re, it was found
that a tremendous surf broke upon the beach--owing to its exposure to
the long rolling swell of the Pacific. When the boat, which was a small
one, entered this surf, it became apparent that the attempt to land was
full of danger. Each wave that bore them on its crest for a second, and
then left them behind, was so gigantic that nothing but careful steering
could save them from turning broadside on, and being rolled over like a
cask. Griffin was a skilful steersman, but he evidently was not at that
time equal to the occasion. He steered wildly. When they were close to
the beach the boat upset. Every man swam towards a place where a small
point of land caused a sort of eddy and checked the force of the
undertow. They all reached it in a few minutes, with the exception of
Griffin, who had found bottom on a sand-bank, and stood, waist deep,
laughing, apparently, at the struggles of his comrades.

"You'd better come ashore," shouted one of the men.

Griffin replied by another laugh, in the midst of which he sank suddenly
and disappeared. It might have been a quicksand--it might have been a
shark--no one ever could tell, but the unhappy man had gone to his
account--he was never more seen!

The accident had been observed from the ship, and the mate at once
lowered a boat and hastened to the rescue. Those on shore observed
this, and awaited its approach. Before it was half way from the beach,
however, Peter Grant said to his comrades--

"I'll tell 'e wot it is, boys; seems to me that Providence has given us
a chance of gittin' away from that ship. I never was a pirate, an' I
don't mean for to become one, so, all who are of my way of thinkin' come
over here."

Will Osten and his friends were so glad to find that a shipmate had,
unknown to them, harboured thoughts of escaping, that they at once
leaped to his side, but none of the others followed. They were all
determined, reckless men, and had no intention of giving up their wild
course. Moreover, they were not prepared to allow their comrades to go
off quietly. One of them, in particular, a very savage by nature, as
well as a giant, stoutly declared that he not only meant to stick by the
ship himself, but would compel the others to do so too, and for this
purpose placed himself between them and the woods, which, at that part
of the coast, approached close to the sea. Those who took his part
joined him, and for a few moments the two parties st