HOPE RENEWED. 397 



slumber came not to our anxious ej'es, although 

 wooed by every means in our power. We rolled our 

 eyes, we counted indefinite units, but all to no pur- 

 pose ; the one idea preoccupied all our thoughts and 

 forbade the intrusion of Morpheus on its domain. 

 At 2 o'clock a light-house was seen, which, at first, 

 was called Montauk light, but the land around it 

 not agreeing with that in the vicinity of Montauk, 

 after some deliberation, it was pronounced Fire 

 Island light. This was a damper on all our spirits 

 and dissipated our air castles, which had been built 

 with the provision of going ashore within twenty- 

 four hours ; and long faces and dolorous sighs were 

 the attendants upon this decision. After a few 

 minutes of painful uncertainty, some one, whose 

 memory was more retentive, called to mind the fact 

 of having seen in a newspaper a notice of the erection 

 of a new light between Fire Island and Montauk 

 light. This view of the subject was immediately 

 endorsed by all hands, and a corresponding buoyancy 

 pervaded all ; but as landmark after landmark was 

 passed, and still Montauk was not to be seen, we 

 gave up all hopes of seeing New Bedford that night, 

 and were fearful tbat4;hat much wished for occasion 

 might not occur for a fortnight or more ; as these 

 southerly winds are not persistent, and no one 

 knows how soon they may leave him and be followed 

 by a north-easter, which, at this season of the year, 

 lasts for weeks, and forbids all entrance into our 

 destined harbor. But just at nightfall, one, who 

 had voluntarily perched himself on the loftiest look- 

 out on the fore royal mast, sung out, "Light ho!' 

 and we soon found that at last we had si£>:hted 

 34 



