: and there was a great bottle which will hold fallons.
• 15:13
  Speaker 1: We shouted for joy, for it was as she had said,
• 15:16
  Speaker 1: though I am sure none of us would ever have
• 15:18
  Speaker 1: thought of it if God had not given her the idea.
• 15:21
  Speaker 1: We soon set to work and got the shell ready.
• 15:23
  Speaker 1: The rain storm came quickly. We had turned the boat
• 15:25
  Speaker 1: over if the oars had been washed away, but the
• 15:27
  Speaker 1: mast and sail were lashed to the thwarts. We made
• 15:30
  Speaker 1: a little hollow in the sand and stretched out the sail,
• 15:32
  Speaker 1: and by the time this was done and the men
• 15:34
  Speaker 1: were ready with the turtle shell, the rain came. When
• 15:37
  Speaker 1: it rains in those parts, it comes down in bucketfuls,
• 15:40
  Speaker 1: and we soon had enough in the sail to drink
• 15:42
  Speaker 1: our fill and to fill up the turtle shell to
• 15:44
  Speaker 1: the top. The next morning we got the boat afloat,
• 15:47
  Speaker 1: put the other turtle in with our stock of dried
• 15:50
  Speaker 1: flesh and our shell of water, and set sail. But
• 15:53
  Speaker 1: our luck seemed gone. We lay for days scarce, moving
• 15:56
  Speaker 1: through the water with the sail hanging idle in the
• 15:59
  Speaker 1: sun blazing down upon us. We had not been careful
• 16:01
  Speaker 1: enough of the water at first, making sure that in
• 16:04
  Speaker 1: three or four days we should sight land. And when
• 16:06
  Speaker 1: after three days we put ourselves on short rations there
• 16:09
  Speaker 1: was scarce a gallon of water left.
• 16:12
  Speaker 2: It was a week.
• 16:13
  Speaker 1: After that before we saw a sail. Two of the
• 16:16
  Speaker 1: men had jumped overboard, raving mad. The rest were lying
• 16:19
  Speaker 1: well nigh senseless in the bottom of the boat. Only
• 16:22
  Speaker 1: the woman was sitting up, holding her child in her arms.
• 16:25
  Speaker 1: She was very weak, too, but she.
• 16:27
  Speaker 2: Had never complained, never doubted. For a moment.
• 16:30
  Speaker 1: Her eyes went from the child's face over the sea
• 16:32
  Speaker 1: to look for the help she felt would come, and
• 16:35
  Speaker 1: back again, and at last she said, quite quiet and natural,
• 16:38
  Speaker 1: there's the ship. I knew it must come to day,
• 16:41
  Speaker 1: for my child could not live through another night. We
• 16:45
  Speaker 1: thought she was dreaming or off her head. But one
• 16:47
  Speaker 1: of us made a shift to stand up and look,
• 16:50
  Speaker 1: and when he screamed out a sail, a sail, two
• 16:53
  Speaker 1: of us who were strong enough looked out.
• 16:54
  Speaker 2: Also.
• 16:55
  Speaker 1: There she was, in sailing, as we could soon see,
• 16:58
  Speaker 1: on a line, as directly for us as if they
• 17:00
  Speaker 1: had our bearings, and had been sent to fetch us.
• 17:03
  Speaker 2: It was not until.
• 17:04
  Speaker 1: Evening that she came up, though she was bringing a
• 17:06
  Speaker 1: light breeze along with her. And when we were lifted
• 17:08
  Speaker 1: on towur deck and had water held to her lips
• 17:11
  Speaker 1: and knew that we were safe, we felt. I expect
• 17:13
  Speaker 1: much the same as you do now, monsieur, that it
• 17:15
  Speaker 1: was the Good God himself would assuredly saved us from death.
• 17:19
  Speaker 2: That was my last voyage, for.
• 17:21
  Speaker 1: Henriette was waiting for me at home, and I promised
• 17:23
  Speaker 1: her that after we had gone to church together, I
• 17:25
  Speaker 1: would go no more to distant countries, that would settle
• 17:28
  Speaker 1: down here as a fisherman.
