nearly.

The authorities took away the prisoner, and left Bertha and Doome
wretched and alone. As for Daniel, he went out wandering by himself,
--for he rather felt ashamed to look upon anybody.

At this time, a little boat with a white flag at its prow put off
from the French fleet, and bravely approached the bristling fort of
Ruegen. Nearer and nearer it comes,--nearer and nearer; and in half an
hour there is great cheering over the island of Ruegen, for peace
between Prussia and France is declared.

'Tis true, the peace did not last very long; but it lasted long
enough to save the French officer. He was set at liberty at once,
and an hour afterwards Daniel could look people in the face again,
--all except Doome, who would not cease to be incensed.

"But then," said Daniel, "you know I'd been waiting six years."

"How?" exclaimed Bertha.

"Yes, Bertha,--I'm the real Daniel. Look here!"--and half a little
silver cross came forward.

"And you didn't say it when you came!--and you actually gave her to
him!--and you saved his life!--and oh! you, you CAPTAIN of a man!"

Thus Doome spoke and was comforted.

And Bertha went up to her old sweetheart and kissed him, saying, she
thought she knew of a better wife for him than she could ever have
made,--for, now that Ernest (the French officer) had suffered so
much for her sake, she had no right to leave him. And, indeed, they
were re-married that day.

It was after Bertha had said she knew of a better wife for him, that
Daniel looked at Doome, who, picking up that pipe of his, handed it
to him.

"Will you take care of it, Doome?"

"Save when you want it."

"Oh! I mean to come with it."

"'Tis the handsomest pipe in all Germany,--and--and I won't part
with it till I part with you."

Hence, you see, there were two marriages that morning. Doome parted
with the pipe a good deal,--for Daniel loved the sea as heartily as
he had loved Bertha and grew to love Doome, who assured him many
times that she was a far better wife for him than Bertha would have
made. Whereupon Daniel would kiss her,--so you can draw your own
conclusion as to his motive. For my part, I say first love is only
heart-love,--and you see the heart is not so wise as the head.

By the time the long war was over,--with Waterloo for the last act,
--Ernest had made not a little money; so he and Bertha--now a grand
lady--came to Ruegen. Ernest learned German, perfectly, from his own
children and Doom