After midnight the violence of the storm abated.

It was still snowing, but Captain Van Zouten unfurled his sails, made for the middle of the river, and, when the sun came up over the eastern hills, the sloop was tearing along at a great rate for New York.
So when Robert awoke and heard the groaning of timbers and the creak of cordage he knew at once that they were under way and he was glad.

The events of the night before passed rapidly through his mind, but they seemed vague and indistinct.

At first he thought the vision of St.Luc on the cliff in the storm was but a dream, and he had to make an effort of the will to convince himself that it was reality.

But everything came back presently, as vivid as it had been when it occurred, and rising he dressed and went on deck.