{"product_id":"2940013301146","title":"The Island Queen","description":"CHAPTER ONE.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDETHRONED BY FIRE AND WATER--A TALE OF THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTHE OPEN BOAT.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEarly one morning, in the year 18 hundred and something, the great\u003cbr\u003eSouthern Ocean was in one of its calmest moods, insomuch that the\u003cbr\u003ecloudlets in the blue vault above were reflected with almost perfect\u003cbr\u003efidelity in the blue hemisphere below, and it was barely possible to\u003cbr\u003ediscern the dividing-line between water and sky.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe only objects within the circle of the horizon that presented the\u003cbr\u003eappearance of solidity were an albatross sailing in the air, and a\u003cbr\u003elittle boat floating on the sea.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe boat rested on its own reflected image, almost motionless, save when\u003cbr\u003ea slight undulation of the water caused the lower edge of its reflection\u003cbr\u003eto break off in oily patches; but there was no dip of oars at its sides,\u003cbr\u003eno rowers on its thwarts, no guiding hand at the helm.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEvidently the albatross regarded the boat with curiosity not unmixed\u003cbr\u003ewith suspicion, for it sailed in wide circles round it, with\u003cbr\u003eoutstretched neck, head turned on one side, and an eye bent inquiringly\u003cbr\u003edownward.  By slow degrees the circles diminished, until the giant bird\u003cbr\u003efloated almost directly over the boat.  Then, apparently, it saw more\u003cbr\u003ethan enough to satisfy its curiosity, for, uttering a hoarse cry, it\u003cbr\u003eswooped aside, and, with a flap of its mighty wings, made off towards\u003cbr\u003ethe horizon, where it finally disappeared.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe flap and the cry seemed, however, to have put life into the little\u003cbr\u003eboat, for a human head rose slowly above the gunwale.  It was that of a\u003cbr\u003eyouth, of about twenty years of age, apparently in the last stage of\u003cbr\u003eexhaustion.  He looked round slowly, with a dazed expression, like one\u003cbr\u003ewho only half awakes from sleep.  Drawing his hand across his brow, and\u003cbr\u003egazing wistfully on the calm sea, he rose on his knees with difficulty,\u003cbr\u003eand rested his arms on a thwart, while he turned his gaze with a look of\u003cbr\u003eintense anxiety on the countenance of a young girl who lay in the bottom\u003cbr\u003eof the boat close beside him, asleep or dead.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"It looks like death,\" murmured the youth, as he bent over the pale\u003cbr\u003eface, his expression betraying sudden alarm; \"and it must--it must come\u003cbr\u003eto this soon; yet I cannot bear the thought.  O God, spare her!\"","brand":"SAP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47068741632240,"sku":"2940013301146","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013301146_p0.jpg?v=1763579505","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013301146","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}