• 17:30
  Speaker 2: That was a narrow escape.
• 17:32
  Speaker 1: Indeed, Pierre Harry said, as he worked away with the
• 17:34
  Speaker 1: tar brush, that idea of the turtle was a splendid one,
• 17:38
  Speaker 1: and you may well say that God put it into
• 17:39
  Speaker 1: the woman's head, for without it you could never have
• 17:42
  Speaker 1: lived till the ship found you. In the meantime, Henriette
• 17:46
  Speaker 1: had made her rounds to the cottage to see what
• 17:47
  Speaker 1: remarks had been made as to the coming of her visitors.
• 17:50
  Speaker 1: She saw that every one had guessed at the girls
• 17:52
  Speaker 1: who had been picked up by Pierre were victims of
• 17:54
  Speaker 1: the massacre. But no one supposed that it was the
• 17:57
  Speaker 1: result of intention. Ah margannat, But your good man was
• 18:01
  Speaker 1: fortunate to day. One of the womens said, my man
• 18:04
  Speaker 1: did not go out. We heard what was doing ATNT,
• 18:06
  Speaker 1: and he had not the heart to go. Besides, who
• 18:09
  Speaker 1: would buy fish caught to day? If he had thought
• 18:11
  Speaker 1: of it, he would have gone too, and perhaps he
• 18:13
  Speaker 1: would have picked up somebody as you have done. Poor
• 18:15
  Speaker 1: things would an escape for them? It is wonderful that
• 18:19
  Speaker 1: they have come round, Henriette said. It was lucky my
• 18:22
  Speaker 1: husband had some brandy in the boat. He thought for
• 18:24
  Speaker 1: a time he would never bring the youngest round. They
• 18:27
  Speaker 1: are only young girls. What harm could they have done
• 18:29
  Speaker 1: that those monsters ATNT should try to murder them? There
• 18:32
  Speaker 1: is no fear. I hope that any in the village
• 18:33
  Speaker 1: will say a word about it. What the woman said indignantly,
• 18:37
  Speaker 1: Do you think that anyone here would betray a comrade
• 18:39
  Speaker 1: to the reds? Why we would tear under pieces? No, no,
• 18:43
  Speaker 1: Henriette said, I never thought for a moment that any
• 18:45
  Speaker 1: one would do it intentionally. But the boys might let
• 18:48
  Speaker 1: slip a word carelessly which might bring them down upon us.
• 18:52
  Speaker 2: We will take care of that.
• 18:53
  Speaker 1: The woman said, make your mind easy. Not a soul
• 18:56
  Speaker 1: outside the village will ever know of it. And Henriette added,
• 19:00
  Speaker 1: one of them has some money hidden upon her, and
• 19:02
  Speaker 1: she told me just before I came out, when I
• 19:04
  Speaker 1: was saying that the village would have a bad time
• 19:06
  Speaker 1: now the fishing was spoiled, that as she hoped across
• 19:08
  Speaker 1: to England in a few days and would have no
• 19:10
  Speaker 1: need of the money, for it seems that she can
• 19:12
  Speaker 1: get plenty over there. She will give five crowns to
• 19:15
  Speaker 1: each house in the village as a thank offering.
• 19:17
  Speaker 2: Well, that is not to be despised, the woman said.
• 19:20
  Speaker 1: We shall have a hard time of it for a bit,
• 19:23
  Speaker 1: and that will carry us on through it. You are
• 19:25
  Speaker 1: sure she can spare it, because we would rather starve
• 19:27
  Speaker 1: than take it If she cannot, Henriette assured her that
• 19:31
  Speaker 1: her visitor said she could afford it. Well, well, then
• 19:34
  Speaker 1: it's a lucky day for the village. Mare Grenard that
• 19:36
  Speaker 1: your husband picked them up. Well, I will go back now,
• 19:39
  Speaker 1: Henriette said, will you go round the village and tell
• 19:41
  Speaker 1: the others about silencing the children. I must get some
• 19:44
  Speaker 1: broth ready by the time these poor creatures wake. The
• 19:47
  Speaker 1: next morning, Jean appeared at breakfast in her dress as
• 19:49
  Speaker 1: a fish girl, but few words were spoken between her
• 19:52
  Speaker 1: and Harry, for the fisherman and his wife were present.
