The Frozen Crew Of The Ice-Bound Ship; Or, Terrors Of The Arctic Region — page 94: what you’re looking at

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

84 Brandy-nosed Nick was heard shouting— “That’s right, my lasses—pour shot into their hulls, broadside for broadside, let ’em have it as warm as they can take it. Damme, if women oughtn’t to man the navy.” This remark recalled to Paul Jonss his ally’s tacties. He had armed himself, Emona and Zoe, with all the available fire-arms, and by giving his companions necessiry directions, and placing them in ambuscade had turned their feeble services to a most satisfac- tory account. : ‘‘ Bravely done, and skilfully executed,” cried Paul Jones, to whom this unexpected assistance, and its successful results imparted a degree of hope and assurance not before felt. Up to this moment his feeling had been the mere frenzy of despair. He now rushed towards the only foe who seemed capable of resistance. Before he was aware of it, he was enfolded in the arms of his adversary. Suddenly there came a shriek of agony. A jet of warm, hot blood gushed over the sea- man’s face. The pirate had been struck by the hand of Miamas, and, after a convulsive struggle, fell a dead man at the feet of Paul Jones. Zoe and her companions, who still kept their post and maintained their fire, waxed resolute as they saw the enemy draw back. The successful, and wholly unexpected resistance of the little party, resulting in so fatal a manner to the advanced guard of the pirates, had struck terror into the main body, who retired in some confusion to deliberate on the best means of circumventing the enemy. It was in this moment of confusion that Miamas sprang to the side of Paul Jones. He caught the seaman by the hand, as he was hastily recharging his piece. The Indian addressed his companion in a voice that betrayed the deepest agitation, though his countenance was veiled by the darkness. “Waste no more powder, but up and away; if we remain here we shall soon be numbered with these wretches,’’ said Miamas, looking and pointing to the dead bodies of the pirates. ‘‘ Their comrades have retired but to return in greater numbers.” “It needs not to speak of it,” returned Paul Jones, as he added, hastily, “time presses, but we must take advantage of it ; the ice-fields are open, we must retreat again to them.” “No, that would be certain death,’ cried Miamas. ‘Be of good heart, I have formed ascheme tor our liberty, which executed with boldness will I trust succeed. ‘‘We must pass to the back of this dwelling at once,” the Indian contiued. “There is no escape by this means,’? said Paul Jones, ‘as it leads only to the precipice that over- hangs the river.” ‘It is our only road to freedom, nevertheless.”’ * But how are we to drop over a sheer altitude of fifty feet. ““T can obtain rope.” “ But should we succeed in making the descent we have no boat to stem the river beneath.” ‘‘ Here is wood enough in this rude dwelling to form araft,’’ said the Indian, ‘‘ let us commence our labour, and lower the timher over the height.” Obeying the order of Miamas, the inmates of the dwelling, in a very short time dislodged several planks from its roof. These were at once conveyed to the spot the In- dian had pointed out. ee en eee 000 eae THE FROZEN CREW AND ICE-BOUND SHIP. In order to drop the wood upon the ice-bank of the river the adventurers had to ascend a precipice considerably higher than the one at the rear of their temporary fortress. Success attended their endeavours. Everything necessary for forming a raft was ina few minutes on the margin of the flowing current beneath them. Miamas next threw acord over the edge of the precipitous escarpment. He advanced to the brink to see that it had fallen to a landing place. Having assured himself of this, and the firmness of the knot, he desired Paul Jones to make the first descent. The seaman, twining his left arm securely round Emona, grasped the rope tightly with his right hand. Without pausing, he leant forward and pushed himself deliberately over the brow of the precipice. For a moment the rope vibrated with the shock, As Emona felt herself thus swinging to and fro, between heaven and earth, she could scarcely repress a scream. Her brain reeled as she gazed dizzily downwards. The altitude must have been upwards of one hundred and fifty feet. Involuntarily her head sank over her shoulders. She closed her eyes. Had it not been for the powerful efforts of her supporter she would assuredly have fallen. The rope still continued its fearful oscillations. With one arm only disengaged, and the other en- cumbered by Emona, it was impossible for Paul Jones to steady the cording now veering to every point of the compass. The crowning point from which he leapt into the air projected at least two feet beyond the main body of the precipice, consequently he could not touch it even with his foot to relieve his course. He had nothing for his guidance but the shifting rope. Imminent indeed was his present peril. The strain upon his sinews and muscles was s0 great that it appeared no longer endurable: Paul Jones’ energies were marvellously vigorous. His grasp of the rope as tenacious as ever. Suddenly his strength failed him, but *twas only as he alighted in safety with his fainting burden upon the river bank. The descent of Miamas and Sumach was less perilous, Paul Jones being able from the bottom of the ice-cliff to tighten and guide the rope that bore them. Brandy-nose Nick and Zoe followed the Indians, who were soon by the side of Emona, and engaged in rapidly constructing the impromptu raft. The latter fugitives were more than sixty feet from the bank, while descending by the rope, when au incident occurred, that rendered their situation ever more dangerous than that of their companions. Looking upward, and directed by outcries, they beheld the malignant and exulting aspect of the Spaniard, Rotaldo. He had discovered the mode of flight, and_hesi- tated not in taking the revenge left in his power. It was evident, from his gestures and ferocious mien, he had resolved to inflict some torture on his enemy before destroying him. He first shook the cord bearing Nick with all his force. The desperate pirate next had recourse to another more cruel expedient. By immense exertion, he drew up the cord some feet. “‘ Maledizione,” he exclaimed, as he suddenly let it drop. cS; ECOM