his lagoon was, as my readers will
probably know, the belt of water which surrounded the island,
intervening between it and the encircling coral reef, on which the heavy
swell expended all its force, without being able to reach and disturb
the still water inside.

We were within a mile and a half of the southern extremity of the
island, when I detected a thin line of unbroken water tortuously
threading its way across the reef, and extending clear into the lagoon.
Its mouth would never have been observed from our deck, or indeed from
the deck of a ship, for the channel entered the reef at an acute angle;
and the surf broke so heavily upon the outside and overlapping ledge
that the foam and spray were carried quite across the narrow opening,
and mingled with the broken water on the opposite side.

But from my elevation I could see that there the channel was, and having
satisfied myself, as we drew down towards it, that it was unbroken, I
decided to run in through it.

Had the _Lily_ been a moderately large vessel or square-rigged, she
could not have been taken through, for there was one point about midway
across the reef where I believed the passage could not exceed thirty
feet in width, and it was at a very awkward bend; and there were so many
sharp _turnings_ (to use a shore phrase) that a square-rigged vessel's
yards could not have been handled rapidly enough to meet her frequent
and quickly succeeding changes of direction. But it was very different
with us.

I directed Bob to haul aft his weather-jib-sheet and lee-fore-sheet,
thus providing for the keeping of one of the head-sails always full, and
to trim his mainsail with a moderately flowing sheet; after which he
might leave the canvas to take care of itself, whilst he gave his
undivided attention to the helm.

This was soon done, and we bore away in the direction I indicated. The
look-out ahead from the deck must have been alarming enough, for great
as was Bob's confidence in my judgment, and steady as were his nerves,
he could not forbear hailing me.

"I hope, Harry," shouted he, "that you're quite sartain about that there
passage. I sees nothing ahead, or anywheres else for that matter, on
either bow but surf; and mind ye, lad, if we but touches _once_, the
little barkie 'll be knocked into match-wood. We may still claw off if
there's any doubt."

"Port, hard!" answered I, too intent on the channel to enter into any
explanation just then. "Steady!"