You had better get up ten small
casks--those wine barrels would do very well--let the liquor run off, then
bung them up again, and fasten life-lines round them; with their help we
should have a fair chance."

"It is worth trying at any rate," the captain agreed. "The surf on the bar
will be tremendous, but if we could stick to the casks we might get
through it."

"Do you think that you are north or south of it now, captain?"

"North, perhaps two or three miles."

"Well, we will go on fighting as long as we can, captain; it is of no use
throwing away a chance, and the wind may possibly drop or shift so as to
enable us to make off shore; but if we do not see the land before three
o'clock I would turn and run in towards it, and then when we get near
enough to see objects plainer, head for the south until you see the
entrance. When you do we will go straight for it. It is better at any rate
to do it while there is daylight to help us."

The barrels were got up and prepared to serve as life-buoys. They had just
finished when Stephen made his way a short distance up the rigging. "I can
see the line of surf, captain; it is not more than three miles away. You
had better take a look at it--you may be able to tell where we are. I think
I can make out a place of some size a short distance along."

The captain joined him. "Just as I thought," he said; "that is San Carlos,
and the mouth of the river is about a mile beyond it."

"Then you may as well bear away for it at once--the sooner we get it over
the better."

"Make your casks fast to something, men," the captain ordered, as he
stepped on deck. "The surf will get higher as we get inshore, and will, I
have no doubt, sweep our decks. When the time comes let each man go to his
barrel with his knife in his hand ready to cut the lashings just before we
strike."

In half an hour the captain made out the entrance to the river and headed
the ship for it.

"There is a heavy sea indeed on the bar," Stephen said as they neared the
line of breakers. "You see, I have changed my togs since the gale began,
for I saw that unless the wind changed we should find ourselves in
difficulties. We have not much mercy to expect as Chilian sailors. I
should have none if it were known that I am a naval officer. Will you tell
the men that if we get ashore and I too am saved, they had best hold their
tongue about my rank. In the first place it would do me harm, and in the
next it would damage y