and, and
that we were approaching the termination of our suspense and misery; the
chimeras that were floating through my brain resolved themselves into
realities, so that nothing appeared to me more certain than that either
land or sail, be they miles away, would be discovered somewhere to
leeward.

I imparted my convictions to M. Letourneur and his son. Andre was as
sanguine as myself; poor boy! he little thinks what a loss there is in
store for him tomorrow. His father listened gravely to all we said,
and whatever he might think in his own mind, he did not give us any
discouragement; Heaven, he said, he was sure would still spare the
survivors of the "Chancellor," and then he lavished on his son caresses
which he deemed to be his last.

Some time afterwards, when I was alone with him, M. Letourneur whispered
in my ear,--

"Mr. Kazallon, I commend my boy to your care, and mark you, he must
never know--"

His voice was choked with tears, and he could not finish his sentence.

But I was full of hope, and, without a moment's intermission, I kept my
eyes fixed upon the unbroken horizon, Curtis, Miss Herbey, Falsten, and
even the boatswain, were also eagerly scanning the broad expanse of sea.

Night has come on; but I have still a profound conviction that through
the darkness some ship will approach, and that at daybreak our raft will
be observed.

CHAPTER LV.

JANUARY 27th.--I did not close my eyes all night, and was keenly alive
to the faintest sounds, and every ripple of the water, and every murmur
of the waves, broke distinctly on my ear. One thing I noticed and
accepted as a happy omen; not a single shark now lingered-round the
raft. The waning moon rose at a quarter to one, and through the feeble
glimmer which she cast across the ocean, many and many a time I fancied
I caught sight of the longed-for sail, lying only a few cables' lengths
away.

But when morning came, the sun rose once again upon a desert ocean, and
my hopes began to fade. Neither ship nor shore had appeared, and as the
shocking hour of execution drew near, my dreams of deliverance melted
away; I shuddered in my very soul as I was brought face to face with the
stern reality. I dared not look upon the victim, and whenever his eyes,
so full of calmness and resignation, met my own, I turned away my
head. I felt choked with horror, and my brain reeled as though I were
intoxicated.

It was now six o'clock, and all hope had vanished from my