登陆注册
5241400000070

第70章 CHAPTER LIV

MISS HERBEY PLEADS FOR ONE DAY MORE

JANUARY 26. -- I understood it all; the devoted father hav- ing nothing more to give, had given his life for his son.

M. Letourneur was no longer a human being in the eyes of the famished creatures who were now yearning to see him sacrificed to their cravings. At the very sight of the victim thus provided, all the tortures of hunger returned with redoubled violence. With lips distended, and teeth dis- played, they waited like a herd of carnivora until they could attack their prey with brutal voracity; it seemed almost doubtful whether they would not fall upon him while still alive. It seemed impossible that any appeal to their human- ity could, at such a moment, have any weight; nevertheless, the appeal was made, and, incredible as it may seem, pre- vailed.

Just as the boatswain was about to act the part of butcher, and Dowlas stood, hatchet in hand, ready to complete the barbarous work, Miss Herbey advanced, or rather crawled, toward them.

"My friends," she pleaded, "will you not wait just one more day? If no land or ship is in sight to-morrow, then I suppose our poor companion must become your victim.

But allow him one more day; in the name of mercy I en- treat, I implore you."

My heart bounded as she made her pitiful appeal. It seemed to me as though the noble girl had spoken with an inspiration on her lips, and I fancied that, perhaps, in super- natural vision she had viewed the coast or the ship of which she spoke; and one more day was not much to us who had already suffered so long, and endured so much.

Curtis and Falsten agreed with me, and we all united to support Miss Herbey's merciful petition. The sailors did not utter a murmur, and the boatswain in a smothered voice said:

"Very well, we will wait till daybreak to-morrow," and threw down his hatchet.

To-morrow, then, unless land or a sail appear, the horrible sacrifice will be accomplished. Stifling their sufferings by a strenuous effort, all returned to their places. The sailors crouched beneath the sails, caring nothing about scanning the ocean. Food was in store for them to-morrow, and that was enough for them.

As soon as Andre Letourneur came to his senses, his first thought was for his father, and I saw him count the pas- sengers on the raft. He looked puzzled; when he lost con- sciousness there had been only two names left in the hat, those of his father and the carpenter; and yet M. Letourneur and Dowlas were both there still. Miss Herbey went up to him and told him quietly that the drawing of the lots had not yet been finished. Andre asked no further ques- tion, but took his father's hand. M. Letourneur's counte- nance was calm and serene; he seemed to be conscious of nothing except that the life of his son was spared, and as the two sat conversing in an undertone at the back of the raft, their whole existence seemed bound up in each other.

Meantime, I could not disabuse my mind of the impres- sion caused by Miss Herbey's intervention. Something told me that help was near at hand, and that we were approach- ing the termination of our suspense and misery; the chimeras that were floating through my brain resolved themselves into realities, so that nothing appeared to me more certain than that either land or sail, be they miles away, would be dis- covered somewhere to leeward.

I imparted my convictions to M. Letourneur and his son.

Andre was as sanguine as myself; poor boy! he little thinks what a loss there is in store for him to-morrow. His father listened gravely to all we said, and whatever he might think in his own mind, he did not give us any discouragement;Heaven, he said, he was sure would still spare the survivors of the Chancellor, and then he lavished on his son caresses which he deemed to be his last.

Some time afterward, when I was alone with him, M.

Letourneur whispered in my ear:

"Mr. Kazallon, I commend my boy to your care, and mark you, he must never know --"

His voice was choked with tears, and he could not finish his sentence.

But I was full of hope, and, without a moment's inter- mission, I kept my eyes fixed upon the unbroken horizon.

Curtis, Miss Herbey, Falsten, and even the boatswain, were also eagerly scanning the broad expanse of the sea.

