and making upon another a spread eagle of a trout which he had properly seasoned from the stores which they had brought with them, he rested this upon the first, and let the fish broil gently, moving it from time to time to keep it from burning, and also that it might get thoroughly done all through. To this operation he subjected several of the trout, accompanying himself meanwhile with a running commentary which I dare not attempt to repeat.

They then all gathered around the board upon which the viands were spread, and made a sumptuous meal, albeit there were but two courses, fish and fruit. But when one has ascended to the top of a monntain on a windy day, he is in condition properly to appreciate such provision, and indeed, when Parker's and the Revere are at their best, trout and blueberries are not to be despised.

It was now calm, and the night was fair. The moon rose, barred by clouds, which however were soon left beneath it, the stars shone from the clear dome above, and (nature seemed prodigal of her favors) the Aurora Borealis cast an arch across the northern sky, and erected a few faint pillars thereon.

They had made a clean sweep of the provisions. Said Jarvis, "Shiney William, will you be kind enough to pass that decanter ? This fish is a remarkably thirsty one."

"Well, let's try the experiment at all events; see here," and he drew from his bundle, part of a candle, from which he cut two pieces, each about an inch long, which he fastened upon two small chips of wood. Retaining one of these, he handed the other to Delancey, and called upon him to lead the way. So lighted, they followed the path without much difficulty,winding among the rocks, and down into a secluded valley, overhung by pines and firs. Here, when they were themselves silent, there was nought to be heard but the subdued gurgling of the tiny stream, and little light to be seen save that given by the two bits of candle. The effect of the silence and the moving lights amid the surrounding darkness, the ghostly tree trunks, and confused masses of rock, for a moment dimly illuminated as they passed, was strange and weird in the extreme. Delancey said it seemed as though in that solitude where there was no other voice or bodily presence, there was a constant soundless murmur from the disembodied ones; or that all the innumerable thoughts, the hopes and fears of mortals which had been breathed into the air, kept repeating themselves in this silence without ceasing.

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Having quenched their thirst, and refilled the canteen, they retraced their steps to the summit, and then, carefully watching the landmarks, so that they should not miss the way turning, all three went a short distance in a direction nearly south-east, and at length seated themselves upon a rock which overhung a steep declivity, and from which they could get a clear view of the sea, now lighted by the moon. Here they engaged in fitful conversation, alternating "from grave to gay, from lively to severe," or remained in silence, as the fancy took them.

It was after one of these intervals of quiet, that the voice of Clarkson was heard, chanting, in solemn tones, that most pathetic of ballads, familiar to all,—

"B-a, ba-b-e, be-b-i, bi-babebi"

&c.

In this the others joined with an expression worthy of the subject, and after having sung ten stanzas of the common version, they switched off into "Upidee," which was followed by "Vive l'amour," "Gaudeamus igitur," "Lauriger Horatius," and others of the classics, and finally "America" and the chorus "So say we all of us," which was given with a will.

After this they fell off again into silence, which Jarvis broke at length saying:

"Come Delancey, let us have something quiet to finish off with, it is getting late. What was that you were so busy about last night, when I saw your eye in such a fine frenzy rolling, glancing from heaven to earth, and back again, and all that. Come, give us the benefit of your muse."

Nay, nay, it is not meet that any thing so young and green should be exposed to the night air."

Well then, anything you like, only let it be fitted to the measure of the occasion."

"I heard something last term, a trifle which pleased me, and which has been haunting me, ever since I have been sitting here, looking out on that grand, treacherous sea. If you choose I will try and chant it."

By all means. The title is?"Nothing," said Delancey. I trust it will explain itself." then in a low, clear voice, and minor key he began:

"Come nearer darling, to my side;

So, let me hold thy hand,

And

in

a

And stroke the hair back from thy brow,
And thank God, thou art with me now;
That this, our native land
He let me see before I died :
My native land!

I feared, my heart, my home, my life, When on a foreign shore

The angel of the Lord passed by,
And whispered that my time was nigh,
I feared that nevermore

On earth I'd hear thee breathe "My wife !"
Ah! nevermore.

And then, my darling, when the ship
Was rocking on the wave,

When mighty tempests round us roared,
And all the masts went overboard,

It seemed that nought could save! I ne'er should greet thee lip to lip! No! nought could save!

