22
THE ESSEX REVIEW.
scarcely possibly be to the left of the Swin. Still I felt it must
be the Swin, but I did not dare to leave my moorings.
Soon, or after a long time as it seemed to me, another light
appeared to the left of my ship; a revolving light, first very dim
but gradually brighter. That must be the Swin. I looked at
the other again and again, and tried to think it was green, but it
certainly was not, neither apparently was the new one—which for
a long time only just appeared and disappeared in the mist as it
revolved. Soon it got darker than ever, and the rain came on
again. I knew my light would soon disappear again, and after
some hesitation I made straight for my new light. I trotted
towards it for a long distance, when to my great astonishment I
came to a fish kettle, a long net, a hundred yards long, and
about a foot high. I knew then I was quite out of my course,
but had no idea where. The kettle turned at right angles,—so
did I.
When I got to the end, I debated whether I should leave it,
and if so which way. I watched my light for several revolutions.
It got a little brighter; and once I thought, "is it possible
that that is green?" But I concluded it was yellow. The mist
had certainly taken away the green rays, or else it was another
light which often is not visible, and is not nearly so bright as
the Mouse. Again I felt almost hopeless, when to my left
appeared a third light. I would not believe it for a long time.
I had actually at first taken the Nore for the Swin, and thought
it was just in the right place. However, here certainly was the
Swin, but why was the Mouse still yellow instead of green ? I
am not colour-blind as a rule. However, I made for the Swin,
and then struck straight for Foulness. Soon, to my delight, I
reached the black mud. I pushed through it, over my ankles in
black slime, and every now and then stepping into a small rill,
and nearly pitching head over heels into the mud on the other
side.
At last I reached the Saltings. They looked blacker even
than the mud, and I was not certain of them at first, but sure
enough I put my foot on firm vegetation. I was truly thankful.
I walked up the Saltings, which are cut here and there by sharp
gulleys two or three, feet deep in thick mud. I could not see
these in the dark, but I hurried on, so anxious to reach terra
firma, that a fall into them with perhaps a roll over at the