" "Then God help thee and speed thee!" said the giant. Glancing
into the boat he saw one of the curved and pierced shells then, as now,
used by Guernsey seamen as signal-horns: pointing to it he said, "If in
peril, where a blast may be heard on Lihou, sound the horn twice: it is
a poor hope but may serve thee!" He was gone.
Jean paddled into the dreaded bay; the moon had now sunk and he was
further favoured by a slight mist. Knowing the tides from infancy, he
worked his way noiselessly till he approached where the Voizin fleet
lay, then laid himself down and let the current take him. He passed
several boats in safety; as far as he could judge, from the observations
he had taken from Lihou, he was nearly past the anchorage when a crash,
succeeded by a grating sound, warned him of danger. A curse, followed by
an ejaculation of surprise and pleasure, enlightened him as to the
nature of the collision: he was in contact with one of the anchored
vessels. "Odin is good!" cried a voice; "ha! a skiff drifted from a
wrecked vessel! and all eyes but mine sleeping!" The speaker threw over
a small anchor and grappled the boat.
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