"Oh, this sense of release from danger! Oh, this delightful sense of
freedom! And the heavenly starlit sky, and the beautiful water, and the
delicious breeze. Oh, the world is so lovely! Oh, life and liberty is so
sweet, so sweet! Oh, dear Lyon, I am so happy! And I love you so much!"
she exclaimed, almost delirious with joy at her great deliverance.
It was very late before Lyon could persuade her to leave the deck.
"I am too happy to sleep," she continually answered.
At length, however, he coaxed her to let him lead her to their
state-room.
There, in the darkness and silence, she grew more composed, though not
less happy. And in a few minutes after she had laid down, she fell
asleep.
She slept very soundly until morning, when she was awakened by the
cheerful chants of the sailors getting ready to make sail.
She lay a little while enjoying the joyous sounds that spoke to her so
happily of liberty, and then she arose and dressed herself, and went up
on deck, leaving Lyon still asleep.
The sun was just rising, and the harbor was beautiful. She walked about,
talking now to the captain, and now to one of the men, and exciting
wonder among them all, at her happiness.
At length she was joined by her husband, who had waked up the moment she
had left him, and got up immediately, and dressed and followed her.
"Oh, Lyon! is not this a beautiful morning? And the Captain says the
wind is fair, and we shall sail in half an hour!" was her greeting.
And Lyon pressed her hand in silence. A great weight of anxiety lay upon
his heart; he knew, if she did not, that she was not safe, even on
shipboard, until the ship should really sail. And now his eyes were
fixed upon a large rowboat that was rapidly crossing the water from the
shore to the ship.
"Do you expect any more passengers?" he inquired of the Captain.
"Oh, lots!" answered the latter.
"Are those some of your passengers coming in the boat?"
The Captain threw a hasty glance at the approaching object and answered
carelessly: "Of course they are! Don't you see they are making right for the ship?"
The boat was very near. It was at the side of the ship. The oars were
drawn in. The passengers were climbing up to the deck.
"They look like nice people! I am sure they will make it still
pleasanter for us on the voyage," said Sybil, who in her happy mood was
inclined to be delighted with every event.
The Captain went to meet the new-comers.
Two gentlemen of the party spoke for a moment with him, and then
advanced towards the spot where the husband and wife were standing.