de, thanks to the
watchful suggestions of the Professor.

To add to their discomfort of mind, the land was not in sight. There was
nothing to steer by except the compass and the chart which had been laid
out. They were now going north over the course that had been traversed
for the past two days--the west coast of the island.

It was a long, long night. No one slept, because fear and anxiety was
ever with them. They remembered now with vividness the days spent on the
ocean when they were wrecked. It was a terrible succession of hours,
with the wind and the lightning and the rain one continuous orgy. The
Professor sat at the tiller. The sails had been taken down long before.
The impact of the driving storm against the housed structure was
sufficient to drive it forward, so that the vessel could be guided.

It seemed that every blow against the boat would wrench it to atoms, but
if any part had given way it was not apparent. Harry, who sat nearest
the housed structure, suddenly sprang up, and pointing down, cried out:
"It is leaking; look how it boils!" It was forethought on the part of
the Professor to put in a supply of the oakum used for caulking
purposes. Harry sprang for it, and George grasped the bailing pan. After
a struggle a sufficient amount was driven into interstices to keep out
at least a portion of the seepage. This knowledge was most oppressive.
When a boat of this kind once springs a leak, due to a severe wrench of
the shell itself, it is a difficult matter to remedy it, without
structurally strengthening it.

Morning was now appearing, and still no land appeared in sight. More
leaks appeared, and the boys were now constantly bailing and repairing.
The Professor had held the tiller for more than six hours, but he did
not appear to be exhausted. At every attempt of the boys to relieve him,
he only said that they had more important work in bailing and caulking.

He finally changed the course due east, and it was more by luck than
exact calculation that they made out the northern end of the island
which was passed the first night out. In one night they had traveled a
distance coming back that required two days and nights to traverse in
the other direction. As it was they were headed for the cliffs at the
point of land, and it must be avoided.

Harry saw the danger, and went back to consult the Professor. He had the
tiller firmly in his grasp, and his body bent over it to keep it steady;
but when Harry r