208 LETTERS FROM HIGH LATITUDES. [XL 



appearance at all during the summer is not an act de rigueur 

 in this part of the world ; we might spend yet another fort- 

 night in lying to, and then after all have to poke our way 

 blindfold to the coast ; at all events it would be soon 

 enough to lie to the next night. Such were the considera- 

 tions, which — after an anxious consultation with Mr. Wyse 

 in the cabin, and much fingering of the charts, — determined 

 me to carry on during the night. 



Nevertheless, I confess I was very uneasy. Though I 

 went to bed and fell asleep — for at sea nothing prevents 

 that process — my slumbers were constantly agitated by the 

 most vivid dreams that I ever remember to have had. 

 Dreams of an arrival in England, and your coming down to 

 meet us, and all the pleasure I had in recounting our adven- 

 tures to you ; then suddenly your face seemed to fade away 

 beneath a veil of angry grey surge that broke over low, 

 sharp-pointed rocks ; and the next moment there resounded 

 over the ship that cry which has been the preface to so 

 many a disaster — the ring of which, none who have ever 

 heard it are likely to forget — " Breakers ahead ! " 



In a moment I was on deck, dressed — for it is always 

 best to dress, — and there, sure enough, right ahead, about a 

 mile and a half off, through the mist, which had come on 

 very thick, I could distinguish the upward shooting fluff of 

 seas shattering against rocks. No land was to be seen, but 

 the line of breakers every instant became more evident ; at 

 the pace we were going, in seven or eight minutes we should 

 be upon them. Now, thought I to myself, we shall see 

 whether a stout heart beats beneath the silk tartan ! The 

 result covered that brilliant garment with glory and salt 

 water. To tack was impossible, we could only wear, — and 

 to wear in such a sea was no very pleasant operation. But 

 the little ship seemed to know what she was about, as well 

 as any of us : up went the helm, round came the schooner 

 into the trough of the sea, — high over her quarter toppled 

 an enormous sea, built up of I know not how many tons 

 of water, and hung over the deck ; — by some unaccoun'- 



