The vessel went on. The tide was against them, but the wind was strong and fair, and blew with undiminishing power. Looking toward the shore, they could see that their progress was excellent.
Nearer they came, and nearer, until at last they saw before them a vast extent of mud flats, beyond which lay a low ridge all green with verdure; and they knew it as the dike of Grand Pré. Beyond this again ascended the hills, with the white village at the base, and on the slope the conspicuous form of the Academy, with its broad portico and lofty cupola. .
“Where are you going now, captain? You can’t anchor. Is there a port here to run the schooner into?”
“Nary port.”
“What’ll you do? Surely you won’t drift off again?”
“Drift? No, sir.”
“How will you manage?”
“How? Why, there’s only one thing to do; and that is, to run her right straight in on to a mud flat.”
As he spoke, he looked steadily forward, and gave the tiller a pull to starboard. The schooner turned slightly. The next instant it ran squarely upon the mud flat, and stuck there, hard and fast.