hen they broke! I
could taste the salty sand!

In this perilous situation, buried sometimes in the foaming breakers,
and at times tossed like a reed on the crest of the waves, we struggled
with might and main at the helm and the sheets, easing her up or forcing
her ahead with care, gaining little by little toward deep water, till at
last she came out of the danger, shook her feathers like a sea-bird, and
rode on waves less perilous. Then we had time and courage to look back,
but not till then.

And what a sight we beheld! The horizon was illumined with
phosphorescent light from the breakers just passed through. The
rainstorm which had obscured the coast was so cleared away now that we
could see the whole field of danger behind us. One spot in particular,
the place where the breakers dashed over a rock which appeared awash, in
the glare flashed up a shaft of light that reached to the heavens.

This was the greatest danger we had yet encountered. The elasticity of
our canoe, not its bulk, saved it from destruction. Her light, springy
timbers and buoyant bamboo guards brought her upright again and again
through the fierce breakers. We were astonished at the feats of wonder
of our brave little craft.

Fatigued and worn with anxiety, when clear of the shoal we hauled to
under close reefs, heading off shore, and all hands lay down to rest
till daylight. Then, squaring away again, we set what sail the canoe
could carry, scudding before it, for the wind was still in our favour,
though blowing very hard. Nevertheless the weather seemed fine and
pleasant at this stage of our own pleased feelings. Any weather that
one's craft can live in, after escaping a lee shore, is pleasant
weather--though some may be pleasanter than other.

What we most wished for, after this thrilling experience, was sea room,
fair wind, and plenty of it. That these without stint would suit us
best, was agreed on all hands. Accordingly then I shaped the course
seaward, clearing well all the dangers of the land.

The fierce tropical storm of the last few days turned gradually into
mild trade-winds, and our cedar canoe skipped nimbly once more over
tranquil seas. Our own agitation, too, had gone down and we sailed on
unruffled by care. Gentle winds carried us on over kindly waves, and we
were fain to count fair days ahead, leaving all thoughts of stormy ones
behind. In this hopeful mood we sailed for many days, our spirits never
lowering, but often risi