ng, if the wind goes down, the captain will stand
in to look for us."

We all knew the danger we were in, for in pulling round the boat might
be caught on her broadside and turned over; but it had to be done, and
we trusted to Mr Griffiths' steering. We gave way as he told us,
though for a moment I thought all was over as a sea struck the boat
abeam and half swamped her.

We got round, however, and while Horner and I baled her out, the men
pulled in towards the shore. It was now very dark. All we could see
ahead was an irregular line of black, but whether rocks or hills rising
near the beach we could not tell. As we neared the shore Mr Griffiths
stood up looking out for a landing-place, but no opening could he
discover in the rocks, against which the surf was now breaking
furiously; should we get within its power the boat, we knew, would be
dashed to pieces in a moment. The wind went on increasing till it blew
almost a hurricane. At last Dr Cockle exclaimed--

"There is an opening. We passed it this morning. I remember it by the
clump of trees on the top of a rounded hill, and I can now make them out
against the sky."

Mr Griffiths hesitated. Should the doctor be wrong in another minute
we should be hurled to destruction against the rugged rocks. Just then
the moon rising on the other side of the island broke through the clouds
and showed us clearly the outline of the trees and the hill.

The mate hesitated no longer, but telling us to give way steered in for
the opening. The surf broke wildly on either side of us, flying up
above our heads; the seas came rearing on astern, threatening to engulf
us. We all gave way steadily together. Now the boat rose on the top of
a foaming sea, and then down she glided into comparatively smooth water
inside the reef, and we were safe.

Pulling on, we saw ahead a small bay with the trees coming down to the
water's edge. Their tops were waving wildly, but we felt but little
wind where we were, and we were able to run the boat's head on to the
beach and land without difficulty. We at once drew her up and looked
out for a sheltered spot under some rocks to camp. Here we got a fire
lighted, as there were plenty of broken branches and leaves lying about,
and soon had some of the fish we had caught cooking before it.

Outside the tempest was howling furiously, and we had reason to be
thankful that we had gained the shore, as no boat could have lived in
the sea which w