er imagine that the reason why Daggett had thus stood on,
was solely the wish to keep him company; for, that person, in consequence
of Gardiner's running so close in towards the coast, had taken up the
notion that the Sea Lion of Oyster Pond meant to pass through the West
Indies, visiting the key, which was thought to contain treasure, and of
which he had some accounts that had aroused all his thirst for gold,
without giving him the clue necessary to obtain it. Thus it was that a
mistaken watchfulness on one side, and a mistaken pride on the other, had
brought these two vessels into as dangerous a position as could have been
obtained for them by a direct attempt to place them in extreme jeopardy.

About ten, the gale was at its height, the wind still hanging at east, a
little northerly. In the course of the morning, the officers on board both
schooners, profiting by lulls and clear moments, had got so many views of
the land from aloft, as to be fully aware of their respective situations.
All thoughts of competition and watchfulness had now vanished. Each vessel
was managed with a reference solely to her safety; and, as might have been
foreseen when true seamen handled both, they had recourse to the same
expedients to save themselves. The mainsails of both crafts were set,
balance-reefed, and the hulls were pressed up against the wind and sea,
while they were driven ahead with increased momentum.

"That main-mast springs like a whale-bone whip-handle, sir," said Hazard,
when this new experiment had been tried some ten minutes or more. "She
jumps from one sea to another, like a frog in a hurry to hop into a
puddle!"

"She must stand it, or go ashore," answered Gardiner, coolly, though in
secret he was deeply concerned. "Did Deacon Pratt forgive me, should we
lose the schooner, I never could forgive myself!"

"Should we lose the schooner, Captain Gar'ner, few of us would escape
drowning, to feel remorse or joy. Look at that coast, sir--it is clear
now, and a body can see a good bit of it--never did I put eyes upon a less
promising land-fall, for strangers to make."

Roswell Gardiner did look, as desired, and he fully agreed with Hazard in
opinion. Ahead, and astern, the land trended to seaward, placing the
schooners in a curve of the coast, or what seamen term a bight, rendering
it quite impossible for the vessels to lay out past either of the
head-lands in sight. The whole coast was low, and endless lines of
breakers