112 . EXPERIENCES OF SPORT. 



My paddle was gone, I had dropped it as I 

 dozed off. My gun and other things were at 

 my feet, but I was helpless as to the means of 

 getting to shore, and about four miles from 

 land, with the Glenan Islands right ahead of me. 



I thought probably the tide might sweep me 

 towards the islands so that I might be seen, or 

 that by firing my gun I might be heard, and 

 get assistance. I soon found out, however, I 

 had no strength to fire or even lift my gun, 

 that I was as helpless as an infant. The cold 

 and shivering was ten times worse than ever, 

 and the truth then flashed across me, I had got 

 what is so common in Brittany, low fever and 

 ague. 



I took a land-mark to see which way I was 

 going, and found, after an hour's observation, 

 that I had got no distance, that I was a fixture, 

 or nearly so. How was this, what was it pre- 

 vented my going towards land now ? 



I knew by my watch that the tide had been 

 for two hours on the flow. Looking about as 

 well as my weakness would permit me, I dis- 

 covered the coracle was hitched in a sardine 

 net, which had broken loose. To disengage 



