Page:The Wreck of a World - Grove - 1890.djvu/72

56 under the opposite bank, and a spit of land concealed from us the exact spot where the children were at play. We could, however, see the boats lying under the shore, and concluded all was well. Just at this moment the sun set, and darkness came on with the rapidity usual in these latitudes. The confused cries increased, and with them our anxiety. Soon we could perceive the boats hastily unmooring and putting off. What had occurred? We waited anxiously for the tidings.

In a few minutes the boats had come alongside, and there poured on board a weeping, terrified crowd of children, very different from the bright, happy throng whom we had landed so short a time before. But where was Aurelia? No doubt she was seeing the last child safe out of the boats before coming on board herself. But when the last child had stepped on deck and the boatman had called "all out," and still Aurelia did not appear, a terrible dread paralysed my heart. Twice I tried to speak before I could ask the question to which I trembled to receive an answer.

"Where—where is my daughter—Aurelia?"

And for answer there came a torrent of sobs.