She did not venture an answer, but running to her own room, fell weeping on the couch.
"After five long years, to return so changed--so cold--oh, God, this punishment is greater than I can bear!" she sobbed.
By the middle of the afternoon, the wind changed slightly, shifting to the northeast, and some activity was evinced on board the Xenophon. Fernando thought longer delay was dangerous. Captain Lane and his daughter, with all other women and children, were conveyed to the bomb-proof houses, which had been constructed for them. He was so busy all that day, that he only caught an occasional glimpse of Morgianna.
When night came, the Xenophon had left her moorings, and Fernando predicted she would be brought in broadside to begin the cannonade at daybreak. He retired to his bed at eleven o'clock and at four Lieutenant Willard came to him and said: "Captain, the wind has shifted due east."
"How is the night?"
"Dark and cloudy."
"Can anything be seen of the Xenophon?"
"No."
"Send a dozen men to the promontory and build a fire. The light would show her to us."
A dozen bold fishermen, who knew the coast well, went out in their boats, hugging the rocky shore until the promontory was gained, and gathering up great heaps of driftwood on the edge of the bluff, set it on fire, and pulled back.