登陆注册
4711400000196

第196章

"If he waits too long he will have a shower," observed Harry, pointing eastward, where dark clouds were beginning to appear above the wood.

"Not under an hour I think," said de Vaux. "He will take care of himself at any rate--trust to Stryker for that," They turned to look at the Petrel. Some ten or fifteen minutes had passed since she left the little wharf, and she was already near her destination; the point on which the farm-house stood being scarcely more than a mile distant, in a direct line, and a single tack having proved sufficient to carry her there.

"The wind seems to be falling," said Harry, holding up his hand to feel the air. "It is to be hoped they will make a quick bargain, or they may keep your potatoes too late to be boiled for to-day's dinner."

De Vaux took up the glass to look after their movements.

"They have made the point, handsomely," he said; "and there is a woman coming down to the shore, and a boy, too."

The friends agreed that there seemed every prospect of a successful negotiation; for a woman was seen going towards the garden with a basket, and Sam, the boy, had landed. Before long a basket was carried down from the house; while Sam and the woman were still busy in the garden.

"They had better be off as soon as they can," said de Vaux, "for the wind is certainly falling."

"There is a shower coming up over the island, Captain de Vaux," said Stebbins, touching his hat.

"Coming, sure enough!--look yonder!"--exclaimed Harry, pointing eastward, where heavy clouds were now seen rising rapidly over the wood.

"We shall have a shower, and something of a squall, I guess," added Stebbins.

There could not indeed be much doubt of the fact, for a heavy shower now seemed advancing, with the sudden rapidity not unusual after very warm weather; the position of the bay, and a wooded bank having concealed its approach until close at hand.

"We shall have a dead calm in ten minutes," said de Vaux; "I wish the Petrel was off."

But still there seemed something going on in the garden; the woman and Sam were very busy, and Charlie and Smith had joined them.

"They must see the shower coming up by this time!" exclaimed de Vaux.

"There will be a squall and a sharp one, too," added Stebbins.

The wind, which had prevailed steadily all the morning in a light, sultry breeze from the south, was now dying away; the sullen roll of distant thunder was heard, while here and there a sudden flash burst from a nearer cloud.

"Thank Heaven, they are off at last!" cried de Vaux, who was watching the schooner with some anxiety.

Harry and the two men were busy gathering together under cover of the shanty, the different articles scattered about, and among others Charlie's half-finished sketch.

The sun was now obscured; light, detached clouds, looking heated and angry, were hurrying in advance with a low flight, while the heavens were half-covered by the threatening mass which came gathering in dark and heavy folds about the island. Suddenly the great body of vapour which had been hanging sullenly over the western horizon all the morning, now set in motion by a fresh current of air, began to rise with a slow movement, as if to meet the array advancing so eagerly from the opposite direction; it came onward steadily, with a higher and a wider sweep than the mass which was pouring immediately over the little bay. The landscape had hung out its storm-lights; the dark scowl of the approaching gust fell alike on wood, beach, and waters; the birds were wheeling about anxiously; the gulls and other water-fowl flying lower and lower, nearer and nearer to their favourite element; the land-birds hurrying hither and thither, seeking shelter among their native branches. But not a drop of rain had yet fallen; and the waves still came rolling in upon the sands with the measured, lulling sound of fair weather.

The air from the south revived for a moment, sweeping in light, fitful puffs over the bay. Favoured by this last flickering current of the morning's breeze, the Petrel had succeeded in making her way half across the bay, though returning less steadily than she had gone on her errand an hour before.

"Give us another puff or two, and she will yet be here before the squall," said de Vaux.

The little schooner was now indeed within less than half a mile of the wharf; but here at length the wind entirely failed her, and she sat idly on the water. De Vaux was watching her through the glass; there seemed to be some little hesitation and confusion on board; Sam, the boy, had given up the tiller to Black Bob. Suddenly the first blast of the gust from the east came rustling through the wood, making the young trees bend before it; then as it passed over the water there was a minute's respite.

"How she dodges!--What are they about?" exclaimed Harry.

"What do they mean?--Are they blind?--can't they see the squall coming?" cried de Vaux in great anxiety, as he watched the hesitation on board the Petrel.

"As my name is Nat Fisher, that nigger is drunk!--I thought so this morning!" exclaimed the steward.

"And Smith and Hubbard know nothing of a boat!" cried de Vaux, in despair.

The words had scarcely passed his lips before the wind came rushing over the wood, in a sudden, furious blast, bringing darker and heavier clouds, accompanied by quick, vivid flashes of lightning, and sharp cracks of thunder; the rain pouring down in torrents. It was with difficulty the young men kept their footing on the end of the wharf, such was the first fury of the gust; but they forgot themselves in fears for their friends.

"Are they mad!" cried de Vaux, as he marked the uncertainty of their movements; while the wind was sweeping furiously over the darkened waters towards them.

