CHAPTERXXV
THEFLIGHT。
ONoncegainingthewharf，DevenantandClotellefoundnodifficultyinsecuringanimmediatepassagetoFrance。Thefinepacket-shipUticalaydownthebay，andonlyawaitedthereturnofthelighterthatnighttocompletehercargoandlistofpassengers，ereshedeparted。TheyoungFrenchmanthereforetookhisprizeonboard，andstartedfortheship。
DaylightwasjustmakingitsappearancethenextmorningwhentheUticaweighedanchorandturnedherprowtowardthesea。Inthecourseofthreehours，thevessel，withoutspreadsails，wasrapidlyflyingfromland。Everythingappearedtobeauspicious。
Theskieswerebeautifullyclear，andtheseacalm，withasunthatdazzledthewholescene。Butcloudssoonbegantochaseeachotherthroughtheheavensandtheseabecamerough。ItwasthenthatClotellefeltthattherewashopeofescaping。Shehadhithertokeptinthecabin，butnowsheexpressedawishtocomeondeck。Thehangingcloudswerenarrowingthehorizontoaspan，andgloomilyminglingwiththerisingsurges。Theoldandgrave-lookingseamenshooktheirweather-wiseheadsasifforetellingastorm。