The Survivors of the Chancellor: Chapter 54

Chapter 54

CHAPTER LIV.

JANUARY 26th.--I understood it all; the devoted father having
nothing more to give, had given his life for his son.

M. Letourneur was no longer a human being in the eyes of the
famished creatures who were now yearning to see him sacrificed to
their cravings.  At the very sight of the victim thus provided,
all the tortures of hunger returned with redoubled violence.
With lips distended, and teeth displayed, they waited like a herd
of carnivora until they could attack their prey with brutal
voracity; it seemed almost doubtful whether they would not fall
upon him while he was still alive.  It seemed impossible that any
appeal to their humanity could, at such a moment, have any
weight; nevertheless, the appeal was made, and, incredible as it
may seem, prevailed.

Just as the boatswain was about to act the part of butcher, and
Dowlas stood, hatchet in hand, ready to complete the barbarous
work, Miss Herbey advanced, or rather crawled, towards them.

"My friends," she pleaded, "will you not wait just one more day?
If no land or ship is in sight to-morrow, then I suppose our poor
companion must become your victim.  But allow him one more day;
in the name of mercy I entreat, I implore you."

My heart bounded as she made her pitiful appeal.  It seemed to me
as though the noble girl had spoken with an inspiration on her
lips, and I fancied that, perhaps, in super-natural vision she
had viewed the coast or the ship of which she spoke; and one more
day was not much to us who had already suffered so long, and
endured so much.

Curtis and Falsten agreed with me, and we all united to support
Miss Herbey's merciful petition.  The sailors did not utter a
murmur, and the boatswain in a smothered voice said,--

"Very well, we will wait till daybreak tomorrow," and threw down
his hatchet.

To-morrow, then, unless land or a sail appear, the horrible
sacrifice will be accomplished.  Stifling their sufferings by a
strenuous effort, all returned to their places.  The sailors
crouched beneath the sails, caring nothing about scanning the
ocean.  Food was in store for them to-morrow, and that was enough
for them.

As soon as Andre Letourneur came to his senses, his first thought
was for his father, and I saw him count the passengers on the
raft.  He looked puzzled; when he lost consciousness there had
been only two names left in the hat, those of his father and the
carpenter; and yet M. Letourneur and Dowlas were both there
still.  Miss Herbey went up to him and told him quietly that the
drawing of the lots had not yet been finished.  Andre asked no
further question, but took his father's hand.  M. Letourneur's
countenance was calm and serene; he seemed to be conscious of
nothing except that the life of his son was spared, and as the
two sat conversing in an undertone at the back of the raft, their
whole existence seemed bound up in each other.

Meantime, I could not disabuse my mind of the impression caused
by Miss Herbey's intervention.  Something told me that help was
near at hand, and that we were approaching the termination of our
suspense and misery; the chimeras that were floating through my
brain resolved themselves into realities, so that nothing
appeared to me more certain than that either land or sail, be
they miles away, would be discovered somewhere to leeward.

I imparted my convictions to M. Letourneur and his son.  Andre
was as sanguine as myself; poor boy!  he little thinks what a
loss there is in store for him tomorrow.  His father listened
gravely to all we said, and whatever he might think in his own
mind, he did not give us any discouragement; Heaven, he said, he
was sure would still spare the survivors of the "Chancellor," and
then he lavished on his son caresses which he deemed to be his
last.

Some time afterwards, when I was alone with him, M. Letourneur
whispered in my ear,--

"Mr. Kazallon, I commend my boy to your care, and mark you, he
must never know--"

His voice was choked with tears, and he could not finish his
sentence.

But I was full of hope, and, without a moment's intermission, I
kept my eyes fixed upon the unbroken horizon, Curtis, Miss
Herbey, Falsten, and even the boatswain, were also eagerly
scanning the broad expanse of sea.

Night has come on; but I have still a profound conviction that
through the darkness some ship will approach, and that at
daybreak our raft will be observed.

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