THE ISLES OF THE INDIES 15 



in months and too low to approach the marine railway. While 

 we were waiting for it to rise another gale screamed from out 

 of the north, the northwest this time, and drove the tide still 

 further. The new anchor and chain that we had ordered to re- 

 place the one lost was delayed, held up for no good reason at 

 all. Early November passed into middle November, and still 

 we were not ready. 



But everything comes in time, and the day arrived when 

 our vessel trim and newly painted slid off the railway into the 

 calm waters of the Tred Avon River. We named her Basilisk 

 after a Central American lizard that, similar to the water strid- 

 ers, has the power of walking on the water's surface. Like her 

 famous progenitor the Spray, we hoped the Basilisk would 

 make maritime history, a famous model put to a new use. That 

 day our pride was unalloyed by any doubt. For the sun shone 

 and all was life and activity. A gentle breeze caught our sails 

 and carried us down the bay. We passed a fleet of milling oyster 

 boats dredging on the bars and their crews waved greeting, for 

 the news of the voyage had spread over the bay country. There 

 seemed nothing to detain us then. 



But there was. For that evening after the sun had set in a 

 great gleam of yellow and red another dense fog had settled 

 upon us and wrapped us up in its white mystery. Once again 

 from all over the Chesapeake came the doleful clanging of ship's 

 bells and the slow mournful whistles of the buoys. That day 

 passed and the next and still the mist hung close, hiding all from 

 sight and hushing even the sounds of the ducks that blundered 

 away in the fog. On we pressed, stretching every inch of can- 

 vas for the breeze that scarcely moved. And we became de- 

 pressed and blue at the never-ceasing delay. 



Dark came, and light and darkness again, and still the fog 

 remained. Once we passed a great ship, heard first her bell toll- 

 ing in the gray, passed her and were swallowed in the murk. 



