Chapter 12

           Beforewehaddonecleaningouttheround-house,abreezesprangupfromalittletotheeastofnorth.Thisblewofftherainandbroughtoutthesun.

           AndhereImustexplain;andthereaderwoulddowelltolookatamap.OnthedaywhenthefogfellandwerandownAlan’sboat,wehadbeenrunningthroughtheLittleMinch.Atdawnafterthebattle,welaybecalmedtotheeastoftheIsleofCannaorbetweenthatandIsleEriskainthechainoftheLongIsland.NowtogetfromtheretotheLinnheLoch,thestraightcoursewasthroughthenarrowsoftheSoundofMull.Butthecaptainhadnochart;hewasafraidtotrusthisbrigsodeepamongtheislands;andthewindservingwell,hepreferredtogobywestofTireeandcomeupunderthesoutherncoastofthegreatIsleofMull.

           Alldaythebreezeheldinthesamepoint,andratherfreshenedthandieddown;andtowardsafternoon,aswellbegantosetinfromroundtheouterHebrides.Ourcourse,togoroundabouttheinnerisles,wastothewestofsouth,sothatatfirstwehadthisswelluponourbeam,andweremuchrolledabout.Butafternightfall,whenwehadturnedtheendofTireeandbegantoheadmoretotheeast,theseacamerightastern.

           Meanwhile,theearlypartoftheday,beforetheswellcameup,wasverypleasant;sailing,aswewere,inabrightsunshineandwithmanymountainousislandsupondifferentsides.AlanandIsatintheround-housewiththedoorsopenoneachside(thewindbeingstraightastern),andsmokedapipeortwoofthecaptain’sfinetobacco.