cenotaphs were strewed thick around, adorned by ever renewing vegetation;

the mighty dead hovered over their monuments, and beheld in our enthusiasm

and congregated numbers a renewal of the scenes in which they had been the

actors. Perdita and Clara rode in a close carriage; I attended them on

horseback. At length we arrived at the harbour; it was agitated by the

outward swell of the sea; the beach, as far could be discerned, was covered

by a moving multitude, which, urged by those behind toward the sea, again

rushed back as the heavy waves with sullen roar burst close to them. I

applied my glass, and could discern that the frigate had already cast

anchor, fearful of the danger of approaching nearer to a lee shore: a boat

was lowered; with a pang I saw that Raymond was unable to descend the

vessel's side; he was let down in a chair, and lay wrapt in cloaks at the

bottom of the boat.

I dismounted, and called to some sailors who were rowing about the harbour

to pull up, and take me into their skiff; Perdita at the same moment

alighted from her carriage--she seized my arm--"Take me with you," she

cried; she was trembling and pale; Clara clung to her--"You must not," I

said, "the sea is rough--he will soon be here--do you not see his

boat?" The little bark to which I had beckoned had now pulled up; before I

could stop her, Perdita, assisted by the sailors was in it--Clara

followed her mother--a loud shout echoed from the crowd as we pulled out

of the inner harbour; while my sister at the prow, had caught hold of one

of the men who was using a glass, asking a thousand questions, careless of

the spray that broke over her, deaf, sightless to all, except the little

speck that, just visible on the top of the waves, evidently neared. We

223

The Last Man