but my experience among the Caroline and Marshall Islands led me to
believe that somewhere in that reef a break might be found wide enough
to allow the passage of the ship through it. Examining the long line of
the leaping surf very carefully through the ship's telescope, I at
length thought I detected such a passage, some two or three miles to the
southward of the point at which the ship's bowsprit was pointing; I
accordingly hailed the deck, directing the helmsman how to steer for it,
and at the same time requested Polson to join me.

"There, Polson," I exclaimed, "what think you of that for an island upon
which to settle? It ought to be big enough to accommodate all hands of
you, with room to spare. Its soil is fertile, if one may judge by its
luxuriantly wooded appearance; and, thus far, I have been unable to
detect any signs of inhabitants upon it. Do you think it good enough to
justify us in attempting to find a way through that reef in order to get
a closer view of it?"

"Do I?" repeated the boatswain, feasting his eyes upon the lovely
prospect the island presented in the rays of the afternoon sun, which
happened at that moment to fall at just the proper angle to reveal
clearly the gently undulating character of the island, scored here and
there with ravines which seemed to promise not only a series of charming
prospects, but also an abundance of fresh water from the streams that
had their origin in the central peak--"Yes, Mr Troubridge, I most
certainly do, if a way can be found of gettin' at the place. Why, it's
the very kind of island as I've been picturin' in my mind ever since
that chap Wilde began to talk about his plans, except that yonder island
is a good bit bigger and altogether more promisin' than I'd ever hoped
to stumble upon. But how is that there line of surf goin' to be passed
through, Mr Troubridge?"

"Take this glass, Polson," I said, "and very carefully examine the spot
immediately over our jibboom-end. To my mind there seems to be a very
narrow patch of unbroken water there, which may yet prove wide enough to
take the ship through with a leading wind."

"Ay, sir," answered Polson, "I sees what you mean; there certainly do
look to be a bit of a passage there; and, narrer as it looks, it may, as
you say, be wide enough for the _Mercury_ to slip through. And what's
them two p'ints on the mainland, just over the break, with the blue
shadder showin' beyond it? Don't it look to you som