But I think I might as well trust to a blind fiddler . Pray God you 're right . '' `` Pray God I am ! '' says Alan to me . `` But where did I hear it ? Well , well , it will be as it must . '' As we got nearer to the turn of the land the reefs began to be sown here and there on our very path ; and Mr. Riach sometimes cried down to us to change the course . Sometimes , indeed , none too soon ; for one reef was so close on the brig 's weather board that when a sea burst upon it the lighter sprays fell upon her deck and wetted us like rain . The brightness of the night showed us these perils as clearly as by day , which was , perhaps , the more alarming . It showed me , too , the face of the captain as he stood by the steersman , now on one foot , now on the other , and sometimes blowing in his hands , but still listening and looking and as steady as steel . Neither he nor Mr. Riach had shown well in the fighting ; but I saw they were brave in their own trade , and admired them all the more because I found Alan very white . `` Ochone , David , '' says he , `` this is no the kind of death I fancy ! '' `` What , Alan ! '' I cried , `` you 're not afraid ? '' `` No , '' said he , wetting his lips , `` but you 'll allow , yourself , it 's a cold ending . '' By this time , now and then sheering to one side or the other to avoid a reef , but still hugging the wind and the land , we had got round Iona and begun to come alongside Mull . The tide at the tail of the land ran very strong , and threw the brig about . Two hands were put to the helm , and Hoseason himself would sometimes lend a help ; and it was strange to see three strong men throw their weight upon the tiller , and it -LRB- like a living thing -RRB- struggle against and drive them back . This would have been the greater danger had not the sea been for some while free of obstacles . Mr. Riach , besides , announced from the top that he saw clear water ahead .
`` Ye were right , '' said Hoseason to XXXXX .
Alan Hoseason Mull Ochone Riach day fiddler night right steersman