A NIGHT'S PEEIL. 155 



" ]STot a bit of it. A cleverer head than, mine or 

 yours either ordered the expedition. Yirginie would 

 have it that any intelligence about you would be in 

 one's way here." 



" Then you told her nothing of the authentic 

 account of our foundering?" 



" Indeed but I did but she would not believe it. 

 Depend upon it, instinct is a fine thing. Her in- 

 stinct has proved better than our reason, for she 

 would have it that you were not drowned, and that 

 news would find its way here." 



Then, we entered into a sort of resume of the shore- 

 going events of the last night ; of all that the gover- 

 nor had done, and the good fellows who had volun- 

 teered to row guard all night with lights. Then it 

 was told me that the ladies had been deeply affected, 

 but none so deeply as Virginie. She had taken no 

 rest all night, but with tearful eyes had looked out 

 for concerted signals of intelligence, and breathlessly 

 questioned every messenger. My sailor friend had 

 been in the same boat with her, and had won from 

 her expressions of gratitude, by his determination to 

 pass the whole night, if necessary, in the search for 

 me. At that moment when we stood speaking she 

 did not know of my safety. 



I determined to be myself the announcer of my 

 prorogued existence, and set off at once to the residence 

 of her father. I had prepared speeches of thankful 

 acknowledgment of her interest in my welfare, and 



