The Island Bride — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

FIGHT ON THE BOOM. ot guished this hope. Even Mr. Spike was a delighted spectator of the affray, his weather-beaten face, towering above the Scotch caps and sou’westers of his men, being rippled all over with wrinkles of mirth, “Fight it out, blast ye, now you’ve begun!’ he shouted, “fight it out, and furl the sail when ye get through !” “Oh, dear! dear! What does this mean? Where is the yarson ?” cried a shrill feminine voice, and, glancing toward he bow, @ second time, the parson beheld the familiar form if Miss Trundle, as she clambered upon the knighthead. Discovering Trust pon the boom, the spinster clasped he hands and rolled up her eyes with horror. “Oh, for heaven’s sake, Mr. Spike !—go and bring in that unfortunate man. I wouldn’t have believed it—no, no—l wouldn’t have believed that he could remain quietly by, and see that disgraceful fight going on, without lifting a hand to separate the two savages!” “Really, Miss Trundle !” shouted the parson, “you wrong me—upon my word. My hands and arms are not at liberty. It is as much as I can do to cling to this boom, so as to pre- vent myself from falling overboard !” “Good gracious, then!” cried Miss Trundle, “why don’t you come here ?—why do you stay there ?” “T think if these two men would stop, I could get to the deck,” answered Trust, “ but it’s impossible to do so with the footrope swaying as it is now.” “Tf you do go overboard !” exclaimed the spinster, in thrill- ing accents, “I will go after you—I will drown with you if you drown !” Even as she spoke Loki received a blow that knocked him ,, from the boom. He clutched the leg of the parson in his de | xent, pulling that worthy into the sea with him ! Miss Trundle uttered a piercing scream. “You had better hold me——somebody, or I shall jump overboard, after him!” she cried. “ aig ei quick !—oh, help! help! He is lost, and [shall go too.” “ Back the main yard! clear away the quarter boat Y thun- | dered Spike. - _ The order was promptly obeyed, and Miss Trundle found herself alone upon the knighthead. -_ “2 connicboolks.conn