The prows of these small vessels
were all so oddly curved and shaped, while the figureheads suggested
nightmare fancies of the brain. Off a little way rose a fine walled
city that seemed made all of marble, at first glance. Just now, in
this early light, it was coldly white like a cemetery, but presently
the sun shot his first warm beam over the horizon's edge, and lo! a
transformation. The towering whiteness now blushed into rosy hues, the
black-green of the foliage lightened to a delicate tint, while bits of
gay colors here and there suggested parks and gardens filled with
bloom. The cemetery had become a Palace Beautiful.
The girls gazed a long time, then, a bit chilled, for the night's gale
had greatly cooled the air, they crept back, to sleep a while longer,
in spite of the well-meant advice of Texas. "Get up, lazyheads!"
austerely flung down from the porthole.
CHAPTER XIII.
ALGIERS AND ANDY.
It was several hours later before they went ashore, the special party
that the girls were in being led by Mr. Lawrence, and consisting of the
four young people. Mrs. Vanderhoff had been quite upset by the storm,
and was not equal to any exertion yet, which was, indeed, the condition
of several of the passengers.
Even Mr. Lawrence looked pale, and laughingly owned to "being a little
shaky in his gait." But he thought himself equal to a jaunt in the
city, especially such an odd, quaint one as Algiers.
Captain Hosmer took them ashore in his own gig, but left them on the
quay, for he was full of business.
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