, and set it burning like a Greek lamp. 

" Massa Vail," exclaimed Jezebel, who made her clumsy 



BREAKING THE ITEWS. 



49 



way to the deck, to see what was the matter, " what makes 
you look so wild and pale ? " 

*^Bel," he cried, with , *^that vessel yonder is 
going away from us, and here comes a night-fog shut- 
ting us in with thick weather, so that even this flam- 
ing light cannot be seen half a mile away. Another  
is quenched ! ** and he beat his breast with his right hand, 
as if helping his  to break. 

^^Lawks-a-massy," said Jezebel, *'Ihear dat baby a-cry- 
in' in de cabin," and she immediately hastened back to 
her domestic quarters, murmuring as she went, " What's 
de good book say ? ^ A little chile shall lead dem,' So 
ole Bel must foUer after de lambkin. *' 

Thick darkness, heavy with fog, then fell on the sea. 
The burning flambeau cast a flickering glare round the 
deck and out a little way on the waters. Dim, damp, 
and lurid was the illumination, just enough to make 
darkness visible. 

Flocks of night-birds, attracted by the light