Transcriber's Note:
1. Page scan source: http://www.archive.org/details/danirawerner00wern
The storm had lasted all night. Not until early dawn did the galelessen and the towering billows of the sea begin to subside.
The steamer, which had undergone a tolerably severe conflict with windand waves, was just running into the sheltering harbor, at whose endappeared her destined port, a picturesquely situated town, dominated bya strong citadel on a rocky height.
In the bow stood a young officer in the uniform of the AustrianImperial Chasseurs, who, spy-glass in hand, was scanning the scene. Thelight fatigue cap covering his thick, fair hair, shaded a face thatharmonized perfectly with his manly bearing. Every feature was grave,firm, resolute, and the clear light-brown eyes, with their quiet,searching gaze, suited the countenance. Yet one might have desired alittle more life and animation; the grave, passionless repose of a faceso youthful produced an almost chilling impression. A heavy step washeard on the cabin stairs, and directly after a young soldier, who worethe same uniform, approached. The steamer still rocked so much that hehad some difficulty in crossing the deck to his officer, who now closedthe glass and turned toward him.
"Well, George, what are the men doing?" he asked. "How are things goingdown below?"
"It's awful, lieutenant," was the reply. "They are still so sea-sickthat they can neither hear nor see. You and I are the only ones whohave kept up."
"I suppose you are very proud that we two are the only ones who haveproved ourselves good sailors?" said the officer, with a flittingsmile.
"I should think so," answered George. "When a man has seen nothing butmountains all his life, it's no small matter to toss about on thisconfounded glittering blue sea, as we have done for three days andnights. This Cattaro is surely almost at the end of the world."
He spoke in the purest Tyrolese dialect, and now stationed himselfclose behind the officer with a familiarity that implied some closerrelation than the tie between a subaltern and his commander.
George was a handsome, sturdy fellow, with curly black hair and afresh, sun-burnt face, in which a pair of black eyes sparkled boldlyand merrily. At present, however, they were scanning with evidentcuriosity the goal of the journey which the steamer was nowapproaching.
The open sea had already disappeared, and nearer and darker towered thegigantic peaks which had been visible in the distance since early dawn.They seemed to rise from the water in every direction and bar theship's way, but a narrow passage between the cliffs opened like a hugegloomy gate, and the whole extent of the harbor appeared before thevessel as she steered in.
The foaming, s