to examine or repair its hull and keel when the
tide leaves it there dry.

'Vindex' had come to the Havre Regatta, and as she had won the prize
there in the previous year a great deal of interest was shown about her
now. But the regatta on this occasion was by no means interesting, for
the wind fell into calm, and it was merely a drifting match.

My usual visits in the dingey had disposed of nearly all my store of
French books and periodicals, and the remainder we took to a civil
bookseller, from whom we bought French charts and a Pilot book of the
English south coast soundings.

Meantime, after a rest and refreshment to my crew, a thorough scraping to
my boat, and a good stock laid in of comfort for my voyage to England,
the question had to be distinctly put, "How am I to get over the broad
Channel to the Isle of Wight?" It was, of course, impossible to think of
coming back as we had gone,--that is, along the French coast. This would
never do. Again, it was also found that the steamers were not allowed to
tow any boat to sea behind the passenger vessels unless in cases of
distress, so that put an end to another solution of the problem, which
was to get half way by towing and then to cast off and sail.

Well, shall I get an additional hand on board? But where is he to sit if
it blows hard? And if it does not blow hard, what is the use of him? In
fact I was steadily driven, as if by severe logic, to the conclusion
already at the bottom of my mind, to _sail right across alone_.

Then I asked one or two experienced sailors if they thought the Rob Roy
could do it, and they said, "Yes, she can; but can _you_? You may be
three or four days out, and can you stand the fatigue? At any rate, do
not start in a southwest wind: it raises a sea and the up and down of the
waves will tire you soon in a long day's work, and then there is the
night besides."

Having retired to my calm little creek, where the yawl was tied by a line
to a large fishing-smack, I tried to read, but very soon found I was
thinking of anything but the words on the printed page; then to sleep;
but still I was musing on the prospect now opened of a hazardous and
delightful sail.

About one o'clock I gazed out moodily on the quiet night scene of the
harbour, sleeping around. Tall masts whitened by the moon, black hulls
darkened in the shade, busy quays silent, long-necked iron cranes peering
into the deep water that reflected quaint leaning houses