And the shore seemed very far away.

A dismal outlook in truth.

Moreover it was beginning to rain.
Mab sheltered herself under her sunshade and began to laugh.

"It's just skittles to what it might be," she said consolingly.
But Merefleet did not respond.

He knew that the wind was rising with every second, and already the little boat tipped and tossed with perilous buoyancy.
Mab still held the rudder-lines.