ove the horizon, clear and defined. That it was land none of us had
any doubt. A fair breeze carried us along at the rate of four or five
knots an hour. In less than a couple of hours we might hope to be on
shore, but the sun was sinking, and it would be dark, unless the breeze
freshened, before we could reach it.

In a short time the wind fell, on which our hopes of landing before
night were disappointed. We got out the oars, however, and pulled on.

"We must be careful, lads," said the mate, after we had rowed some
distance.

"Most of these islands are surrounded by coral reefs, and we may run
upon one of them in the dark and knock the boat to pieces. We must
heave-to, shortly, and wait for daylight."

Some of the men grumbled at this, and asserted that the noise of the
surf upon the reefs would give us sufficient notice when we were
approaching them, but the mate was firm.

"I will not risk the safety of the boat for the sake of getting on shore
a few hours earlier," he said.

We all, however, had the satisfaction of taking another look at the land
and assuring ourselves that it was land before darkness came on. Mr
Griffiths then ordered us to lay in our oars, and except two who were to
keep watch and bale out the water which leaked into the boat, to lie
down and go to sleep.

I don't think many of us did sleep. We were all thinking too much about
getting on shore in the morning to care for rest. We forgot that before
that time another gale might spring up and drive us off the land, or
dash the boat a hopeless wreck upon the coral reef.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

MORE STARTLING ADVENTURES.

The night passed by, and as dawn at length broke, the mate rousing up
all hands, we hoisted the sail, and again stood towards the land. The
sea was smooth, and the wind light and fair.

As we glided on, the mate told Brown to stand up in the bows and keep a
look-out for reefs. As we approached the land we could see trees on the
shore and some on the hill, so that we had no doubt that we should find
fresh water. It was a question, however, whether or not it was
inhabited, and, if so, whether the natives would prove friendly or
hostile. The mate told the doctor that he believed it was one of the
most north-western of the Caroline group, the natives of which are
generally more friendly to strangers than the inhabitants of the islands
farther south; still, they are perfect savages, and it would be
dangerous to