Seite:Marsh Hallig 1856.djvu/196

196THE HALLIG.

against some higher bank, while waiting for reinforce-
ments ; then boldly climbing the wall and spreading
out in every direction, they inundated the whole plain.
  Of these movements the travelers saw nothing, al-
though the fog now began to disperse a little. But
they well knew the hour when their mortal enemy
would again assert his dominion over the soil which
they had so lately boldly ventured to tread. They had
observed, too, that he was already casting his net-work
about them, for wherever they went, they struck upon
his path, wherever they turned he pursued them, and
soon he was playing continually around the feet of his
prey. Now, heaving and swelling, it crept on slowly
but surely, and in the same proportion increased the
discouragement and fear of the wanderers, whose steps
were every moment more hurried and more uncertain on
the now completely overflowed flat. The water curled
around their trembling knees with a rushing sound, as
if saying, "You escape me no more." Of what avail was
the new consultation, which way shall we turn ? Even
if they had been sure of the true direction, as indeed a
careful observation of the motion of the tide now showed
with partial certainty, had they not before them chan-
nels which had become of impassable depth ? Inde-
pendently of this obstacle, could they conceal from
themselves the fact that a direction only nearly right
was no direction at all, as they might easily pass to the
right or the left of the hallig, now, as it were in mid
ocean. Yet an attempt was made to press forward, but
soon given up, as the leader of the party suddenly sunk
to the shoulders in a run, from which he was with diffi-
culty lifted out. Nothing was now left but to remain