as doctor."

The dinner was prolonged to an extent commensurate with its own
inherent excellence and the capacity of the boys to appreciate it; but
at length, like all things mortal, it came to a termination, and the
company went up once more to the deck. On looking round it was evident
to all that a change had taken place.

Four miles away lay Ile Haute, and eight or ten miles beyond this lay
the long line of Nova Scotia. It was now about four o'clock, and the
tide had been rising for three hours, and was flowing up rapidly, and
in a full, strong current. As yet there was no wind, and the broad
surface of the bay was quite smooth and unruffled. In the distance and
far down the bay, where its waters joined the horizon, there was a kind
of haze, that rendered the line of separation between sea and sky very
indistinct. The coast of Nova Scotia was at once enlarged and
obscured. It seemed now elevated to an unusual height above the sea
line, as though it had been suddenly brought several miles nearer, and
yet, instead of being more distinct, was actually more obscure. Even
Ile Haute, though so near, did not escape. Four miles of distance were
not sufficient to give it that grand indistinctness which was now flung
over the Nova Scotia coast; yet much of the mysterious effect of the
haze had gathered about the island; its lofty cliffs seemed to tower on
high more majestically, and to lean over more frowningly; its fringe of
black sea-weed below seemed blacker, while the general hue of the
island had changed from a reddish color to one of a dull slaty blue.

"I don't like this," said Captain Corbet, looking down the bay and
twisting up his face as he looked.

"Why not?"

Captain Corbet shook his head.

"What's the matter?"

"Bad, bad, bad!" said the captain.

"Is there going to be a storm?"

"Wuss!"

"Worse? What?"

"Fog."

"Fog?"

"Yes, hot an heavy, thick as puddin, an no mistake. I tell you what it
is, boys: judgin from what I see, they've got a bran-new steam injine
into that thar fog mill at Grand Manan; an the way they're goin to
grind out the fog this here night is a caution to mariners."

Saying this, he took off his hat, and holding it in one hand, he
scratched his venerable head long and thoughtfully with the other.

"But I don't see any fog as yet," said Bart.

"Don't see it? Wal, what d'ye call all that?" said the captain, giving
a grand comprehensive sweep with his arm, so as to t