if they
once got there, his chance of escaping was small indeed. He felt, in
truth, that he had put his head into the lion's mouth, and that the lion
was wagging his tail.

"Curses on the wind, to fail me just as I wanted it the most," he
exclaimed, measuring with his eye the distance between him and his
pursuers. "If it was not for the reef, we should have done well, and
there comes the _Zoe_, beating up to our assistance. They have heard
the firing, and guessed that something has gone wrong. Does any one
know if there is a passage through the reef? It struck me, as we came
in, that there was a spot free from sea-weed, where the water looked
deep, which should be just now on our larboard bow. Per Bacco, I see
it, and will try it. If we strike, we shall fight there to better
advantage than under weigh, and the mistico will be, soon up to our
assistance."

None of the pirates had been through the passage, if passage there were,
but all expressed the wish to try it, instead of having to beat round
the point. The helm was accordingly kept up, and, to the surprise of
the pursuers, away the Greek boat darted directly towards the rocks.
There was, as I have said, some little sea, sufficient, as it met the
impediments of the reef, to make a long line of breakers. There was one
small spot where it could not be said that there was no foam, but where
the water was rather less agitated than elsewhere. It was here that the
pirates expected to find an opening, but, as they drew near it, they
almost doubted the wisdom of making the attempt, so little prospect was
there of their being able to cross it. The English, meantime, were
rather divided in their opinions. Some thought that, driven to
desperation, they had resolved to destroy themselves and their boats;
while others were as far wrong on the opposite side, and fancied that
they were well acquainted with some passage through which they intended
to pass. Another minute would decide the question.

On the Greek boat flew with redoubled speed, as she was kept more away.
She was already among the broken water. Zappa, his nerves unshaken,
stood up to steer, while a man, leaning over the bow, tried to make out
the channel. As soon as the pirate showed himself, both the English
boats opened their fire on him; but, though several shot whistled round
his head he remained unharmed. Sea after sea, huge masses of glittering
foam came rolling in on them, threatening to fill