The Frozen Crew Of The Ice-Bound Ship; Or, Terrors Of The Arctic Region — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

THE FROZEN CREW AND ICE-BOUND SHIP 11 NS EEE coffers ; would that I could once more pace the deck to set the lazy lubbers a better example.” “Captain,” replied Gonzalvi, ‘‘my comrades are as brave and willing as ever to either fight or plunder, but respect for you has kept them inactive. When you appear again among them you will find them more dovoted than ever.” “ Then they must have no excuse on my account.” As Paul Jones spoke, he thrust his right arm out of bed, naked to the shoulder, and painfully raising himself on his couch, attempted to rise from the same. It was not without a gentle degree of violence, which the buccaneer would scarce have endured from another, that Gonzalvi, in his character of sick nurse, compelled his patient to replace himself on the couch, and cover his sinewy arm, neck and shoulder, with the care which a mother bestows upon her infant nursling. ““Gonzalvi, you tend me too carefully,” said Paul Jones, smiling, while he submitted to the strength which he was unable to resist. “Captain,” replied the youth, with some show of emotion, for which his companion could not account, “what is a wound or fever-fit, that we should not endure them patiently, in order to get rid of them easily ?”’ ‘* Fever-fit!” exclaimed Paul Jones, impetuously, **a dead lethargy, if you like, which is so infectious it seems thut it deprives every one of my followers of speech and action.” ‘“ As you value their interest, captain, take this matter less violently.” “This is smoothly said, to soothe a sick mau; but does the league of a sworn brotherhood droop with the malady of one man—why should Paul Jones’ life or Paul Jones’ death affect the actions of one hun- dred and sixty-four men as brave as himself? ' “ When the master stag is struck down,” continued the pirate chieftain, ‘the herd do not disperse upon his fall—when the falcon strikes the leading crane, another takes the guidance of the phalanx. Why does not my band assemble and choose some one of their number to whom they may entrust the com- mand of this vessel and maintain its prestige ?”’ “Senor Rotaldo, captain,’ answered Gonzalvi, naively, “has, in some measure, taken such an office upon hinself.’’ “Ta! exclaimed Paul Jones, whose jealousy being awakened gave his mental irritation another direction. ‘ What, because he is as superstitious as yourself, without your indifference to danger. Let the men look well to their leader, or some fine morn- ing they may chance find themselves made merchan- dise of by English skippers and Spanish pedlars.” As he spoke the buccaneer raised himself suddenly in his bed, while his eyes, sparkling as they were wont to do on the eve of battle, seemed to inquire into the cause of such a proceeding. “Hark,” he said. “ What is that passing on the deck above us?” “« Some of the crew appear to be in altercation,’’ answered Gonzalvi, listening attentively, and endea- vouring to Jearn the cause of dispute. “IT can distinguish a stranger in spite of those around him; go and bring scme account of this in- truder,’” said Paul Jones to his companion, while, with an impatience of mood, he extended his hand in direction of the cabin door. ‘“Captain, I can guess what is happening,” said Gonzalvi, hastening to obey the order he had received. “The voice you hear is that of a seaman we picked up sonie few hours ago, the sole survivor of a ship- wrecked crew.” “J should have been acquainted with this before,” rejoined Paul Jones, angrily, with one glance of fire, ee transient as the flash from the cold stony flint. “ You are remiss in duty.’’ ‘‘T grant I have done wrong, captain,” said Gon- zalvi, calmly, “ but my care tor you made me forget- ful in this instance. Remember, when this outcast was taken on board you were in a sleep that had been a stranger to you for many nights, and had IJ aroused you——”’ Phe sobs of the youth prevented his further utter- ance; there was something in his manner that struck Paul Jones, and the feelings of the pirate reproached him with undue severity. Laying his hand upon the shoulder of Gonzalvi, he addressed a few words to him in a more kindly tone. The latter raised his eyes. The black orbs were filled with tears; he looked with a blind gaze on his captain, and thence at his hand which he still suffered to remain on his shoulder. At this instant the cabin became filled with pirates, while the most conspicuous among the group was the little distorted miniature of humanity, Hans Hinckman. Hal Harpoon was the first. on entering to address this seemingly despised individual. ‘‘ And so,” he cried, “you have the courage to prac- tise your art upon our noble captain?”’ “‘T have,” replied Hans, unabashed by the taunts that were now thickly showered at him. ‘‘ Aye, and as well as on the meanest living creature. I should make no distinction between the Port Admiral and the cabin boy, when called to exercise the art of heal- ing,” ws “‘ Remember,’ said Fergus Blake, “ that heated iron and molten lead will torment your lacerated flesh, if Paul Jones die under your hands,”’ “'That’s rather hard justice,” returned Hans, dryly, “seeing that I can but use human means, and the issue is written only in the book of futurity.”’ “Put a clapper on your jawing tackle, Fergus Blake,”’ said Paul Jones, who had, during the interim, received a full report of the physician from his trusty confidant, Gonzalvi. “JI am well satisfied with the virtues of this mannikin’s medicines, and shall not refuse them.” ~ The seaman looked grimly on the unceremonious buccaneer for a moment, but, on exchanging a glance with another who stood by his side, smoothed his frowning brow as well as he could, and watched with impatience the passing scene. Paul Jones continued to speak, “ Gonzalvi,”’ he exclaimed, “I am going totake a leap in the dark, you will say. It may or it may not be so; difficulties give way to enterprise, and resolu- tion presumes to soar. Your captain will be again amongst you, or you,shall give what is left of him a grave in the ocean. I would say more, but this fever has wasted my strength, and my wound becomes more painful. Come, stranger, to your work—to your work,” Hans Hinckman, who had already informed himself of the various symptoms of his patient’s illness, now felt his pulse for a long time. and with deep attention, while all around stood silent, and in anxious expecta- tion. He next filled a cup with cold water, and dipped into it a small red purse, which he, with some for- mality, took from his bosom. When the rude sage seemed to think it sufficiently medicated, he was about to offer it to Paul Jones, but was prevented by his abrupt exclamation— “ Belay, man—belay! You have touched my pulse, let me lay a finger on yours; though a rough seaman, I know something of the doctor’s art.” Hans Hinckman yielded without hesitation, and his slender dark palm was for an instant enclosed, and almost buried in the large enfoldment of Paul Jones’ hand, MICLOOOKS (C©) ¢ ee —_—_—X:__-_:*_ :.— oo or (©)