The Island Bride — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

reach us,” he answered, “and all the time I shall be on the look-out for a vessel. If I see one, I shall signal it, and re- port our situation to its crew if they come to us. The con- victs will then be captured and carried aboard the vessel, and we will find ourselves in peaceful possession of the island. But you may have to endure a great) deal of hardship,” ~he sorrowfully added, “ before this happens.” “ And what is hardship to me, so long as you are with me ! she exclaimed, looking brightly up into his face; “I shall, scarcely heed it.” He wound an arm around her waist, and stooping, Tisai her several times. “You encourage me,” he said, “ and I shall never tire of thanking Providence for bringing me such a wife.” A bright blush mantled her cheek, and her eyes beamed upon him like stars. “And I-too!” she exclaimed, in a voice of emotion, “ I ar. blessed with such a husband !”’ The svp had set, and the shadows of twilight were begin- ning to xteal over the island landscape, and over the rippling waters of the sea. Weldon gently disengaged himself froin the arms of his young bride, not daring any longer to give way to the emotions that agitated his heart; for no time was to be lost in making the preparations for departure. _A bag of biscuit—the only one left of the three which had been lashed to the raft, was now placed upon the floating plat- form, together with several large bunches of bananas, some cooked bread-fruit, and several pounds of cooked beef. ’ Then one of the oars which had been taken from the boat before it left the island, was secured with ropes to the middle of the raft, in such a way as to form quite a respectable mast An »ther was fastened crossways to it so as to answer th purposes of a yarl; and the canvas being bent in soon after, the young couple were ready to sail. The rope which held the raft was accordingly unfastened, and the latter slowly-—al- most imprsceptibly—glided from the shore, connie ooolks.ceomnn) ©