hed and tossed
from the crest of one tremendous billow, down, seemingly, into the
fathomless depths between, and then laboriously climbed the mountain
in front, with the spray and mist whirling about the deck and rigging
like millions of fine shot. But the gallant _Coral_ rode it out
safely, and the steady breeze caught her and she sped swiftly in the
direction of the Pearl Islands.

The little girl had run hither and thither, until, tired out, she had
flung herself upon the berth in the cabin, where she was sleeping
soundly, while the captain was doing the same; Abe Storms, the mate,
being on deck at the wheel. It was yet early in the evening, and Hyde
Brazzier and Alfredo Redvignez were sitting close together, forward,
smoking their pipes and conversing in low tones. The breeze was almost
directly abeam, so that the sails carried the craft along at a rapid
rate, the water foaming and curling from the bow, while the rising and
sinking of the schooner on the enormous swells were at such long
intervals as almost to be imperceptible. As far as the eye could
extend in every direction, no glimpse of a sail or light could be
perceived, nor had any been observed through the day, which confirmed
what Bill Grebbens, the sailor in the Boston hospital, said, to the
effect that, despite the location of the Paumotu Islands, the approach
to them from the direction of California took one in a section where
the sails of commerce were rarely seen.

The captain and mate had been consulting their chart, and had taken
their reckoning more frequently and with greater care than ever
before. The conclusion at which they arrived was that they were
already south of the northernmost island of the Paumotu group, and
were close to the Coral Island, along whose shore were to be found the
precious pearls which were to make them all, or rather the two,
wealthy.

"It's a curious business," reflected Abe Storms, while holding the
wheel motionless. "When I consider the matter fairly, I don't see why
the expedition should not succeed. But it is so different from the
coasting business, in which the captain and I have been engaged for
years, that it is hard to believe we're going to make anything out of
it."

He listened a minute to the murmur of the voices forward, and then he
added, pursuing the same train of thought:

"What an extraordinary thing it is that we should have this little
girl for a passenger! Suppose we carry her back to Tokio after