ilgrimage--of going,
not there and back, but on, and on, and yet on--is a joy by itself. The
thought that each night brings sleep in a new and unforeseen spot, with a
new journey on the morrow, gives special flavor to the journeying.

Not the least among the pleasures of the cruise were the night-camps. When
the shore looked inviting, and harborage at an inn seemed doubtful, we
pulled our boat above tide-water, turned her over and tilted her up on her
side for a wind-break, and there we spent the night. The half-emptied
dunnage bags were our pillows, the sand was our bed. Sand, to sleep on, is
harder than one might suppose, but it is better than earth in being easily
scooped out to suit one's needs. Indeed, even on a pneumatic mattress, I
should hardly have slept much that first night. It was a new experience.
The great world of waters was so close that it seemed, all night long,
like a wonderful but ever importunate presence. The wind blew that night,
too, and there was a low-scudding rack, and a half-smothered moon. As we
rolled ourselves up in our blankets and rubber sheets and settled down, I
looked out over the restless water.

"The bay seems very full to-night--brimming," I said.

"Not brimming over, though," said Jonathan.

"I should hope not! But it does seem to me there are very few inches
between it and our feet."

"And the tide is still rising, of course," said Jonathan, by way of
comfort.

"Jonathan, I know just where high-tide mark is, and we're fully twelve
inches above it."

Silence.

"Aren't we?"

"Oh, was that a question?" murmured Jonathan. "Why, yes, I think we are at
least that."

"Of course, there are extra high tides sometimes."

Silence.

"Jonathan, do you know when they come?"

"Not exactly."

"Well, I don't care. I love it, anyway. Only it seems so much bigger and
colder at night, the water does."

At last I drowsed, waking now and then to raise my head and just glance
down at those waves--they certainly sounded as if they were lapping the
sand close by my ear. No, there they were, quite within bounds, fully
twenty feet away from my toes. Of course it was all right. I slept again,
and dreamed that the tide rose and rose; the waves ran merrily up the
beach, ran up on both sides of us, closed in behind us. We were lying on a
little sand island, and the waves nibbled at its edges--nibbled and nibbled
and nibbled--the island was being nibbled up. This would never do! We must
mov