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Updated: May 27, 2025
How long they slept they did not know, but they were awoke by hearing voices near them. Without difficulty they recognised the speakers. Higson was among the principal of them. They listened attentively. Had they been discovered, they felt sure, from what they heard, that their lives would have paid the forfeit.
"We are doing our best," muttered Higson; "though it's little good, I fear, we can do you." The sound of the last gun had just reached their ears when the vessel from which it came was seen to be moving; her cable had parted. Away she drove before the fierce gale; her crew were seen attempting to range another cable.
A headland had just been doubled, forming the northern side of a deep bay, and Jack was about to put the ship's head to the eastward to gain a safe offing, when a sail was sighted on the quarter, some way up the bay. He turned his glass towards her; "What do you make of her?" he asked of Higson.
"Well, I have no objection to make an excursion to the house," said Higson, "provided we can ascertain that the coast is clear, and I will take one of you with me. As you can talk French, I shall take you and leave Gordon to assist the master." "Thank you, sir," said Tom; "I am pretty sure that there are no Russians in the neighbourhood, or they would have been down on us some time ago."
"There is a fire at Peacock's farm, sir." Mr. Pendyce stared. "What?" he said. "A fire in broad daylight! Nonsense!" "You can see the flames from the front, sir." The worn and querulous look left Mr. Pendyce's face. "Ring the stable-bell!" he said. "Tell them all to run with buckets and ladders. Send Higson off to Cornmarket on the mare. Go and tell Mr. Barter, and rouse the village.
"We have made a pretty big hole in our boat, sir," observed Archie. "Why, the water's running in like a mill-stream! Back all!" cried Higson; "now pull round the port oars." The men gave way with all their might. Higson steered the boat to the shore. The water was almost up to their thwarts before they reached it; they all leaped out on the bank, or she would have sunk with them.
Scarcely had Higson left the cabin when Tom entered, and begged to have a few minutes' conversation with his brother. "What is it?" asked Jack. Tom went into the whole story of the kind treatment he had received from the family of Colonel Paskiewich; "And you must know," he continued, "that I fell in love with Miss Feodorowna, and promised to go back and marry her as soon as the war was over."
Tom had a short time before been sent to serve on board her. After he had been brought back to the Tornado, he appeared a changed being; unless when compelled, he spoke to no one except Higson, and they two seemed to have much interesting conversation together.
Green's boat had also received considerable damage, and he, not without difficulty, followed them. "We are in a pretty plight," exclaimed Tom; "what are we to do now?" "Repair the damages as fast as we can, and continue our course," said Higson.
"As they are in our power, we are bound to lay hands on them whether they like it or not," answered Adair; "if they go unwillingly, their parole is not broken;" whereupon Jack told Higson and the midshipmen that they must consider themselves under arrest, and prepare to return in the boats to their ship. On hearing this, both the young ladies began to evince signs of agitation.
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