The Frozen Crew Of The Ice-Bound Ship; Or, Terrors Of The Arctic Region — page 14: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

SE RE SS a Pe Pg 8 THE FROZEN CREW AND ICE-BOUND SHIP. 1) _jo7 pe. eee ee eee ee intense anxiety lent him strength to again utter the words— ‘“ How did you escape ?” “ How did I escape?”? echoed Hans, who remained motionless, with his arms folded on his breast. ‘That's an odd question for you to put, and before I answer it I must ask how did you escape?” “J was thrown up by the waves, but——”’ “But,” interrupted the other, “the waves ought not to have thrown me up, eh?”’ “‘T have not said so.” ‘‘Perhaps not; but I doubt not that you wish it had been so; the murderer can scarcely be expected to welcome a victim who rises from the grave he has dug for him.”’ ‘* You are a fool to threaten me,’’ said Black Bill, regaining his wonted composure and determination. ‘‘What is to hinder me from handing you over to the tender mercies of my messmates, who appear already to view you with anything but favour.” ‘“They will not harm me.” ‘You don’t knowus. The buccaneer has no law but that which confirms his will.” ‘Then he is no enemy of mine; listen and learn. Darkness is upon my days, and the shadow of deso- lation is flung over my soul; the bright flowers of my youthful days have been withered by the simoon blast of revenge; the beauty and purity of my young spirit’s imaginings have been thwarted, and I am now like the fabled wanderer of old, a man of desolation and death.” “The devil you are!” said Black Bill, in serious doubt whether he was addressing a maniac or a magician. “ And how long have you been one ?” ‘“The day had but shed the acorn which, growing into a sturdy oak, now forms this vessel, when I was fated to haunt the ocean, and shall haunt it, unless released, till the crack of doom!’’ “There are means, then, afforded of escaping from this terrible destiny ?’’ “Yes one: swear to maintain inviolate secrecy on our present interview, and I promise to reveal to you my unholy knowledge, and give a brighter future than that which is allotted to man.” | The above conversation was somewhat abruptly interrupted by the pirates returning to the spot upon which the speakers had been standing. They had, in the first instance, determined to kill the unhappy wretch they had rescued, but eventually discovered they might turn his life to account. With this understanding, we proceed to relate the incidents of the next chapter. CHAPTER III. THE PIRATES’ CAROUSAL.— GONZALYI'8 INTERVIEW WITH THE PHANTOM PILOT.—POISON AND ITS ANTIDOTE, The superstitious awe which had taken possession of the pirate crew, in a few hours subsided, and they cheated themselves into the idea that some extraordinary allusion, from some extraordiary source, for which there was no accounting, was the cause of creating in them an unnecessary alarm. Such an interpretation of the mysterious en- counter with the Flying Dutchman having satisfied the desperadoes, whose wrong and venturous mode of life offered little time for serious contemplation, they were once again following their separate pur- suits and desires, which mainly consisted in drink- ing or playing at cards and dice. Hours passed by merrily, and night arrived, to find the carousers and gamblers still enjoying them- selves—the thirst of each appearing to increase, instead of diminishiny, with their potations, if it could be judged from the fresh broaching of kegs, containing Schiedam, Nantz and Muscadel. Good humour and loud shouts prevailed on all sides, as the cups were passed from hand to hand. In vain did Rotaldo, who began to be seriously apprehensive of the consequences, enjoin the men to abstain from further intemperance. In absence of their leader, Paul Jones, his authority was set at nought. : These boisterous wassailers gave themselves up more and more to enjoyment, and, in order to set themselves completely at ease, unbuckled their belts, removed their caps, and, in the end, disembarrassed themselves of their weapons, Stretching themselves luxuriously on the deck, chests, and barrels, they lighted their pipes, and gradually dropped, through inebriety, into a sound slumber. Insensibly, all around sank into silence; by degrees, the hot vapour of the day had ceased, and expired like the smouldering remains of an unfed fire, while all powerful voluptuousness reigned over the organs during the succeeding night, which appeared to become brighter and brighter through the star- lit heavens. It would not have been without a vivid interest to the observer, had he beheld in the solemn silence a shadowy form, clothed in a white Arab cloak, rise as a spectre among the recumbent forms of the sleeping pirates. From its trembling step, scarce audible—from its quick yet gentle respiration—from its flexible and delicate stature, which stood out in strong relief from surrounding obscurity, might be easily recog- nised the figure of the youth, Gonzalvi. For a moment he watched the group around him, then cautiously retired to the forepart of the vessel, which was pow entirely deserted, except by one per- son, who appeared to be a stranger to him. Gonzalvi's first impulse was to awake his com- ~ rades, but on second consideration deemed it more advisable to regard, with a strict scrutiny, his associ- ate, who was dozing, before giving an alarin. The attitude of this individual was somewhat striking to his observer. : One arm, flung across his body, concealed entirely with its loose and long sleeve, the greater part of his face, leaving only a wrinkled forehead visible. — The opened and released hand, and the deep, regular, and soft breathing beneath the coverture, gave all the tokens of the most profound slumber. Deeply impressed with curiosity, Gonzalvi was about to remove the obstacle which concealed the features of the dreamer, when he started up, and seized the youth’s wrist with some such tenacity as the vice holds its gripe. Gonzalvi would fain have cried out, but terror chained his tongue. At length, after gazing for some moments on the hideous form of Hans Hinch- man—for he, indeed, it was—he managed to stammer out— ‘* Who—who are you ?’’ ‘‘T leave that for your memory to anawer,” re- plied the addressed. “How I came on board this vessel I can understand is a mystery to you, seeing that till now you have not quitted the side of your captain, Paul Jones. ‘“‘ Ah,” continued Hans, ‘‘Paul Jones is a brave fellow, and I glory in those who dare. I’m afraid he'll be some time before he gets over his wound, perhaps, never.”’ _ “Ts it mortal ?” _“ Perhaps yes—perhaps no,” continued the man- nikin, provokingly. ‘We can tell how he got the hurt, can't we,eh? You don’t remember me, Gon- zalvi—I remember you.” chook