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Show 106 1'111:: LILY AND T ill:: TOTE:OI C\'Cr to escape out of thifl extreme peril, they cared not for cast. ing out of the water wbich now was almost ready to drown them; and as men rcsuh,cd to die, cvcric one fell downc backwardc, and g:wc themselves over, altogether unto the will of the waves." lt was at tllis moment of extreme despondency, that Lachanc tried to cheer them with new hope, :md to new exertions. He encouraged them by various assurance, to hold out Ugainst fate, nnd struggle manfully to the last. Jlc told them "how liltlo way they had to snylc, assuring them that if the windc hcldc, they should sec laud witiJin three daycs." " At worst,'' he added, "we can die when we can do no beUcr. H will be always time enough for that. Dut this necessity is not now. We can surely put it off for some time longer. At present, let us live fH Speaking thus, in the most cheerful manner, the bnwc fellow act them a proper example by which to dissipate their fears and to pro\• ide ogainst them. He began to bail and cast out tho wn.tcr in which, in tltcir extreme indifference to their fate, they either sat or lay. They took heart o.s they beheld him, and joined in the lobor with new \'igor, and that clnstic ~>pirit wltich is so chAracteris tic of Frenchmen. Dut, when the three days had gono by, ond still their eyes were unblessed with thu sight of the promised land-when they had consumed every remnant of shoe :md jerkin, and nothing more was left them to consume, they turned their eyes in bitter reproach upon the man wl10 bad pet·suadcd them to live. lie met their reproachful glances with a. stuilc>, and instantly devised a remedy for tbcir fears and weaknesses, through one of those terrible thoughts which, at any other period, ' would re,·olt, with cxtrcmcst loathing, the humanity of the man, howe\'cl·littlc human. "1\Iy comrades!" said the noble fellow, 11 y01.. hunger-you FLICIIT ANO F.A~HN£. 107 sta.n·c! You will perish unless you can get some food. I sec it in your eyes. They have no lustre, and the courage seems to have gone out entirely from your hearts. You must not die! You must not lose your courage. You shall not. You shall drink life and courage out of my breast. I have enough there for all who thirst and faint. You shall feed upon my heartyou shall drink the blood of a. brave man, and live for your friends and country. I have fe\v ft·icncls, and my country can spare me. Better that one of us should die titan that nil should perish. I am ready to die for you! Wh:~t! You shake your beads-you would not have it so-but it shall be so! You have loved meyou ha,·e suffered for me. Well, Lacbane loves you in returnhe will die for you. You shalt remember him hereafter, when our own dear France receives you again in safety. You will bless his memory !" A groan was the only reply of those around him. Lacho.ne thrmv open his br<::tSt. " There!" he cried ; 11 J~ook ! I am ready ! I fear net death. Strike! Sec you not, my bosom is open to the knife. 1\ry hand is down-there !"-grasping the scat upon which he sate," There ! it eha\1 not be lifted to arrest the blow !" The famished \Vrctchos looked with wolfish yearnings upon tho white breast of the olf.!rcd sttcrificc ; but there was still a human re,•olting in their hearts tho.t kept them moveless and silent. 'l'hey longed for the horrible banquet, but still turned from it with a lingering human loathing. B ut I~ae\mne was resolute. "Ah !" said he, reproachfully; "you fear-you would not that I should die in this manner; but, mes a11tis, you know me not. You know not how it will glad my hcnrt to know thnt its dying pulse shall add new life to ~·ours H ere, Lafourche, Genet--you nre |