"No easy matter to take a boat ashore in this fog."
"It can be done. Just before the fog came down on us I marked that Atlantic Highlands was due south of us, and not above a mile distant. The wind has just come in from the east, and she'll hold there a while. By keeping the wind abeam on the port side you'd hit the shore somewhere near the pier."
"Well, I'll try it."
"No; you're our only qualified seaman. You must stand by the vessel. I'll go."
"How will you get back?"
"I'll borrow or beg a compass ashore. You keep the whistle going, and if the steam gives out, ring your bell."
"I doubt if you'll get the deckhands to bring you back. They'll go quick enough."
"I'll get boatmen from the shore if they desert."
The deckhands were brought up through the forward hatch, and one of the Ernestina's boats was lowered away. As Evan stepped in he said:
"Don't tell them below that I've gone ashore unless you have to."