按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
for his master。
A shout was now heard。
〃The boat at last； thank Heaven！〃 cried Smith； returning the call。
A minute passed； nothing was seen of Harry； Charlie was raised entirely above water； when at length the Petrel's boat dashed towards them； urged by all the strength of four rowers。
〃Hubbard！Bob！〃 cried de Vaux； as the first glance showed him that both Smith and the boy were safe。
〃Hubbard is here； insensibleBob goneHazlehurst sunk； too！〃
〃Hazlehurst and Bob； too！Merciful powers！〃 exclaimed the party。
A hurried； eager search succeeded； as soon as Charlie； with Smith and Sam； now somewhat exhausted by fatigue and agitation； were taken on board。 Hubbard was quite insensible； young Van Horne； the physician； thought his appearance unfavourable； but instantly resorted to every means possible under the circumstances； with the hope of restoring animation。 Still nothing was seen of Harry； his entire disappearance was quite incomprehensible。
〃It must have been cramp； yet I never knew him have it； and he is one of the best swimmers in the country！〃 said de Vaux。
〃He must have felt it coming； and had presence of mind to loosen his hold of Hubbard at the same moment he cried for help；〃 observed Smith。
Bruno was still swimming； now here； now there； encircling the Petrel in wider or narrower reaches； howling from time to time with a sound that went to the hearts of all who heard him。 Different objects floating about beguiled the party for an instant with hope； but each time a few strokes of the oars undeceived them。
Suddenly Bruno stopped within a short distance of the Petrel； and dove； those in the boat watched him eagerly； he rose with a sharp bark； calling them to the spot； then dove again； rose with a howl； and for a third time disappeared beneath the water。 Convinced that he had found either Harry or the negro； de Vaux threw off his coat and plunged into the water； to examine the spot thoroughly。 The dog soon rose again with a rope in his mouth； pulling it with all his strength； uttering at the same time a smothered cry。 The rope was seized by those in the boat； and de Vaux dove； he touched first one body； then another； but all his strength was unequal to the task of raising either。 After a hurried examination； it was found that one body； that of the negro； was entangled in a rope and thus held under water from the first； while Harry's leg was firmly clenched in the dying grip of Black Bob； who must have seized it as Hazlehurst passed； and drawn him downward in that way。
In as short a time as possible； Hazlehurst and the negro were placed in the boat by the side of Hubbard； who had not yet showed any sign of life； every effort was made to revive them by some of the party； while the others rowed with all their strength towards the shore。
All watched the face of Van Horne； the young physician； with the greatest anxiety； as he leaned first over one； then over another； directing the labours of the rest。
〃Surely there must be some hope！〃 cried de Vaux to him。
〃We will leave no effort untried；〃 replied the other； though he could not look sanguine。
The boat from the most distant point； rowed by the steward and a boy from the farm…house； now joined them； and those who could not be of use in assisting Van Horne； passed into her； taking their oars； and towing the boat of the ill…fated Petrel with her melancholy burden towards the beach。 Bruno could not be moved from his old master's side； it was painful to see him crawling from one body to the other； with as much watchfulness； as much grief； and almost as much intelligence as the surviving friends； now crouching at the cold feet of Hazlehurst； now licking the stiff hand； now raising himself to gaze wistfully at the inanimate features of the young man。
The shower was passing over； the rain soon ceased； the clouds broke away； the sun burst again in full glory upon the bay； the beach； the woods； throwing a brilliant bow over the island。 But three of those upon whom it had shone only an hour earlier； were now stretched cold and lifeless on the sands； while the mourning survivors were hanging in heartfelt grief over the bodies of the two friends and the negro sailor。
CHAPTER XXII。 ｛XLV｝
〃And e'en to wakeful conscience unconfest； Her fear； her grief； her joy were his alone。〃 COLERIDGE。 ｛sic｝
｛Reginald Heber （English poet； 1783…1826）； 〃Morte d'Arthur： A Fragment〃 lines II。534…535｝
THE melancholy disaster of the Petrel happened on Monday； it was not until the Thursday following that the evil tidings reached Longbridge。
Elinor； accompanied by Mary Van Alstyne； set out quite early in the morning to pay some visits at different country…houses in the neighbourhood。 They had been out some little time； having driven several miles； and made three or four calls； when they reached Mrs。 Van Horne's。 On entering the parlour they found the mistress of the house was not there； but a much less agreeable person； the elder Mrs。 Tibbs； the greatest gossip in Longbridge。
〃I am glad to see you this morning； young ladies；〃 she said。
〃Thank you； ma'am； it is a very pleasant morning； certainly；〃 replied Elinor； as she took a seat on the sofa。
〃Very pleasant； yes； but I was fearful you might have been kept at home by the bad news we Longbridge people have just heard。〃
〃It does not seem to have kept you at home either； Mrs。 Tibbs； whatever it may be；〃 replied Elinor； smiling； for she knew that any news； whether good or bad； always set this lady in motion。 Little did the poor young girl suspect the nature of the intelligence that awaited her！
〃No； I thought my good friend； Mrs。 Van Horne； might feel uneasy about her son； and came over to be with her。〃
〃Mrs。 Van Horne！ Has anything happened to the family？〃
〃You haven't heard the news then？I am surprised at that。 But here is an account of the accident in the New Haven Eagle。 It has made us all feel quite dreadfully at home！〃
〃What has happened？Pray tell us！〃 exclaimed Elinor； now looking alarmed。
〃Here is the account； but perhaps you had better let Miss Mary read it； she was not so intimate with the deceased。〃
〃What is it？let me see the paper； Mary。 An accident to one of the Van Hornes！〃 and she took the sheet from the table。 Her eye immediately fell on the following article：
〃Our city was painfully excited this morning by the intelligence which reached here； of a distressing accident to a beautiful little schooner； the property of Hubert de Vaux； Esq。； of New York； which was seen in our waters only a few days since； and attracted universal admiration in our port。〃
Elinor's eyes could see no farther； she stretched out the paper to her cousin； saying in a faint voice； 〃Mary； read！〃
Mary Van Alstyne took the paper； and continued silently to look over the passage。
〃This little schooner； bound on a cruise of pleasure； had reached Martha's Vineyard； when； during the sudden squall which passed over this section also on Monday； she capsized； and melancholy to relate； four persons lost their lives。 The party consisted of Mr。 de Vaux himself； Colonel Stryker； and Mr。 Van Horne； of New York； Charles Hubbard； Esq。； the distinguished young artist； Henry Hazlehurst； Esq。； our secretary of Legation to the court of Russia； where he was shortly to proceed with Mr。 Henley； our Envoy； and also Frederick Smith； Esq。； a young gentleman from Philadelphia。 There were in addition five men in the crew。 We regret to add that Mr。 Hazlehurst and Mr。 Hubbard； a negro sailor known as Black Bob； and another man； name not mentioned； were drowned； the bodies were all recovered； but every effort to restore life proved unavailing。〃
Mary Van Alstyne had strong nerves； but the suddenness of these melancholy tidings； and a dread of the effect upon Elinor； made her turn deadly pale。
〃Tell me； Mary；〃 said her cousin faintly。
Mary waited a moment to recover herself； when the question was anxiously repeated。 She took Elinor's hand and sat down by her side； using every precaution of delicacy and tenderness in breaking the bad news to her cousin； she approached the worst as gradually as she could； and mentioned every favourable circumstance first； while Elinor sat trembling in every limb； yet endeavouring to