Yet the men rowed with a will,
and scarcely twenty minutes elapsed ere we were scraping along the side
of a vessel of some size, and then came to a stop at foot of a
boarding-ladder.
CHAPTER XXI
ON BOARD THE SEA GULL
The Captain--for so I must call him--went up first, after hailing the
deck in French, and receiving some answer. Then, under Herman's
orders, I was hustled roughly to my feet, and bundled aboard. My head
still reeled dizzily, and the two men gripping my arms, hurried me over
the rail so swiftly my first impressions were extremely vague. I knew
the sides of the vessel were painted a dull gray, as nearly an
invisible color as could be conceived; I recall the sharp sheer of her
bow, the clearness of her lines, and the low sweep of her rail. Less
than a 1,000 tons burden, I thought, and then, as my eyes swept aloft,
and along the decks, I knew her for either a private yacht, or tropic
fruit steamer.
"First stateroom, second cabin," said a new voice, sharply. "Lively
now."
"Shall we unloose the ropes, sir?"
"Yes; fasten the door, and leave a guard. Stow away the boat,
Broussard. Everything ready, Captain."
I went down a broad stairway, shining brass rails on either side, which
led to a spacious after-cabin.
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