e town, and wonder whether any of them were in the
presence of Celeste, when, one evening, being about six miles off shore,
we observed two vessels rounding Negro Point, close in-shore. It was
quite calm, and the boats were towing ahead.

"It will be dark in half-an-hour, Peter," said O'Brien, "and I think we
might get them before they anchor, or if they do anchor, it will be well
outside. What do you think?"

I agreed with him, for in fact I always seemed to be happier when the
brig was close in-shore, as I felt as if I was nearer to Celeste; and
the further we were off, the more melancholy I became. Continually
thinking of her, and the sight of her after so many years' separation,
had changed my youthful attachment into strong affection. I may say
that I was deeply in love. The very idea of going into the harbour,
therefore, gave me pleasure, and there was no mad or foolish thing that
I would not have done, only to gaze upon the walls which contained the
constant objects of my thoughts. These were wild and visionary notions,
and with little chance of ever arriving at any successful issue; but at
one or two-and-twenty, we are fond of building castles, and very apt to
fall in love, without considering our prospect of success. I replied
that I thought it very possible, and wished he would permit me to make
the attempt, as, if I found there were much risk, I would return.

"I know that I can trust you, Peter," said O'Brien, "and it's a great
pleasure to know that you have an officer you can trust but hav'n't I
brought you up myself, and made a man of you, as I promised I would,
when you were a little spalpeen, with a sniffling nose, and legs in the
shape of two carrots? So hoist out the launch, and get the boats
ready--the sooner the better. What a hot day this has been--not a
cat's-paw on the water, and the sky all of a mist. Only look at the
sun, how he goes down, puffed out to three times his size, as if he were
in a terrible passion. I suspect we shall have the land breeze off
strong."

In half-an-hour I shoved off with the boats. It was now quite dark, and
I pulled towards the harbour of St. Pierre. The heat was excessive and
unaccountable; not the slightest breath of wind moved in the heavens, or
below; no clouds to be seen, and the stars were obscured by a sort of
mist; there appeared a total stagnation of the elements. The men in the
boats pulled off their jackets, for after a few moments' pulling