a series of short tacks to windward.
But the opening was so narrow and tortuous that the little party in the
cross-trees considered it exceedingly doubtful whether this would be
possible with so lengthy a ship as the _Flying Cloud_; and, for the
moment, it looked very much as though they would have to remain where
they were until a change of wind should occur to release them.

At length, however, an expedition in the gig to the mouth of the channel
was decided upon, and Ned--who had already distinguished himself by the
exhibition of an altogether exceptional aptitude and dexterity in his
handling of the ship--was instructed to join the party. The boat was
soon lowered and manned, and, with Williams, Rogers, and Ned in the
stern-sheets, pulled away towards the entrance. They had had the
precaution to provide themselves with a hand-lead; and as soon as the
channel was reached a very complete set of soundings, from end to end
and over its entire width, was taken under Ned's supervision. The
result was unexpectedly satisfactory, no detached rocks being found in
the fairway, whilst a tolerably even depth of water, nowhere less than
five fathoms, and extending right up alongside the edge of the reef,
prevailed throughout the entire length of the channel.

The progress of this survey was watched with the utmost anxiety by
Williams--who, indeed, actually took the soundings with his own hands;
and upon its completion he was so intensely gratified at the way in
which this important service had been executed that he actually went the
length of stammering out a few half-intelligible words of thanks to Ned.

The only question now remaining for settlement was, whether it would be
prudent to make the attempt to work the ship out to sea. All hands were
most keenly anxious to get clear of the place, for, safe as the ship
just then undoubtedly was, they knew that it might prove a death-trap to
them if it came on to blow heavily from the westward; but they also had
the sense to know that a single mistake or miscalculation on the part of
the person working the ship would send her on to the reef, a hopeless
wreck.

Rogers and the boat's crew were unanimously of opinion that the project
was an impossibility; Williams expressed his belief that the thing
_might_ be done, but he at the same time frankly confessed that he had
not faith enough in himself to undertake the responsibility. Ned
prudently kept his opinion to himself until he