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Updated: May 2, 2025
Along with them, sharing their sad fate, Lilly Lalee, that pretty, uncomplaining child, the innocent victim of an ill-starred destiny, must disappear forever from a world of which she had as yet seen so little, and that little of the least favourable kind.
As for Lilly Lalee, her fears were due to a less definite cause, and only arose from observing the apprehension of her companions. "De big raff," said Snowball, mechanically repeating the sailor's last words. "You b'lieve 'im be dat, Massa Brace?" "Shiver my timbers if I know what to think, Snowy! If it be that "
In this moment of deep silence and deepest misery, a voice fell upon the ears of the two swimmers that startled both of them, as if it had been a summons from the other world. It sounded sweet as if from the world of eternal joy. There was no mystery in the voice; it was that of the Lilly Lalee.
Little William and Lalee alone examined the two beautiful creatures thus brought within their reach; while Snowball and the sailor, rapidly readjusting the baits upon their hooks, that had been slightly disarranged by the teeth of the tunnies, for the albacore is a species of tunny fish, once more flung them forth. This time the baits were not so greedily "grabbed" at.
On once more setting foot on the deck of the Catamaran the strong sailor was so thoroughly exhausted that he was unable to stand erect, and after scrambling aboard, and staggering a pace or two, he lay down along the planks. Lilly Lalee was taken care of by little William; who, half-leading, half-lifting her in his arms, tenderly placed her upon some pieces of canvas near the foot of the mast.
It may be remembered with what feelings of alarm they first listened to the voices of Snowball and Lilly Lalee, heard in a similar manner during the darkness of the night, and with what suspicious caution they had made their approach to the Coromantee in the middle of his casks.
Snowball began to snore almost as soon as he had closed his eyelids, and as if the shutting of his eyes had either occasioned or strengthened the current of breath through his nostrils. And such a sound as the snore of the Coromantee was rarely heard upon the ocean, except in the "spouting" of a whale or the "blowing" of a porpoise. It did not wake the little Lalee.
Snowball, sea-duck that he was, might have held out a good while; but the sailor, weighted with Lalee, must soon "go under." Even Snowball could not swim forever; and, unless some incident should arise to change the character of this aquatic chase, and arrest the Catamaran in her leeward course, sooner or later must the Coromantee become also the prey of the all-swallowing ocean.
There was nothing to be seen there, at least, nothing to account for the shyness of the fish, or the upward cast of their eyeballs. So thought three of the party, little William, Lalee, and the sailor, who beheld only the blue, cloudless canopy of the heavens.
As soon as the Catamaran had fairly recovered her equilibrium, Snowball condescended to climb aboard. The ludicrous appearance of the negro, as he stood dripping upon the deck, might have excited laughter; but neither Ben Brace, nor his acolyte, nor the little Lalee, were in a mood for mirth.
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