After the lapse of three days, the gale died away, the sea-gull sailed upon the calm bosom of the windless atmosphere, and the last yellow leaf on the topmost branch of the oak hung without motion.  The sea no longer broke with fury; but a swell setting in steadily for shore, with long sweep and sullen burst replaced the roar of the breakers.  Yet we derived hope from the change, and we did not doubt that after the interval of a few days the sea would resume its tranquillity.  The sunset of the fourth day favoured this idea; it was clear and golden.  As we gazed on the purple sea, radiant beneath, we were attracted by a novel spectacle; a dark speck—­as it neared, visibly a boat—­rode on the top of the waves, every now and then lost in the steep vallies between.  We marked its course with eager questionings; and, when we saw that it evidently made for shore, we descended to the only practicable landing place, and hoisted a signal to direct them.  By the help of glasses we distinguished her crew; it consisted of nine men, Englishmen, belonging in truth to the two divisions of our people, who had preceded us, and had been for several weeks at Paris.  As countryman was wont to meet countryman in distant lands, did we greet our visitors on their landing, with outstretched hands and gladsome welcome.  They were slow to reciprocate our gratulations.  They looked angry and resentful; not less than the chafed sea which they had traversed with imminent peril, though apparently more displeased with each other than with us.  It was strange to see these human beings, who appeared to be given forth by the earth like rare and inestimable plants, full of towering passion, and the spirit of angry contest.  Their first demand was to be conducted to the Lord Protector of England, so they called Adrian, though he had long discarded the empty title, as a bitter mockery of the shadow to which the Protectorship was now reduced.  They were speedily led to Dover Castle, from whose keep Adrian had watched the movements of the boat.  He received them with the interest and wonder so strange a visitation created.  In the confusion occasioned by their angry demands for precedence, it was long before we could discover the secret meaning of this strange scene.  By degrees, from the furious declamations of one, the fierce interruptions of another, and the bitter scoffs of a third, we found that they were deputies from our colony at Paris, from three parties there formed, who, each with angry rivalry, tried to attain a superiority over the other two.  These deputies had been dispatched by them to Adrian, who had been selected arbiter; and they had journied from Paris to Calais, through the vacant towns and desolate country, indulging the while violent hatred against each other; and now they pleaded their several causes with unmitigated party-spirit.