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Article THE WRECKER. ← Page 8 of 10 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Wrecker.
Norris , which you have been stripping—' tis the only one that has heen washed ashore . " The Wrecker did not speak . Pie looked at the body : then at the group ; then at his wife , who , to all appearance , almost as bloodless as the corpse , stood staring upon him , and then at the body again . Suddenlhe seemed to recover his self possession . He approached the table ,
y , half seated himself on the corner of it , and folding his arms , kept swinging the leg of the limb that was supported . There was a dead silence for several minutes . "It can ' t be helped , " he at length exclaimed ; " the dead have no need of clothes . We'll wake him and bury him to-night . ' ' " To-night ? " exclaimed his wife in a tone of expostulation .
" To-night ! " thundered the Wrecker , turning upon her like a tiger . " Norris ! '' cried one . " Norris ! " cried another . " Your father , Norris ! " ejaculated a third . " To-night , Norris ! " cried several altogether . " To-night ! " persisted the Wrecker . " The gallows be my portion if he shall not be buried to-night ! Is he not my own father ? " added lie , scornfully eyeing the group ; " come , come , " he continued , lowering
his tone , ancl changing the expression of his countenance , " a dead man is only dust—come ! Pipes , tobacco , and spirits ! We'll wake Mm and bury Mm to night . " Reflection upon the treat promised at once conciliated objection . Pipes , tobacco , and spirits were speedily procured , and laid upon the same table with the corpse which was now covered with a sheet . Black
Norris sat at the head . His neighbours , whose number was increased by occasional droppers in , accommodating themselves as they could , with stools , empty kegs placed an-end , and fragments of planks , converted into temporary forms , sat ranged in front and at each side of him . The room waxed merry , save where the Wrecker ' s wife , seated on the floor by the fire , sat silent with her head against the wall . The first supply of spirits was out .
" I'll bring you more and better ! " cried the wrecker ; " what we have drunk has had a visit from the well ; I'll fetch you that which shall be as pure as when it was running from the worm . " Pie disappeared , and in about ten minutes , or at the most a quarter of an hour , returned with a fresh supply . The door being open , he entered without being noticedbut stopped short upon observing that
, the whole of the company were gathered round the place which he had just quitted , some striving to see over the shoulders of others—the eyes of all directed towards the head of the dead man . "'Tis an ugly mark ! " said one . " No rock could do that ! " said another .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Wrecker.
Norris , which you have been stripping—' tis the only one that has heen washed ashore . " The Wrecker did not speak . Pie looked at the body : then at the group ; then at his wife , who , to all appearance , almost as bloodless as the corpse , stood staring upon him , and then at the body again . Suddenlhe seemed to recover his self possession . He approached the table ,
y , half seated himself on the corner of it , and folding his arms , kept swinging the leg of the limb that was supported . There was a dead silence for several minutes . "It can ' t be helped , " he at length exclaimed ; " the dead have no need of clothes . We'll wake him and bury him to-night . ' ' " To-night ? " exclaimed his wife in a tone of expostulation .
" To-night ! " thundered the Wrecker , turning upon her like a tiger . " Norris ! '' cried one . " Norris ! " cried another . " Your father , Norris ! " ejaculated a third . " To-night , Norris ! " cried several altogether . " To-night ! " persisted the Wrecker . " The gallows be my portion if he shall not be buried to-night ! Is he not my own father ? " added lie , scornfully eyeing the group ; " come , come , " he continued , lowering
his tone , ancl changing the expression of his countenance , " a dead man is only dust—come ! Pipes , tobacco , and spirits ! We'll wake Mm and bury Mm to night . " Reflection upon the treat promised at once conciliated objection . Pipes , tobacco , and spirits were speedily procured , and laid upon the same table with the corpse which was now covered with a sheet . Black
Norris sat at the head . His neighbours , whose number was increased by occasional droppers in , accommodating themselves as they could , with stools , empty kegs placed an-end , and fragments of planks , converted into temporary forms , sat ranged in front and at each side of him . The room waxed merry , save where the Wrecker ' s wife , seated on the floor by the fire , sat silent with her head against the wall . The first supply of spirits was out .
" I'll bring you more and better ! " cried the wrecker ; " what we have drunk has had a visit from the well ; I'll fetch you that which shall be as pure as when it was running from the worm . " Pie disappeared , and in about ten minutes , or at the most a quarter of an hour , returned with a fresh supply . The door being open , he entered without being noticedbut stopped short upon observing that
, the whole of the company were gathered round the place which he had just quitted , some striving to see over the shoulders of others—the eyes of all directed towards the head of the dead man . "'Tis an ugly mark ! " said one . " No rock could do that ! " said another .