nts on the bank, and looked all around for signs
of some human habitation; but no signs appeared. Tom was too exhausted
to go in search of one. He had not slept for more than thirty hours.
The country that he saw was cleared. Hills were at a little distance,
but the fog which hung all around concealed everything from view. One
look was enough.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, he fell upon his knees, and offered up a
fervent prayer of thankfulness for his astonishing escape.

Then fatigue overpowered him, and, rolling himself up in the sail, he
went to sleep.

VIII.

Off in Search.--Eager Outlook.--Nothing but Fog.--Speaking a
Schooner.--Pleasant Anecdotes.--Cheer up.--The Heart of Corbet.

After the arrival of Bruce and Bart, Captain Corbet did not delay his
departure much longer. The vessel was already afloat, and though the
tide was still rising, yet the wind was sufficiently favorable to
enable her to go on her way. The sails were soon set, and, with the
new boat in tow, the Antelope weighed anchor, and took her departure.
For about two hours but little progress was made against the strong
opposing current; yet they had the satisfaction of reaching the mouth
of the river, and by ten o'clock, when the tide turned and began to
fall, they were fairly in the bay. The wind here was ahead, but the
strong tide was now in their favor, and they hoped for some hours to
make respectable progress.

During this time they had all kept an anxious lookout, but without any
result. No floating craft of any kind appeared upon the surface of the
water. Coming down the river, the sky was unclouded, and all the
surrounding scene was fully visible; but on reaching the bay, they saw
before them, a few miles down, a lofty wall of light-gray cloud.
Captain Corbet waved his hand towards this.

"We're in for it," said he, "or we precious soon will be."

"What's that?" asked Phil.

"Our old friend--a fog bank. You'd ought to know it by this time,
sure."

There it lay, a few miles off, and every minute brought them nearer.
The appearance of the fog threw an additional gloom over the minds of
all, for they saw the hopeless character of their search. Of what
avail would it be to traverse the seas if they were all covered by such
thick mists? Still nothing else was to be done, and they tried to hope
for the best.

"Any how," said Captain Corbet, "thar's one comfort. That thar fog may
go as quick as it come. It ony ne