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silence of these wretched men was not yet broken； when there
arose； in the empty night； a sound louder than the roar of
any European tempest； swifter to travel than the wings of any
Eastern wind。 Blackness engulfed the world； blackness；
stabbed across from every side by intricate and blinding
lightning。 Almost in the same second； at one world…
swallowing stride； the heart of the tornado reached the
clearing。 I heard an agonising crash； and the light of my
reason was overwhelmed。
When I recovered consciousness； the day was come。 I was
unhurt； the trees close about me had not lost a bough； and I
might have thought at first that the tornado was a feature in
a dream。 It was otherwise indeed； for when I looked abroad；
I perceived I had escaped destruction by a hand's…breadth。
Right through the forest； which here covered hill and dale；
the storm had ploughed a lane of ruin。 On either hand； the
trees waved uninjured in the air of the morning； but in the
forthright course of its advance； the hurricane had left no
trophy standing。 Everything； in that line； tree； man； or
animal； the desecrated chapel and the votaries of Hoodoo； had
been subverted and destroyed in that brief spasm of anger of
the powers of air。 Everything； but a yard or two beyond the
line of its passage； humble flower； lofty tree； and the poor
vulnerable maid who now knelt to pay her gratitude to heaven；
awoke unharmed in the crystal purity and peace of the new
day。
To move by the path of the tornado was a thing impossible to
man； so wildly were the wrecks of the tall forest piled
together by that fugitive convulsion。 I crossed it indeed；
with such labour and patience； with so many dangerous slips
and falls； as left me； at the further side； bankrupt alike of
strength and courage。 There I sat down awhile to recruit my
forces； and as I ate （how should I bless the kindliness of
Heaven！） my eye； flitting to and fro in the colonnade of the
great trees； alighted on a trunk that had been blazed。 Yes；
by the directing hand of Providence； I had been conducted to
the very track I was to follow。 With what a light heart I
now set forth； and walking with how glad a step； traversed
the uplands of the isle！
It was hard upon the hour of noon； when I came； all tattered
and wayworn； to the summit of a steep descent； and looked
below me on the sea。 About all the coast； the surf； roused
by the tornado of the night； beat with a particular fury and
made a fringe of snow。 Close at my feet； I saw a haven； set
in precipitous and palm…crowned bluffs of rock。 Just
outside； a ship was heaving on the surge； so trimly sparred；
so glossily painted； so elegant and point…device in every
feature； that my heart was seized with admiration。 The
English colours blew from her masthead； and from my high
station； I caught glimpses of her snowy planking； as she
rolled on the uneven deep； and saw the sun glitter on the
brass of her deck furniture。 There； then； was my ship of
refuge； and of all my difficulties only one remained： to get
on board of her。
Half an hour later； I issued at last out of the woods on the
margin of a cove； into whose jaws the tossing and blue
billows entered； and along whose shores they broke with a
surprising loudness。 A wooded promontory hid the yacht； and
I had walked some distance round the beach； in what appeared
to be a virgin solitude； when my eye fell on a boat； drawn
into a natural harbour； where it rocked in safety； but
deserted。 I looked about for those who should have manned
her； and presently； in the immediate entrance of the wood；
spied the red embers of a fire； and； stretched around in
various attitudes； a party of slumbering mariners。 To these
I drew near： most were black； a few white； but all were
dressed with the conspicuous decency of yachtsmen； and one；
from his peaked cap and glittering buttons； I rightly divined
to be an officer。 Him； then； I touched upon the shoulder。
He started up； the sharpness of his movement woke the rest；
and they all stared upon me in surprise。
'What do you want？' inquired the officer。
'To go on board the yacht；' I answered。
I thought they all seemed disconcerted at this； and the
officer； with something of sharpness； asked me who I was。
Now I had determined to conceal my name until I met Sir
George； and the first name that rose to my lips was that of
the Senora Mendizabal。 At the word； there went a shock about
the little party of seamen； the negroes stared at me with
indescribable eagerness； the whites themselves with something
of a scared surprise； and instantly the spirit of mischief
prompted me to add； 'And if the name is new to your ears；
call me Metamnbogu。'
I had never seen an effect so wonderful。 The negroes threw
their hands into the air； with the same gesture I remarked
the night before about the Hoodoo camp…fire； first one； and
then another； ran forward and kneeled down and kissed the
skirts of my torn dress； and when the white officer broke out
swearing and calling to know if they were mad； the coloured
seamen took him by the shoulders； dragged him on one side
till they were out of hearing； and surrounded him with open
mouths and extravagant pantomime。 The officer seemed to
struggle hard； he laughed aloud； and I saw him make gestures
of dissent and protest； but in the end； whether overcome by
reason or simply weary of resistance； he gave in … approached
me civilly enough； but with something of a sneering manner
underneath … and touching his cap； 'My lady；' said he； 'if
that is what you are； the boat is ready。'
My reception on board the NEMOROSA （for so the yacht was
named） partook of the same mingled nature。 We were scarcely
within hail of that great and elegant fabric； where she lay
rolling gunwale under and churning the blue sea to snow；
before the bulwarks were lined with the heads of a great
crowd of seamen； black； white； and yellow； and these and the
few who manned the boat began exchanging shouts in some
LINGUA FRANCA incomprehensible to me。 All eyes were directed
on the passenger； and once more I saw the negroes toss up
their hands to heaven； but now as if with passionate wonder
and delight。
At the head of the gangway； I was received by another
officer； a gentlemanly man with blond and bushy whiskers； and
to him I addressed my demand to see Sir George。
'But this is not … ' he cried； and paused。
'I know it；' returned the other officer； who had brought me
from the shore。 'But what the devil can we do？ Look at all
the niggers！'
I followed his direction； and as my eye lighted upon each；
the poor ignorant Africans ducked； and bowed； and threw their
hands into the air； as though in the presence of a creature
half divine。 Apparently the officer with the whiskers had
instantly come round to the opinion of his subaltern； for he
now addressed me with every signal of respect。
'Sir George is at the island； my lady；' said he： 'for which；
with your ladyship's permission； I shall immediately make all
sail。 The cabins are prepared。 Steward； take Lady Gre