The Petrel; A Tale of the Sea

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1850 Excerpt: ... in you is perfect. We feel all our obligations to you, and will be as little troublesome as possible." Norah had listened to this conversation attentively, with one of Mrs. Darcie's hands locked in both her own, and Emma's head nestling in her lap. " The poor child," she said, " is quite worn out, but we are grateful, Mr. Chartres, for present safety. I did not know how tired I was till you assured us we were safe for the night. May Heaven reward you for all you have done for us!" They landed upon a rough rocky strand, amidst dark gloomy precipices; but safety was there! and whilst their hearts glowed with gratitude for their wonderful deliverance from such fearful enemies, after so many hours of intense and almost hopeless misery, that rude and rugged shore seemed an earthly paradise. They had still heard the pirate's heavy gun from time to time, but it had now no terrors for them, as Chartres assured them it was a pledge that the friends they had left behind would have ample time to carry out all their plans in safety, and that the whole party would soon rejoin them. Truthfulness is valuable beyond all price. Chartres had never disguised the truth from them, however alarming it might have been, and thus his present assurances had power to calm and soothe the weary sufferers. They felt that they were really safe, for Chartres never sullied his honour by fencing with truth; and no crime, however atrocious, makes such wide wild havoc with human happiness as falsehood, which sheds its vile insidious venom through all the thousand ramifications of social hopes and fears, joys and sorrows, aggravating every evil, blighting every blessing. A rude couch was soon formed with sails, under the cover of a huge over-hanging rock, which formed part of the little promon...