Night has come on; but I have still a profound conviction that through the darkness some ship will approach, and that at daybreak our raft will be observed.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 自从遇见你

    自从遇见你

    叶疏影在最美的季节遇到夏雨,此时的夏雨却狠狼不堪,陷于不可自拔的失恋中。叶疏影看到了夏雨最狼狈的心碎,本想帮他走出阴影,不料却被一次次捉弄,令叶疏影忍无可忍。在杭州,夏雨对失去的爱情进行了最后的缅怀,这段伤痛经历了足够的宣泄后居然神奇地疗愈。回到北京后,夏雨重新变得温暖阳光,并以润物细无声的方式把他对叶疏影的“残害”温柔回报于她。在夏雨的帮助下,叶疏影通过了公司的答辩会,眼见就要转正,人生的一场意外让她不得不离别北京。初夏的某一个时刻,叶疏影惆怅满怀地想起从前的生活,蓦然回首,却发现夏雨在阳光下微笑。世界很小,佳人得以相遇;世界很大,携子之手,希望永远不要走散。
  • 满清外史

    满清外史

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 盛唐烟云1:长安醉

    盛唐烟云1:长安醉

    勋贵子弟王洵胸无大志,在长安城内斗鸡走马混日子。本以为一辈子就这样在曾祖父王蔷的余荫下逍遥而过,谁料李林甫和杨国忠二人斗法,一场风暴瞬间席卷整个京城。为了替无辜卷入的好朋友宇文至洗刷冤屈,王洵用尽全身解数。同时也开始重新检视自己的人生。在父亲生前好友封常清的照顾下,他进入了白马堡大营,玄宗皇帝准备为大唐培养中下级军官的地方。在这里,结识了很多安西军老兵,并且慢慢长大。并且因为表现出色,受到了高力士的赏识。随即,被命运推入了更大的漩涡。
  • 回到末日前的地球

    回到末日前的地球

    没有逆天随身系统,没有天下第一的天赋,没有神兽伴身,更没有一呼百应的主角光环。注:本书慢热,请耐心的往下看。注:男主不是种马,不会变成德国骨科(?),虽然是末日类但是剑与魔法的分类没错,后期不会变成修仙类小说(战力不会崩坏)。
  • 大科学家的故事(古今中外英雄伟人故事系列)

    大科学家的故事(古今中外英雄伟人故事系列)

    社会的发展,时代的进步,离不开科学。电灯的发明,蒸汽机的诞生,人类登上月球,等等,都是科学的作用和结果。因而,科学家促进了社会的发展,推动了时代的进步。
  • 春天在心里歌唱(英文爱藏双语系列)

    春天在心里歌唱(英文爱藏双语系列)

    《春天在心里歌唱》精选了四十多篇世界上最具代表性的散文,所选篇目皆出自于名家,语言优美,意义深邃,堪称人类文明的共同财富。同时本书的内容广泛,包罗自然、社会、人生等方方面面。
  • 帝尊于世

    帝尊于世

    这是一个关于强者无敌之后的故事,在这里你能看到儿女情长,能看到侠肝义胆,能看到相濡以沫,更能看到最会讲道理的“天下第一”拿着刀剑伸出拳头与人“讲理”。
  • 欢喜冤家:吃醋王爷萌宠妃

    欢喜冤家:吃醋王爷萌宠妃

    现代商业王国的继承人,意外穿越到了古代,什么,穿越地点是乱葬岗?好吧,她忍!可是穿成婴儿是怎么回事!身世成谜吗?装傻卖萌,她会!斗智斗勇她也会!收服傲娇王爷什么的更没有问题,赚钱发家致富,斗智指点江山,华丽丽得穿越就来个华丽丽的人生吧!来听听男主候选人的发言。男主:“待我君临天下,许你四海为家”男二:“待我一袭袈裟,许你相思放下”男二:“待我青丝白发,许你浪迹天涯”男二:……王爷怒,将她锁在怀里:“你这么多男二,你家男主知道吗?”说到底,这是一代平民王妃步步为营到执掌天下的故事。
  • 洞真金房度命绿字回年三华宝曤内真上经

    洞真金房度命绿字回年三华宝曤内真上经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 向敌人敬礼(原创经典作品)

    向敌人敬礼(原创经典作品)

    善读精品美文,拾取久违的感动;体悟百味人生,感受成长的快乐。阅读其间,时而在惊险悬疑的案件中悚然而惊,时而为体察入微的真情潸然泪下,时而又涌动着想针砭时弊的激情……掩卷而思,人性的美丑,世事的善恶,人生际遇的变幻无常不禁让人感慨万千。