They draw so little water that they would not be afraid of the sandbanks off the mouth of the river, seeing that even if they strike them they can jump out, lighten the boats, and push them off; and once well out at sea it is probable that they may get clearer weather, for Siegbert tells me that the fog often lies thick at the mouths of these rivers when it is clear enough in the open sea." When the tide again began to run out Edmund determined at all risks to proceed to sea.

The moorings were cast off from the shore and the Dragon suffered to drift down.

Men with poles took their stations in her bows and sounded continually, while at her stern two anchors were prepared in readiness to drop at a moment's notice.

Several times the water shoaled so much that Edmund was on the point of giving orders to drop the anchors, but each time it deepened again.
So they continued drifting until they calculated that the tide must be nearly on the turn, and they then dropped anchor.

It was much lighter now than it had been in the river, but was still so misty that they could not see more than a hundred yards or so round the vessel.