me--for God's sake speak, or I shall go mad! Air, air,
--she wants air only--she cannot be dead."

These last words were succeeded by the furious rending
asunder of the fastenings that secured the boughs, and
presently the whole went overboard, leaving revealed the
tall and picturesque figure of the officer; whose left
arm encircled while it supported the reclining and
powerless form of one who well resembled, indeed, the
spectre for which she had been mistaken, while his right
hand was busied in detaching the string that secured a
portion of the covering round her throat. At length it
fell from her shoulders; and the well known form of
Madeline de Haldimar, clad even in the vestments in which
they had been wont to see her, met the astonished gaze
of the excited seamen. Still there were some who doubted
it was the corporeal woman whom they beheld; and several
of the crew who were catholics even made the sign of the
cross as the supposed spirit was now borne up the gangway
in the arms of the pained yet gratified De Haldimar: nor
was it until her feet were seen finally resting on the
deck, that Jack Fuller could persuade himself it was
indeed Miss de Haldimar, and not her ghost, that lay
clasped to the heart of the officer.

With the keen rush of the morning air upon her brow
returned the suspended consciousness of the bewildered
Madeline. The blood came slowly and imperceptibly to her
cheek; and her eyes, hitherto glazed, fixed, and
inexpressive, looked enquiringly, yet with stupid