shore, where she was held fast because the tide was rapidly
falling. It would be twelve hours before there would be a chance of her
floating again.

The mishap had occurred because the ship had gotten off her course when
Washington's accident occurred, and had not been set right in time.

However, as Mr. Henderson had said, there was no particular danger,
unless it was found that some of the plates had been strained, which
might cause a leak.

The night was passed with the nose of the _Porpoise_ well up on shore,
and before morning, as the tide continued to fall, more and more of the
craft became exposed until the whole steel body rested on the sloping
beach.

Jack was the first to awaken. He was up with the sun, and went out on
the deck to take a view of the country he had often heard about. A
stretch of wild landscape met his eyes, and to the left and right of the
ship the waves were breaking on jagged rocks.

"It's a good thing we didn't hit the rocks," thought the youth.

Mark came up on deck, and the two boys looked over the scene. It was a
strange one. Beyond the beach was a low level country, green in places,
with now and then a patch of what looked like trees.

"And what are those brown spots moving about?" asked Mark.

"I guess they are herds of cattle," replied Jack. "You know South
America is a great place for them."

For half an hour the two lads gazed about. Except for the stern of the
_Porpoise_ all of the craft was now out of water, and one could have
jumped from the low deck down to a mound of white sand of the beach.

"Let's go ashore and take a run," suggested Mark. "I've almost forgotten
how to walk on dry land."

"Go ahead," answered Jack. "I'm with you."

"All right."

The boys lost no time in getting down to the beach. They found it hard
and firm, and made their way to the strip of grass-covered land lying
beyond. Up and down they wandered, finding many curious and beautifully
marked shells where the waves had washed them.

Suddenly Jack gave a big jump and let out a yell.

"What's the matter?" asked Mark.

"I thought I saw one of those cocoanuts move," answered Jack, pointing
to where several of the big shaggy fruits lay under a tree from which
they had fallen.

"I guess you're right," spoke Mark. "I certainly saw one of them take a
little side step. I wonder what does it."

As the boys watched they were surprised, to see one of the cocoanuts
come toward them, apparently ad