The Frozen Crew Of The Ice-Bound Ship; Or, Terrors Of The Arctic Region — page 16: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

10 THE FROZEN CREW AND ICE-BOUND SHIP. a waking thoughts are yet as vain and wild as those which are wheeling their giddy dance through his slumbering brain; but the dream shall be dissolved, and——” Suddenly, again altering “his Gemeanour towards Gonzalvi, the speaker approached the youth with his right hand extended, and in no longer the menacing attitude he had assumed. ‘‘ Let there be a truce between us,” continued Hans. “Interest, the strongest tie that human nature knows, should make us friends.” ‘‘Tt am content,’ answered the other; “ but what security do you offer that you will observe the truce you haye proposed ?”” “My simple word alone,” answered Hans, dryly. “ But for the risk I am about to run, I somewhat fancy that itis you from whom I should demand as- surance, did I not know that treason seldom dwells with courage, a quality I have learnt you possess 10 the highest degree.” ‘“<T shall be true to you,” said Gonzalvi, laying bis hand on his heart as he spoke. ‘‘ While our fortune wills, we remain in company together, and in good faith.” “Friendly deeds are better than fair words,” con- tinued Hans; “of the last we haye had enough. I come to render Paul Jones an essential service, and one that he will not readily forget.” ‘Did I not know better,”’ muttered Gonzalvi, ‘‘I should esteem this act one of a madman’s.” “ Madman’s!” returned Hans, who had overheard the remark. “ According to the belief of many who are under the influence of immediate inspiration, they are often right. Know, boy, that when one eye is extinguished the other becomes more keen; when one hand is cut off the other becomes more powerful; so, when our reason in human things is disturbed or de- stroyed, our view onward becomes more acute and perfect. You will, 1 suppose, next look upon me as a necromancer, devil worshiper and idolater ?” Loath to answer the question, the youth was about to pass it with that sullen port which seems to say— ‘“T know thee, but will hold no communication,” when his purpose was defeated by the prompt. de- mand— “ You must speak.” ‘What if I tell you I am on my captain’s er- rand?” ‘‘Mine touches Paul Jones more nearly. I bring him health.” Gonzalyi measured Hans Hinckman with credulous eyes, replying— “You are no surgeon,” ‘Perhaps not,” interrupted Hans; “still I have some skill in healing wounds, and as your captain is sinking rapidly from the one he has received, may it not be as well that I undertake to work a cure on : “Stay. There isan air of mystery about you that begets suspicion, and I must haye some warrant that you are not bringing poisons instead of remedies.’’ Hans, though displeased with the manner of Gon- zalvi’s reply, answered calmly— | ** You have nothing to fear on that score. My life will be in your comrades’ hands if I betray my trust, and, surely that is sufficient guarantee that I mean no foul play ; but, nevertheless, your caution and pru- dence does you credit, though they may be dispensed with in the present instance, and, if not greatly mistaken, I can give you proof of my earnest sin- cerity.”’ “Your token?” SEs lz With the words, Hans whispered in the ear of Gonzalvi. The youth was struck with the solemnty of the ob- testation, and now answered with more cordiality than he had yet exhibited— “ Friend, you must not think ill of me if I treated you in the first instance somewhat: brusquely in this matter; but you must bear in mind that——” __ “ You gave me acold return for a well-meant kind- ness,” interrupted Hans, shrugging his shoulders as one who wishes to avoid an unpleasant topic, “ but that didn’t surprise me, for few men live, now a days, who know their enemies, and, in these latitudes, the art of destroying life is as general as the art of cook- ing.” Gonzalyi smiled an assent, adding— “ But I must for the present bid you adieu. I am wanted in the captain’s cabin; at noon, when he slumbers, I will speak again with you.” The youth and his companion then parted, better friends than they had met; but before separating, the former received further credentials from his newly found friend. It was on the decline of the day following the con- ference, that Paul Jones lay in his cabin cn his couch of sickness, loathing it as much in his mind as his desperate wound made it urksome to his body. His bright eye, which at all times shone with un- common keenness and splendour, had its vivacity augmented by fever and mental impatience, and glanced from under his unshorn locks as fitfully and vividly as the last gleams of the sun shoot through the clouds of an approaching thunderstorm, which still, however, are gilded by its lustre. The manly features of the pirate chieftain shewed the progress of wasting illness, and his beard, neg- lected and untrimmed, had overgrown both lips and chin. Casting himself from side to side—now clutching towards his coverings, which he at the next moment flung from him; his tossed couch and eager gestures at once exhibited that energetic disposition, whose natural sphere is that of the most active exertion. Beside the couch of Paul Jones stood Gonzalvi, in face, attitude and manner, the strongest possible con- trast to the suffering pirate. The faithful youth had not lain aside his clothing for nights, enjoying but such momentary repose as ans warder of a sick chamber might by snatches in- ulge. He had scarcely, since his attendance on his master, changed his position, except to administer medicine and refreshment, an office performed only by his hands, to the surprise of those who had been longer followers of the invalid. The cabin in which these personages were had more of a warlike than a sumptuous appearance; weapons, offensive and defensive, were scattered about the apartment, or disposed upon the wood- — work that supported it. Skins of animals slain in the chase were stretched on the floor, or extended with the skeleton monsters of the deep along the sides. Here and there were massiye chests exposed to view, and laden with spoil taken in some recent ms- rauding expeditions. The most noticeable trophy was a mighty sword, which rested within arm’s length of the reclining bucecaneer. It was a long and two-edged bladed weapon he had brought from the Levant. It was black from hilt to point, destitute of ornament, ex- cept some golden hierog!vphics near the guard, and of a weight which would have wearied the arm of any other than that of the herculean Paul Jones. “ J think the crew of this once dreaded vessel have turned women,” said the pirate chieftain, after a lon g and perturbed silence, spent in the feverish agitation which we have endeavoured to describe; “ four days passed in idleness, and not a stiver added to our aN EE EE a ee es COMMUGCLIOOKS aG