ght have storms and other unknown dangers to encounter.
Tea over, after singing a few airs to the accompaniment of her guitar,
Fanny took up her work, while Mary as usual began to read. I then went
on deck.

"Any chance of a breeze soon?" I asked.

"Not a breath of wind as yet, sir," answered old Tom; "and I don't think
we shall get it till the morning. I only hope when it does come that we
shan't have more of it than we want. I'd advise the ladies not to sit
up till we are out at sea, for if they do they'll get but little sleep
to-night."

I went below and told them what Tom said. Harry agreed that he was
right; and when they retired to their cabins he and I returned on deck.
We neither of us felt inclined to turn in. Perhaps we were as anxious
as if we had been certain that the savages would attack us. The hours,
as they always do on such occasions, went slowly by; and at last, unable
longer to keep my eyes open, I got a cloak from below, and rolling
myself up in it lay down on deck. How long I had slept I could not
tell, when I heard Tom exclaim--

"I see them, sir."

"You are right; so do I," answered Harry. "Turn the hands up."

I was on my feet in an instant, and looking towards the eastern end of
the island distinctly made out a number of dark objects on the surface
of the water approaching the schooner. The men came tumbling up on
deck.

"Silence!" cried Harry, in a low voice; "crouch down so as not to show
yourselves. As the savages hope to surprise us, we must surprise them.
Ned, run down and tell Mary and Fanny that we may have to fire the guns,
but that they must not be alarmed, as we are sure to beat off the
savages."

I quickly executed my commission, and sprang again on deck. The canoes
did not appear to me to have got nearer. The savages were, perhaps,
holding a consultation. As I was looking at them, I felt a breath of
air on my right cheek. It was from the eastward. Again it came
stronger. It was the most favourable wind we could have.

"Loose the headsails--man the windlass," cried Harry. "I shall be
thankful if we can avoid injuring more of the ignorant savages."

The anchor was quickly hove up--the headsails and then the mainsail set,
and the schooner glided on towards the passage through the reef. As her
broadside was turned towards the canoes we could fire all our guns at
them, should it be necessary. Almost immediately afterwards the moon
rose, showing us clearly