hooner _Coral_, a stanchly-built, sharp-bowed
little vessel of forty tons burden, built for the Honolulu trade. She
was about seven years old, very fast, and constructed as strongly as
iron and wood could make her. The forecastle, cook's quarters and
cabin were all under deck, so that in heavy weather there was no
danger of being washed from one's bunk whenever a big sea came
thundering over the rail.

The skipper or captain of this trim little craft was Jack Bergen, of
Boston, and he with his mate, Abram Storms, had made the trip across
the continent by rail to San Francisco--thus saving the long,
dangerous and expensive voyage around Cape Horn.

In the Golden Gate City they--for the mate and captain were joint
partners--bought the _Coral_ at auction, paying just two-thirds the
sum they expected to give for the vessel they needed. However, when
she was fitted up and provisioned, they found very little of their
funds left, and they could but feel some anxiety as to the result of
the extraordinary enterprise upon which they were engaged. The crew of
the little schooner consisted of the two sailors, Hyde Brazzier,
Alfredo Redvignez, and a huge African, Pomp Cooper, who shipped as
cook and steward, with the liability of being called upon to do duty
in an emergency.

But of these, more hereafter.

Captain Bergen, after his craft came-to, was rowed across the short,
intervening distance with his mate, and they were assisted upon deck,
where they were received most courteously.

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" he asked after he and his
brother officer were received by Captain Strathmore.

"I'm obliged to you, but I'm afraid not," was the courteous response.
"You know, there's no way of telling when a piece of iron is going to
fracture, and so there is no way of providing against such an
accident."

"Is the shaft broke?"

"Yes; broken clean off."

"Where?"

The captain of the steamer smiled, for he saw no need of such a
question, since he considered the damage irremediable.

"Quite a distance from the screw, and it's a curious fracture. Would
you like to look at it?"

"I would, indeed. You see, we have got considerable out of our
course--being too far west--and we shall make a pretty sharp turn to
the south, toward Honolulu."

"I am debating whether to go there, turn back to San Francisco, or
keep on under sail to Tokio."

"This is my mate, Abram Storms, from Enfield, Connecticut," said
Captain B