but in
vain; and now he yielded reluctantly to the conviction, that he had been
deceived by the white line of surf, similar to that which bounded on one
side his native island, and that he had never before seen the one which
we were approaching. This discovery was a relief to me, and removed a
weight of apprehension from my mind. The thought of being cast upon a
desert and uninhabited shore, seemed less dreadful, than that of falling
into the power of a tribe of savage islanders, even under circumstances
which would probably secure us a friendly reception.

But now a strange and unforeseen difficulty presented itself. Between
us and the island, stretched a barrier reef, running north and south,
and curving westward; and appearing, as far as we could see, completely
to surround it. Along the whole line of this reef the sea was breaking
with such violence as to render all approach dangerous; neither could we
espy any break or opening in it, through which to reach the shore.
Towards this foaming barrier the current was rapidly bearing us, and we
were too feeble to struggle long against its force. To permit ourselves
to be carried upon the reef would be certain destruction, and our only
hope of safety seemed to lie in discovering some inlet through it. Our
true situation flashed upon me all at once; I had not before thought of
the impossibility of receding. Glancing at Arthur, I caught his eye,
and saw that he comprehended the full extent of the danger. "We are
near enough to see any break in the reef," said he, "let us now take to
the oars, and coast along it in search of one."

This was accordingly done. But it was not until we had pulled along the
shore for some time, and found that in spite of our endeavours to
preserve our distance from it, we were steadily forced nearer, that the
rest seemed aware of the imminence of the danger.

"The current is carrying us among the breakers," exclaimed Morton, at
length, "though we are heading rather away from the shore, we are
getting closer every moment." This appalling fact was now apparent to
all.

"The wind seems to have died away," said Browne, "at any rate there is
not enough of it to help us: we must put about and pull out of the reach
of this surf, or we are lost."

"How long do you suppose we can continue that?" said Arthur. "No, our
only hope is in finding an entrance through the reef, and that
speedily."

We now steered a little farther away, and strain