第13章 CHAPTER III.(2)

His first and only sense--cleared by fasting and quickened by reaction--was one of infinite relief.He was not only free from the vague terrors of the preceding days and nights,but his whole past seemed to be lost and sunk forever in this illimitable expanse.The low plain of Tasajara,with its steadfast monotony of light and shadow,had sunk beneath another level,but one that glistened,sparkled,was instinct with varying life,and moved and even danced below him.The low palisades of regularly recurring tules that had fenced in,impeded,but never relieved the blankness of his horizon,were forever swallowed up behind him.All trail of past degradation,all record of pain and suffering,all footprints of his wandering and misguided feet were smoothly wiped out in that obliterating sea.He was physically helpless,and he felt it;he was in danger,and he knew it,--but he was free!

Happily there was but little wind and the sea was slight.The raft was still intact so far as he could judge,but even in his ignorance he knew it would scarcely stand the surges of the lower bay.Like most Californians who had passed the straits of Carquinez at night in a steamer,he did not recognize the locality,nor even the distant peak of Tamalpais.There were a few dotting sails that seemed as remote,as uncertain,and as unfriendly as sea birds.The raft was motionless,almost as motionless as he was in his cramped limbs and sun-dried,stiffened clothes.Too weak to keep an upright position,without mast,stick,or oar to lift a signal above that vast expanse,it seemed impossible for him to attract attention.Even his pistol was gone.

Suddenly,in an attempt to raise himself,he was struck by a flash so blinding that it seemed to pierce his aching eyes and brain and turned him sick.It appeared to come from a crevice between the logs at the further end of the raft.Creeping painfully towards it he saw that it was a triangular slip of highly polished metal that he had hitherto overlooked.He did not know that it was a "flashing"mirror used in topographical observation,which had slipped from the surveyors'instruments when they abandoned the raft,but his excited faculties instinctively detected its value to him.He lifted it,and,facing the sun,raised it at different angles with his feeble arms.But the effort was too much for him;the raft presently seemed to be whirling with his movement,and he again fell.

......

"Ahoy there!"

The voice was close upon--in his very ears.He opened his eyes.