Ralph Somerville, Or, a Midshipman's Adventures in the Pacific Ocean

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.1876 Excerpt: ... CHAP. IX.--THE ABDUCTION AND KESCUE. When we parted from our hero, he was seated in the theatre, mute with astonishment at the unexpected appearance of his lost love. Until the dance was finished, he continued gazing on the stage with parted lips and straining eyes; but through the lips the shortened breath came painfully, and the eyes saw nothing of the present, but were looking back into the far past, when the lovely form before him had not yet budded into womanhood, and the lovely little girl had clung to his arm for support as the Columbine bounded merrily over the blue waves. A PRECIOUS BURDEN. The enthusiastic applause of the audience, and the energetic exclamation of his American friend, Gee-hosaphat! that is real jam! brought the young man to himself, and, resisting the invitation of the Yankee to liquor up, he left the house and walked slowly to the hotel, absorbed in a multitude of thoughts. On arrival at the Alta California, he lighted a cigar, and pacing the broad verandah--then quite deserted--meditated over the extraordinary events of the past hour. That Inez de Salamanca and Inez de Valverde were the same he could not for a moment doubt, for the length and breadth of the world could not produce the double of those lovely features and liquid eyes. But how came she here? Was she not, with the ill-fated Columbine, a thousand fathoms deep beneath the waves? and had he not, in the long sleepless hours of the night, dwelt upon the sad catastrophe, until its every incident was seared into his brain, as though he had actually witnessed it? Could he have been mistaken, and had the corvette escaped after all? Oh that Tom Sherlock had remained in town to verify his darling's identity! But, granting that she were the little Inez whom he had rescued f...