off from the light-house on the point, at the mouth of the river. When
the Orion was clear of the point, he directed the yacht to be
close-hauled on the starboard tack, in order to beat into the river. The
first reach brought her to the high cliff near the hotel, and after a
"short leg," he fetched the anchorage off the wharf.

"Let go your jib-halyards!" shouted Leopold. "Hard down the helm! Let go
the anchor!"

The Orion swung round to her cable, and the pilot went aft.

CHAPTER XII.

AN EXTENSIVE ARRIVAL.

During the run of the Orion, from the time that Leopold assumed the
charge of her till the anchor buried itself in the mud of the river, the
owner and the passengers remained in the cabin. They were all city
people, and to them the fog was even more disagreeable than a heavy
rain. It was cold and penetrating, and the pleasure-seekers found it
impossible to remain on deck. They were actually shivering with cold,
and perhaps for the first time in their lives realized what a blessing
the sunshine is. But Captain Bounce was on deck, and, standing on the
forecastle, he nervously watched the progress of the yacht. Doubtless he
felt belittled at finding himself placed under the orders of a mere boy,
even though the pilot was as polite as a French dancing-master.

[Illustration: CAPTAIN BOUNCE CANNOT SEE THE TOWN. Page 218.]

When the Orion changed her course off the ledges, he caught a glimpse of
the dangerous rocks, upon which he had heard the beating surf for a
moment before. From that time he did not see anything which looked like
a rock or a cliff. Even when the yacht swung around to her anchor, the
shore could not be seen from her deck, so dense was the fog.

Captain Bounce had not much confidence in the skill of his pilot. He had
not seen the rocks and cliffs which line the coast, and had no idea of
the perils which had surrounded him. Whenever Leopold ordered a change
in the course, he could just hear the murmuring sea breaking on the
shore; but the old sea-dog expected the vessel would be thrown upon the
rocks every moment. He was prepared to act upon an emergency of this
kind, and had actually arranged in his own mind his plan of procedure,
when the order to let go the jib-halyard indicated that the pilot
intended to anchor.

Captain Bounce looked about him, but he could see nothing which looked
like a town, a port, or a harbor. He was so obstinate in his
incredulity, that he was inclined to bel