.

To the right, to the left, in front of them, far as the eye could reach,
nothing but hills and ridges of sand, that appeared under the moonlight
of a whiteness approaching to that of snow. In fact, it would not have
been difficult to fancy that the country was covered with a heavy coat
of snow, as often seen in Sweden, or the northern parts of Scotland,
drifted into "wreaths", and spurred hillocks, of every imaginable form.

It was pretty, but soon became painful from its monotony; and the eyes
of that shipwrecked quartette were even glad to turn once more to the
scarce less monotonous blue of the ocean.

Inland, they could perceive other sand-hills, higher than that to which
they had climbed, and long crested "combings", with deep valleys
between; but not one object to gladden their sight, nothing that offered
promise of either food, drink, or shelter.

Had it not been for their fatigue, they might have gone farther. Since
the moon had consented to show herself, there was light enough to travel
by; and they might have proceeded on, either through the sand-dunes or
along the shore. But of the four there was not one, not even the tough
old tar himself, who was not regularly done up, both with weariness of
body and spirit. The short slumber upon the spit, from which they had
been so unexpectedly startled, had refreshed them but little; and, as
they stood upon the summit of the sand-hill, all four felt as if they
could drop down, and go to sleep on the instant.

It was a couch sufficiently inviting, and they would at once have
availed themselves of it, but for a circumstance that suggested to them
the idea of seeking a still better place for repose.

The land-wind was blowing in from the ocean, and, according to the
forecast of Old Bill, a great practical meteorologist, it promised ere
long to become a gale. It was already sufficiently violent, and chill
to boot, to make the situation on the summit of the dune anything but
comfortable. There was no reason why they should make their couch upon
that exposed prominence. Just on the landward side of the hillock
itself, below at its base, they perceived a more sheltered situation;
and why select that spot for their resting-place?

There was no reason why they should not. Old Bill proposed it; there
was no opposition offered by his young companions, and, without further
parley, the four went floundering down the sloping side of the
sand-hill, into the sheltered