A word sufficed
to explain that there was nothing to be apprehended, and the Ark
was soon moored in her old berth.
Judith said not a word concerning the condition of her father,
but Hurry knew her too well not to understand that something was
more than usually wrong. He led the way, though with less of his
confident bold manner than usual, into the house, and penetrating
to the inner room, found Hutter lying on his back with Hetty sitting at
his side, fanning him with pious care. The events of the morning
had sensibly changed the manner of Hurry. Notwithstanding his skill
as a swimmer, and the readiness with which he had adopted the only
expedient that could possibly save him, the helplessness of being
in the water, bound hand and foot, had produced some such effect
on him, as the near approach of punishment is known to produce on
most criminals, leaving a vivid impression of the horrors of death
upon his mind, and this too in connection with a picture of bodily
helplessness; the daring of this man being far more the offspring
of vast physical powers, than of the energy of the will, or even
of natural spirit. Such heroes invariably lose a large portion of
their courage with the failure of their strength, and though Hurry
was now unfettered and as vigorous as ever, events were too recent
to permit the recollection of his late deplorable condition to be
at all weakened.
Pages:
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618