e admiral at once, to still the confusion
which reigned, ordered all to prayers; and the whole, kneeling on
the deck, prayed for mercy, preparing themselves for imminent
death. Presently, having finished praying, the admiral addressed
them in a consoling speech; and then, their courage being much
raised, all bestirred themselves to regard the position.

The pumps were first tried and the ship freed of water, and to
their great joy they found that the leakage was no greater than
before, and that the rocks had not penetrated through the planks.
This appeared to all on board to be an absolute miracle, wrought in
their favor; for it seemed impossible to them that, running at so
high a rate of speed, the vessel could have failed to break herself
against the rocks. It is probable that, in fact, the ship had
struck upon a newly-formed coral reef; and that the coral--which,
when first made, is not very hard--had crashed to pieces under the
shock, and so she lay in safety upon the bed of pounded fragments.

Chapter 19: South Sea Idols.

When order and tranquility were perfectly restored, the admiral
ordered a boat to be lowered and soundings to be taken, intending
to put out the anchors ahead, and to get her off by working upon
them with the windlass. It was found, however, that under the
forefoot of the vessel the water deepened so rapidly that, at a
distance of a few fathoms, no soundings could be obtained. This
plan, therefore, was abandoned.

The prospect seemed dark, indeed. The ship's boats would, at most,
only carry half the men on board; and if the ship had to be
abandoned, the whole of her treasures must be lost, as well as many
lives.

"There is an island far away to the south," the admiral said. "If
the worst come, we must seek refuge on that. It will be well to
send a boat to examine it, and see what capabilities it offers for
the purpose. Then if the weather holds fair we can make several
trips, and land our men, and a portion at least of our valuables."

"Will you let me go, sir, with my three friends?" Ned asked. "The
canoe which we took from our last halting place will carry the four
of us and, as she paddles swiftly, we may be back before many
hours."

"The idea is a good one," Captain Drake said. "Make for the island.
It is, I should say, fifteen miles off. When you have reached it,
see if there be water, fuel, and other necessaries, and whether the
landing be good. If you should come upon a