Commodore Junk — page 346: what you’re looking at

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

LAST WORDS. 339 backed into a corner of the great chamber, as if desperately determined to sell their lives dearly, were boldly attacked and beaten down, the whole party being reduced from the savage band of followers of the dead ruffian at their feet to a herd of helpless prisoners, abject to a degree. Humphrey saw nothing of this, only that they were saved ; for, dropping his sword, he sank on his knees by the side of her who lay back with her eyes fixed upon his, full of a long- ing, imploring look, whose import he read too well. He bent down closely to her to take her hand in his, and started to find that it was cold; but there was vitality in it enough for the fingers to close upon his hand tightly, while the lips he kissed moved slightly, and he heard as faintly as if just breathed— ‘‘ Tt is better so.” “No, no!” he panted. ‘We are saved! Mary— dearest ——” He said no more, for the longing look in those eyes seemed intensified, and the pupils dilated slowly to remain fixed and stern. It was the buccaneer’s last look on earth. CHAPTER XXXVIIL LAST WORDS, THE officer who led the strong boat’s crew to the rescue, guided by some of Captain Armstrong’s men who had escaped weeks before and after terrible privations at last found help, drew back and signed to his followers. v2 CONnnicloOolkXs =)