The shore he had left had entirely disappeared, gone down; if there were land more lofty on either hand, the haze concealed it.

He looked again; he could scarcely comprehend it.

He knew the Lake was very wide, but it had never occurred to him that he might possibly sail out of sight of land.

This, then was why the mariners would not quit the islands; they feared the open water.

He stood up and swept the horizon carefully, shading his eyes with his hand; there was nothing but a mist at the horizon.