A NIGHT'S PERIL. 125 



cern was driven hopelessly hard ashore, in a stiff 

 clayey soil, that allowed no idea of getting her off 

 that night. All this may sound very little to a 

 regular old salt like yourself ; but add to this little 

 sketch the idea of a driving sleet, and a seven or 

 eight miles' walk to Ely at midnight, without shoes, 

 which the greedy loam sucked from off our feet, and 

 the ensemble of hardship is enough to satisfy a lands- 

 man like myself. Since that time I have been little 

 given to boating, and, as you know, never go out 

 except with you." 



" "Well, I'll try never to play you such a trick as 

 did your tarpaulin friend. But the sea is a ticklish 

 element, and the sky is a treacherous monitor." 



" They never, either of them, promised better than 

 they do to-day, so let us be off, or Yirginie will start 

 in search of pleasure with a cloud on her pretty 

 face." 



We bundled up our traps and started accordingly. 

 The distance between my quarter and the little mole 

 where the Wave lay rocking in the gentle undula- 

 tions was soon passed over. I felt the influence of 

 feelings far more serious than I wished to have per- 

 ceived, and Hamilton evidently respected them. Like 

 a good fellow, he pulled away at his cigar and said 

 nothing. His little animal, under the guardianship 

 of one of the ragged gamins, had preceded us to the 

 water-side, and was there waiting our arrival, in order 

 to the due discharge of its burden. 



