Ethel, with her sweetly feminine and dear affectionate face, was bending over him; her lips were close to his, her kiss was on his cheek; but he could neither respond nor speak, for Hawkshaw's visage, pale and wrathful, was between them, with knitted brows and glaring eyes, as he had seen it last, when he fell beneath his hand at Acton Chine.
Then he seemed to sleep, to die; for he felt and remembered no more.
CHAPTER XI.
CAPTAIN HAWKSHAW MAKES A DISCOVERY TO LEEWARD.
On the night the Princess was lost, the Hermione did not escape the same storm, which probably traversed in a circle all the waters of the South Atlantic.
It was no doubt the mere skirt of the tempest which affected her, as the sky around was clear, and the stars shone brilliantly.
Her jib was blown out of the bolt-rope and split to ribbons, and she had her topsails close-reefed.
"Stow what remains of the jib," ordered Captain Phillips; "into the netting with it—quick, men; cheerily now, and up with the foretopmast-staysail."
As soon as this was done, he added:
"Go below, the watch, and take a nap if you can, for it may blow great guns before morning."