Christian fiction; Neighborhoods -- Scotland -- Fiction
Telling nurse to be on the watch because Connie was alone, I went again
to the beach. I called first, however, to inquire after Agnes. I found
her quite composed, sitting with her parents by the fire, none of them
doing anything, scarcely speaking, only listening intently to the sounds
of the storm now beginning to die away.
I next went to the place where I had left Turner. Five bodies lay there,
and he was busy with a sixth. The surgeon of the place was with him, and
they quite expected to recover this man.
I then went down to the sands. An officer of the revenue was taking
charge of all that came ashore--chests, and bales, and everything. For
a week the sea went on casting out the fragments of that which she had
destroyed. I have heard that, for years after, the shifting of the sands
would now and then discover things buried that night by the waves.
All the next day the bodies kept coming ashore, some peaceful as in
sleep, others broken and mutilated. Many were cast upon other parts
of the coast. Some four or five only, all men, were recovered. It was
strange to me how I got used to it. The first horror over, the cry that
yet another body had come awoke only a gentle pity--no more dismay or
shuddering. But, finding I could be of no use, I did not wait longer
than just till the morning began to dawn with a pale ghastly light over
the seething raging sea; for the sea raged on, although the wind had
gone down. There were many strong men about, with two surgeons and all
the coastguard, who were well accustomed to similar though not such
extensive destruction. The houses along the shore were at the disposal
of any who wanted aid; the Parsonage was at some distance; and I confess
that when I thought of the state of my daughters, as well as remembered
former influences upon my wife, I was very glad to think there was no
necessity for carrying thither any of those whom the waves cast on the
shore.
When I reached home, and found Wynnie quieter and Connie again asleep, I
walked out along our own downs till I came whence I could see the little
schooner still safe at anchor. From her position I concluded--correctly
as I found afterwards--that they had let out her cable far enough to
allow her to reach the bed of the little stream, where the tide would
leave her more gently. She was clearly out of all danger now; and if
Percivale and Joe had got safe on board of her, we might confidently
expect to see them before many hours were passed. I went home with the
good news.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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