П’ятнадцятирічний капітан

The Survivors of the "Waldeck"

           

           Alreadytheship’smastshadfallen,andthe"Waldeck"waslyingontheside;butshewouldnotsink,thewaternothavinginvadedtheholdsufficientlytocauseit.

           Astothecaptainandcrewofthe"Waldeck,"allhaddisappeared,whethersomehadbeenprecipitatedintothesea,whetherotherswerecaughtontheriggingofthecollidingship,which,afterthecollision,hadfledtoreturnnomore.

           Thefiveblackswereleftaloneonboard,onahalf-capsizedhull,twelvehundredmilesfromanyland.

           ThenoldestofthenegroeswasnamedTom.Hisage,aswellashisenergeticcharacter,andhisexperience,oftenputtotheproofduringalonglifeoflabor,madehimthenaturalheadofthecompanionswhowereengagedwithhim.

           Theotherblackswereyoungmenfromtwenty-fivetothirtyyearsold,whosenameswereBat(abbreviationofBartholomew),sonofoldTom,Austin,Acteon,andHercules,allfourwellmadeandvigorous,andwhowouldbringahighpriceinthemarketsofCentralAfrica.Eventhoughtheyhadsufferedterribly,onecouldeasilyrecognizeinthemmagnificentspecimensofthatstrongrace,onwhichaliberaleducation,drawnfromthenumerousschoolsofNorthAmerica,hadalreadyimpresseditsseal.

           Tomandhiscompanionsthenfoundthemselvesaloneonthe"Waldeck"afterthecollision,havingnomeansofraisingthatinerthull,withoutevenpowertoleaveit,becausethetwoboatsonboardhadbeenshatteredintheboarding.Theywerereducedtowaitingforthepassageofaship,whilethewreckdriftedlittlebylittleundertheactionofthecurrents.

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Roboto Lora
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