But now my love, I feel thy breath
So warm upon my brɔw,—

I clasp thee in my arms and know
That ever still our love shall grow;

And if I leave thee now, "Twill bloom more sweetly after death, Ah! cease not now!

So, darling, press thy lips to mine,

And press my hand Good bye! 'Tis just a little while, and then We meet, but part us not again!

'Tis sweet, ah! sweet to die! Upborne by love so true as thine, Sweet, sweet, to die!"

He ceased, and his voice seemed to follow his gaze out toward that same "grand, treacherous sea." After a short time, during which they remained wrapped in their individual musings, Clarkson started up and shook himself out, which was the signal for their return to camp.

The fire had gone quite out, but a few minutes sufficed to produce a bright blaze, which at this stage of the night was decidedly agreeable. Not very distant, stood a little shanty, now dismantled, but which a year or two before, had been used by officers of the Coast Survey. From this they procured a few boards to keep off the dampness of the ground, and then wrapping themselves closely in their heavy shawls, lay down, with their feet toward the fire, under "the cold light of stars." Not without many

little interjections, "quips and cranks and wanton wiles," and a monologue from Jarvis, whose plank was too short, or his body too long, and who was consequently considerably exercised in mind, about the means of equalizing matters. Also, when he at last laid him down to sleep, there was one particular star, which would stare him in the face, with a persistency which called for especial expostulation.

But before very long, fatigue got the better of the novelty of their position, and they slept. The stars shone on and on in the quiet sky, the moon journeyed toward the meridian, and gradually the fire consumed the wood which had been heaped upon it, the dancing flame became a little flicker, and at last left only scattered embers. And still they slept.

Presently, Jarvis moved uneasily once or twice on his abbreviated couch, and then sitting up, shivered, as he felt the searching morning air. Rising and laying aside his shawl, he gathered fresh fuel and heaped it upon the fire with an effect which manifested itself in the others, by causing them. to work themselves along toward it, until their feet were in the ashes, but without bringing them to a realizing sense of their situation. "I see you are adapted to wood or coal," muttered Jarvis, as again wrapping himself in his shawl, he warmed himself over the blaze before lying down, which he did shortly, and directly fell asleep.

They were all up before the sun, and after blundering about indefinitely for a little while, and stretching themselves, made their way to the spring to perform their morning ablutions, and thence betook them to the lookout rock to see the sun come up out of the ocean.

And that he did gloriously. But the seaward view to the south-east was more limited than it was the previous evening. Delancey looked around carefully for a moment, and then said—

"The wind has changed, and the fog is driving in. I am for breakfast, and a quick trip to Great Head. I think the coast is the place for us to-day."

"Agreed," said Clarkson, and all together, they again made their way toward the camp.

CHAPTER III.

Yes

Another night had fallen on the Island, but far different from the last. The fog had come in before noon, chill and damp, and completely changed the aspect of things. terday, all was bright and gay, the birds were singing, the flowers smiling, the pines softly humming mysterious music. Now, darkness and gloom had settled upon field and shore, the air was thick and heavy, the grass wet, the birds cowered under the branches, the trees looked sombre and sullen.

While yet the sun shone, our party had reached the sea side and wandered along it, had been into the "Oven,' a singular cave in the front of the cliff, and curiously watched the star fishes and the sea-anemones, in its pools of limpid water. And winding along the shore of the little cove between, they had extended their investigations to Schooner Head and its spouting horn. Here a high cliff juts out to brave the lashing of the waves, and in the face of it they have worn an irregular narrow tunnel, which communicates with a chasm opening from above. Into this tunnel the waves ever follow one another, dashing against the wall of rock at the end, and sometimes, when the sea is high, throwing the spray out at the top.

It was upon this promontory that they remained, listening to the pulsating roar of the water beneath, and watching the fog as it entered the mouth of the bay, and gradually approached them. While around the cliff it was still clear and bright, they could see the bank of moisture at a

little distance, glowing in the sunshine as a cumulus cloud, but rolling steadily onward, seemingly a solid mass, annihilating everything which it touched. On, on it came, like the march of fate, and at length wrapped them in its wet folds, extinguished the sunlight, made an island of the rock upon which they sat.

