double that height. In an
hour its lofty crest had ascended far up into the sky.

"It's a comin," said Captain Corbet. "I knowed it. Grind away, you
old fog mill! Pile on the steam, you Grand Mananers!"

"Is there any wind down there?"

"Not a hooter."

"Is the fog coming up without any wind?"

"Course it is. What does the fog want of wind?"

"I thought it was the wind that brought it along."

"Bless your heart, the fog takes care of itself. The wind isn't a bit
necessary. It kine o' pervades the hull atmosphere, an rolls itself on
an on till all creation is overspread. Why, I've seen everything
changed from bright sunshine to the thickest kind of fog in fifteen
minutes,--yea, more,--and in five minutes."

Even while they were speaking the fog rolled on, the vast accumulation
of mist rose higher and yet higher, and appeared to draw nearer with
immense rapidity. It seemed as though the whole atmosphere was
gradually becoming condensed, and precipitating its invisible watery
vapor so as to make it visible in far-extending fog banks. It was not
wind, therefore, that brought on the clouds, for the surface of the
water was smooth and unruffled, but it was the character of the
atmosphere itself from which this change was wrought. And still, as
they looked at the approaching mist, the sky overhead was blue, and the
sun shone bright. But the gathering clouds seemed now to have gained a
greater headway, and came on more rapidly. In a few minutes the whole
outline of the Nova Scotia coast faded from view, and in its place
there appeared a lofty wall of dim gray cloud, which rose high in the
air, fading away into the faintest outline. Overhead, the blue sky
became rapidly more obscured; Ile Haute changed again from its grayish
blue to a lighter shade, and then became blended with the impenetrable
fog that was fast enclosing all things; and finally the clouds grew
nearer, till the land nearest them was snatched from view, and all
around was alike shrouded under the universal veil; nothing whatever
was visible. For a hundred yards, or so, around them, they could see
the surface of the water; but beyond this narrow circle, nothing more
could be discerned.

"It's a very pooty fog," said Captain Corbet, "an I only wonder that
there ain't any wind. If it should come, it'll be all right."

"You intend, then, to go on just the same."

"Jest the same as ef the sky was clear. I will up anchor as the tide
begin