In Eastern Seas

Book Excerpt: ...captain, turning to the boy, whose hand Merlin was licking, as if to congratulate him on his escape."Indeed you were, sir," answered the boy; "and we are very, very grateful to you, and to that brave sailor who carried my father and Emily out of the ship, and helped me into the boat. I want to thank him more particularly, and so would my father; but oh, sir, do you think he will soon recover out of that fearful swoon? Or do, do tell me, for I did not like to ask you before my sister, is he--is he really--dead?"The boy's voice dropped as he spoke."I fear, Walter, that he is dead," answered the captain. "But we will do our best to comfort your little sister; and so, I am sure, will you. You have reason to be thankful that he was permitted thus to die quietly in bed, and to know that your lives were spared.""Oh yes, yes! I know," answered the boy, hiding his face in his hands. It was some hours before Emily could understand that her father could never again speak to her or...