| 628 | 629 | 630 | 631 | 632 |
| 1 | 236 | 472 | 708 | 944 |
|
that it had been hermetically sealed. Now it was unsealed and open. They
had, however, replaced in the flask a sort of bung made of tarred oakum,
which had been used to cork it.
"
It was in this bottle," said the sheriff, "that the men about to perish
placed the declaration which I have just read. This message addressed to
justice has been faithfully delivered by the sea."
The sheriff increased the majesty of his tones, and continued,--
"In the same way that Harrow Hill produces excellent wheat, which is
turned into fine flour for the royal table, so the sea renders every
service in its power to England, and when a nobleman is lost finds and
restores him."
Then he resumed,--
"On this flask, as you say, there is a name written in red."
He raised his voice, turning to the motionless prisoner,--
"Your name, malefactor, is here. Such are the hidden channels by which
truth, swallowed up in the gulf of human actions, floats to the
surface."
The sheriff took the gourd, and turned to the light one of its sides,
which had, no doubt, been cleaned for the ends of justice. Between the
630
Page
Quick Jump
|