gone a hundred fathoms from the point of the submerged peninsula
when they found the water rapidly deepening before them; and a few
fathoms farther on they stood up to their armpits!

It was evident that, in the direction in which they were proceeding, it
continued to grow deeper; and they turned to try another.

After floundering about for a while they found shoal water again,
reaching up only to their knees; but, wherever they attempted to follow
the course of the waves, they perceived that the shoal trended gradually
downward.

This at first caused them surprise, as well as alarm. The former
affected them only for an instant. The explanation was sought for, and
suggested to the satisfaction of all. The sandspit did not project
perpendicularly from the line of the coast, but in a diagonal direction.
It was, in fact, a sort of natural breakwater, forming one side of a
large cone, or embayment, lying between it and the true beach. This
feature had been observed on their first setting foot upon it, though at
the time they were so much engrossed with the joyous thought of having
escaped from the sea, that it had made no impression upon their memory.

They now remembered the circumstance, though not to their satisfaction,
for they saw at once that the guide in which they had been trusting
could no longer avail them.

The waves were rolling on over that bay, whose depth they had tried,
only to find it unfordable.

This was a new dilemma. To escape from it there appeared but one way.
They must keep their course along the combing of the peninsula, if they
could. But their ability to do so had now become a question, each
instant growing more difficult to answer.

They were no longer certain that they were on the spit; but, whether or
not, they could find no shallower water by trying on either side. Each
way they went it seemed to deepen; and even if they stood still but for
a few moments, as they were compelled to do while hesitating as to their
course, the water rose perceptibly upon their limbs.

They were now well aware that they had two enemies to contend with, time
and direction. The loss of either one or the other might end in their
destruction. A wrong direction would lead them into deep water; a waste
of time would bring deep water around them. The old adage about time
and tide, which none of them could help having heard, might have been
ringing in their ears at that moment. It was appropriate to th