• 19:55
  Speaker 2: How is Virginie, he asked. She is better.
• 19:58
  Speaker 1: She is weak and languid, so I told she must
• 20:00
  Speaker 1: stop in bed for to day. Do not look anxious.
• 20:02
  Speaker 1: I have no doubt that she will be well enough
• 20:04
  Speaker 1: to be up tomorrow. She has been sleeping ever since
• 20:07
  Speaker 1: she went to Betty yesterday, and when she woke she
• 20:09
  Speaker 1: had a basin of broth. I think by to morrow
• 20:11
  Speaker 1: she will be well enough to get up, but it
• 20:13
  Speaker 1: will be some time before she is herself again. It
• 20:15
  Speaker 1: is a terrible strain for her to have gone through.
• 20:18
  Speaker 1: But she was very brave all the time we were
• 20:19
  Speaker 1: in prison. She had such confidence in you. She felt
• 20:22
  Speaker 1: sure that she would manage somehow to rescue us. After breakfast,
• 20:26
  Speaker 1: Jean strolled down with Harry to the river side. I
• 20:29
  Speaker 1: feel strange with you, Harry, she said. Before you seemed
• 20:32
  Speaker 1: almost like a brother, and now it is so different. Yes,
• 20:37
  Speaker 1: but happier, Harry asked gently, Oh, so much happier, Harry.
• 20:41
  Speaker 1: But there is one thing I want to tell you.
• 20:43
  Speaker 1: It might seem strange to you that I should tell
• 20:45
  Speaker 1: you I loved you on my own account without your
• 20:47
  Speaker 1: speaking to the head of the family. But there was
• 20:50
  Speaker 1: no time for that, Jean, Harry said, smiling. No, Jean said, simply,
• 20:54
  Speaker 1: I suppose it would have been the same anyhow. But
• 20:56
  Speaker 1: I want to tell you, Harry, that in the first
• 20:58
  Speaker 1: letter which she sent me when she was in prison,
• 21:00
  Speaker 1: and Marie told me that as she might not see
• 21:02
  Speaker 1: me again, she thought it right, I should know that
• 21:04
  Speaker 1: our father and mother had told her that night we
• 21:06
  Speaker 1: left home that they thought I cared for you. You
• 21:09
  Speaker 1: didn't think so, did you, Harry, She broke off with
• 21:11
  Speaker 1: a vivid blush. You do not think I cared for
• 21:14
  Speaker 1: you before you cared for me. No, indeed, Jean, he
• 21:17
  Speaker 1: said earnestly, it never entered my mind, you see, dear.
• 21:20
  Speaker 1: Up to the beginning of that time, I only felt
• 21:22
  Speaker 1: as a boy, and in England, lads of eighteen or
• 21:25
  Speaker 1: nineteen seldom think about such things at all. It was
• 21:27
  Speaker 1: only afterwards, when somehow the danger and the anxiety seemed
• 21:30
  Speaker 1: to make a man of me. When I saw how
• 21:32
  Speaker 1: brave and thoughtful and unselfish she were, that I knew
• 21:35
  Speaker 1: I loved you, and felt that if you could some
• 21:37
  Speaker 1: day love me, I should be the happiest fellow alive.
• 21:40
  Speaker 1: Before that, I thought of you as a dear little
• 21:42
  Speaker 1: girl who inclined to make rather too much of me
• 21:44
  Speaker 1: because of that dog business, And did you really.
• 21:46
  Speaker 2: Care for me?
