BY ORDER OF THE CZAR. 331
hills began to assert their presence far away beyond the mainland. Further North the cold white Alps were get- ting ready to make their appearance on the distant back- ground of the hazy picture. By and bye the islands of the lagoons would put in their claims to recognition, but for the moment there was only one object to be seen.
And now they all saw it. The fish with their shining scales and bright dying eyes had been stowed away, and suddenly the man at the helm pointed a long bony finger in the direction of the ghost-like object to windward. The thing was recognized in silence. It assumed an almost upright attitude with the rising of the waves ; and as they receded it floated backwards as a graceful swimmer might. It did not, in taking this new position, however, buffet the water as a live swimmer would, but rose and fell with a ghostly rhythm of motion. When its head topped the waves horizontally it showed a human face distorted, white and swollen, with dark hair.
All three toilers of the deep now saw the apparition. It was more than a ghost and less than a man. ..Was it some pernicious creature of the sea ? How shoujd they avoid it ?
They tacked. They turned their eyes to leeward. They made as if they would sail for the open sea.
The morning hesitated at the portals of day. Once or twice it threatened to go back into the night. .Unusual clouds began to gather about the East. A heavy fall of rain pattered down upon the sea.
The swimming figure followed the ship. They had both struck the same current. The sailors now saw it in a new quarter. They were afraid. Again they tacked. This time the prow turned towards the Lido. The men had resumed their course.
Presently a long streak of light illuminated the waters. The rain ceased. It was nearly morning. The sun forced silver lances up into the clouds.
