oward which they were being driven with
terrific force. It was here the worst danger was to be encountered. The
channel ran close alongside this rock, to windward, and the governor
knew that it would require the exercise of all his skill to take the
yawl past it in safety.

"Xury," he exclaimed, yelling at the top of his voice, to make himself
heard above the roar of the wind and waves, "stand by the sheet and be
ready to haul in fur life when I give the word."

By the time the mate had placed himself in a position to obey this
order, the yawl had approached within a few yards of the ledge, and, to
the no small astonishment and alarm of the Crusoe men, the governor did
not change her course an inch. Suddenly her bow was buried beneath a
pile of foam, and the next instant she was lifted on the crest of a
tremendous billow, which carried her with redoubled speed toward the
rock. This was too much for Friday and Jack Spaniard, who uttered a
simultaneous cry of terror, and jumped to their feet, while Tom Newcombe
turned away his head and clutched his seat with a death-gripe, expecting
every moment to see the sides of the boat smashed in, and to find
himself struggling in the water.

"Set down!" thundered the governor. "Haul in, Xury!"

For a few seconds two opposing forces were at work upon the yawl. The
wind blew harder than ever, as if it sympathized with the Crusoe men,
and was doing its best to drive them out of reach of danger, while the
waves came thicker and faster, and dashed their spray furiously into the
faces of the yawl's crew, seemingly determined upon their destruction.
So evenly balanced was the power of the two elements, that, for a time,
it was a matter of uncertainty whether the wind would force them away
from the rock, or the waves hurl them upon it; but the wind began to
gain a little at last, the yawl glided slowly, inch by inch, around the
ledge into still water, and Tom, looking back, saw the pyramid of foam
leaping higher than ever into the air, as if enraged at being cheated of
its prey.

"Jerusalem!" ejaculated Will Atkins, gazing first at his companions, and
then at the angry waves behind, as if he could hardly believe that they
had passed them in safety. "_Jerusalem_, I say! Whew!"

"Well, I done it, didn't I?" exclaimed the governor, drawing a long
breath of relief. "I thank my lucky stars that I'll never have to do it
ag'in."

It would have been hard work for any one to convince the Cru