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Article THE FIRST CRUISE OF THE " VIXEN." ← Page 17 of 23 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The First Cruise Of The " Vixen."
small dust-coloured Scotch terrier . As he caught my eye , he leaped up , and placing his paws upon my knee , looked at me , as much as to say , " Don't you knoxv me ? " I patted the animal , xvho uttered in reply a loxv whine , and ran toxvards the door , xvhen it stopped and looked back . Seeing I did not move , it returnedand again repeated the same manoeuvre . I know not
, XA'hether it xvas the fascination of terror which possessed me , but I rose mechanically , and taking up a candle , advanced towards the door * . the dog trotted before me , passed down the corridor , and leading me up the grand staircase , ran clown a side passage ; doxvn xvMch I looked , but hesitated to follow—a whine from the far extremity spoke so beseechmglthat I folloxved onand
y , , discox'ered a second and smaller staircase , up which I mounted , and found myself in the roof of the building—here , before a low door , my guide stopped and scratched xxith his foot—the door was opened by Pat Darcy . In the centre of the loxv room xvere grouped the naval officers and my companions . Their
eyes xvere fixed upon a long oaken packing-case , which occupied a rude table . My eyes involuntarily were draxvn to the spot , xx'hen the candle held by the surgeon illuminated the face of the murdered man . As I looked , the features seemed to grow familiar to me . A cold perspiration burst from me at every pore , an inxisible influence drew me to the side of the shell , and
I gazed upon the features of the dead . He was a youth of not more than four-and-tAventy , Ms fan * and silken hair was tinged with his blood , his lip curling with a contempt as it were of death itself , revealed teeth of ivory whiteness . As I gazed , the features seemed to relax m their rigidity . I saw before me a boy of thirteenthe playmate of many and a distant hour
, many ; I saw the young but stalwart form raised to protect his timid chum from the tyranny of many a school despot ; I feel his arm round my neck , and his kisses on my tears , when the news arrived , one day , of my mother ' s death . A hot sob rises to my throat , it is choked by terror , and I gaze on in a delirium of grief and wonder .
" Gentlemen , " I said at last , " it is needless to expose this body for recognition ; it is Redmond Selwood , the son of the vicar of Long Eaton in Suffolk . " " Ha , are you certain ? " asked the surgeon . " Yes , sh * , " I replied ; " he Avas my schoolfellow : we have not met for tAvelve years , but there are persons one can never
forget . " My voice sunk mto a wMsper ; I turned round and quitted the room . "The son of a country clergyman , " observed the doctor ;
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The First Cruise Of The " Vixen."
small dust-coloured Scotch terrier . As he caught my eye , he leaped up , and placing his paws upon my knee , looked at me , as much as to say , " Don't you knoxv me ? " I patted the animal , xvho uttered in reply a loxv whine , and ran toxvards the door , xvhen it stopped and looked back . Seeing I did not move , it returnedand again repeated the same manoeuvre . I know not
, XA'hether it xvas the fascination of terror which possessed me , but I rose mechanically , and taking up a candle , advanced towards the door * . the dog trotted before me , passed down the corridor , and leading me up the grand staircase , ran clown a side passage ; doxvn xvMch I looked , but hesitated to follow—a whine from the far extremity spoke so beseechmglthat I folloxved onand
y , , discox'ered a second and smaller staircase , up which I mounted , and found myself in the roof of the building—here , before a low door , my guide stopped and scratched xxith his foot—the door was opened by Pat Darcy . In the centre of the loxv room xvere grouped the naval officers and my companions . Their
eyes xvere fixed upon a long oaken packing-case , which occupied a rude table . My eyes involuntarily were draxvn to the spot , xx'hen the candle held by the surgeon illuminated the face of the murdered man . As I looked , the features seemed to grow familiar to me . A cold perspiration burst from me at every pore , an inxisible influence drew me to the side of the shell , and
I gazed upon the features of the dead . He was a youth of not more than four-and-tAventy , Ms fan * and silken hair was tinged with his blood , his lip curling with a contempt as it were of death itself , revealed teeth of ivory whiteness . As I gazed , the features seemed to relax m their rigidity . I saw before me a boy of thirteenthe playmate of many and a distant hour
, many ; I saw the young but stalwart form raised to protect his timid chum from the tyranny of many a school despot ; I feel his arm round my neck , and his kisses on my tears , when the news arrived , one day , of my mother ' s death . A hot sob rises to my throat , it is choked by terror , and I gaze on in a delirium of grief and wonder .
" Gentlemen , " I said at last , " it is needless to expose this body for recognition ; it is Redmond Selwood , the son of the vicar of Long Eaton in Suffolk . " " Ha , are you certain ? " asked the surgeon . " Yes , sh * , " I replied ; " he Avas my schoolfellow : we have not met for tAvelve years , but there are persons one can never
forget . " My voice sunk mto a wMsper ; I turned round and quitted the room . "The son of a country clergyman , " observed the doctor ;