KEEP A BRIGHT LOOK-OUT AHEAD ! 261 
fast as it could be hauled iji since our change of course, 
now gave fifteen fathoms as the depth of water! and, 
as the beach was not more than four hundred yards off, 
we did not think it prudent to close in any more, hut 
ran along with it at about that depth and distance, 
keeping a good look-out on each cathead and a hand- 
lead going from each of the fore-chains. 
“As we had closed with the land while standing in, 
the fog had seemed to lighten considerably, and we now 
ran along at our old speed, keeping the breakers jusi in 
sight, and straining our eyes through the fog ahead to 
discover our long-looked-for northeast point. This was 
a most trying kind of navigation. For, suppose that we 
should have been running before that wind and sea into 
a fathomless bay, where we could not have anchored ; or 
suppose a reef had suddenly been found, making out 
from the land right across our path ! 
“‘Haul by the wind and beat out of such a dis- 
agrecably-tight jdace,’ I think I hear some seaman 
answer. 
“‘Yes; that would do very well; but, unfortunatelj^, 
the ‘old John’ could never be persuaded to acquit her- 
self after that style,’ is my answer. She was like a crab: 
she always went astern or sideicags in all sudden emer- 
gencies, — confound her! Suddenly, as we looked, the 
vague and undefined outlines of a dark detached object 
arose before us, and then anotlier, farther in the fog, as 
the first became more distant. 
“‘Land ho!’ sang out the look-out. ‘Two islands 
right ahead, sir !’ shouted the officer in charge of the 
forecastle. 