• 21:47
  Speaker 1: Then? I never thought of it in that way, Harry,
• 21:50
  Speaker 1: any more than you did. But I know now that
• 21:52
  Speaker 1: my mother was right, and that I loved you all
• 21:54
  Speaker 1: along without knowing it. My dear father and mother told
• 21:57
  Speaker 1: Marie that they thought I was fond of you, and
• 21:59
  Speaker 1: that if I didn't anytime, you should get fond of
• 22:01
  Speaker 1: me too and ask for my hand. They gave their
• 22:03
  Speaker 1: approval beforehand, for they were sure that she would make
• 22:05
  Speaker 1: me happy. So they told Marie and Ernest, who if
• 22:09
  Speaker 1: ILL came to them would be the heads of the family,
• 22:12
  Speaker 1: that I had their consent to marry you. It makes
• 22:14
  Speaker 1: me happy to know this, Harry. I am very glad too,
• 22:18
  Speaker 1: Dear Harry, said earnestly. It is very satisfactory for you,
• 22:22
  Speaker 1: and it is very pleasant to me to know that
• 22:24
  Speaker 1: they were ready to trust you to me. Ah, he
• 22:26
  Speaker 1: said suddenly, that was what was in the letter. I wondered,
• 22:29
  Speaker 1: a little at the time. For somehow after that, John,
• 22:32
  Speaker 1: you were a little different with me. I thought at
• 22:34
  Speaker 1: first I might somehow have offended you. But I did
• 22:37
  Speaker 1: not think that long, he went on, as John uttered
• 22:39
  Speaker 1: an indignant exclamation, because if anything offended you, you always
• 22:42
  Speaker 1: spoke out frankly. Still, I wondered over it for some time,
• 22:46
  Speaker 1: and certainly I was never near guessing the truth. I
• 22:50
  Speaker 1: could not help being a little different, John said shyly.
• 22:53
  Speaker 1: I had never thought of it before, and though I
• 22:55
  Speaker 1: am sure it made me happy, I could not feel
• 22:57
  Speaker 1: quite the same with you, especially as I knew that
• 22:59
  Speaker 1: she never thought of me like that.
• 23:02
  Speaker 2: But you thought of me so.
• 23:03
  Speaker 1: Afterwards, Jean, sometimes just for a moment. But I tried
• 23:07
  Speaker 1: not to think of it. Harry, we were so strangely placed,
• 23:10
  Speaker 1: and it made it easier for you to be a brother.
• 23:12
  Speaker 1: And I felt sure you would not speak till we
• 23:14
  Speaker 1: were safely in England and I was in earnest care.
• 23:16
  Speaker 1: But she said, with a little laugh, you were nearly
• 23:19
  Speaker 1: speaking that evening in the cottage, when he felt so despairing,
• 23:23
  Speaker 1: very nearly, Jean, I did so want comfort, and so
• 23:26
  Speaker 1: they talked happily together for an hour. I wonder Pierre
• 23:30
  Speaker 1: does not come down to his boat, Harry said, at last,
• 23:32
  Speaker 1: there were several more things wanting doing to it. Why
• 23:35
  Speaker 1: there he is calling? Surely it can never be dinner time,
• 23:38
  Speaker 1: but that's what he says. It doesn't seem an hour
• 23:40
  Speaker 1: since breakfast. Jean hurried on into the hut. Why Pierre
• 23:45
  Speaker 1: Harry said to the fisherman who was waiting outside for him,
• 23:47
  Speaker 1: I thought you were going on with your boat, so
• 23:50
  Speaker 1: I was, monsieur. But Henriette told me I should be
• 23:52
  Speaker 1: in the way. In the way, Pierre Harry repeated, in surprise, Ah, monsieur,
• 23:58
  Speaker 1: Pierre said, with a twinkle in his eye, you have
• 24:00
  Speaker 1: been deceiving us. My wife saw in a moment when
• 24:03
  Speaker 1: the young lady came to breakfast. Brother, she said to
• 24:06
  Speaker 1: me when he went out, don't tell me monsieur is
• 24:09
  Speaker 1: the young lady's lover.
• 24:10
  Speaker 2: Brother and sister.
• 24:11
  Speaker 1: Don't look at each other like that. Why one could
• 24:13
  Speaker 1: see it with half an eye. Your wife is right, Pierre,
• 24:16
  Speaker 1: Mademoiselle's my fiancee. I am really an Englishman. She and
• 24:20
  Speaker 1: her sister had their old nurse with them till the
• 24:22
  Speaker 1: latter died some three weeks since.
• 24:24
  Speaker 2: But I have always been.
