Action prompted his decision.

Descending from the hill he now took some refreshment, and then pushed out again in the canoe.

So powerful was the current in the narrowest part of the strait that it occupied him two hours in paddling as many miles.
When he was free of the channel, he hoisted sail and directed his course straight out for an island which stood almost opposite the entrance.

But as he approached, driven along at a good pace, suddenly the canoe seemed to be seized from beneath.

He knew in a moment that he had grounded on soft mud, and sprang up to lower the sail, but before he could do so the canoe came to a standstill on the mud-bank, and the waves following behind, directly she stopped, broke over the stern.