athy which was most
sincere; and to the seamen it was all the pleasanter as his accent
showed him to be a countryman. But the general sympathy which the
young man felt, sincere though it was, could not be compared with
that special sympathy which he experienced for the lovely young girl
whom he had borne from the raft into the schooner, and whose deep
glance of speechless gratitude had never since faded from his memory.
She was now aboard, and was occupying his own room. More than this,
she had already taken up a position within his mind which was a
pre-eminent one. She had driven out every thought of everything else.
The highest desire which he had was to see once again that face which
had become so vividly impressed upon his memory, and find out what it
might be like in less anxious moments. But for this he would have to
wait.

Meanwhile the schooner had resumed her voyage, in which, however, she
made but slow progress. The wind, which had come up so opportunely,
died out again; and, though the fog had gone, still for a few days
they did little else than drift.

After the first day and night the Count de Laborde came upon deck. He
was extremely feeble, and had great difficulty in walking; with him
were his daughter and her maid. Although her exhaustion and
prostration on the raft had, apparently, been even greater than his,
yet youth was on her side, and she had been able to rally much more
rapidly. She and her maid supported the feeble old count, and
anxiously anticipated his wants with the fondest care.

Claude had hoped for this appearance, and was not disappointed. He
had seen her first as she was emerging from the valley of the shadow
of death, with the stamp of sorrow and despair upon her features; but
now no trace of despair remained; her face was sweet and joyous
beyond expression, with the grace of a child-like innocence and
purity. The other passenger, whom the lieutenant of the Arethuse had
called the Count de Cazeneau, was also on deck, and, on seeing
Laborde and his daughter, he hastened towards them with the utmost
fervor of congratulations. The lieutenant also went to pay his
respects. The young countess was most gracious, thanking them for
their good wishes, and assuring them that she was as well as ever;
and then her eyes wandered away, and, after a brief interval, at
length rested with a fixed and earnest look full upon Claude. The
glance thrilled through him. For a moment he stood as if fixed to