Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 6, 2025
The flutter of birds, among the orange trees, gradually ceased; the sun came slanting over the eastern wall; the gray floor of the compound turned white and blurred through the dancing heat. A torrid westerly breeze came fitfully, rose, died away, rose again, and made Captain Kneebone curse. "A fair wind lost," he muttered. "Next we'll lose the ebb, too, be 'anged."
Luckily, they were not easily discomposed. Two persons possessing a more comfortable stock of assurance could not be readily found. Imitating the example of Mr. Kneebone, who did not appear in the slightest degree disconcerted by his cool reception, each sank carelessly into a chair, and made himself at home in a moment.
"So I think," replied Kneebone, again applying to the snuff-box, and by that means escaping the angry glance levelled at him by his companion. "I have one inquiry more to make of you, Sir," said the stranger, as soon as he had conquered his displeasure, "and I will then trouble you no further. You spoke just now of a youth whom Mr. Wood brought up. As far as I recollect, there were two.
"So he would," replied the latter: "so he would." "With all his cunning, he may meet with his match," continued Kneebone, laughing. "I've set a trap for him." "Take care you don't fall into it yourself," returned Jackson, with a slight sneer. "Were I in your place," said Smith, "I should be apprehensive of Wild, because he's a declared enemy."
Wood was heard without, angrily demanding admittance. "What's the matter?" he cried. "I thought I heard a scream. Why is the door fastened? Open it directly!" "Are you alone?" asked Jack, mimicking the voice of Kneebone. "What for?" demanded Wood. "Open the door, I say, or I'll burst it open."
Captain Kneebone, his cheeks white and suddenly old beneath the untidy stubble of his beard, had taken charge. In momentary danger of being cut off downstream, or overtaken from above, he kept the boat waiting along the oozy shore.
"You make yourself at home, I perceive," observed Kneebone, with a look of ineffable disgust. "I generally do," replied Blueskin, pouring out a bumper of sack. "Your health, Kneebone." "Allow me to offer you a glass of usquebaugh, my dear," said Kneebone, turning from him, and regarding Edgeworth Bess with a stare so impertinent, that even that not over-delicate young lady summoned up a blush.
A squat, burly fellow, shouting, jammed the yulow hard to bring her about. "Save your fire," called Captain Kneebone. "No shots to waste. Sit tight." As he spoke, however, an active form bounced up beside the squat man at the sweep, a plump, muscular little barefoot woman in blue.
Kneebone, what with flirting with Mrs. Wood, carving for his friends, and pledging the carpenter, he had his hands full. At this juncture, and just as a cuckoo-clock in the corner struck sis, Jack Sheppard walked into the room, with the packing-case under his arm. "I was in the right, you see, father," observed Thames, smiling; "Jack has done his task." "So I perceive," replied Wood.
"In the devil's name, is that you, Jack!" ejaculated Kneebone. "It is," replied Sheppard. "You have uttered a wilful and deliberate falsehood in asserting that I have murdered Thames, for whom you well know I would lay down my life. Retract your words instantly, or take the consequences."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking