Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 8, 2025
He was rubbing his eyes as we entered, as if not yet awake, and in a sleepy tone he inquired our business. What Van Graoul told him I do not know; but his manner instantly became very polite, and bowing towards me, he motioned me to be seated.
Van Graoul, whose equanimity nothing extraordinary could disturb, likened it to the wall of China painted black, and taking a cruise to the southward. "Is there any wind in it, do you think?" asked Fairburn. "It does not seem to ruffle the surface." "No wind, I think," said Van Graoul; "but better shorten sail; the canvas does no good."
I had some difficulty in arranging the papers, and in getting permission to carry arms but, thanks to the assistance of Mr Scott and the kindness of the Resident, the affair has been settled. I cannot however, go as master of the schooner." "You not master!" I exclaimed. "Who, then, is to be?" "The Dutchman, M. Van Graoul. He is a very good fellow in spite of his name," he answered, laughing.
As we approached it, we saw right ahead a shoal several miles in length, with several black rocks on it. Van Graoul was puzzled in the extreme. "I never heard of that shoal before," he observed; and, on examining the chart, none was marked down. The lead gave us no bottom where we then were. The shoal, we agreed, must have been thrown up by the earthquake.
"Indeed she does," he answered; "but she may not be the Emu; and if she is, your friends may not be on board her." "We will speedily learn," I exclaimed. "Let us get under weigh, and go out and meet her." "Wait a bit," observed Van Graoul. "Her people do not know who we are.
That they did not do so, even in rough weather, was evident from the thick groves of cocoa-nut, palm, and other tropical trees, which grew on them, while a bright sand, on which were strewed numberless beautiful shells, fringed their borders. Van Graoul now showed some of his good qualities.
"I told you so," said Van Graoul. "They are not fellows to be played with." No real damage was done; nor did the whales renew the attack. I suspect the fellow hurt his back too much to try the same trick again. No tidings of the Emu were to be gained; and weary of looking for her in that direction, we stood to the westward, towards the island of Celebes, to the south of Ceram.
The two miles had now been decreased to one and a half, by Fairburn's and my computation; and we hoped soon to be able to get a shot at the chase to bring down some of her spars. "Yes," said Van Graoul, when he heard us expressing that hope; "if we can bring down some of her spars, remember she can bring down some of ours, so that we are not the nearer on that account."
Hour after hour slowly passed away, and there was no change in the weather, when a sound struck our ears which suddenly aroused us all from our apathy. "A gun!" exclaimed Fairburn; "and a heavy one too " "There's another and another," we repeated in chorus. "De pirates of Sooloo or Borneo attacking some merchant vessel," observed Van Graoul.
We were in hopes that she would come directly into the harbour, when just as she approached it her helm was put down, her yards braced up, her foresail backed to the mast; and while she lay to, a boat, which was lowered and manned, was seen to pull towards the shore. "Ah, she does not like to come where she may meet honest people," observed Van Graoul. "That looks suspicious."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking