CHAPTER LVI. FLIGHT.
關燈
小
中
大
Thepartyoffugitives,whichstartedforthenorth,wasdividedintotwobands.Harry,Lisette,Tiff,andhistwochildren,assumedthecharacterofafamily,ofwhomHarrytookthepartoffather,Lisettethenurse,andTifftheman-servant.
ThemoneywhichClaytonhadgiventhemenablingthemtofurnisharespectableoutfit,theyfoundnodifficultyintakingpassageunderthischaracter,atNorfolk,onboardasmallcoasting-vesselboundtoNewYork.
NeverhadHarryknownamomentsofullofjoyoussecurityasthatwhichfoundhimoutatseainawhite-wingedvessel,flyingwithallspeedtowardthedistantportofsafety.
BeforetheynearedthecoastofNewYork,however,therewasachangeintheirprospects.Theblueskybecamedarkened,andthesea,beforetreacherouslysmooth,begantoriseinfuriouswaves.Thelittlevesselwastossedbafflingaboutbycontraryandtumultuouswinds.
Whenshebegantopitchandroll,inalltheviolenceofadecidedstorm,Lisetteandthechildrencriedforfear.OldTiffexertedhimselffortheircomforttothebestofhisability.Seatedonthecabin-floor,withhisfeetfirmlybraced,hewouldholdthechildreninhisarms,andremindthemofwhatMissNinahadreadtothemofthestormthatcamedownontheLakeofGennesareth,andhowJesuswasinthehinderpartoftheboat,asleeponapillow."Andhe'sdaryet,"Tiffwouldsay.
"Iwishthey'dwakehimup,then,"saidTeddy,disconsolately"Idon'tlikethisdreadfulnoise!Whatdoesheletitbesofor?"
Beforethecloseofthatdaythefuryofthestormincreasedthehorrorsofthenightcanonlybetoldbythosewhohavefeltthelike.Theplungingofthevessel,thecreakingandstrainingofthetimbers,thehollowandsepulchralsoundofwavesstrikingagainstthehull,andtheshiverwithwhich,likealivingcreature,sheseemedtotrembleateveryshock,werethingsfrightfuleventotheexperiencedsailormuchmoresotoourtremblingrefugees.
Themorningdawnedonlytoshowthesailorstheirbarkdriftinghelplesslytowardafatalshore,whosenameisasoundofevilomentoseamen.
Itwasnotlongbeforethefinalcrashcame,andtheshipwaswedgedamongruggedrocks,washedovereverymomentbythefuryofthewaves.
Allhandscamenowondeckforthelastchanceoflife.Oneboatafteranotherwasattemptedtobelaunched,butwasswampedbythefuriouswaters.Whenthelastboatwasessayed,therewasageneralrushofallonboard.Itwasthelastchanceforlife.Insuchhourstheinstinctivefearofdeathoftenoverbearseveryotherconsiderationandtheboatwasrapid
