e present, therefore, most oppressed me. I had no superstition; but
yet I was not altogether free from a natural repugnance to being left
with the dead pirate during the darkness of the night, while the storm
was raging so furiously around. To sleep, I found, was impossible; so I
sat up by the side of my fire, husbanding the wood with the greatest
care, lest it should not last me till morning. Now and then a blast
more furious than ordinary would come and almost sweep the fire out of
the cavern.

In the intervals of the rain, while the lightning illuminated the dark
abyss below my feet, I looked out to see if a glimpse could be caught of
the schooner, as I pictured her trying to beat up to my rescue; but had
I considered, I should have known that it would have been impossible for
her so to do.

I had thrown a cloak I found over the body of the pirate, which I had
drawn to the side of the cavern farthest from me; and as the flames cast
their fitful light on it, I fancied that I saw the limbs moving. I
watched--I was certain that they moved again.

"Can it be possible that he is not dead?" I thought. "Perhaps he is in
a swoon, brought on by agitation and excessive weakness." Taking a
brand from the fire, I approached the body, and lifted the cloak from
his face. The features remained fixed and rigid as before. The stamp
of death was there. My fancy had deceived me. Replacing the cloak, I
returned to my seat by the fire. Never has a night appeared so long.
At last my fuel was almost exhausted, and my watch told me that it
wanted some time to sunrise. The storm had in no degree abated. I had
scraped the leaves together, which had formed the pirate's bed, and I
kept adding a few at a time to the fire. Whether the smoke they caused
had any effect on me, I know not; but by degrees forgetfulness stole
over me, and I sunk into a sound slumber. When I awoke, the storm had
passed away, and the sun was shining brightly on the blue waters beneath
me. Arousing myself completely, I offered up my morning prayers to
Heaven, and then hurried out to take a survey around the island, in the
hopes of discovering the _Fraulein_ in the distance. I first looked to
the south. She was not to be seen. I then climbed to the highest
point, where the flag-staff was placed, when what was my surprise and no
little dismay to see below me a fleet of prahus, which, from their size
and the appearance of those on board them, I knew mus