• 24:24
  Speaker 1: Called their brother because it made it easier for her.
• 24:27
  Speaker 1: Quite right, Monsieur. But my wife and I are glad
• 24:30
  Speaker 1: to see that it is otherwise, and that, after all
• 24:32
  Speaker 1: you have risked for that pretty creature, you are going
• 24:34
  Speaker 1: to be happy together.
• 24:36
  Speaker 2: My wife was not surprised.
• 24:37
  Speaker 1: Women are sharper than men in these matters, and she
• 24:40
  Speaker 1: said to me, when she heard what you were going
• 24:41
  Speaker 1: to do to save them, I would wager Pierre that
• 24:44
  Speaker 1: one of these mademoiselle's is not Monsieur's sister. Men will
• 24:47
  Speaker 1: do a great deal for the sister. But I had
• 24:49
  Speaker 1: never heard of a man throwing away his life as
• 24:51
  Speaker 1: he is going to do on the mere chance of
• 24:53
  Speaker 1: saving one. I should have done just the same thing
• 24:57
  Speaker 1: had it been one of my sisters, Harry said, a
• 24:59
  Speaker 1: little indignantly.
• 25:01
  Speaker 2: Perhaps you would, Monsieur.
• 25:02
  Speaker 1: I do not say no, the fisherman said, shaking his head.
• 25:05
  Speaker 1: But brothers do not often do so. A stop was
• 25:08
  Speaker 1: put to the conversation by Henriette, putting her head outside
• 25:11
  Speaker 1: the door and demanding angrily what they were stopping talking
• 25:13
  Speaker 1: there for? When the fish was getting cold in the evening,
• 25:16
  Speaker 1: Adolph and his wife came in Ah Mademoiselle, the woman said,
• 25:20
  Speaker 1: as she embraced Jean with tears in her eyes. How
• 25:22
  Speaker 1: thankful I am to see you again. I never thought
• 25:25
  Speaker 1: I should do so. My heart almost stopped beating. Yesterday
• 25:28
  Speaker 1: when I heard the guns, I and my little one
• 25:30
  Speaker 1: were on her knees, praying to the good God for
• 25:32
  Speaker 1: the dear lady who had saved her life. Adolf had
• 25:34
  Speaker 1: spoken hopefully, but it hardly seemed to me that it
• 25:37
  Speaker 1: could be. And when he brought back the news that
• 25:39
  Speaker 1: he had left you all safely here, I could hardly
• 25:42
  Speaker 1: believe it was true. And I must thank you also, Mademoiselle,
• 25:46
  Speaker 1: Adolf said, for saving the life of my little one.
• 25:48
  Speaker 1: I never expected to see her alive again. And when
• 25:51
  Speaker 1: the lugger was made fast to the wharf, I was
• 25:53
  Speaker 1: afraid to go home, and I hung about till mart
• 25:55
  Speaker 1: had heard we were in and came down to me
• 25:57
  Speaker 1: with Julie in her arms, looking almost herself again. Ah, Mademoiselle,
• 26:01
  Speaker 1: you cannot tell how glad I was when she told
• 26:03
  Speaker 1: me that there was a way of paying some part
• 26:05
  Speaker 1: of my debt to you. You have been able to
• 26:08
  Speaker 1: pay more than your debt, Jean said Gentley. If I
• 26:11
  Speaker 1: save one life, you have helped to save three. No,
• 26:14
  Speaker 1: we shall be only quits, mademoiselle, For what would Mart's
• 26:17
  Speaker 1: life and mine be worth if the child had died?
• 26:20
  Speaker 1: There are fresh notices stuck up. He went on, warning
• 26:23
  Speaker 1: all masters of ships, fishermen and others against taking passengers
• 26:27
  Speaker 1: on board, and saying that the penalty of assisting the
• 26:29
  Speaker 1: enemies of France to escape from Justice's death.
• 26:32
  Speaker 2: That is rather serious.
• 26:33
  Speaker 1: Harry said, it is nothing, Adolf replied confidently, after yesterday's work,
• 26:39
  Speaker 1: there is not a sailor or fisherman in the port
• 26:41
  Speaker 1: but would do all he could to help people to
• 26:42
  Speaker 1: escape from the hands of the Butcher's and once on
• 26:44
  Speaker 1: board it will help you.
