288 ANECDOTE OF A 



The ship proceeded on her voyage, and G 's 



period of suspense was not long, owing to a fine 

 breeze which carried them at once towards the 

 spot where his skill was to be put to the test, 

 and where he himself would probably fall a vic- 

 tim to his temerity. It would be useless for him 

 to go upon his knees before the Turk, confess his 

 fault and the deception he had practised. This 

 would be certain death ; so he was obliged to put 

 a good face upon the matter. Arriving off the 

 mouths of the river, it was difficult for him to 

 conceal the trepidation occasioned in his mind at 

 the appearace of a widely extended, flat country, 

 subdivided by an infinite number of small 

 branches, and a shallow sea, studded with innu- 

 merable sand-banks, through which it was diffi- 

 cult even for an experienced pilot to distinguish 

 the right course to the river, even if he should be 

 able, by good fortune, to attempt to make his en- 

 trance at the proper mouth, — the Sulina. The 

 Turk then opened his eyes, became very furious, 



vowed vengeance upon G 's head for having 



undertaken what, as appeared from his nervous- 

 ness, he would be unable to perform, and it was 

 with difficulty that G could persuade him to 



