ars, but our boat was so small
that only two were necessary. The extra pair were reserved in case any
accident should happen to the others. It was therefore only needful that
two of us should row, while the third steered, by means of an oar, and
relieved the rowers occasionally.

First we landed on one of the small islands and ran all over it, but saw
nothing worthy of particular notice. Then we landed on a larger island,
on which were growing a few cocoa-nut trees. Not having eaten anything
that morning, we gathered a few of the nuts and breakfasted. After this
we pulled straight out to sea and landed on the coral reef.

This was indeed a novel and interesting sight to us. We had now been so
long on shore that we had almost forgotten the appearance of breakers,
for there were none within the lagoon; but now, as we stood beside the
foam-crested billow of the open sea, all the enthusiasm of the sailor was
awakened in our breasts; and, as we gazed on the wide-spread ruin of that
single magnificent breaker that burst in thunder at our feet, we forgot
the Coral Island behind us; we forgot our bower and the calm repose of
the scented woods; we forgot all that had passed during the last few
months, and remembered nothing but the storms, the calms, the fresh
breezes and the surging billows of the open sea.

This huge, ceaseless breaker, to which I have so often alluded, was a
much larger and more sublime object than we had at all imagined it to be.
It rose many yards above the level of the sea, and could be seen
approaching at some distance from the reef. Slowly and majestically it
came on, acquiring greater volume and velocity as it advanced, until it
assumed the form of a clear watery arch, which sparkled in the bright
sun. On it came with resistless and solemn majesty,--the upper edge
lipped gently over, and it fell with a roar that seemed as though the
heart of Ocean were broken in the crash of tumultuous water, while the
foam-clad coral reef appeared to tremble beneath the mighty shock!

We gazed long and wonderingly at this great sight, and it was with
difficulty we could tear ourselves away from it. As I have once before
mentioned, this wave broke in many places over the reef and scattered
some of its spray into the lagoon, but in most places the reef was
sufficiently broad and elevated to receive and check its entire force. In
many places the coral rocks were covered with vegetation,--the beginning,
as it