re abreast of Cape Florida the Islander suddenly put up her
helm, and stood off to the south-west. This movement indicated that she
had no intention of coming any nearer to the Sylvania. I was perplexed
at this change of course, because I could hardly conceive of such a
thing as Captain Blastblow taking the inside route in that threatening
weather. There was nothing to protect his vessel from the heavy seas,
and in some places he would have hardly water enough to float the
Islander.

In about another hour Fowey Rocks were between the two vessels. There
was no way of getting out of the inside passage except that by which he
went in, or at the southerly end of the series of reefs.

"It looks to me just as though the Islander wanted to keep out of our
way," said Washburn, when we had settled the question as to what the
Islander intended to do.

"That had not occurred to me before," I replied. "Why should she try to
avoid us?"

"That's what bothers me. I can't see the least reason for such conduct
on the part of her captain," added the mate.

"It looks to me like very risky business to go into such a place as
that with a south-east gale threatening," I continued, as I went to the
shelf to find a chart of the Florida reefs, which I had carefully
studied. "There is one place where the Islander will have only six feet
of water at low tide, perhaps seven and a half or eight at this time of
tide. I think she will have to get in behind one of the Keys, and
anchor to wait for the tide to rise."

"I hope nothing will happen to the Islander. I suppose Captain
Blastblow knows what he is about, and probably has a pilot for the
inside of the reefs," said Washburn.

"If it was good weather, it would be another thing, and I should not
have hesitated to follow him, for we have the Coast Pilot, and the best
charts of the Coast Survey."

"It is getting to be very rough out here," added Washburn, as the
Sylvania began to roll heavily in the billows that swept in from the
open sea. Our passengers were taking their afternoon naps, but they
soon found out that we were in an angry sea. I went into the cabin to
comfort them. Mrs. Shepard wanted to know if we could not put in at
some port, as we had done on Thursday.

"There is no port we can enter before we reach Key West, madam. With
the wind as it is now, and blowing hard, I am afraid to go any nearer
the reefs than we are now."

"I hear that a great many vessels are wrecked on the