the shore, and as
most probably the country was inhabited by a different tribe, who might
be at enmity with the white men, those of us who might reach the shore
would run a great chance of being slaughtered or carried off into
slavery. I said as much to Harry and Charley. The same idea had
occurred to them.

"It may be the case, but we may fall among friends, and we will hope for
the best," observed Charley.

Dawn was at length approaching, but there was no abatement of the gale,
while it was too clear that we were drifting nearer and nearer to the
coast. Every moment I expected to hear the mate give the word to furl
the sails and let go the anchor. I suggested to Tubbs that he should
advise him to do so.

"He would not listen to me; although he may know it is the best thing to
be done, he'll just put off doing it until it's too late," he answered.

Gradually the coast became more and more distinct, and we could make out
the white line of breakers as they burst upon it. We stood watching it
with straining eyes, the minutes turned into hours, the ship all the
time rushing through the water at a furious rate. Presently a headland
appeared on the starboard bow. It seemed impossible that we could
weather it. Still the mate issued no order except to the man at the
helm.

"Luff all you can," he shouted out; "we don't want to cast the ship away
on that point if we can help it."

In a few minutes--how many I cannot say--we saw the breakers close under
our lee, the ship was almost among them, but on she stood. Again the
land appeared to recede.

"Can there be a harbour in anywhere here?" I asked of Tubbs.

"The mate doesn't think so, or we should be running into it," was the
answer.

It was only a small bay across which we were passing. Not a quarter of
an hour afterwards another point appeared. As we had succeeded in
weathering the first, the mate evidently expected to pass this in the
same way.

Mr Hallton, convinced that we could not do so, shouted out, "Down with
the helm--shorten sail--let go the anchor--let fly everything."

"Who dares give orders on board this ship?" cried the mate.

The crew, however, were convinced that the first order was the wisest.
The tacks, sheets, and halyards were let go, the stoppers of the cable
cut, the helm put down to bring her up to the wind. She pitched into
the seas, but the anchor held. The crew now flew aloft to try and
gather in the canvas, fluttering wil