ir wild
white sides were crowded with chattering sea-fowl; and far above, like
a faint nimbus in the sky, shone the feeble rays of the lighthouse
lantern, now almost quenched by the dull gleam of day that crept up
from the water. The helm was jammed hard down. There was no time to get
out sweeps; but still drifting helplessly, we barely grazed the bare
rocks of the islet, and swung clear, slinking once more into the gloom.

Our scanty stock of provisions and water was gone; but there was no
danger of starvation, for the generous product of the henneries and
dairies of Bolinas filled the vessel's hold--albeit raw eggs and butter
without bread might only serve as a barrier against famine. So we
drifted and tumbled about--still no wind and no sign of the lifting of
the fog. Once in awhile it would roll upward and show a long, flat
expanse of water, tempting us to believe that the blessed sky was
coming out at last; but soon the veil fell again, and we aimlessly
wondered where we were and whither we were drifting. There is something
awful and mysterious in the shadowy nothingness that surrounds one in a
fog at sea. You fancy that out of that impenetrable mist may suddenly
burst some great disaster or danger. Strange shapes appear to be
forming themselves in the obscurity out of which they emerge, and the
eye is wearied beyond expression with looking into a vacuity which
continually promises to evolve into something, but never does.

Thus idly drifting, we heard, first, the creaking of a block, then a
faint wash of sea; and out of the white depths of the fog came the
bulky hull of a full-rigged ship. Her sails were set, but she made
scarcely steerage way. Her rusty sides and general look bespoke a long
voyage just concluding; and we found on hailing her that she was the
British ship Marathon, from Calcutta for San Francisco. We boarded the
Marathon, though almost in sight of our own port, with something of the
feeling that shipwrecked seamen may have when they reach land. It was
odd that we, lost and wandering as we were, should be thus encountered
in the vast unknown where we were drifting by a strange ship; and
though scarcely two hours' sail from home, should be supplied with
bread and water by a Britisher from the Indies. We gave them all the
information we had about the pilots, whom we wanted so much to meet
ourselves; and after following slowly for a few hours by the huge side
of our strange friend, parted company--th