The Island Bride — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

SPIKE I8 SURE. feclared that she would sooner die there and then than she would allow one of God’s shepherds to drift away upon the — broad waters without a companion—a companion of the softer sex——to cheer and comfort him. : “Are ye sure,” said Bunt, nudging the elbow of his mate, and. speaking in a low voice, “are ye quite sure that she’s a woman ?” “Ay, ay, Sir, there can be no doubt upon that p’int, though ene does look uncommon-like for one of t’other scct.” “Could you swear to it, Spike? Could you swear that she’s «& Woman ?” “ Yes, sir, [ think I could.” - “ Without perjuring yourself, Spike—mind that—without perjuring yourself?” “ Without perjuring myself!’ “ Oh, dear! oh, dear!” cried Miss Trundle, rising and _ tot- tering to the very edge of the “ plankshear.” “TI shall certainly full, parson! Wold out your hands to catch me! Quick! quick! I’m going—I'm going !” 3 And she threw hersclf plump into his outstretched arms. At the same moment. Bunt threw the boat-warp from the pin,’and ordered his men to brace forward the main ya-d. The result was, that bost and ship were soon twenty fath- gins apart. “T will cling to you throwgh sunshine and darkness!” ex- claimed Miss Trundle, cimchiag her companion’s arm, “TL will not desert you if all the resi of them do.” The parson gently disengaged himself: “Let me see!” he said, retlectively. “ Squint advised me to stecr due east. We must get up the sai, Miss Trundle.” Atter many fruitless efforts, he succeeded iz stepping the mast “ Now, then, madam,” said he, “ the sai! must be loosened.” “Oh, dear!” cried Miss Trundle, “ you are quite a sailor!” As the setting of a boat-sail is a very simple task, the par- son, With the assistance of his companion, soon had ais sheet secured. The boat, however, was now lying in a positioa _ which caused the square piece of cloth to shake in the wind. He seized the stecring-oar, and strove te bring the boat’s head . around ; but, unfortunately, though the oar was coved rapidiy enough, it was done in a manner which prevented wae blade EComicbookss.com