ined and creaking cordage, all, not only brought back old memories
of his once life, but effectually seemed to dispel the colder mood of
mind which admixture with the world of fashion had impressed upon him.
He was again, if not in reality, in heart and spirit, the bold buccaneer
that walked the Western seas, bursting with life, and eager for
adventure. Every plunge that sent the bowsprit down, every squall that
bent the taper mast, and laid the vessel half-seas under, inspirited and
excited him, not the less that the wild storm called forth every form of
encouragement to her, who vibrated between actual terror and a strange
sense of delight.

Roland lay at her feet, partly as a barrier against the surging water
that, breaking over the bow, swept the entire deck, partly that he might
mark those beauteous features, on which the binnacle light occasionally
cast its glare.

"It is fine," murmured she, in a low, soft voice, "and I almost feel
as if my own terrors should serve to heighten the sense of ecstasy. I
tremble while I delight in it."

There was an expression of intense excitement in her eyes as she spoke,
and her pale features for an instant flushed, as Roland's look met hers.

"How I glory in your words," cried he, wild with enthusiasm; "I feel
like one who suddenly awakes to life out of some long and dreary
sleep,--rather this is the sleep, this is itself the vision in which
I lie, here, beneath your smile, while we are borne onward through the
hissing foam. Oh, would it but last--would that this dark and starless
night could be for years, and that we might thus cleave the black waters
on and on!"

"And whither to?" asked she, in a whisper scarcely breathed.

"Whither to?" echoed he; "what matters it, while we journey thus? The
sun-tipped icebergs of the North Sea, or the rosy mountains of the Spice
Island; the balmy shores of Quito, or the bleak coast of Labrador--all
are alike to me."

"A large vessel under the lee!" sang out a voice from the bow, and the
cry was repeated still louder, while the pilot shouted, "Show a light
at the mast-head; put your helm hard up!" The double command was scarce
obeyed, when a huge black mass heaved past them, her great yards almost
seeming to grate the cordage. The looming size of the immense object
that towered overhead, and the death-like stillness of the yacht's crew
till the danger was past, thrilled with a cold terror through her, and
instinctively she grasped Rola