I turned my back, accordingly, upon the sea, and did not look again till I had counted many hundreds.

The boat was still heading for the island.

The next time I counted the full thousand, as slowly as I could, my heart beating so as to hurt me.

And then it was out of all question.

She was coming straight to Earraid! I could no longer hold myself back, but ran to the seaside and out, from one rock to another, as far as I could go.