DEPARTURE FROM PATMOS. 79 
minute, looking up attentively, with his eyes CHAP. 
fixed towards the zenith. Presently he shook 
his head ; and pointing upwards, with his arm 
extended, asked us, How we liked the sky? 
As it seemed to be very clear, and there were 
many stars visible, we replied that there was 
every sign of fair weather. " Do you not see," 
said he, " some small clouds, which now and then 
make their appearance, and instantly afterwards 
vanish ?" We confessed that we did ; but rather 
hastily insisted, that instead of peering after 
signs in the sky, he should get the vessel out of 
harbour as speedily as possible. His only 
comment upon this order, so inconsiderately 
given, was a summons to his companions to 
heave the anchor, and hoist the sails. We had 
barely light enough to steer through the narrow 
channel at the entrance, without running against 
the rocks ; and we had no sooner cleared the 
port, than there fell a dead calm. A prodigious 
sea, tossing our vessel in all directions, soon 
convinced us of the nature of the situation for 
which we had exchanged our snug birth but a 
few minutes before. Surrounded as we had 
been by the lofty cliffs of the island, we had 
not the most distant conception of the turbulent 
sea we should encounter. Our steady helms- 
man endeavoured in vain to keep* the prow of 
