Raleigh's ear, lifting both hands in comical
consternation the while.
"Excuse me a moment," said Mr. Raleigh, following him, and, meeting
Captain Tarbell at the companion-way, the three descended together.
Mr. Raleigh was absent some fifteen minutes, at the end of that time
rejoining Mademoiselle Le Blanc.
"I did not mean to make fun of you," said he, resuming the conversation
as if there had been no interruption. "I was watching the foam the
Osprey makes in her speed, which certainly burns blue. See the flashing
sparks! now that all the red fades from the west, they glow in the moon
like broken amethysts."
"What did you mean, then?" she asked, pettishly.
"Oh, I wished to see if the idea of a burning ship was so terrifying."
"Terrifying? No; I have no fear; I never was afraid. But it must, in
reality, be dreadful. I cannot think of anything else so appalling."
"Not at all timid?"
"Mamma used to say, those that know nothing fear nothing."
"Eminently your case. Then you cannot imagine a situation in which you
would lose self-possession?"
"Scarcely. Isn't it people of the finest organization, comprehensive,
large-souled, that are capable of the extremes either of courage or
fear? Now I am limited, so that, without rash daring or pale panic, I
can generally preserve equilibrium.
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