• 26:47
  Speaker 2: You may be sure.
• 26:47
  Speaker 1: The sailors would do their best to run away if
• 26:49
  Speaker 1: they can, or to hide any on board should they
• 26:51
  Speaker 1: be overhauled. Now they know that they will be guillotined
• 26:54
  Speaker 1: if any one is found. However, our captain has made
• 26:57
  Speaker 1: the agreement, and he is a man of his word.
• 26:59
  Speaker 1: Besides he the reds I have been helping ship the
• 27:02
  Speaker 1: casks to day, and we have stowed them so as
• 27:04
  Speaker 1: to leave space into which your sisters can crawl, and
• 27:06
  Speaker 1: the entrance be stopped up with casks if we should
• 27:09
  Speaker 1: be overhauled. As for you, monsieur, you will pass anywhere
• 27:12
  Speaker 1: as one of the crew, and we have arranged that
• 27:13
  Speaker 1: one of the men shall, at the last moment stay behind,
• 27:16
  Speaker 1: so that the number will be right, and you will
• 27:18
  Speaker 1: answer to his name. We have thought matters over, you see,
• 27:21
  Speaker 1: and I can tell you that the captain does it
• 27:22
  Speaker 1: more because he hates the Reds than for the money.
• 27:25
  Speaker 1: The day before he would give me no answer. He
• 27:27
  Speaker 1: said he thought the risk was too great. But when
• 27:30
  Speaker 1: I saw him last night, he was a different man altogether.
• 27:33
  Speaker 1: His face was as white as a sheet, and his
• 27:35
  Speaker 1: eyes seemed on fire, and he said, I will take
• 27:38
  Speaker 1: your friends, Adolph. I would take them without a penny.
• 27:41
  Speaker 1: I should never sleep again if, owing to me, they've
• 27:43
  Speaker 1: fell into the hands of these monsters. So you see,
• 27:46
  Speaker 1: he is in it heart and soul. After an hour's talk,
• 27:49
  Speaker 1: Adolph and.
• 27:50
  Speaker 2: March took their leave.
• 27:51
  Speaker 1: Both refused the reward which Harry had promised, but Harry insisted,
• 27:54
  Speaker 1: and at last Jean said, you can refuse for yourselves,
• 27:58
  Speaker 1: but you will make me unhappy if you don't take it.
• 28:01
  Speaker 1: Put it by for Julie. It will help swell her
• 28:03
  Speaker 1: dough when she marries, and we shall set her husband
• 28:05
  Speaker 1: up in a good fishing boat if she takes to
• 28:07
  Speaker 1: a sailor. So it was arranged, and Adolph and his
• 28:10
  Speaker 1: wife went off, invoking blessings on the heads of the fugitives.
• 28:13
  Speaker 1: At daybreak, the party took their places in the boat
• 28:15
  Speaker 1: with a fisherman. Virginie was still weak, but was able
• 28:18
  Speaker 1: to walk with Harry's help. Half an hour later, her
• 28:21
  Speaker 1: lugger was seen coming down with the wind and tide.
• 28:23
  Speaker 1: She carried a small white flag flying on the midzen.
• 28:27
  Speaker 1: That is her. The fisherman said, that is the signal.
• 28:30
  Speaker 1: He rowed out into the middle of the river. In
• 28:32
  Speaker 1: a few minutes, the lugger came dashing along her course
• 28:35
  Speaker 1: took her within a few feet of the boat. A
• 28:36
  Speaker 1: rope was thrown, and in an instant the boat was
• 28:39
  Speaker 1: tearing through the water alongside her. Half a dozen hands
• 28:41
  Speaker 1: were stretched out, the girls and Harry sprang on board.
• 28:44
  Speaker 1: The rope was cast off, and the fisherman, with a
• 28:47
  Speaker 1: cheery God speed you, put out his oars again and
• 28:50
  Speaker 1: rowed to shore. End of Chapter fourteen. Recording by General
• 28:55
  Speaker 1: Mundo