ances, they had thought
it better to steer for the nearest point of the African coast. They
were now too far to the southward to run any great risk of falling in
with the pirates, and at whatever point they might make the land, there
would be a reasonable prospect of obtaining fresh supplies. The course
of the boat had accordingly been altered, and for the last three days
they had been sailing due east.

According to the doctor's calculations they were not more than sixty or
seventy miles from shore, when the sun set on the previous evening; and
as they had been running steadily before the wind all night, he fully
expected to catch sight of it as soon as the morning dawned. But the
sky was thick and cloudy, and there was a mist over the sea, rendering
objects at the distance of a few hundred yards quite undistinguishable.

"We cannot be far from shore," said the doctor. "My observations, I
dare say, are not very accurate; but I think I cannot be more than
twenty or thirty miles wrong, and according to me we ought to have
sighted land, or rather have been near enough to sight it, three or four
hours ago."

"I think I can hear the noise of breakers," said Warley, "I have fancied
so for the last ten minutes. But there is such a fog, that it is
impossible to make out anything."

"You are right," said Mr Lavie, setting himself to listen. "That is
the beating of surf; we must be close to the shore, but it will be
dangerous to approach until we can see it more clearly. We must go
about."

Ernest obeyed; but the alarm had been taken too late. Almost at the
same moment that he turned the rudder, the boat struck upon a reef,
though not with any great force. Lavie sprang out and succeeded in
pushing her off into deep water again, but the blow had damaged her
bottom, and the water began to come in.

"Bale her out," shouted Lavie to Frank and Nick as he sprang on board
again. "I can see the land now. It's not a quarter of a mile off, and
she'll keep afloat for that distance. Take the other oar, Ernest; while
they bale we must row for that point yonder."

The fog had partially cleared away, and a low sandy shore became here
and there visible, running out into a long projecting spit on their left
hand. This was the spot which Lavie had resolved to make for. It was
not more than two or three hundred yards distant, and there was no
appearance of surf near it. They rowed with all their strength, the
other two bali