letely encircling the unfortunate craft. The swell, rolling heavily
in from the westward, hurled itself with appalling fury upon this reef,
the far-reaching expanse of white water revealing distinctly the
extremity of the peril through which the ship had passed during the
previous night. Indeed, it was difficult to understand how she had
escaped at all, for the opening between the two horns of the reef was so
narrow that he would have been a bold navigator who would willingly have
risked the passage, even in broad daylight.

Williams' first act was to summon Rogers and Martin, in whose company he
paid a visit to the fore-topmast cross-trees, where the trio devoted a
full half-hour to a careful and critical examination of the ship's
position. Fortunately there was no occasion for haste, the anchor
maintaining a firm grip of the ground, notwithstanding the occasional
heavy plunges of the ship when some exceptionally big roller came
sweeping in unbroken through the narrow channel in the reef. It was
possible, therefore, for the mutineers to weigh well the advisability of
the steps they contemplated, and to act with due caution. The cross-
trees afforded a clear and thoroughly comprehensive view of the entire
reef; and from this lofty stand-point the position of the ship was seen
to be much less critical than it had appeared to be when viewed from the
deck below. The _Flying Cloud_ was, in fact, found to be lying in about
the centre of a natural harbour. True, it was rather a wild berth for a
ship, especially in the particular spot which she then occupied--this
spot happening to be exactly opposite the opening in the reef and fully
exposed to the unbroken run of the sea--but it was seen that by moving
her half a cable's-length either to the north or south the craft would
be sheltered by one of the arms of the reef, and, with a couple of
anchors down, might hope to ride out a moderately heavy gale in safety.

This was all very well, and very satisfactory--so far as it went--for it
relieved their minds of all anxiety respecting the immediate safety of
the ship. But, safe as she might be for the moment, the spot was not
one in which a prudent mariner would linger one unnecessary instant; and
Williams' only anxiety just then was how to get out.

The channel into this natural harbour trended as nearly as possible due
east and west; and, with the wind as it then stood, the ship, in order
to get to sea, would have to make