Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

BEYOND THE GREAT SOUTH WALL. forty five degrees, propped by the edge of the crevasse. Her keel was straining at the splinters jammed in the narrows of the opening. She lay so that her bulge almost cov- ered the chamber in the rock. The hot fumes were still rising from _ below; smelling, for all the world, like the baths at Arx. We got aboard and went down into the saloon. Everything was in the wild- est disorder. , The table, being screwed to the floor, was still unmoved, but everything else was piled in heaps be- tween the floor and the lockers. Hardly a bit of crockery but had its crack or two, and many of the plates and glasses were broken outright. In the hold the bilge was leaking through her strained sides, dripping down the rocks against which she leaned. Not a rat squeaked or scampered in this—their usual stronghold—and their damp footprints were visible Jeading away from the ship. Evidently this dry dock was not to their liking. We set to work to get up some coal from the bunkers and some provisions from the storeroom. All of us—even the ladies—carried a larger or a smaller package, and in about an hour the pro- cession set back to the cliff abode. Gerry and Vi were alone on deck as I emerged last from the companion. Gerry’s face was a study in scarlet and surprise. Something had most cer- tainly occurred within the last few min- utes to move him greatly, and as I ap- peared he strode towards me with an air of joyful importance. At the same moment, V1, who had turned quickly. away as I stepped out of the doorway, swung quickly round again towards him. “Hush!” she ejaculated, frowning with a meaning look towards the ac- commodation ladder, and Denvarre’s head rose into view as he ascended. Gerry stopped with a look of inde- cision. Then with a beneficent grin he wheeled round and offered her his hand to step down off the deck. 9 A 127 I saw that below the others were grouped upon the rocks, waiting for us to begin the ascent again. I was ata loss to account for Gerry’s extraordi- nary behavior, especially the fact that he was walking happily enough with Vi, after avoiding her like the plague ever since he’d learned of her engage- ment. I stepped down to join the party as Denvarre plunged hastily down the companion to fetch, as he explained, another pipe. I began to saunter along with Gwen and Lessaution, still watch- ing Gerry and Vi. In two or three minutes Denvarre overtook us. I noticed that Gwen shot a look at him as he reached us, which I found difficult to explain. He was wear- ing a stony expression, and avoided meeting her gaze. He began to talk to Lessaution with great vivacity, and the two gradually drew ahead of us, swing- ing between them the sack of coal that the little Frenchman had been stagger- ing under alone. We were all more or less weighed down with stores, even the girls carrying their share. Gwen bore in one hand a pound of candles, and in the other a tin of mustard. As the other two drew out of earshot, the silence deepened uncomfortably be- tween Gwen and myself. I cannot ex- plain it, but there seemed to be a sense of strain between us. I looked up once to find her regarding me with a fixed expression, and she reddened deeply as I caught the glance. She turned her head away hurriedly. Then as if by an effort she faced me again. I could see by the catch in her pretty throat that she was gathering herself together to say something, something that she found it difficult to express. There came a sudden inter- ruption. Fidget, the fox terrier, had been gamboling and ambling aimlessly about. Suddenly, raising her nose, she sniffed the air curiously. She barked sharply, pattering back towards the ship. ECORRIC OO© SS) eco