able to continue our voyage."

"We must first ascertain where the deep water is," answered Boxall.

"I will soon learn that," said Ben, taking the boat-hook in his hand to
feel his way. He went forward carefully for some distance. At last he
shouted out,--"The reef is higher here than where we struck it, and I am
pretty sure I see a sand-bank at no great distance. I will go ahead and
let you know."

Halliday was so stiff and worn out that he was unable to move, and
neither Boxall nor I liked to leave him. As Ben was strong, and a good
swimmer, we felt sure that he could manage by himself.

We now refreshed ourselves with another orange; and I felt that I had
still some strength left for any further exertions we might have to
make.

After waiting for some time, we thought we heard Ben shouting to us.

"Yes, I am sure that is Ben's voice," said Boxall. "Come, Halliday, are
you able to move?"

"I will do my best," was the answer; and getting up, we made our way
over the rocks in the direction from which Ben's voice proceeded. After
passing over a dry ledge we found the water again deepening; but I took
Halliday's hand, and together we waded on, followed by Boxall--who was
ready to give either of us assistance, should we require it. The water
was growing deeper and deeper, till it almost reached our chests.

"We shall have to swim for it," I said; "but I don't think it will be
far." Just then we again heard Ben's voice. "He would not call to us
if there was any danger to be encountered," I observed. The next
instant we all had to strike out; but we had not gone twenty fathoms
when we found our feet touching the bottom, and once more we waded on.

"I see him," I cried out, as my eye caught sight of a figure standing,
apparently on dry land. "It may be the coast itself which we have
reached--sooner than we expected."

We had still some distance to go, but the water gradually became
shallower. Halliday, overcome with fatigue, cried out that he could go
no further; but Boxall, overtaking us, made him rest on his shoulder.
The water being now no higher than our knees, we advanced more easily;
and we soon caught sight of Ben, who had gone some distance over the
sand, running to meet us. When at length we reached the dry land, we
all three sank down exhausted.

"But have we really reached the coast of Africa?" eagerly asked Boxall
of Ben.

"I am sorry to say we have not, sir; we are on a sand-bank ever s