there was a bit of fog, and I didn't want to try to find my way into the harbour until I could see the buoys. I don't like shoals;they're very dangerous.'
'where are the shoals outside Harwich?' asked John.
'look at the chart,'replied Jim. there's Harwich, and there's shotley, where we are now,' and he pointed with his finger.'and all the shoals are just outside. the big ships like to come in like this,'and his finger followed a safe line between the shoals.'they go towards the Cork lightship.it's the only safe way to go.And when it's dark,or foggy,the only safe thing to do is to get out to sea and stay there.'
john listened,telling himself he would remember that,when one day he had a boat of his own.
'what did you do?'asked Roger.
'just sailed about,outside all of the shoals.then,in the morning I came to the Sunk lightship,then the Cork,and then to the beach End buoy-you'll see that tomorrow and into the harbour and up to Pin Mill.