Miss de Haldimar would have called out, to apprise the
unhappy man of his danger; but her voice refused its
office, and her cousin was even less capable of exertion
than herself. The deep throbbings of their hearts were
now audible to each; for the dreadful interest they took
in the scene, had excited their feelings to the most
intense stretch of agony. At the very moment, however,
when, with almost suspended animation, they expected to
see the knife of the savage driven into the chest of the
sleeping and unsuspecting sailor, the latter suddenly
started up, and, instinct with the full sense of the
danger by which he was menaced, in less time than we take
to describe it, seized the tiller of his rudder, the only
available instrument within his reach, and directing a
powerful blow at the head of his amphibious enemy, laid
him, without apparent life or motion, across the boat.
"Almighty God! what can this mean?" exclaimed Miss de
Haldimar, as soon as she could recover her presence of
mind. "There is some fearful treachery in agitation; and
a cloud now hangs over all, that will soon burst with
irresistible fury on our devoted heads.
Pages:
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480