Thus lightened, he dragged her into the passage; but the time occupied in these preparations had been also occupied by Nature--the tide had receded, and the cutter stuck immovably in the waterway, about six fathoms short of deeper water.
"What is to be done now ?" inquired Helen, when Hazel returned to her side, panting, but cheerful.
"We must await the rising of the tide.

I fear we are imprisoned here for three hours at least." There was no help for it.

Helen made light of the misfortune.

The spot where they had landed was inclosed between the two issues of the lagoon.
They walked along the shore to the more easterly and the narrower canal, and, on arriving, Hazel found to his great annoyance that there was ample water to have floated the cutter had he selected that, the least promising road.

He suggested a return by the road they came, and, passing into the other canal, by that to reach the sea.