age
rode alongside of his master, instead of following at his former humble
distance. And, miraculous as it may appear, it is very certain that they
no longer conversed together by signs, but with audible sounds.

At length they reached the borders of the sea. Following it for a few
days, they came to a lofty rock: here they alighted, and searching
carefully along the water's edge, the knight perceived a small entrance,
so covered up by overhanging grass and ferns that one unacquainted with
its existence could never have detected it. Entering, they found
themselves in a lofty and spacious cave, where nature had amused herself
by uniting in strange confusion the odd and the beautiful. The roof was
hung with sparkling stalactites, and wonderful forms were ranged around.
There was an organ, with its numerous pipes--but the wind was the only
musician. There was a lofty throne--but the king was not yet born who
would fill it with dignity. There was a pulpit--but solitude was the
only preacher. Strange shapes, like those in a Hindoo rock-temple, were
ranged along into the darkness. Stars and flowers of crystal were
strewed around, and the grotto looked like a fit abode for sylphids or
fairies. The deep blue water formed a lake in the centre, upon the bosom
of which a small boat lay sleeping like a swan. When the knight and his
page had sufficiently admired the beauties of the place, the cavalier
advanced to the edge of the lagoon and called the boat. It instantly
waked up, and came like a living thing to crouch at his feet. The two
friends stepped into it, and it shot out of the cave into the broad open
sea, darting across the water with the speed of the wind. No visible
means of motion could be detected; no sail or oars were there in the
fairy boat--there was nothing mechanical about it; but it sped on its
way like a water-bird or a graceful nautilus. Once, indeed, gazing into
deep blue water, the knight fancied that he saw a soft white hand, with
rings of pearl and bracelet of coral, guiding it in its course; but if
this were not the effect of his heated fancy, the hand was at least
speedily withdrawn, and he saw it no more.

When the moon had risen upon the expanse of waters, which reflected her
image, breaking it into a thousand fragments--while the waves danced up
to greet her bright face, like children clamoring for a mother's
kiss--the little boat ran into a quiet inlet, and stopped to let its
passengers alight. They