prayed in agony for a single glimpse of the
rocking masts and yards, or to catch one syllable of the cheering voice of
Maso. But in both his wishes were vain. In place of the former, he had
naught but the veiled misty light, that had come on with the hurricane;
and, instead of the latter, his ears were filled with the washing of the
waves and the roars of the gusts. The blasts now descended to the surface
of the lake, and now went whirling and swelling upward, in a way to lead
the listener to fancy that the viewless winds might, for once, be seen.
For a single painful instant, in one of those disheartening moments of
despair that will come over the stoutest, his hand was about to relinquish
its hold of the baron, and to make the last natural struggle for life; but
that fair and modest picture of maiden loveliness and truth, which had so
long haunted his waking hours and adorned his night-dreams, interposed to
prevent the act. After this brief and fleeting weakness, the young man
seemed endowed with new energy. He swam stronger, and with greater
apparent advantage, than before.

"Nettuno--gallant Nettuno!"--again drove over him, bringing with it the
chilling certainty, that turned from his course by the rolling of the
water he had thrown away these desperate efforts, by taking a direction
which led him from the bark. While there was the smallest appearance of
success no difficulties, of whatever magnitude, could entirely extinguish
hope; but when the dire conviction that he had been actually aiding,
instead of diminishing the danger, pressed upon Sigismund, he abandoned
his efforts. The most he endeavored or hoped to achieve, was to keep his
own head and that of his companion above the fatal element, while he
answered the cry of Maso with a shout of despair.

"Nettuno!--gallant Nettuno!"--again flew past on the gale.

This cry might have been an answer, or it might merely be the Italian
encouraging his dog to bear on the body, with which it was already loaded
Sigismund uttered a shout, which he felt must be the last. He struggled
desperately, but in vain the world and its allurements were vanishing from
his thoughts, when a dark line whirled over him, and fell thrashing upon
the very wave which covered his face. An instinctive grasp caught it, and
the young soldier felt himself impelled ahead. He had seized the rope
which the mariner had not ceased to throw, as the fisherman casts his
line, and he was at the side of th