t, told her that she must be on the open sea.
In spite of her oilskin cape, she was completely wet through, and a
chill, which gradually spread over her whole body from below, numbed her
limbs. Nevertheless, she never for a moment thought of retiring below.
She had no idea of danger. She heard the sailors cursing, and twice the
skipper's voice struck her ears, uttering what seemed to be an imperious
command. But she did not trouble herself about this. As if already set
free from everything earthly, she remained completely indifferent to
everything that was going on around her. The more insensible her body
became, paralysed by the penetrating damp and chill, the more indefinite
and dreamlike became all the impressions of her senses. She seemed to
have lost all foothold, to be flying on the wings of the storm, free
from all restrictions of corporeal gravity, through unlimited space. All
the rushing, howling, rattling, and splashing of the unchained elements
seemed to her to unite in one monotonous, majestic roar, which had no
terrors for her, but a wonderfully soothing influence. As her senses
slowly failed, the tumult became a lofty harmony; she felt so entirely
one with mighty, all-powerful Nature that the last feeling of which she
was conscious was a fervent, ardent longing to dissolve in this mighty
Nature, like one of the innumerable waves, whose foam wetted her feet in
passing.

. . . . . . .

A loud sound, like the sharp report of a gun, was heard above the
confusion of noises--a loud crash--some wild curses from rough sailors'
throats! The boat suddenly danced and tossed upon the waves like a piece
of cork, while the big sail flapped in the wind as if it would be torn
the next minute into a thousand pieces.

The peak-halyard was broken, and the gaff, deprived of its hold, struck
with fearful force downwards. With all the might of his arms, strong as
those of a giant, the skipper pulled at the helm to bring the vessel to
the wind. The two other men worked desperately to make the sail fast.

In these moments of supreme danger none of the three gave a thought
to the disguised woman in the oilskin cape, who had stood so long
motionless as a statue by the mast. Not till their difficult task was
successfully finished did they notice that she had disappeared. They
looked at each other with troubled faces. The skipper at the helm said--

"She has gone overboard. The gaff must have hit her on the head. There
is no mor