though the breakers still dashed furiously on the outer side of the
reef, but scarcely a ripple disturbed the placid expanse of the lagoon.

"Oh, how beautiful!" exclaimed Fanny, as she and Mary came on deck. "I
should so like to take a stroll through that shady grove on the soft
turf which carpets the ground."

"Do let us go, Harry," said Mary; "you are not obliged to sail
immediately."

Nat also begged that he might go.

"While the swell rolls in through the passage with this light breeze we
cannot safely attempt to get out, and so, as you wish it, we will pay a
visit to the nearest island," answered Harry. "But I warn you that you
may be disappointed."

As soon as we had breakfasted the two gigs were lowered. Harry took the
two ladies in one, and I had charge of the other, having with me Nat and
Dick Tilston. Just as we were about to shove off I asked Tom to hand me
down Harry's fowling-piece, on the chance of getting a shot at some
birds.

"May as well have a musket, too," he said, giving me one with some
ammunition. "There may be no people ashore, or if there are they may be
friendly, but it's as well to be prepared for t'other in these parts."

Tom seldom indulged in so long a speech. It showed that he was somewhat
anxious about our going on shore on an unknown island. We gave way,
eager to step on shore, my boat soon catching up Harry's. As we
approached the beach we found that the surf washing over the outer reef
set upon it in a way which would have made landing there disagreeable,
so we pulled a short distance round to the lee side, where we discovered
a little bay, or indentation in the coral rock, large enough to admit
both the boats, I getting in first was in readiness to hand Mary and
Fanny on shore.

"Why, what has become of the soft green turf we saw?" exclaimed Fanny,
looking along under the trees.

"Perhaps we shall find it further on," remarked Mary.

"I am afraid not," said Harry; "but we will go on through the shady
groves and try to reach it."

It was no easy matter to do this, for although there was grass, it grew
in wiry patches out of the coral rock, in some places so thickly that we
were compelled to wind in and out among them to make any progress. No
flowers nor fruits were to be seen, except some cocoanuts high up above
our heads, while the sun came down between the scanty foliage with no
less force than on the water. Still our curiosity tempted us to
proceed, but ever