WHEN THE NIGHT FALLS. 219 



in which such disasters could have been averted. If 

 they had been placed in the same fix, they would 

 certainly never have come back at all. 



The white horses are taking their preparatory 

 canters before they leap ; soon indeed they leap in 

 real earnest. They are coming now, a fierce white 

 line of them ; they leap and clear, for a boiling mass 

 of foam rushes over the bar. A dark cloud rises, 

 backs, and vanishes. In this dim light we can 

 make out that it is the fowl rising, because they can 

 stay there no longer. 



High water is over the bar, and a gale blow- 

 ing, — not a storm, but quite enough to make things 

 lively for those outside the bar. If the Saucy Jane 

 is going to make the passage she must do it soon, 

 before darkness falls. She is going to try it : we 

 know within a little where the passage runs that 

 she will take, for deep cuts and channels run through 

 there. Now she makes for it; but something is not 

 quite right, for she swings round and out again. 

 She means it next time. At it she comes, her bows 

 smothered in foam. She is over the bar in safety ; 

 but the old sea-dogs ashore say, as they close their 

 glasses, that her first attempt was a very close shave. 



