Suddenly a great black object
loomed up before him. It was a part of the wreckage. He tried to ward it
off; but he might as well have tried to ward off the sloop itself, for
the sea lifted him up and dashed him onward, and the great mass struck
him a heavy blow over the eye--a flash of lightning gleamed, then all
was darkness and a blank.
How long after he could not tell, a strange sensation came creeping
slowly over him. A low murmur of voices reached his ears. He was
bewildered and benumbed; but soon the truth began to dawn, and he knew
that, wherever he might be, he was not dead. Powerless to move, he
opened his eyes and fastened them on the objects about him. He now
discovered that he was lying on a bed of straw in a large barn. How he
could have gotten there was yet a mystery. To his great delight, he
recognized the face of Terrence Malone bending over him.
"Well, me boy, ye're not dead yet, are ye?" "Where are we, Terrence?" he
faintly inquired.
"Whist, me lad, an' I'll tell ye!" said Terrence, in an undertone.
Terrence first looked round to assure himself that there was no one
within hearing and then said, "Safe on mother earth, me lad, and, what's
best of all, American soil!" American soil!--the very announcement sent
a thrill of hope and joy through his heart. Terrence then informed him
that they had been wrecked on the coast of Maine, that most of the crew
were saved, and the captain intended to march, as soon as the men were
able, over the line into Canada.
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