noisy, to see the Lorraine come out. The
Pearl glided down between these two waves of humanity and was soon
outside the mole.

Captain Beausire, seated between the two women, held the tiller, and he
said:

"You will see, we shall be close in her way--close."

And the two oarsmen pulled with all their might to get out as far as
possible. Suddenly Roland cried out:

"Here she comes! I see her masts and her two funnels! She is coming out
of the inner harbour."

"Cheerily, lads!" cried Beausire.

Mme. Roland took out her handkerchief and held it to her eyes.

Roland stood up, clinging to the mast, and answered:

"At this moment she is working round in the outer harbour. She is
standing still--now she moves again! She is taking the tow-rope on board
no doubt. There she goes. Bravo! She is between the piers! Do you hear
the crowd shouting? Bravo! The Neptune has her in tow. Now I see her
bows--here she comes--here she is! Gracious Heavens, what a ship! Look!
Look!"

Mme. Rosemilly and Beausire looked behind them, the oarsmen ceased
pulling; only Mme. Roland did not stir.

The immense steamship, towed by a powerful tug, which, in front of
her, looked like a caterpillar, came slowly and majestically out of the
harbour. And the good people of Havre, who crowded the piers, the beach,
and the windows, carried away by a burst of patriotic enthusiasm,
cried: "_Vive la Lorraine!_" with acclamations and applause for this
magnificent beginning, this birth of the beautiful daughter given to the
sea by the great maritime town.

She, as soon as she had passed beyond the narrow channel between the two
granite walls, feeling herself free at last, cast off the tow-ropes and
went off alone, like a monstrous creature walking on the waters.

"Here she is--here she comes, straight down on us!" Roland kept
shouting; and Beausire, beaming, exclaimed: "What did I promise you!
Heh! Do I know the way?"

Jean in a low tone said to his mother: "Look, mother, she is close upon
us!" And Mme. Roland uncovered her eyes, blinded with tears.

The Lorraine came on, still under the impetus of her swift exit from the
harbour, in the brilliant, calm weather. Beausire, with his glass to his
eye, called out:

"Look out! M. Pierre is at the stern, all alone, plainly to be seen!
Look out!"

The ship was almost touching the Pearl now, as tall as a mountain and
as swift as a train. Mme. Roland, distraught and desperate, held out her
arms towards