同类推荐
  • 弘光实录钞

    弘光实录钞

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 九曜斋笔记

    九曜斋笔记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 琴堂谕俗编

    琴堂谕俗编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 儿科醒

    儿科醒

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 上清骨髓灵文鬼律

    上清骨髓灵文鬼律

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 仙妖门徒:绝色小魔女

    仙妖门徒:绝色小魔女

    上古秘辛,奇幻纷纭,莫过于最古老的神魔。那时,神魔统御百族生灵,幻想称霸天地。人间祸起,成为了炼狱之地……欢迎加入仙妖门徒书友群:946301828
  • 重生九八好时光

    重生九八好时光

    前世的最后一刻,苏知意才终于看清了自己视为亲姐姐的人真正的面目,悔不当初!一朝醒来,竟是回到了她的十三岁......可是坑爹的是,为什么回到她受伤后?她依旧是那个人嫌狗不待见的苏知意吗?重活一生,她一定要把属于自己的牢牢攥在自己的手心:喂喂喂,前面那个小哥哥,我说用你帮我虐渣了吗?看把你能的!这是个前世没有脑子今生只求个脑子的姑娘逆袭的故事,欢迎跳坑~
  • 网游之龙踞一方

    网游之龙踞一方

    驭龙腾飞九天外,潇河落雪醉浪涛。纵横九州,依的是手中长剑,睥睨寰宇,仗的是兄弟情义!一场游戏一场梦,人生如梦。qq交流群:92395355
  • 重生最强仙皇

    重生最强仙皇

    少年林天,前世一代大帝遭人暗害,重生之后,却背负血海深仇,这一世他要强势崛起,报仇雪恨,凭借各种机遇,逆天传承,碾压诸天帝子,各路天骄,在这光怪陆离的万千世界中,成就热血帝路,造就最强仙皇!
  • 水岸

    水岸

    故事总得充满戏剧效果,但是这一次我经历的案件恐怕没有太多的戏剧色彩,相反,在平淡无趣的状况下找出凶手才是大多数警察必须面对的现实。我不想把杀人和缉凶渲染得多么离奇,只想原模原样复述这个简单的故事,复述一下我这个小警察普普通通的一次办案经历——当然,这是我来到白马派出所以后接手的第一个刑事案件。那是去年7月,从前白马公车站附近那个守公厕的四川女人失踪了,来报案的是她不到10岁的女儿。
  • 深爱食堂

    深爱食堂

    有人说,这世上,唯有食与爱,不可辜负。乔洋是时尚杂志《摩登》的编辑兼超级吃货,因外表好看备受女同事青睐。被乔洋拒绝的南茜向好友房慧倾诉自己的遭遇,作为资深美食专栏作家的房慧,此时帮她制定了一个“美食计”。在南茜的美食诱惑下,似乎她跟乔洋之间的爱情一点点地步入正轨。然而,意外却在悄无声息地靠近……与此同时,外形平凡、厨艺不凡的房慧却紧紧抓住了乔洋的味蕾乃至灵魂,以丰富的人生经验及过人智慧试图抱得美男归。于是,爱情变得可以反复咀嚼,合不合胃口,爱不爱吃,都隐藏在一道道色香味俱全的料理之中。
  • 我的抗日大队

    我的抗日大队

    我不是一个兵,但我却穿越而来!为民族而战!我失败了,我成为了一个苟延馋喘的背叛者!但我又成功了,我成为了,令敌人恐惧到骨子里的杀手,我又成为了,令日寇闻风丧胆的疯子队长!于是‘牙狼’出现了,我手中的利刃,定要斩杀敌人三千六百刀才死!……PS:群号:463386207,书亦新书《抗日大英雄》《抗日之铁血兵魂》已签约,期待您的支持!
  • 量子幽魂

    量子幽魂

    灵魂到底存不存在?这是一个被唯物者认为非常可笑的话题。然而随着现代科学的进步,量子的被发现使人类灵魂的存在成为可能。这部科幻小说以扣人心弦的手法,跌宕起伏的情节讲述了少年向天继承父亲量子科研成果,突破自我并成功获取人类灵魂,最终……
  • 驭兽天下:狂宠绝色魔妃

    驭兽天下:狂宠绝色魔妃

    她本是修灵天赋冠绝天下的女尊,魂穿异界,回到被割喉而死的前世身上。新身份是没有灵脉,不能修炼的废物女?笑话!介子空间秘法、阵图、神器大把的她想说:你全家才是废物!帝释萱:四国皇裔,青络灵女,所谓天才看本皇不爽?夺了你司掌的神器,抢走你看中的圣兽,哔哔啥,有本事抢回去啊!六大圣地,界外妖域嚣张霸道?拿太古传承压死你们!十尾:吾主之下,除那几只想当本狐男主人的妖孽,余者皆是渣渣~驭圣兽掌神器,携紫脉动宸星,二十万年轮转,归来此界是我!
  • 十年九夏那么伤

    十年九夏那么伤

    “如果我们之间有距离,你就只站着等,等我把所有的距离都走过。”十七岁的少年秦浙喜欢上大他四岁的大学女生简安,即使知道她有了青梅竹马的未婚夫,即使遭到好友的坚决反对,依然义无反顾的走了下去。