They could
also see horses and cattle moving in the distant fields, which
showed that there must be some human habitation near, and suddenly
from a far distant house which they had not observed shone a bright
light, which became to these weary waifs of the ocean a star of
hope.
They looked at one another in silence, and then the young man turned
towards the ocean again.
'Behind,' he said, pointing to the east, 'lies a French prison and
two ruined lives--yours and mine--but in front,' swinging round to
the rich fields, 'there is fortune, food, and freedom. Come, my
friend, let us follow that light, which is our star of hope, and who
knows what glory may await us. The old life is dead, and we start
our lives in this new world with all the bitter experiences of the
old to teach us wisdom--come!' And without another word he walked
slowly down the slope towards the inland, followed by the dumb man
with his head still bent and his air of sullen resignation.
The sun disappeared behind the snowy ranges--night drew a grey veil
over the sky as the red light died out, and here and there the stars
were shining. The seabirds sought their nests again and ceased their
discordant cries--the boat which had brought the adventurers to
shore drifted slowly out to sea, while the great black hand that
rose from the eastward stretched out threateningly towards the two
men tramping steadily onward through the dewy grass, as though it
would have drawn them back again to the prison from whence they had
so miraculously escaped.
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