, lads," urged Ned.
Then to Rogers:

"How are things looking from aloft, Rogers?"

"All right, sir--no rocks anywhere in the way as I can see, and deep
water right up to the edge of the reef," came the answer.

"That is well," commented Ned, walking to the lee rail to note the speed
of the ship through the water, and also to judge more accurately her
distance from the swirling masses of white water which marked the
position of the reef.

She was nearing the rocks fast and was already within a cable's-length
of them; and the men forward were beginning to cast anxious glances aft,
fearing that Ned was cutting his distance too fine.

But Ned knew perfectly well what he was about; with the utmost calmness
he gave the word "Stations!" and then, as the men sprang to obey the
order, he glanced aloft at the canvas. Williams was performing his
share of the work with the skill of a most accomplished helmsman, and
all the canvas was clean full.

Now came the ticklish part of the business. If Ned's judgment failed
him here the ship was as good as lost. He took one more glance at the
breakers and then gave the word:

"Ready about!" followed immediately by the customary "Helm is a-lee!" at
the same moment signing to Williams to put the helm down.

The wheel, under the influence of a single vigorous impulse from
Williams' sinewy arm, went whirling round until it was hard over, when
he caught and grasped the spokes and held it there. The ship swept
gracefully up into the wind with her white canvas fluttering so
violently as to make the stout craft tremble to her keel; and, shaving
the reef so closely that a vigorous jump would have launched a man from
her rail into the breakers alongside, she forged ahead and finally paid
off on the opposite tack.

So far, so good. The ship was, however, still in the comparatively
spacious lagoon inside the reef. The crucial test of Ned's ability
would come when she passed into the narrow tortuous channel leading
through the reef to the open sea. But that one trial had sufficed to
demonstrate to Ned that the ship, even under the comparatively small
amount of canvas then set, was under perfect command; and he was,
moreover, just at that moment in that peculiar state of exhilaration
both of mind and body when no task seems impossible. It was not likely,
therefore, that, with Sibylla's bright eyes regarding him with an eager
curiosity--which to him seemed not wholly devoid of interest--