"
"I shall, however, leave my purse on the table," said the missionary;
"as it is tolerably well filled, that may afford the poor fellow some
consolation."
"And I shall do the same," said the captain.
"If that does not console him for being deprived of the pleasure of
our society, I do not know what will," observed Willis.
"It is now two o'clock," said the captain, feeling his watch, "and the
warder goes his first rounds at three; we have therefore just one hour
for our preparations."
"I have severed one bar," said Willis, "and the other is nearly
through at one end, so keep your minds perfectly at ease."
"Your patience and equanimity, Willis, does you infinite credit," said
the missionary. "Minister of the Gospel though I be, I fear that I do
not possess these qualities to the same extent, for, to confess the
truth, I feel an inward yearning to be free, and yet am restless and
anxious."
"There is no great use in being in a hurry," said the Pilot; "the
more haste the less speed, you know."
"True; but might not these bars have been sawn through before? If this
had been done, our flight would have been, at least, less
precipitate."
"You forget, Mr. Wolston," said the captain, "that we did not know
till nine o'clock the affair was to come off to-night."
"And I could not come any sooner to tell you," remarked the Pilot; "I
had the greatest difficulty in the world to get in here; the maritime
commissary would not take me into custody.
Pages:
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456