They had then gone to the one house which the immediate locality boasted, had dined and supped, and read, and talked fish and politics with the owner of the establishment, which was really a cozy hostelry, although it figured but casually in that capacity.

The night had become dark and stormy. It was now growing late, and Clarkson who had for some time been exchanging pointed recognitions with imaginary persons upon the further side of the room, declared the company too uninteresting to be endurable, and tumbled off to-bed.

"Come, Jarvis, let's go out on the Head, before we turn in for the night," said Delancey, "It's blowing splendidly! Just listen to the war on the rocks below there!"

Jarvis shrugged his shoulders, and said, "I'll be blowed if I go," which certainly was not unlikely. But he was ready to humor Delancey and indeed, was not very loth to undertake the expedition upon his own account. Casting rather a regretful look, however, at the fire which sparkled upon the hearth, he wrapped himself up, and together with his friend, started from the house.

The path usually taken, led across loose pebbles on the beach at the back of the cove, but this route they found was now impracticable. Making therefore a short detour to the left, they passed through the fields and climbed the hill at the back of the cliff. By good fortune, they did. not wander far from the way,—Jarvis was a fine guide, and by falling in with some pines which they had noticed in the earlier part of the day,

they were enabled before long to find the place which they sought.

The fog had lifted, but hung above them, a heavy pall, through which no ray of light seemed to penetrate. The wind blew from south-east, so that there was little danger of their being hurled from the cliff into the sea; but against that blast, their footing was very insecure, and they found it advisable to sit down where they could brace themselves against a ledge in the rock. They could just distinguish the waves now and then, as the bubbles on their crests concentrated the little light diffused around them. The cliff seemed perceptibly to tremble when the huge masses of water were hurled against it, and it promised to be but a short time before they would be thoroughly drenched. by the spray thrown over them. But under the fascinating influence of the storm, they sat, talking in fragmentary sentences, watching, and listening to the bellowing waves.

They had remained quiet for some time, when Delancey said suddenly, holding out his hand toward the open sea-" Harry, can you see the direction in which I am pointing?"

Jarvis put on his eye glasses, and looking narrowly, made out the position of his companion's arm, and following it with his eye, answered in the affirmative.

'Well, just watch there for a few minutes."

Jarvis did so, and presently said, "Isn't there a light out there?" "Yes," said Delancey,"what is it?” "The Gloucester Point light?" queried Jarvis.

"Too far to the south; beside, it is most of the time hidden by the waves, which would not be possible for the Point light from this elevation."

"True. It must be afloat, then.” They sank into silence, watching the dim glint of light, as for a moment it shot its tiny ray over the waters, and then disappeared in the surrounding blackness. It could not be

on the land; it could only, then, be upon some craft rising and falling with the waves. This much was certain, but what followed? After a time, Jarvis said, "It must be nearer than when we first saw it."

"Yes. The light is brighter, the angle at which we see it is not quite the same, and it is visible longer and more frequently." They talked between the gusts of wind, which seemed to grow even more violent.

"Herbert, you remember the shed where the nets are ?"

"Yes. I noticed the coil of rope hanging just inside the door; it looked as if it had only been in the water once or twice."

After a moment, Jarvis said "There is a smaller one lying on the ground just below it."

They still watched the light, which was perceptibly closer. It seemed, a little later, as if the gusts bore them the fragments of a broken exhortation, and shortly afterwards they heard, or

15

seemed to hear, a grating sound, as though the rasping of a chain cable. No anchor will hold out there to-night," said Jarvis.

His companion did not make any reply for a moment; then, "Harry, I will wake them up at the house, and bring the tackle. I shall not be gone long. I guess you had better stay here and watch."

"Very well," said Jarvis, "I hope we shall not need it, but don't lose any time."

Hardly," Delancey said, simply, rising and steadying himself with his hand as he clambered over the rocks.

The minutes slowly crept past Jarvis as he kept his solitary vigil, and he was sure that the light continued to approach the place where he sat. Again there was a rattle, unmistakably caused by the running out of a cable. He watched breathlessly: no, the motion did not cease. Nearer, still nearer, came the light.