14 



THE GULF. 



mist covered us once more, and veiled the land from our 

 view. Hour went after hour, and the evil omens thick- 

 ened around us ; the sky became blurred with shapeless 

 masses of reddish clouds, and as the sun rose, a broken 

 and discoloured rainbow was seen in the west. Ill- 

 omened arch ! how different from the bow after summer 

 rain, spanning the eastern sky at eventide, which we have 

 learned to hail as full of promise ! 



About ten o'clock a.m. the sea breeze dispersed the 

 mists on the smooth but heaving surface of the water, but 

 had no power on the sky, which imperceptibly grew of a 

 deeper dun, especially from the zenith to the southeast. 



Our eyes were anxiously turned to the west, where we 

 could again descry the range of coast, the foam-covered 

 line of breakers on the bar, and the tall masts of a num- 

 ber of vessels within it. Six or eight of various burden 

 were seen riding at anchor in the open roadstead ; either 

 watching, like ourselves, for communication with tha 

 shore, or outward bound, for the reception of their cargo. 

 Our glasses were constantly directed to the bar for some 

 indication that the signals for a pilot were observed ; but 

 hours came and went, without the slightest sign of recog- 

 nition. As the day passed the meridian, however, a 

 black spot was seen among the breakers, and then an- 

 other, and we soon distinguished two custom-house boats 

 pulling north and south, to communicate with other ships. 

 When it became evident that neither seemed to consider 

 us as within their beat, the captain resolved to send the 

 shallop with two men to communicate w ith them. Two 

 more hours of uncertainty followed, w 7 hen the boatmen 

 came back, stating that the answer returned by the officers 

 was, that we must come and anchor nearer the shore, be- 

 fore they would board us. Old De Vignes gave a terrific 

 growl on hearing this ; glanced at the thickening sky, 

 and at the eastern horizon ; and, after a moment's hesi- 

 tation, gave the necessary orders to obey, and to run the 

 goelette in. The anchor was weighed ; and a momen- 

 tary exultation was felt by all, as we found ourselves at 

 length riding at anchor again within hail. 



What then occurred is now like a dream to me ; that 



