2l6 COUNTRY ESSAYS. 



results are the numerous yacht clubs of the country. We had 

 left Kilnsea far behind, and were now approaching Withernsea, 

 which serves as a convenient watering place for Hull, much as 

 Cleethorpes does for Grimsby. All this coast, it is well known, 

 is now and has for ages been subject to continual erosion by 

 the sea. Shakespeare's Ravensprug has long disappeared with 

 many other villages. Some forty-six years ago, Kilnsea church 

 was washed away, and the waste is very noticeable even in a life- 

 time. At Bridlington we noticed that several houses, which we 

 remembered twenty-six or twenty-seven years ago, had disap- 

 peared from the edge of the cliff. North of Withernsea dark- 

 ness fell and we steamed on till we gained Bridlington, as the 

 captain maintained. The lead was flung, but the soundings 

 hardly answered the depth of water in its bay. However, 

 Captain Try stoutly insisted that he knew the lights well, which 

 we saw glancing over the waters. It was true the harbour 

 lights were not lit, nor would they be for another two hours 

 when there was water enough for vessels to enter. So a riding 

 light was run up the rigging, the engines stopped, anchor let 

 down and an anchor watch set, while we adjourned like old 

 salts to the cabin ; and the Vice-Commodore, to celebrate the 

 first night at sea, served out to all hands fine old Jamaica pine- 

 apple rum. After a last stroll on deck, finding the weather 

 improving, we sought our state-rooms, and rocked like "the 

 wet sea-boy, in an hour so rude," soon fell asleep. 



Next morning the roll had ceased, and holy-stoning over- 

 head having effectually routed sleep, we all found ourselves 

 in very airy costumes there being no ladies aboard on the 

 quarter-deck. And great was the merriment : we had fancied 

 ourselves at Bridlington, all, save the vice, who had his sus- 

 picions from the soundings, and lo ! there was Hornsea, flat, 

 dark, and dull, in front of us. The sun was doing its best, 

 however, to struggle through the mists, and every now and 

 then a beam shot over the dark waves, and seemed to promise 



