D'Artagnan, the King Maker — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

ine vlessenger. diffused, rushing before the wind at sixty miles the hour. Occasionally the gusts outstripped this movable wall and smote the turbulence so heavily that it smoothed it into oily circles, iridescent as molten metal. Then up-bubbled the beaten-under surge, and all became a creamy white. Before the great mass of risen waters in the crest of mist, like lumps studded with feathers awry, flocks of seabirds and schools of fish, interspersed, were tossed about and forward, caught as they fell, flung ever onward and onward; hurried to sea, eagles and dogfish ceased to catch prey which they could not bear away, and fought one another like desperate souls, doing all the hurt they could in the sea eddies of Malice: below them in the yeast which flecked their glossy sides, porpoises disported in the unstable playground. The stoutest and ablest seaman quailed, but, imperturb- able, Pedro went on: “In this casing you may reach land.” So deep a murmur of incredulity from the old sea dogs hailed this attempt to cheer that Manuel turned white under the chin. “Tf you are cast well upon land,” continued the skip- per, “slit the hide and recreate yourself with the proven- der herein !’’ The cook had fastened within the cask by lashings a loaf of bread, instead of the crumb, of which a hunk of cooked beef had been substituted, and a bottle of genuine Colares, fortified with Guinea pepper and ginger. “Thereupon hasten to the Petrel Inn and deliver this message to the representative there of Braganza’s lord.” The plotter spoke so clearly that it was plain that he did not expect any of his hearers but this one would survive to disperse the information. “What message, master?’ inquired the supercargo, holding out eagerly a trembling hand as for a writing. “That the Brotherhood of the Coast are pledged to place Braganza on the redeemed throne of their country!” “Long live the country!’ exclaimed the seamen, with _ bated breath. “Amen!” muttered Manuel, with forced emphasis. “Ha, ha!” uttered the Frenchman, sidaunite: his mus- EomicbookssGco