244 THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HUNTER. 



Virgin to save him, that he might, by a long life of pen- 

 ance, obliterate his sins. On the twelfth day of his 

 wanderings he sank ujDon the earth to die, and, casting 

 his eyes upward in prayer, he saw. far in the distance, 

 towering above every other object, the cross ! 



It seemed a miracle, and inspired with strength his 

 trembling limbs ; he pressed forward that he might 

 breathe his last at its foot. As he reached it, a smile 

 of triumph lighted up his wayworn features, and he fell 

 insensible to the earth. 



Never, perhaps, was this emblem more beautifully 

 decorated or more touchingly displayed than was the 

 one that towered over Rousseau. From indications, 

 some fifteen years might have elapsed smce the Euro- 

 pean pilgrim had erected it. One of the largest forest 

 trees had been chosen that stood upon the surrounding 

 blufi"s ; the tall trunk tapered upward with the propor- 

 tion of a Corinthian column, which, with the piece form- 

 ing the cross, was covered with ten thousand of those 

 evergreen vines that spread such a charm over the 

 southern landscape. It seemed as if nature had paid 

 tribute to the sacred symbol, and festooned it with a 

 perfection and beauty worthy of her abundance. The 

 honey-suckle and the ivy, the scarlet creeper and fra- 

 grant jasmine, the foliage enamelled with flowers, shed 

 upon the repentant, and now insensible Rousseau, a 

 shower of fragrance. 



Near where he lay, there was a narrow n.nd amply- 



