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308 On whichever side she cast her eyes, she saw nothing to save her from despair. Night was approaching; she was without food, and knew not where to go. "I thought," said she, sadly, "to perish in the ocean, but here, doubtless, is the end reserved for me. Some sea-monster will come and devour me, or I shall die of hunger." She climbed up, and seated herself on the summit of the rock. As long as it was light, she gazed upon the ocean; and when it was quite dark, she took off her taffety petticoat, covered her head with it, and remained in trembling expectation of what might befal her. Sleep at length overpowered her; and presently she thought she heard the music of several instruments. She was perfectly persuaded that she was dreaming; but a moment afterwards she heard some one sing the following verses, which seemed to have been composed expressly for her:—

The attention she paid to these words had the effect of waking her completely. "What good or ill fortune now awaits me?" she exclaimed. "Can there yet be happy days in store for one in my wretched condition?" She opened her eyes timidly, under the apprehension of seeing herself surrounded by monsters; but what was her astonishment when, in place of the rude and terrible rock, she perceived an apartment, the walls and ceiling of which were entirely of gold. She was lying in a bed, which perfectly corresponded in its magnificence with the rest of this most splendid palace in the universe. She asked herself a hundred questions respecting this extraordinary sight, not being able to believe she was wide awake. At length, she got up, and ran to open a glass door that gave access to a spacious balcony, from which she beheld all the beauties nature, assisted by art, could create upon earth. Gardens, filled with flowers, fountains, statues, and the rarest trees; distant woods; palaces, the walls of which were ornamented with jewels, and the roofs composed of pearls, so wonderfully constructed that each was a masterpiece of architecture. A calm and smiling sea, covered with thousands of vessels, whose sails, pendants,