olls is allowed to escape; but, if you do not mind it, I am sure I
need not. If, as you say, the fool prefers slaving ashore there for a
bare living to making his fortune with us afloat, let him go. Up with
the boats, and be smart about it! Up with your helm, abaft there, and
let her go off square before the wind! Square the main-yard; and away
aloft there, some of you, and rig out the topmast and topgallant-
studding-sail booms!"

These orders were rapidly obeyed. The ship squared away before a
freshening breeze; and two hours later the island was left so far astern
that a landsman might easily have mistaken it for a grey cloud on the
edge of the horizon.

The ship was kept running to the eastward all that day under studding-
sails, and by sunset had travelled a distance of nearly seventy miles.
At that hour, however, Ned requested that sail might be shortened and
the ship allowed to go along under easy canvas during the night, urging
the experience of the morning as a reason for caution whilst navigating
that comparatively unknown sea. Williams at once assented to the
suggestion, remarking immediately afterwards to Rogers, with a self-
satisfied chuckle:

"That was a rare good move of ours, Bill, to keep the young woman
aboard. See how cautious Mr Ned has grown all of a sudden! You may
take my word for it, there will be no more tumbling over islands so long
as she remains aboard of us."

As it happened, it was just as well that the precaution was taken; for
at midnight, just as the watch was being relieved, breakers were
discovered ahead, and the ship was only brought to the wind just barely
in time to avert a disaster. But even then the craft was by no means
out of danger; for, when an attempt was made to claw off from the reefs
to leeward, it was soon discovered that the vessel was embayed, other
reefs being found to exist both to the northward and to the southward of
her. For a few minutes something very like a panic took possession of
the mutineers; but Williams proved himself equal to the occasion,
stilling the tumult by a few brief authoritative words, and promptly
ordering a man into the chains with the lead. Soundings were taken and
a sandy bottom found, with just the right depth of water for anchoring.
So the cable was roused on deck and bent on to the best bower, the ship
making short reaches to the northward and southward meanwhile; and as
soon as everything was ready a position was taken as