Transcriber's Note:
Obvious typographic errors have been corrected.
HEART OF OAK
VOL. II.
PRINTED BY
SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE
LONDON
HEART OF OAK
A THREE-STRANDED YARN
BY
W. CLARK RUSSELL
AUTHOR OF
'THE WRECK OF THE GROSVENOR' 'THE PHANTOM DEATH'
'THE CONVICT SHIP' ETC.
IN THREE VOLUMES—VOL. II.
LONDON
CHATTO & WINDUS, PICCADILLY
1895
CONTENTS
OF
THE SECOND VOLUME
| CHAPTER | PAGE | |
| XI. | The Crew Leave | 1 |
| XII. | Mr. Selby takes up the Story | 41 |
| XIII. | The Hull | 69 |
| XIV. | Still Adrift | 92 |
| XV. | The Ice in the South | 120 |
| XVI. | The Aurora Australis | 145 |
| XVII. | The Thick of it | 169 |
| XVIII. | Imprisoned | 192 |
| XIX. | Mr. Moore continues the Story | 221 |
HEART OF OAK
CHAPTER XI THE CREW LEAVE
The sail shone like a peak of ice against a belly of soft snow-cloudright ahead—that is, ahead as the hull's bows lay. I should havesupposed it ice, but for the captain, who stood close beside thecompanion holding the ship's glass: he said, 'There she is, miss.'
'Is she coming this way?' cried I, shivering with cold and passion.
'I can't tell as yet. She's only just been sighted. Bear a hand withthe first empty tar barrel you can get hold of,' he bawled, movingforwards, and he continued to shout,[Pg 2] but I could not gather theinstructions he delivered.
Presently Mrs. Burke joined me, and then Mr. Owen swathed to thenostrils.
'It's almost too good to credit,' he exclaimed! 'Can they be mistaken?Is it ice? If it should prove a ship!'
He went sliding and staggering towards some men in the waist, and stoodquestionin