Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/90

 burnt itself into my brain, and imagination being at work, I felt myself becoming the prey of a maddening terror. Conseil was quite resigned. Ned was raging.

At this juncture a voice was heard outside, footsteps were heard on the iron flooring, the bolts were drawn back, and the steward appeared.

Before I could interpose to prevent him, the Canadian had thrown himself upon the unfortunate man, felled him to the ground, where he held him by the throat. The steward was strangling beneath that powerful grasp. Conseil had already attempted to loosen the deadly grasp of the harpooner, and I was about to assist, when I was glued to the spot by hearing a voice call out in French:

“Calm yourself, Master Land, and you also, professor, and be so good as to listen to me!”