way, and soon afterward lost sight of him under the
portico of a house.

Still following the windings of the deserted streets, I reached what I
at first supposed to be the end of the town.

Before me, for half a mile or more (as well as I could guess), rose a
tract of meadow-land, with sheep dotted over it at intervals reposing
for the night. I advanced over the grass, and observed here and there,
where the ground rose a little, some moldering fragments of brickwork.
Looking onward as I reached the middle of the meadow, I perceived on
its further side, towering gaunt and black in the night, a lofty arch or
gateway, without walls at its sides, without a neighboring building
of any sort, far or near. This (as I afterward learned) was one of
the ancient gates of the city. The walls, crumbling to ruin, had been
destroyed as useless obstacles that cumbered the ground. On the waste
meadow-land round me had once stood the shops of the richest merchants,
the palaces of the proudest nobles of North Holland. I was actually
standing on what had been formerly the wealthy quarter of Enkhuizen! And
what was left of it now? A few mounds of broken bricks, a pasture-land
of sweet-smelling grass, and a little flock of sheep sleeping.

The mere desolation of the view (apart altogether from its history)
struck me with a feeling of horror. My mind seemed to lose its balance
in the dreadful stillness that was round me. I felt unutterable
forebodings of calamities to come. For the first time, I repented having
left England. My thoughts turned regretfully to the woody shores of
Greenwater Broad. If I had only held to my resolution, I might have been
at rest now in the deep waters of the lake. For what had I lived and
planned and traveled since I left Dermody's cottage? Perhaps only to
find that I had lost the woman whom I loved--now that I was in the same
town with her!

Regaining the outer rows of houses still left standing, I looked about
me, intending to return by the street which was known to me already.
Just as I thought I had discovered it, I noticed another living creature
in the solitary city. A man was standing at the door of one of the
outermost houses on my right hand, looking at me.

At the risk of meeting with another rough reception, I determined to
make a last effort to discover Mrs. Van Brandt before I returned to the
boat.

Seeing that I was approaching him, the stranger met me midway. His dress
and manner showed plainl