eing conscious that at
all events we were making very little way. Still we persevered. We
hoped there might be a lull--indeed, we had nothing else to do but to
pull on. Bitter, however, was the disappointment which awaited us when
the morning broke, and we looked out eagerly for the land. Instead of
being nearer we were much further off (six or seven miles at least), and
were still rapidly drifting away to sea. The further we got off the
land, the greater danger there would be of the boat being swamped;
besides, we had saved no provisions, and we had the prospect of a
fearful death staring us in the face from hunger and thirst. The old
mate had by this time been sufficiently aroused to comprehend clearly
the state of affairs. As I have said, he was, when sober, a good
seaman, and thoroughly acquainted with the coast. As day drew on, it
cleared a little, and looking round, he made out the Scilly Islands
directly to leeward of us. He watched them earnestly for some time, and
throwing off his hat and putting back his grey hairs with his hand, he
sat upright, and exclaimed, "Never fear, my lads, we've got a good port
under our lee! I know the passage through the channel leading to it.
Trust to me, and I'll carry you safely there."

Though after what had occurred we had no great confidence in him, yet as
none of us knew anything about the islands, we had his judgment and
experience alone to trust to. So we watched our opportunity, and
bringing the boat's head carefully round, pulled in the direction he
pointed out. A break in the clouds, through which the gun gleamed forth
glancing over the white foam-topped seas, showed us the land in bold
relief against the black sky.

"Ah! there's Saint Martin's and Saint Mary's Islands," observed the old
man. "Ah! I know them well. Many's the time I've run between them up
Crow Sound. Let's see--what's the time of day? There will be plenty of
water over the bar. We shall soon have a glimpse of the Crow rock, when
we get in with the land; and if only the Big Crow shows his head above
water, we may cross the bar without fear of breakers. Once through it,
we shall soon be on shore at Grimsby, and there are several people I
know there who will give us all we can want to make us comfortable."

The Crow, to which old Cole alluded, is a somewhat curious rock at the
entrance of the Sound. It has three heads, called the Great Crow, the
Little Crow, and the Crow Foot. When th