He approached and rapped
gently upon the door. Almost simultaneously the light was
extinguished. He stood for a few minutes, and again rapped louder
than before; all was silent for some minutes. A drenching shower had
commenced, adding to the already gloomy picture; and the rustling
leaves on a tree that stood near gave an ominous sound to the
excited feelings of the child. He listened at the door with anxiety
and fear, as he heard whispers within; and as he was about to repeat
his rapping, a window on the right hand was slowly raised. The
female who had been pacing the floor protruded her head with a
caution that bespoke alarm. Her long, black hair hanging about her
shoulders, and her tawny, Indian countenance, with her ghost-like
figure dressed in a white habiliment, struck him with a sort of
terror that wellnigh made him run.
"Who is that, at this time of night?" inquired the woman, in a low
voice.
"It's only me. I'm lost, and can't find my way to our vessel," said
Tommy, in a half-crying tone.
"Mother," said the woman, shutting the window, "it's only a little
sailor-boy, a stranger, and he's wet through."
She immediately unbarred and opened the door, and invited him to
come in. Stepping beyond the threshold, she closed the door against
the storm, and placing a chair at the fire, told him to sit down and
warm himself.
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