Several times, while still enveloped in the fog, they had distinctly heard peals of thunder, which had by no means been a source of quietude; and now, far over the western sky, had gathered a dark and threatening mass of vapours, heaps on heaps rolling together, and spreading to the north, where the blackness of darkness seemed to have settled. Beneath that heavy mass, at the edge of the horizon, was a long light streak, showing where in the far distance the storm had already begun, and the winds lifting it up and bearing it towards them. In the direction of the storm was the shore they had left; to reach that or the fort, before it should burst upon them, was utterly impossible, and to be caught in their frail boat by such a tempest would be certain destruction. On the south and south-east lay a long line of shore, not much nearer than that on the west; yet from it, there ran out for a mile from the land, in a circular direction, a bar of sand; at high tide this bar was nearly covered, but when the tide was out, some acres of hard white sand were exposed, and afforded a firm landing-place. Sam knew of this; and, in fact, he could plainly discern its white surface in the distance, for the tide had been for some time running out, and was the main cause why he had, in so short a time, made so long a stretch. 'What shall we do, Sam? It looks black there, don't it?' 'Black enough--we must run away from it.' At once, Sam tied up the sail as carefully as he could, and stowed it as near the bottom of the skiff as possible. 'Where will you run, Sam? we are most out to sea now.' 'We must go a little nearer yet, for all that _I_ see;--_quick_, Jim, take the helm; you see that white streak, don't you, running out from the shore yonder?' 'Yes.' 'It is a mile nearer to us than any place we can get to; make for that--it is our only chance.' Jim did as directed; for, on the water, he yielded implicitly to Sam. The oars were out, and Sam's utmost strength was tasked; their lives depended on the fact of his ability to reach that bar before the storm should overtake them. As they progressed, the waves sensibly increased; and occasionally, through Jim's inexperience in steering, water enough would be shipped, not only to wet them thoroughly, but to endanger the feeble craft. Sam's eye was steadily fixed upon the rising gust; he heeded not the waves--death was behind them--if they reached not that landing-place in time, they must be his prey. Vivid streaks of lightning ran along the curling edges of the clouds, and heavy-rolling thunder, increasing in loudness at every clap; far off upon the distant land could be seen volumes of dust rolling high up in the air; and when the thunder ceased, the sullen roar of the tempest was distinctly heard. 'How fast it comes, Sam!' 'Keep her straight for that bar, Jim.' 'Do you hear the roaring, Sam?' 'Are we near the bar? Keep her as straight as you can--it's coming fast.'