The seventh name was Miss
Herbey's, but the young girl heard it without a start. Then came
mine, yes, mine! and the ninth was that of Letourneur.
"Which one?" asked the boatswain.
"Andre," said M. Letourneur.
With one cry Andre fell back senseless. Only two names now
remained in the hat; those of Dowlas and of M. Letourneur
himself.
"Go on," almost roared the carpenter, surveying his partner in
peril as though he could devour him. M. Letourneur almost had a
smile upon his lips, as he drew forth the last paper but one, and
with a firm, unfaltering voice, marvellous for his age, unfolded
it slowly, and read the name of Dowlas. The carpenter gave a
yell of relief as he heard the word.
M. Letourneur took the last bit of paper from the hat, and
without looking at it, tore it to pieces. But, unperceived by
all but myself, one little fragment flew into a corner of the
raft. I crawled towards it and picked it up. On one side of it
was written Andr--; the rest of the word was torn away. M.
Letourneur saw what I had done, and rushing towards me, snatched
the paper from my hands, and flung it into the sea.
CHAPTER LIV.
JANUARY 26th.--I understood it all; the devoted father having
nothing more to give, had given his life for his son.
M. Letourneur was no longer a human being in the eyes of the
famished creatures who were now yearning to see him sacrificed to
their cravings. At the very sight of the victim thus provided,
all the tortures of hunger returned with redoubled violence.
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