Commodore Junk — page 293: what you’re looking at

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

286 COMMODORE JUNK. ‘‘ Are we near the sea?” “Close to it now, sor. If it was Oireland ye’d hear the bating of the waves upon the shore; but they’re too hot and wake in this counthry to do more than give a bit of a lap on the sands.” Another weary length of time passed, and still the sea-shore was not reached, but they were evidently near now, for the dull murmur of the billows in the sheltered gulf was plainly to be heard ; and Mistress Greenheys, who, in spite of her bravery and decision, had begun to utter a low hysterical sob from time to time and hang more heavily upon her companions’ arms, took courage at the thought of the safety the sea offered, and pressed sturdily forward for another few hundred yards and then stopped short. -“ What is it, darlin’?” whispered Dinny. ‘Voices !” she replied softly. “Yes; ourown,” said Dinny. ‘There can’t be anny others here.” “Hist!” ejaculated Humphrey, “Is there any other way down to the beach t” “ Divil a bit, sor, that we could foind, and the boat’s yander, close inshore.” He took a step or two in advance, and listened. ‘Tam sure I heard whispering,” said Humphrey; but all was still now, and feeling satisfied at last that it was the murmur of the waves, they crept on in utter silence, and were about to leave the shelter of the path by which they had coms and make for the open sand when Dinny checked his com- panions, and they all stood listening, for a voice that was familiar said : “The skipper’s full of fancies. He hasn’t been right since this captain was made prisoner, and he has been worse since the other prisoners escaped.” Gomicbooksneo