ter. To my alarm, she
raised herself up, and sat upon the edge, but her weight appeared to
have no effect. As soon as she was seated in this way--for her feet
still remained in the water--the shell moved rapidly along, and each
moment increased its speed, with no other propelling power than that of
her volition.

"`Do you fear now, Philip Vanderdecken?'

"`No!' replied I.

"She passed her hands across her forehead, threw aside the tresses which
had partly concealed her face, and said--`Then look at me.'

"I looked, Amine, and I beheld you!"

"Me!" observed Amine, with a smile upon her lips.

"Yes, Amine, it was you. I called you by your name, and threw my arms
round you. I felt that I could remain with you, and sail about the
world for ever."

"Proceed, Philip," said Amine, calmly.

"I thought we ran thousands and thousands of miles--we passed by
beautiful islands, set like gems on the ocean-bed; at one time bounding
against the rippling current, at others close to the shore--skimming on
the murmuring wave which rippled on the sand, whilst the cocoa-tree on
the beach waved to the cooling breeze.

"`It is not in smooth seas that your father must be sought,' said she;
`we must try elsewhere.'

"By degrees the waves rose, until at last they were raging in their
fury, and the shell was tossed by the tumultuous waters; but still not a
drop entered, and we sailed in security over billows which would have
swallowed up the proudest vessel.

"`Do you fear now, Philip?' said you to me.

"`No' replied I; `with you, Amine, I fear nothing.'

"`We are now off the Cape again,' said she; `and here you may find your
father. Let us look well round us, for if we meet a ship it must be
_his_. None but the Phantom Ship could swim in a gale like this.'

"Away we flew over the mountainous waves--skimming from crest to crest
between them, our little bark sometimes wholly out of the water; now
east, now west, north, south, in every quarter of the compass, changing
our course each minute. We passed over hundreds of miles: at last we
saw a vessel tossed by the furious gale.

"`There,' cried she, pointing with her finger, `there is your father's
vessel, Philip.'

"Rapidly did we approach--they saw us from on board, and brought the
vessel to the wind. We were alongside--the gangway was clearing away--
for though no boat could have boarded, our shell was safe. I looked up.
I saw my father, Amine! Yes, saw him, and hear