Once he
fancied he caught a gleam of stars; and it seemed that a stillness was
pervading the air as the whistle of the wind died into melancholy
murmurings. After that he remembered nothing more until a voice
penetrated his brain like a trump of doom.
He started up, but fell back weakly. The mate was steering and half
lying on the bottom of the boat, while shading his eyes with one hand
as he stared over the gunwale.
"Rouse up a bit, lad!" cried Duff, his tones quivering with excitement
and weakness. "It's a sail--a sail!"
Ralph struggled to his knees and beheld a large ship bearing down upon
them scarcely half a mile away. The sun was up, and the sky bright and
fair, with a ragged patch of cloud here and there.
"Hurray!" he cried weakly, then his head swam, and he fell back
motionless.
Duff held grimly to his post, even after consciousness had departed.
The rescuing party found him with head drooped upon his arm, while his
nerveless fingers still rested on the tiller.
CHAPTER XXVII.
Uncle Gideon.
The day was well spent when Ralph again came to his senses. He raised
his head and looked about in a half stupefied wondering way.
The lad was in a small, but well lighted stateroom, plainly yet
comfortably furnished. A grave looking, middle aged man was feeling
his pulse, while a sailor, neatly dressed in a blue jacket and white
duck trousers, stood behind with a towel over his arm and a bowl of
broth in his hand.
The other was in a navy blue uniform.
Pages:
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188