A broad stream flowing into the sea stopped her progress before she had gone very far; the only way of crossing it was to go up on to the line of railway, which here runs along the edge of the sands.

But she had little inclination to walk farther.

No house, no person within sight, she sat down to gaze at the gulls fishing by the little river-mouth, their screams the only sound that blended with that of the subdued breakers.
On the horizon lay a long, low shape that might have been mistaken for cloud, though it resembled land.

It was the Isle of Man.

In an hour or two the outline had grown much clearer; the heights and hollows were no longer doubtful.