shine could be more radiant or cheering than his joyous, noble face.

About noon the fury of the gale subsided, the sun looked out through rifts
in the scudding clouds, and toward night fields of quiet blue were once
more visible. By next morning the weather had cleared up, with a brisk
westerly wind; but the sea still rolled heavily; and Eric, unable to bear
the motion, kept below, loth to trust himself on his feet. Electra strove
to while away the tedious time by reading aloud to him; but many a yearning
look was cast toward the deck, and finally she left him with a few books,
and ran up to the open air.

On the afternoon of the third day after leaving Havana the captain said--

"Well, Miss Grey, I shall place you on Confederate soil to-morrow, God
willing."

"Then you are going to Mobile?"

"Yes; I shall try hard to get in there early in the morning. You will know
your fate before many hours."

"Do you regard this trial as particularly hazardous?"

"Of course; the blockading squadrons grow more efficient and expert every
day, and some danger necessarily attends every trial. Mobile ought to be
pretty well guarded by this time."

The wind was favourable, and the schooner ploughed its way swiftly through
the autumn night. The captain did not close his eyes; and just about
daylight Electra and Eric, aroused by a sudden running to and fro, rose,
and simultaneously made their appearance on deck.

"What is the matter, Wright?"

"Matter! why, look ahead, my dear fellow, and see where we are. Yonder is
Sand Island lighthouse, and a little to the right is Fort Morgan. But the
fleet to the left is hardly six miles off, and it will be a tight race if I
get in."

There was but a glimmering light, rimming the East, where two or three
stars burned with indescribable brilliance and beauty, and in the grey haze
and wreaths of mist which curled over the white-capped waves, Electra could
distinguish nothing. The air was chill, and she said, with a slight
shiver--

"I can't see any lighthouse."

"There is, of course, no light there, these war-times; but you see that
tall, white tower, don't you? There, look through my glass. That low dark
object yonder is the outline of the fort; you will see it more distinctly
after a little. Now, look right where my finger points; that is the
flag-staff. Look up overhead--I have hoisted our flag, and pretty soon it
will be a target for those dogs.

"Ha! Mitchell! Hutchinson! they see