What a fool I was! The night was over.

Here in the garish day there was surely nothing to fear?
Nevertheless, I, who had started out thirsting only to breathe the fresh salt air, now walked along with stealthy nervous footsteps, looking all the time from left to right, starting at the sight of a dark log on the sands, terrified at a broken buoy which had floated up one of the creeks.

Some fear had come over me which I could not shake off.

I was afraid of what I might see.
So I walked to the bend of the road.

Here, in case the turn might be too sharp for some to see at night, a dozen yards or so of white posts and railings bordered the marshes.