After breakfast they came up on deck. The wind had at length changed,
as Captain Corbet had prophesied in the morning, and the sky overhead
was clear. Down the bay still might be seen the fog banks, but near at
hand all was bright. Behind them Ile Haute was already at a respectful
distance, and Cape Chignecto was near.
"My Christian friends," said Captain Corbet, solemnly,--"my Christian
friends, an dear boys. Agin we resoom the thread of our eventfool
vyge, that was brok of a suddent in so onparld a manner. Agin we
gullide o'er the foamin biller like a arrer shot from a cross-bow, an
culleave the briny main. We have lived, an we have suffered, but now
our sufferins seem to be over. At last we have a fair wind, with a
tide to favor us, an we'll be off Hillsborough before daybreak
to-morrer. An now I ask you all, young sirs, do you feel any regretses
over the eventfool past? I answer, no. An wan't I right? Didn't I
say that that thar lad would onst more show his shinin face amongst us,
right side up, with care, in good order an condition, as when shipped
on board the Antelope, Corbet master, from Grand Pre, an bound for
Petticoat Jack? Methinks I did. Hence the vally of a lofty sperrit in
the face of difficulties. An now, young sirs, in after life take
warnin by this here vyge. Never say die. Don't give up the ship. No
surrender. England expects every man to do his dooty. For him that
rises superior to succumstances is terewly great; an by presarvin a
magnanumous mind you'll be able to hold up your heads and smile amid
the kerrash of misfortin. Now look at me. I affum, solemn, that all
the sufferins I've suffered have ben for my good; an so this here vyge
has eventooated one of the luckiest vyges that you've ever had. An
thus," he concluded, stretching out his venerable hands with the air of
one giving a benediction,--"thus may it be with the vyge of life. May
all its storms end in calms, an funnish matter in the footoor for balmy
rettuspect. Amen!"
It was a close approach to a sermon; and though the words were a little
incoherent, yet the tone was solemn, and the intention good. After this
the captain dropped the lofty part of a Mentor, and mingled with the
boys as an equal.
This time the voyage passed without any accident. Before daybreak on
the following morning they reached Hillsborough, where Mrs. Watson
received them with the utmost joy. In a few days more the boys had
scattered, and Bart arrived home with the story of Tom's rescue.