| The owners of more than a hundred boats have... 205 |
[Jan. 28th, 2010|02:17 am] |
The owners of more than a hundred boats have already given in their names as wishing to follow him to the grave
No trace has ever been found of the great dog, at which there is much mourning, for, with public opinion in its present state, he would, I believe, be adopted by the townTomorrow will see the funeral, and so will end this one more 'mystery of the sea'
MINA MURRAY'S JOURNAL
8 August-Lucy was very restless all night, and I too, could not sleepThe storm was fearful, and as it boomed loudly among the chimney pots, it made me shudderWhen a sharp puff came it seemed to be like a distant gunStrangely enough, Lucy did not wake, but she got up twice and dressed herselfFortunately, each time I awoke in time and managed to undress her without waking her, and got her back to bedIt is a very strange thing, this sleep-walking, for as soon as her will is thwarted in any physical way, her intention, if there be any, disappears, and she yields herself almost exactly to the routine of her life
Early in the morning we both got up and went down to the harbour to see if anything had happened in the nightThere were very few people about, and though the sun was bright, and the air clear and fresh, the big, grim-looking waves, that seemed dark themselves because the foam that topped them was like snow, forced themselves in through the mouth of the harbour, like a bullying man going through a crowdSomehow I felt glad that Jonathan was not on the sea last night, but on landBut, oh, is he on land or sea? Where is he, and how? I am getting fearfully anxious about himIf I only knew what to do, and could do anything!
10 August-The funeral of the poor sea captain today was most touchingEvery boat in the harbour seemed to be there, and the coffin was carried by captains all the way from Tate Hill Pier up to the churchyardLucy came with me, and we went early to our old seat, whilst the cortege of boats went up the river to the Viaduct and came down againWe had a lovely view, and saw the procession nearly all the wayThe poor fellow was laid to rest near our seat so that we stood on it, when the time came and saw everything
Poor Lucy seemed much upsetShe was restless and uneasy all the time, and I cannot but think that her dreaming at night is telling on herShe is quite odd in one thingShe will not admit to me that there is any cause for restlessness, or if there be, she does not understand it herself
There is an additional cause in that poor MrSwales was found dead this morning on our seat, his neck being brokenHe had evidently, as the doctor said, fallen back in the seat in some sort of fright, for there was a look of fear and horror on his face that the men said made them shudderPoor dear old man!
Lucy is so sweet and sensitive that she feels influences more acutely than other people doJust now she was quite upset by a little thing which I did not much heed, though I am myself very fond of animals
One of the men who came up here often to look for the boats was followed by his dogThe dog is always with himThey are both quiet persons, and I never saw the man angry, nor heard the dog barkDuring the service the dog would not come to its master, who was on the seat with us, but kept a few yards off, barking and howlingIts master spoke to it gently, and then harshly, and then angrilyBut it would neither come nor cease to make a noiseIt was in a fury, with its eyes savage, and all its hair bristling out like a cat's tail when puss is on the war path
Finally the man too got angry, and jumped down and kicked the dog, and then took it by the scruff of the neck and half dragged and half threw it on the tombstone on which the seat is fixedThe moment it touched the stone the poor thing began to trembleIt did not try to get away, but crouched down, quivering and cowering, and was in such a pitiable state of terror that I tried, though without effect, to comfort it
Lucy was full of pity, too, but she did not attempt to touch the dog, but looked at it in an agonised sort of |
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