Rescue was so near, but the north-east wind would not change, and the water did not rise.

Great numbers of citizens, soldiers, magistrates and women stood on the citadel and other elevated places, gazing into the distance.
A thousand hands were clasped in fervent prayer, and the eyes of all were turned in feverish expectation and eager yearning towards the south, but the boundary line of the waves did not move; and the sun, as if in mockery, burst cheerily through the mists of the autumn morning, imparted a pleasant warmth to the keen air, and in the evening sank towards the west in the midst of radiant light, diffusing its golden rays far and wide.

The cloudless blue sky arched pitilessly over the city, and at night glittered with thousands of twinkling stars.

Early on the morning of the twenty-ninth the mists grew denser, the grass remained dry, the fogs lifted, the cool air changed to a sultry atmosphere, the grey clouds piled in masses on each other, and grew black and threatening.

A light breeze rose, stirring the leafless branches of the trees, then a sudden gust of wind swept over the heads of the throngs watching the distant horizon.