Page:Joan, the curate.djvu/278

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272
Joan, The Curate.

as he caught the first sight of the white face he had so much reason to remember.

The boatswain had uncovered the heap in the bows, exposing to view the prostrate form of "Jem Bax," who lay, with closed eyes, and with blood-stains on face and breast, limp, motionless, helpless, without giving a sign of life.

Tregenna's face and voice changed at the sight.

"Well, haul him up," said he, with a sudden change to anxiety, as the thought struck him that Ann was perhaps already dead. "We'll see what we can do for the fellow!"

None of the others had, apparently, the least suspicion that "Jem Bax" was a woman; and Tregenna intended to keep the secret to himself if he could, and to get rid of her as fast as possible.

There was something so ridiculous in having caught such a prisoner that he would not for worlds have had the truth suspected.

They raised the still motionless body to the level of the cutter's deck, and Tregenna himself knelt down to examine the injuries of the seemingly unconscious prisoner. The men