102 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



ler)^ of the Saint-Gerand, flretching out her arms 

 toward him, who was making fo many fruitlefs ef- 

 forts to join her. It was Virginia. She foon dif- 

 covered her lover by his intrepidity. At fight of 

 this amiable girl, expofed to perils fo dreadful, we 

 were overwhelmed with forrow and defpair. As 

 for Firginia, with a noble and dignified air, flie 

 waved her hand to us, as if to bid us an eternal 

 farewel. The failors had all thrown themfelves 

 into the Ocean. One alone remained on the deck, 

 who was entirely naked, and ftrong as a Herades. 

 He approached Virginia refpeclfuUy ; we faw him 

 throw himfelf at her knees, and even endeavour to 

 perfiiade her to pull off her clothes ; but Ihe, re- 

 pelling him, with dignity, turned her face the 

 other way. The air refounded with thefe redoubled 

 cries of the fpeclators : *' Save her, oh, fave her; 

 *' do not, do not quit her." But, at the fame mo- 

 ment, a mountain of water, of an enormous fize, 

 engulphed itfelf between the lile of Amber and the 

 coaft, and advanced, roaring, toward the veffel, 

 which it menaced with it's dufky fides and foam- 

 ing fummits. At this awful fpeftacle, the failor 

 flung himfelf alone into the fea, and Virginia, per- 

 ceiving death inevitable, placed one hand on her 

 clothes, and the other on her heart ; then raifing 

 her placid eyes tovvard Heaven, (lie fcemed an an- 

 gel, going to take flight toward the celefiial re- 

 gions. 



Oh, 



