The Headsman; Or, The Abbaye des Vignerons

w a thousand f

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great anchors,

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in the botto

ard

l lingered, but objects on both shores were getting to be confounded with the shapeless masses of the mountains. Here and there a pale star peeped out, though most of the vault that stretched across the confined horizon was shut in by dusky clouds. A streak of dull, unnatural light was se

now getting to be black and menacing, and the very sublimity of the scale on which Nature had here thrown together her elements was an additional source of uncertainty and alarm. Those fairy-like, softly-delineated, natural arabesques, which had so lately been dwelt upon with rapture we

nd establishing himself on the pile of freight, as if he had a mind more addicted to reflection, and less disposed to unmeaning revelry, than most of those whom he had just abandoned. This was the Westphalian student, who, wearied with amusements that were below the level of his acquirements, and suddenly struck with the imposing aspect of the lake and the mountains, had stolen apart to muse on his distant home and the beings most dear to him, under an excitem

ority that the mariner afloat is wont successfully to assume over the unhappy wight of a landsman, who is very liable

that I love to bring the unseen principle of our

ercourse. Dost see more than other

s that have often looked upon me in affection. When we are in a strange

ulder of the student, which he

eing deserted in this selfish and cruel battle of interest better than I! Be not ashamed of thy star, but gaze at it till thy eye-strings crack. See the bright eyes of her that l

e poetry of the mariner, and he distrusted the obvious allusion to the

t?" he demanded, turning

est seaman's heart. Gaze at thy star young man, while thou mayest, and bethink thee of the maiden thou loves

dish eagerness on regarding the little luminary that occasionally was still seen wading among vol

n of the cleared space near the stern. It was now so dark that some little attention was necessary to distinguish faces, even at trifling distances. But, by mea

o impress him with the deference that the obscure usually feel for the great--"this is likely to prove an unfortunate end to a voyage that beg

we have cause to fe

in a way to make the stoutest heart sick. My knowledge of these waters is not great, but there are signs making themselves seen in the sky,

long residence in the Alps must have gi

in a region where the elements sometimes work their will on a scale commensurate with the grandeur of the mountains, his thoughts had been anxiously recurring to the comforts and security of som

sub-strata, or foundations of air, that the cold masses which collect around the glaciers sometimes descend like avalanches from their heights, to fill the vacuum. Th

is danger of one of the

ight above, and this deep tranquillity below, which surpa

this, will be followed, sooner or later, by a commotion in the atmosphere. I like not the absence of the breeze from the land, on which Baptiste counted so surely, and, taking that symptom with the signs of yonder hot sky, I look soon t

ans yonder bright light? Is it a star in the heavens, or

heartily; "he knows of our being in the bark, and he

so richly studded with hamlets and castles, and Adelheid had pointed it out to Sigismund as the immediate goal of her journey. The lord of Blonay being apprized of the intended visit nothing was more probable than that he, an old and tried friend

communicated the apprehensions of the monk and Maso. A braver man than Melchior de Willading did not dwell

father's tenderness: "what will become of this frail

utious in pitching his voice, made her the mistress of the cause of alarm. "I have heard enough of what the good Father Xavier and this mariner have said, to know that we are in a situation that might be better; but am I not wi

ns to despair. They put their trust in God, who is a prop to sustain even those who are feebler than our gentle Adel held. But we will not exaggerate the causes of app

the aspect of the heavens is getting to be fearfully solem

late to have recourse to them. We could not reach Vévey by such means, with this bark loaded to the water'

Genoese; "they at least may do us go

e heavens still more closely, he went to the spot where the patron yet lay lost in sleep, and s

ubbed his eyes, and slowly reg

didst awake me, Maso?--One that hath led thy life

an, and let us know what thou thinkest of their appearance. Is there the stu

htened by the fluttering of her own poultry. The lake

light; here, over the to

star! and a fair s

nk us be-stirring ourselves like stout men, and those used to the water, while, in truth, we are as undisturbed as if the bark were a rock that might laugh at the Leman and its wa

ly above the brawling torrents of the Rhone. This fiery opening resembled a window admitting of fearful glimpses into the dreadful preparations that were making up among the higher peaks of the Alps. A flash of red quivering light was emitted, and a distant, rumbling rush, that was not thunder but rather resembled the wheelings of a thousand squadrons into line, followed the flash. The forecastle was deserted t

or we shall be overtaken by the tempest unprepared. I speak not for myself, since, by the aid of this faithful dog, and favored by my own arms, I have always the shor

Grimaldi; "he that can proclaim the danger

t, like those who die in their sins, we have foolishly wasted most precious

to whom the necessity is unexpectedly presented. The danger did not seem sufficiently imminent to have recourse to an expedient so decided; and, though startled and aroused, the untamed spirits of those who crowded the, menaced pile were rather in a state of uneasiness, than of that fierce excitement to which they were so capable of being wrought, and which was in some degree necessary to induce even them, thriftless and destitute as

the Augustine, "remember thy repentant children, and have

sends us the signal to be ready!" shouted Maso.

