104 THE SHIPWRECK,

without finding the object of his researches. The sight
of the graves of his comrades renewed his struggles and
perplexities. Charles, before quitting that sadly memora-
ble spot, had placed over the tombs two boards in the
form of a cross, to designate hereafter the place of their
interment. On Philip the sight made a deep impression.
The remembrance of that night on which he assisted at
their burial; the humbled, hopeless looks of his enemy ;
the indications his whole person manifested of bitter grief
and bodily exhaustion, and the frightful thought that he
had probably died, and that without the knowledge or at-
tendance of any human being, made him shudder with
horror.

He found himself at this moment at the entrance of the
count’s cavern, ardently desirous, but not daring, from
some inexplicable movement of hesitation, to penetrate
into it.

A moment afterward Neptune was playing at his feet,
and, frisking round him, seemed to entreat him by his looks
and motions to enter. Philip stood as it were chained to
the ground: an indefinable feeling of terror on the one
hand, and a mortal repugnance and an indomitable aver-
sion on the other, left him at loss which way to decide.