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Updated: May 2, 2025
"Ho!" cried he, on turning round and glancing towards the stern of the Catamaran, "Snowball asleep! Ha! ha! ha! See the old sea-cook! Verily, that steering-oar has escaped from his hand!" Almost instantly succeeded the shout that betokened alarm, followed by a series of hurried phrases, indicating the danger itself. "The boom, the boom! 'Tis coming round! Look out, Lalee! look out!"
Absorbed in the contemplation of the combat between Snowball and the shark, he had hitherto remained unobservant of a circumstance of the most alarming character, one that threatened not only the destruction of the Coromantee, but Ben Brace as well, and Lilly Lalee, and in time little William himself, in short, of the whole party.
Little William and Lilly Lalee were far forward against the cask which represented the head of the craft, and which, being quite empty, stood high above the surface of the water.
The chef-de-caboose was not ignorant of the excellence of the fish. He really felt regret, less on his own account, than in consideration of his protege, Lilly Lalee; whose palate he would fain have indulged with something more delicate than sun-dried fish and salty biscuit.
Thus, by different circumstances, and under different influences, were the three castaways of the Catamaran sustained upon the surface of the water, Lilly Lalee by Snowball, Snowball, by the slightest ray of hope still lingering in a corner of his black bosom, the sailor by an instinct causing him to refrain from the committal of that act which, in civilised society, under all circumstances, is considered as a crime.
But another look only showed me that his very surprise was inoffensive, and gathering courage from the unexpectedness of my own position, I inquired with all the politeness I could show one of his abominable nationality: "Didn't a gentleman and a heavily veiled lady leave a package with you a few days ago at about the same hour of night as this?" "Some lalee clo' washee? Yes, ma'am. No done.
"Him lalee!" cried the Chinaman, overjoyed at the prospect of getting his money. "Pletty speak, I knowee him. Lalee want clo?" "Not to-night. The lady is sick; see, she can hardly stand."
At the same time the surface of the sea had been equally lighted up with the vivid gleam; and among the many objects drifting around the raft, the remnants of the wreck, with which the eyes of the little Lalee had now become familiarised, she saw, or fancied she saw, one altogether new to her.
Even when the light form of Lilly Lalee lay resting along the lid, there were still several inches between the water line and its upper edge, the only place where sea-water could possibly find admission into the kit of the English sailor. In less than three minutes after coming in contact with the kit, the three castaways formed a group, curious and peculiar.
Snowball's right arm was the one thrust through the handle, his left being left free for swimming. As already hinted, Lilly Lalee had been transferred from Snowball's shoulder to a more elevated position, upon the top of the chest where, lying upon her breast, and grasping the projecting edge of the lid, she was enabled to keep her place without any exertion.
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