A SPORTING TRIP TO FRANCE. 231 



that it was much later than I had expected, but 

 which, in the excitement of the amusement, I 

 had forgotten all about. 



I shouted and fired, shouted and fired again, 

 and again, but to no purpose. I knew that if 

 even I could swim on shore it must be a long 

 way before I could reach the land, a mile or a 

 mile and a half. I thought of my brother, 

 where he was, if he would be saved, or find a 

 watery grave. I remembered, too, that I must 

 swim with my head against the tide. To have 

 attempted to go with it would have been cer- 

 tain and instantaneous death. I was also awa n - 

 that even if I did reach any point the current 

 was so strong that it would be almost impossible 

 to hold on. 



I was in despair. Sticking my gun muzzle 

 downwards deep into the mud, I thought that, 

 should I be saved, I might perhaps find it 

 next day; I then took off my long mud b<> 

 coat, trousers, and waistcoat. It was a bittur 

 cold night, and the fog was thick almost to 

 stifling. I determine! to stand against tlu> tide 

 as long as I could, and then trust to God and 

 my own swimming powers. Just as I beard 



