If so, the experiment was a
failure, and, after a light meal, I lit a pipe, and, ignoring him
completely, strolled out on deck. There was evidently no hope that the
woman would be released at present, and I could formulate no plan of
communicating with her, but I was no less anxious to view our
surroundings.
I found the after-deck entirely deserted, and there was no one visible
on the bridge. Two or three sailors--the anchor watch--were forward,
engaged in some service about the capstan, and a fellow was swabbing
the deck amidship. I heard Broussard's voice at a distance, but could
not locate him. However, no one paid the slightest attention to me, as
I stood smoking, and gazing curiously around. Everything appeared
peaceful enough. We were lying in a small harbor, within a hundred
feet of the shore, completely concealed on the sea side, by a thick
forest growth lining the higher ridge, of what appeared a narrow
island. The _Sea Gull's_ fires were banked, only a thin vapor arising
from the stack which instantly disappeared. In the opposite direction
there was a wide expanse of water, quiet as a mill-pond in spite of a
fresh breeze, revealing in the distance the faint blue blur of a
far-off coast line. Nothing broke the vista except the white sails of
two sloops, evidently fishing boats, far off on the horizon.
Pages:
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225