ere in
safety, and after remaining two days, again sailed on their voyage,
intending to make their passage between the Celebes and the island of
Galago. The weather was still clear and the wind light; they proceeded
cautiously, on account of the reefs and currents, and with a careful
watch for the piratical vessels, which have for centuries infested those
seas; but they were not molested, and had gained well up among the
islands to the north of Galago, when it fell calm, and the vessel was
borne to the eastward of it by the current. The calm lasted several
days, and they could procure no anchorage; at last they found themselves
among the cluster of islands near to the northern coast of New Guinea.

The anchor was dropped, and the sails furled for the night; a drizzling
small rain came on, the weather was thick, and watches were stationed in
every part of the ship, that they might not be surprised by the pirate
proas, for the current ran past the ship at the rate of eight or nine
miles per hour, and these vessels, if hid among the islands, might sweep
down upon them unperceived.

It was twelve o'clock at night, when Philip, who was in bed, was
awakened by a shock; he thought it might be a proa running alongside,
and he started from his bed and ran out. He found Krantz, who had been
awakened by the same cause, running up undressed. Another shock
succeeded, and the ship careened to port. Philip then knew that the
ship was on shore.

The thickness of the night prevented them from ascertaining where the
were, but the lead was thrown over the side, and they found that they
were lying on shore on a sandbank, with not more than fourteen feet
water on the deepest side, and that they were broadside on with a strong
current pressing them further up on the bank; indeed the current ran
like a mill-race, and each minute they were swept into shallow water.

On examination they found that the ship had dragged her anchor which,
with the cable, was still taut from the starboard bow, but this did not
appear to prevent the vessel from being swept further up on the bank.
It was supposed that the anchor had parted at the shank, and another
anchor was let go.

Nothing more could be done till daybreak, and impatiently did they wait
till the next morning. As the sun rose, the mist cleared away, and they
discovered that they were on shore on a sandbank, a small portion of
which was above water, and round which the current ran with gre