s calm; a star or
two gleamed out from the thick pall of clouds; and the sea broke upon
the coast with no more than its ordinary thunders. Supported by his two
guides, Bertram easily contrived to slide down the shingly precipice;
and on reaching the bottom, crossed the beach and stepped on board a
very large twelve-oared boat heavily laden. In the bottom were lying a
number of casks and bales: and she was full of men. But what
particularly struck Bertram was the gloomy silence which prevailed--so
opposite to the spirit of life and gaiety which usually attend the
embarkation of sailors.

Whilst the boat was now cutting her way through the waves, and the
monotonous stroke of the oars broke upon the silence of the night,
Bertram had leisure to renew his speculations upon the nature of his
immediate prospects. A slight circumstance gave them a favourable
color:--at this moment a night-breeze was sweeping pretty freshly over
the water; and Bertram, who had preserved but a slender wardrobe from
his shipwreck, felt its influence so much that he shivered from head to
foot. This was not unobserved: and one of the men drew out a large
woollen boat-cloak, and wrapped it about him with an air of surly
good-nature. This was a trifle, but it indicated that he had fallen
amongst human hearts: and it is benignly arranged by Providence that,
as in this life "trifles light as air" furnish the food of our fears,
our jealousies, and unhappy suspicions,--so also oftentimes from
trifles of no higher character we draw much of our comfort, our hopes,
and assurance.

Although the boat was rowed stoutly, yet--being very deeply
laden--nearly an hour elapsed before she fell alongside the French
captain. A solitary lanthorn or two were twinkling from the sides; and
they were hailed by the party who had the watch, with a--"_Qui va la?_"
uttered however, as Bertram remarked, in a cautious and subdued tone.
To this challenge the boat returned for answer--"_Pecheurs du Roi et de
la Sainte Vierge_:" upon which rope-ladders were dropped; the boat's
company ascended; and the barrels, &c. were hoisted up by pullies to
the deck. Bertram admired the activity, address, and perfect
orderliness, with which so many heavy casks were raised above the decks
and then lowered into their several stations; at the same time that he
could not but suspect, from their number and appearance, that the
business of "watering" was not the only one which had induced the
Frenc