The tide, now coming up, gradually dashed over the fires we had
left, and so the rock again became a desert. The wind had now entirely
died away, leaving the sea smooth as glass, except a quiet swell, and we
could only float along, as the tide bore us, almost imperceptibly. It
was as beautiful a night as ever shone,--calm, warm, bright, the moon
being at full. On one side of us was Marblehead lighthouse, on the
other, Baker's Island; and both, by the influence of the moonlight, had a
silvery hue, unlike their ruddy beacon tinge in dark nights. They threw
long reflections across the sea, like the moon. There we floated slowly
with the tide till about midnight, and then, the tide turning, we
fastened our vessel to a pole, which marked a rock, so as to prevent
being carried back by the reflux. Some of the passengers turned in
below; some stretched themselves on deck; some walked about, smoking
cigars. I kept the deck all night. Once there was a little cat's-paw of
a breeze, whereupon we untied ourselves from the pole; but it almost
immediately died away, and we were compelled to make fast again.
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