hat value is it? Any creed were better--I abjure it,
and if I be saved, will abjure it still for ever. Shade of my mother!
is it that I have listened to these men--that I have to win my husband's
love, tried to forget that which thou taughtest, even when a child at
thy feet--that faith which our forefathers for thousands of years lived
and died in--that creed proved by works, and obedience to the prophet's
willis it for this that I am punished? Tell me, mother--oh! tell me in
my dreams."

The night closed in, and with the gloom rose heavy clouds; the lightning
darted through the firmament, ever and anon lighting up the raft. At
last, the flashes were so rapid, not following each other--but darting
down from every quarter at once, that the whole firmament appeared as if
on fire, and the thunder rolled along the heavens, now near and loud,
then rumbling in the distance. The breeze rose up fresh, and the waves
tossed the raft, and washed occasionally even to Amine's feet, as she
stood in the centre of it.

"I like this--this is far better than that calm and withering heat--this
rouses me," said Amine as she cast her eyes up, and watched the forked
lightning till her vision became obscured. "Yes, this is as it should
be. Lightning, strike me if you please--waves, wash me off and bury me
in a briny tomb--pour the wrath of the whole elements upon this devoted
head--I care not, I laugh at, I defy it all. Thou canst but kill, this
little steel can do as much. Let those who hoard up wealth--those who
live in splendour--those that are happy--those who have husbands,
children, aught to love--let them tremble; I have nothing. Elements! be
ye fire, or water, or earth, or air, Amine defies you! And yet--no no,
deceive not thyself. Amine, there is no hope; thus will I mount my
funeral bier, and wait the will of destiny." And Amine regained the
secure place which Philip had fitted up for her in the centre of the
raft, threw herself down upon her bed and shut her eyes.

The thunder and lightning was followed up by torrents of heavy rain,
which fell till daylight; the wind still continued fresh, but the sky
cleared, and the sun shone out. Amine remained shivering in her wet
garments: the heat of the sun proved too powerful for her exhausted
state, and her brain wandered. She rose up in a sitting posture, looked
around her, saw verdant fields in every direction, the cocoa-nuts waving
to the wind--imagined even that she sa