rew no
assistance," I thought to myself, "so it does not signify."

On we drove. I never spent a more trying night at sea. I thought the
morning never would come or the gale end. The morning, however, did
come, as it always does for those who wait for it. We were still
driving on furiously, and as the cold grey light of the early dawn broke
on the world of waters, the tossing ocean seemed more foam-covered and
agitated than even on the previous day. I could see no signs of the
cessation of the hurricane, nor did McAllister. Bambrick, however,
observed that he thought there was less wind, and that it blew with more
steadiness than before. The Frenchmen gave no opinion; indeed, most of
them were below asleep. I worked my way forward to look out ahead. I
stood by the side of the man stationed there for some minutes.

"The sea is terribly broken away on the starboard bow there," I said.

"Yes, sir, I don't like the looks of it," was the answer, as we
continued gazing. We did not speak again for some minutes. It was as I
feared though.

"Breakers! breakers ahead!" we both simultaneously shouted. "Breakers!
breakers on the starboard bow!"

"Starboard the helm," cried McAllister, in a deep tone, without the
slightest sign of agitation. It was doubtful if the vessel would feel
the effect of the helm sufficiently to prevent her drifting bodily to
leeward. On we drove. Another moment might see the vessel and all on
board hurled to destruction. The stoutest vessel ever built could not
hold together for two minutes should she strike on rock or sandbank with
the awful sea then running dashing over her. I drew my breath short and
clenched my teeth as we approached the broken water. The spray flew
over our mastheads. Still we did not strike; the dreaded breakers
appeared abeam. We had passed the head of a bank or reef. I saw some
rocks and sand with a few trees in the distance, probably part of an
island, easily discerned under ordinary circumstances above water. The
danger for the moment was past, but there was no doubt that we had
reached that portion of the Caribbean Sea most studded with dangers.
Any moment we might again be among reefs. All we could do was to look
out ahead, and pray and hope that we might escape them, as we had done
the first. Half an hour or twenty minutes passed; some tall palm trees
amid the misty atmosphere appeared bending to the storm on the larboard
bow. It was doubtful wheth