268 THE WHALE AND 



Clear and Cold. Land ho ! Cape Cod Light. 



up at eight in the evening, by favor of which 

 we passed safely those dangerous shoals when 

 we could not see them, trusting only to lead 

 and line. From our position at that time we 

 steered first northeast, then north-northeast, 

 then north, then north-northwest, then north- 

 west, so rounding those obscure and formida- 

 ble dangers, sounding every hour. 



This morning the light broke clear and cold, 

 and it has been a glorious day. We made the 

 dear land of New England about three in the 

 afternoon. Not long after we discovered Chat- 

 ham light-house all as we desired, and have 

 been gladly running up Pilgrim land ever since, 

 until now, at nine o'clock, the noble, large, and 

 steady light of Cape Cod bears about west. 



The weary, weather-worn company in the 

 May Flower, we have just been saying, had no 

 such friendly beacons as this to shed light on 

 their way when they came as pilgrims to a 

 rock-bound and rude land. It is spring, too, 

 with us, but we remember, 



That through her chafed and moaning shrouds December's breezes wailed. 

 Yet on that icy deck, behold ! a meek but dauntless band, 

 Who, for the right to worship God, have left their native land, 

 And to a dreary wilderness this glorious boon they bring, 



A CHURCH WITHOUT A BISHOP, AND A STATE WITHOUT A KINO. 



