Page 121 (1/1)
"We touched here the tiainst the French at Port Royal and St Croix," I said "We had heard a ruall and I went over every foot of it"
"And found no water?" questioned the ht died froht fell When with the darkness the sea fowl ceased their clamor, a dreadful silence suddenly enfolded us The rush of the surf made no difference; the ear heard it, but to the mind there was no sound The sky was thick with stars; every moment one shot, and the trail of white fire it left behind ht silently like snowflakes There was no wind The moon rose out of the sea, and lent the sandy isle her own pallor Here and there, back ast the dunes, the branches of a low and leafless tree writhed upward like dark fingers thrust from out the spectral earth The ocean, quiet now, dreamed beneath the moon and cared not for the five lives it had cast upon that span of sand
We piled driftwood and tangles of seaweed upon our fire, and it fla to the landward side of the islet, found some oysters, which we roasted and ate; but we had nor wine nor water hich to wash them down
"At least there are here no foes to fear," quoth ht; and zooks! we shall need it!" He spoke frankly, with an open face
"I will take one watch, if you will take the other," I said to the ht"
It was long past that time when he roused me from where I lay at Mistress Percy's feet
"I should have relieved you long ago," I told hih in the heavens, shone upon and softened his rugged features I thought I had never seen a face so filled with tenderness and hope and a sort of patient power "I have been with God," he said sireat ocean and the little shells beneath my hand,--hoonderful are thy works, O Lord! What is man that thou art mindful of him? And yet not a sparrow falleth"--I rose and sat by the fire, and he laid himself down upon the sand beside me
"Master Sparrow," I asked, "have you ever suffered thirst?"
"No," he answered We spoke in low tones, lest we should wake her Diccon andheavily