The Argosy — page 66: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Channel Islands. > Sg weeping salt tears. But she was going on to Guernsey, and so we packed up and said good-bye to kindly Mrs. Scott, and carried our bag down as we had brought it up, like another Caleb and Joshua. | At the boat all was confusion. There was an immense cargo of wood to land, men were working like slaves, and even some of the passengers helped; for unless we could get out by four o’clock, said the skipper, and so make Guernsey by daylight, he would not leave Alderney before to-morrow morning. Everyone felt this to be wisdom. The wind and the waves were roaring. If the sea broke over the pier yesterday like a miniature Niagara, to-day it seemed bent upon rivalling those celebrated falls. We made the vessel through showers of spray, glad to do it even on those terms. And the time went on, and four o’clock struck, and the work was not done, and the captain said there should be no going out to-day, for him or for anyone. At half-past seven to-morrow morning he would start, not before. There was nothing for it but to go back and throw ourselves once more on Mrs. Scott’s mercy ; and this time we found a lad to relieve us of our encumbrances. Mrs. Scott was not surprised to see us again. She had givena shrewd guess as to what would happen, and was prepared for our reappearance. To those who had time to spare, the only unpleasant part of the delay was the fact of having to get up early and turn out the next morning; but Mrs. Scott faithfully promised breakfast at 6.30, and no end of creature comforts, and we felt that after all there is a silver lining to every cloud. The clouds to-day certainly were very thick indeed, and the lining was all out of sight, but we hoped the morning might bring a change. The change was of the slightest. The steamer had left the side, and we had to reach it in a small boat. It was hard work to get into it, and I wondered whether we should be swamped or merely get drenched in making the good ship. Before 7.30 everyone was on board, and away we went. And what a passage we had! She shook and trembled, and vibrated and rocked and tossed about, and did everything but turn head over heels. Once I thought she had even done that, for she stood nearly on end, paused as if to take counsel with herself, and I waited for the next move, and wondered what it would be. It really seemed doubtful. But she behaved nobly, and she was in the hands of a man whose skill and courage had carried him through worse straits than these. We left Alderney enshrouded in a morning mist which clung about it, but was not on the sea. The waves dashed over the rocks with a fury I have scarcely ever seen equalled; indeed I have never seen any spot look so wild and dangerous, so exposed to the rage and violence of all the elements. The sight was nothing less than terri- fically grand and sublime, and alone would have repaid us for our visit. Above, on the bridge, clinging to anything that would give Gomichboo (E(©) m