nguor,
and turned now and then to see if the distant sail were yet lightened by
the coming breeze. When we reached the inner bay, we mounted a rock,
from which, with the lessened interval between us, I could distinctly
see the boat. One of the occupants--a lady--wore a dark hat with a
scarlet plume drooping from it. She leaned over the gunwale, dipping her
hands in the blazing water and holding them up against the light, as if
playing rainbows in the sunset. The other figure was busy in fastening
up the sail, ready to catch the first breath of wind.

As we stood looking, the water, which during the last few minutes had
changed from flaming red to the many-colored hues of a dolphin's back,
suddenly turned slate-colored, almost black. Then a low scud crept
stealthily and quickly along the surface, bringing with it a steady
breeze, for perhaps five minutes. We watched the little boat, as it
yielded gracefully to the welcome impetus, and swept rapidly to the
shore. Fearing, however, from the sudden change of weather, that it
would soon rain, we cast a parting look at the boat, and started on a
rapid walk to the house.

This last glimpse of the boat showed us a tall figure standing upright
against the mast, and fastening or holding something to it, while the
lady still played with the water, bending her head so low that the red
plume in her hat almost touched it. She seemed in a pleasant reverie,
and rocked softly with the rocking waves. It was a peaceful
picture,--the sail set, and full of heaven's breath, as it seemed.

Before we could grasp anything,--even if there had been anything to
grasp on the level sand,--we were both taken at once off our feet and
thrown violently to the ground. I had felt the force of water before,
but never that of wind, and had no idea of the utter helplessness of man
or woman before a wind that is really in earnest. It was with a very
novel sense of more than childish incapacity that I suffered the Dominie
to gather up capes, canes, hats, and shawls, and, last of all, an
astonished woman, and put them on their way homewards. However, long
before we reached the house-door we were drenched to the skin. The rain
poured in blinding sheets, and the thunder was like a hundred cannon
about our ears. It was so sudden and so frightful to me that I had but
one idea, that of getting into the piazza, where was comparative safety.
Having reached it, we turned to face the elements. Nothing could be seen
t