iew to secure them. As each man succeeded in effecting his own object, he was led away by that community of feeling which rules a multitude. The common rush was believed to be with a view to succor Maso, though each man secretly knew the falsity of the impression as respected his own particular case; and box after box

with a patron's rights and duties; but their remonstrances were uttered to inattentive ears. Maso knew himself to be irresponsible by situation, for it was not an easy matter to bring him within the grasp of the authorities; and as for the others, most of them were far too insignificant to feel much apprehension for a reparation that wou

our limbs when in danger. This timely precaution permitted each to work with a zeal that found no drawback in personal interest, and the effect was

, for by this time the laborers in the work of destruction had received some such impetus as the rolling stone acquires by the increased momentum of its descent. Packages, boxes, bales, and everything that came to hand, were hurled into the water frantically, and without other thought than of the necessity of ligh

nfusion, to the last degree hazardous. Maso now abandoned his own active agency in the toil, for no sooner did he see the others fairly and zealously enlisted in the undertaking, than he

ent efforts to restrain the torrent, "and thou shalt answer for this, as

hee, by thy narrowness of spirit, to a port from wh

s to blame than these madmen, Baptiste. Hadst thou left the town at the

ver seen thee or thy cheeses, or that thou wouldst reli

s in, in safety, and without necessary harm to the property of any. Noble Baron de Willading, here may

rror-struck by the surrounding scene as they were, gladly shut their ears, to exclude epithets of such bitterness and menace that they curdled the blood. Maso passed on among the workmen, when he had interposed between the disputants. He gave his orders with perfect self-possession, though his understanding eye perceived that, instead of magnifying the danger, he had himself not fully anticipated its extent. The rolling of the waves was now incessant, an

to aid us. Roger de Blonay is not a man to see us perish without an effort, nor would the worthy bailiff, Peter Hof

red the Genoese. "It were better that we should be left to our own exertio

. Maso called to him one or two of the regular crew, and together they rolled up the canvass, in a manner peculiar to the latine rig; for a breath of hot air, the first of any sort that had been felt for many hours passed ath

ng to roll a bale to the side of the vessel, a little apart from the rest of the b

remove a mountain! Do we

e other's face. These frantic and ill-direct

-for Maso had smiled in scenes far more imposing,

s of one that loves her, who is j

his bale into the water. Place thine arm thus; an ounce of we

desire to perform the evolution which its inert weight had so long resisted. Maso recovered his footing, which had been deranged by the unexpected movement, with a seaman's dexterity, but his companion was no longer at his side. Kneeling on the gangway, he perceived the dark bale disappearing in the

eet, a startled and admonished man. Still discretion did not desert him. He saw the uselessness, and even the danger, of distracting the attention of the workmen, and the ill-fated scholar was permitted to pass away without a word of regret or a comment on his fate. None knew of his loss but the wary mariner, nor was his person missed by any of those who had spent the day in his company. But she to whom he hud plighted his faith on the banks of the Elbe long gazed at that pale star, and

now virtually with him, Baptiste, enervated by the extraordinary crisis, and choking with passion, being utterly incapable of giving a distinct or a useful order

mployed, neither had the powers of the air been idle. The unnatural opening in the heavens was shut, and, at short intervals, those fearful wheelings of the a?rial squadrons were drawing nearer. Thrice had fitful breathings of warm air passed over the bark, and occasionally, as she plunged into a sea that was heavier than common, the faces of tho

he night. The ramparts of Savoy were barely distinguishable from the flying clouds, having the appearance of black walls, seemingly within reach of the

g torches glided along the strand. The shore seemed alive with human be

antry under the dread signs of the hour, and Conrad, trembling with superstition and terror, was free from hypocrisy.

s accursed bark!" said the juggler, after several had hazarded their quaint and

proposal, therefore, met with a mixed reception. The latter protested against the neglect, while the former, equally

o between his teeth, too prudent to fly openly in the face of so strong an opposition, and yet too credulou

epeated appeals to procure a light, that it might be placed before a picture of the mother of God which Conrad produced, he objected his Protestant faith, the impossibility of maintaining the flame while the bark pitched so violently, and the divided opinions of the passengers. The Catholics bethought them of the country and influence of Maso, and they loudly called upon him, for the love of God! to come and enforce their requests. But the mariner was occupie

ught in this!" he asked, with par

man among them to doubt that a navigation, so accompanied, would be cursed. Baptiste stammered, muttered

have received from the happiest of his demonstrations. New light broke in upon them, and the ominous stillness was followed by a general demand for the patron to point out the man. Obeying this order, partly under the influenc

a general and breathless pause. Like the treacherous calm that had so long reigned upon the lake, it was a precursor of a fearful and violent explosion. Little was said, for the occasion was

ered the Neapolitan, with a strange mixture of C

f charity and love, but, notwithstanding this gleam of h

else was passing near--for the crowd had uttered its resolutions in the suppressed voices of men determined--the Baron de Willading and the Signor Grimaldi advanced with dignity and firmness to prevent the shameful strife. At this critical moment the voice of Balthazar was heard above the roar of the coming wind, not calling on Maria, as he had been admonished, but appealing to the two old nobles to save him. Sigismund sprang forw

t on the surface of the lake yielding to the avalanche