ill longer watching the distant shore, towards
which he ordered the ship to be steered. As she approached, numerous
small islands were seen ahead: the sight revived the spirits of all on
board. The leadsman was ordered to sound as the ship ran on; first
thirteen fathoms of water were found, then seven. Some spoke of
anchoring, but the admiral, though he would gladly have saved the ship,
knew full well that she would not float many hours longer. Again he
ascended the mast, and looking out saw a spot between two high rocks,
towards which he ordered the helmsman to steer. The foresail only was
set, to prevent the ship from striking with too great force. The
passengers and crew were collected on deck; still to the last the pumps
were kept going, and the buckets were worked, lest she might founder
even before she could reach the shore. It was now known that they had
arrived at the stormy Bermoothes, or as some call them the "Devil's
Islands," owing to the fearful storms which rage round them, and the
numerous dangers they present to navigators.

Islands, many hundreds in number, extended three or four leagues on
either side of the one towards which the ship's course was directed.
Trees could now be discerned on it waving to and fro in the wind: but as
the ship sped on the force of the waves decreased, and as she gradually
got under the shelter of the islands, the water became sufficiently
smooth to encourage the hope that she would not go to pieces when she
should strike the shore. But then the crew asked each other "were they
about to be thrown on a desolate island, where neither food nor water
could be found?"

The admiral had descried two high rocks at a short distance apart, near
which the water seemed smoother than at any other part. He now directed
the course of the ship towards it; not a moment was to be lost, for the
water was rapidly rising higher and higher in the hold. He warned those
on deck to beware, lest the ship striking suddenly, the masts might fall
and crush those below them. Vaughan on this led Mistress Audley and his
sister back into the cabin, but Gilbert declared that as an officer he
must run the risk of whatever might happen. All waited with suspense
for the expected shock; the minutes seemed hours; every instant the
objects on shore became more and more distinct--the rocks, the beach,
the trees beyond, and here and there gentle slopes; but no mountains, or
even hills worthy of the name.