Tales and Novels, vol 7 | Page 3

with such disorder and precipitation, that they were in
great danger of being overset, which, Mr. Percy seeing, called out in a
loud and commanding voice to stop several who were in the act of
coming down the ship's side, and promised to return for them if they
would wait. But just as he gave the order for his boatmen to push off, a
French voice called out "Monsieur!--Monsieur l'Anglois!--one
moment."
Mr. Percy looked back and saw, as the moon shone full upon the wreck,
a figure standing at the poop, leaning over with out-stretched arms.
"I am Monsieur de Tourville, monsieur--a chargé d'affaires--with
papers of the greatest importance--despatches."
"I will return for you, sir--it is impossible for me to take you now--our

boat is loaded as much as it can bear," cried Mr. Percy; and he repeated
his order to the boatmen to push off.
Whilst Godfrey and Mr. Percy were trimming the boat, M. de Tourville
made an effort to jump into it.
"Oh! don't do it, sir!" cried a woman with a child in her arms; "the
gentleman will come back for us: for God's sake, don't jump into it!"
"Don't attempt it, sir," cried Mr. Percy, looking up, "or you'll sink us
all."
M. de Tourville threw down the poor woman who tried to stop him,
and he leaped from the side of the ship. At the same moment Mr. Percy,
seizing an oar, pushed the boat off, and saved it from being overset, as
it must have been if M. de Tourville had scrambled into it. He fell into
the water. Mr. Percy, without waiting to see the event, went off as fast
as possible, justly considering that the lives of the number he had under
his protection, including his son's and his own, were not to be sacrificed
for one man, whatever his name or office might be, especially when
that man had persisted against all warning in his rash selfishness.
At imminent danger to themselves, Mr. Percy and Godfrey, after
landing those in the boat, returned once more to the wreck; and though
they both declared that their consciences would be at ease even if they
found that M. de Tourville was drowned, yet it was evident that they
rejoiced to see him safe on board. This time the boat held him, and all
the rest of his fellow sufferers; and Mr. Percy and his son had the
satisfaction of bringing every soul safely to shore.--M. de Tourville, as
soon as he found himself on terra firma, joined with all around him in
warm thanks to Mr. Percy and his son, by whom their lives had been
saved.--Godfrey undertook to find lodgings for some of the passengers
and for the ship's crew in the village, and Mr. Percy invited the captain,
M. de Tourville, and the rest of the passengers, to Percy-hall, where
Mrs. Percy and her daughters had prepared every thing for their
hospitable reception. When they had warmed, dried, and refreshed
themselves, they were left to enjoy what they wanted most--repose. The
Percy family, nearly as much fatigued as their guests, were also glad to

rest--all but Rosamond, who was wide awake, and so much excited by
what had happened, that she continued talking to her sister, who slept
in the same room with her, of every circumstance, and filling her
imagination with all that might come to pass from the adventures of the
night, whilst Caroline, too sleepy to be able to answer judiciously, or
even plausibly, said, "Yes," "No," and "Very true," in the wrong place;
and at length, incapable of uttering even a monosyllable, was reduced
to inarticulate sounds in sign of attention. These grew fainter and
fainter, and after long intervals absolutely failing, Rosamond with some
surprise and indignation, exclaimed, "I do believe, Caroline, you are
asleep!" And, in despair, Rosamond, for want of an auditor, was
compelled to compose herself to rest.
In the course of a few hours the storm abated, and in the morning, when
the family and their shipwrecked guests assembled at breakfast, all was
calm and serene. Much to Rosamond's dissatisfaction, M. de Tourville
did not make his appearance. Of the other strangers she had seen only a
glimpse the preceding night, and had not settled her curiosity
concerning what sort of beings they were. On a clear view by daylight
of the personages who now sat at the breakfast-table, there did not
appear much to interest her romantic imagination, or to excite her
benevolent sympathy. They had the appearance of careful
money-making men, thick, square-built Dutch merchants, who said
little and eat much--butter especially. With one accord, as soon as they
had breakfasted, they rose, and begged permission to go down to the
wreck to look after their property. Mr. Percy and Godfrey