The Argosy — page 278: what you’re looking at

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

My Channel Passage. 261 me deeply. Had I questioned him, he would probably have told me much and have found relief in so doing, but that was impossible to me, and he was as reticent in his way as Tin mine. I could only strive to make him forget his trouble by dwelling on indifferent topics. But though he had such a heavy load on his heart, he was not unmindful of my comfort, and as night came on he wrapped me up carefully and put his own fur-lined cloak over my knees, saying I had nothing dry enough to keep me warm. ‘Then he ordered supper for us, which meal I could not prevail on him to share, and showed him- self full of resources, as a soldier should be. Greta—I had caught sight of the name traced in enamelled letters on a locket he wore— would have a tender, careful husband, I thought. I wished I could see her and tell her how much I appreciated his kindness. I hoped she was worthy of the affection he lavished on her. After supper, Charley ran on with a string of nonsense that, wild as it was, did | succeed in bringing a smile to the young lover’s lips. He had taken a | fancy, as most people did, to the bright, merry-hearted lad, and did not | mind his raillery—and I must own that Charley’s words, provoking as | they often were, were never ill-natured. Where we were we had no idea, nor do I think had anyone on | board. The captain, if he knew, was not communicative. The sailors said we were drifting northward ; the morning would show / where. Meanwhile, the darkness was profound ; there was no moon, ) and our stock of oil, being very small, was not to be wasted. _ Itmust have been past twelve o’clock when my companions rose, | saying I should get no rest if they did not leave me. I was much } too excited to sleep soundly in such uncomfortable surroundings, | but I must have lost myself for a while for I could hardly recognise } where I was when the voice of Captain Fortescue sounded close | beside me. | | “Mrs, Calvert, I am going,” he said, hurriedly. ‘Charley will )explain. You must let me know how you get on; here is my address. /I have not a minute to spare. No, no, keep the cloak. I cannot | take it from you now. Good-bye.” a = . ——S a ————— ‘ _ He put a card into my hand, and was gone. What had happened ? _ Iwas only half awake, or I would have risen to follow him. I sat _ \up and tried to clear my thoughts, but in vain. | “Wasn’t it asplendid chance for him!” cried Charley as he burst _ jinto my cabin, flushed with excitement and delight. ‘We hadn’t _ gone to bed, you know. Fortescue wanted me to lie down, but as ‘he wouldn’t, no more would I. It wasa rare go. He kept close by _ \the skipper, determined not to miss another chance. All of a sudden _ we heard a shout and a whistle, and there came alongside a little _ steam launch, looking like a toy next to us. “*What’s up? Who are you?’ cried a voice. “* Samphire, Calais and Dover packet boat,’ replies our captain. “A little out of your course, I should say, if I may make so bold,’ ‘ze J 7 1 EOMIGIOOKS im