His arm disappeared; there was no greater fold on the deep sea than
there would have been on a tun of oil. The snow continued falling.

One thing floated, and was carried by the waves into the darkness. It
was the tarred flask, kept afloat by its osier cover.




BOOK THE THIRD.

_THE CHILD IN THE SHADOW_.




CHAPTER I.

CHESIL.


The storm was no less severe on land than on sea. The same wild
enfranchisement of the elements had taken place around the abandoned
child. The weak and innocent become their sport in the expenditure of
the unreasoning rage of their blind forces. Shadows discern not, and
things inanimate have not the clemency they are supposed to possess.

On the land there was but little wind. There was an inexplicable
dumbness in the cold. There was no hail. The thickness of the falling