The sails of two vessels
were soon seen bent for the Scottish coast; and with a speed outrunning
the swiftest ship, they approached the dangerous quicksands and
headland of Borranpoint. On the deck of the foremost ship not a living
soul was seen, or shape, unless something in darkness and form
resembling a human shadow could be called a shape, which flitted from
extremity to extremity of the ship, with the appearance of trimming
the sails, and directing the vessel's course. But the decks of its
companion were crowded with human shapes: the captain, and mate, and
sailor, and cabin-boy, all seemed there; and from them the sound of
mirth and minstrelsy echoed over land and water. The coast which they
skirted along was one of extreme danger; and the reapers shouted to
warn them to beware of sandbank and rock; but of this friendly counsel
no notice was taken, except that a large and famished dog, which sat
on the prow, answered every shout with a long, loud, and melancholy
howl. The deep sandbank of Carsethorn was expected to arrest the career
of these desperate navigators; but they passed, with the celerity of
waterfowl, over an obstruction which had wrecked many pretty ships.
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