ethin' like a bit of
a cove, or a harbour of some sort?"

I looked at the spot indicated, and thought I could detect something of
the kind suggested by the boatswain; but my unaided vision was not
strong enough to enable me to be sure; I therefore borrowed the glass
from Polson, and then saw that there was indeed an indentation of some
sort which had the appearance of being spacious enough to give
harbourage to the ship. That, however, was a point that did not call
for immediate settlement, although it was certainly to be kept in mind.

Meanwhile, the ship, running off with the wind now a couple of points
over the port quarter, had been sliding rapidly down toward the reef,
and had by this time drawn so near it that I felt morally certain not
only of the fact that there actually was a passage through it, but also
that it was wide enough for the ship to go through. Yet I did not
altogether like the idea of pushing the ship through it without further
ado, for a rather unpleasant thought had flashed through my mind, which
I at once proceeded to communicate to the boatswain.

"Now, look here, Polson," I said. "That is undoubtedly a passage
through the reef; and as we draw nearer to it I grow the more disposed
to believe that it may be possible to take the old _Mercury_ through it.
Yet I am strongly opposed to the idea of doing anything hastily. What
I mean is this," I continued in answer to the quick glance of half-
suspicious enquiry that he flashed upon me. "There is no sign that we
can detect of natives upon that island; yet there may be hundreds, ay,
thousands, of them there for all that. If so, what is to prevent their
having us in sight all day to-day, and hiding their canoes and otherwise
obliterating all indication of their presence, in the hope that, by so
doing, we may be tempted to pass through the reef and come to an anchor
under its lee and in pretty close proximity to the island. Once through
that passage, Polson, and, with the wind as it is now, we should be in a
trap from which it might be difficult, if not absolutely impossible, to
escape in the event of our being attacked by a strong body of hostile
natives. Now, my idea is this. If we were to enter that lagoon this
evening, by the time that we had come to an anchor and rolled up our
canvas it would be altogether too late to go ashore and explore
satisfactorily that island; and, as I said just now, if there happen to
be hostile natives there we