It had been supposed that in an hour the party would be on shore.

But great masses of floating ice impeded the progress of the skiff; the night came on; the fog grew thicker; the waves broke over the King and the courtiers.

Once the keel struck on a sand bank, and was with great difficulty got off.

The hardiest mariners showed some signs of uneasiness.

But William, through the whole night, was as composed as if he had been in the drawingroom at Kensington.