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AN ENGLISH SHIP |
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stuff. Six other reports followed the first one we had heard.
We felt it best to return to the shore, for from the direction of the sound, the ship was probably at anchor in Prospect Bay. The others had seen our flags flying, and bombarded us with questions.
' Quick, tell us,' cried they, all at once, ' are they Europeans ?—English ?—is it a merchant vessel ?— a steamer ?'
We could not answer; we could only positively say we were sure there was a ship of some kind. My sons were half wild with joy; and Emily especially, giving rein to her imagination, assured me that it was certainly her father come in search of her.
As the shots had come from the direction of the bay beyond Falcon's Nest, thither we all set out, Fritz and I in the cajack, the rest by land.
Fritz and I went along fast, and when we rounded the promontory we saw suddenly a fine ship at anchor, with a long-boat at the side, and an English flag floating at the masthead.
How can I describe what we felt ? After all these years we were almost overcome at the idea of again facing strangers. Fritz would have thrown himself into sea and swum off to the ship; but I |
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