150 THE SHIPWRECK,

sailors, brought the Baron D’Ermincourt from his cabin,
He was only able to say, “Can that be Charles? Is it
possible 7?

Hastening towards him, he could not believe his eyes
that this was the dear nephew whose death he thought
he had witnessed ; changed, it is true, by the fatigues
which he had undergone, for he was pale and meagre,
though grown considerably.

He was leaning on Philip’s arm—that same Merville,
his ancient enemy. The crew, and even the captain him-
self, seemed to doubt the reality of the sight before them ;
when his eager nephew, perceiving his uncle, burst with
impetuosity through the crowd, and threw himself sobbing
into his arms. The captain, who loved his nephew as
he would an only son, and who had often shed tears at his
untimely fate, was overwhelmed with joy at his sudden
apparition.

“ Raise your head, my dear son,” he said, after recover-
ing from his surprise, “ raise your head, that I may again
see that beloved face which I believed my eyes would
never again behold.”

Charles fixed his eyes on his uncle’s: but overcome by
his excessive joy, he rested his head on the captain’s epau-
lette, and bathed it with his tears.