ct. The voice of old Croxton was heard raised in prayer. Each one
believed that his last hour was come. It turned suddenly aside, and the
boat still floated. Again and again they were threatened and escaped.
Darkness, however, was now rapidly coming on and increasing the terrific
aspect of the tempest. Devereux, aided by Reuben Cole, sat steering the
boat. Not a word was spoken. The roar of the waves increased.

"Breakers ahead!" cried old Croxton, in a deep solemn voice. "The Lord
have mercy on our souls!"

The boat was lifted higher than before amid the tumultuous hissing
cauldron of foaming waters, and then down she came with a fearful crash
on a coral reef.

CHAPTER FIVE.

The shrieks and cries and shouts of Paul's companions rang in his ears
as he found himself with them struggling in the foaming water amid the
fragments of their boat. His great desire was to preserve his presence
of mind. He struck out with hands and feet, not for the purpose of
making way through the water, but that he might keep himself afloat till
he could ascertain in which direction the sea was driving him. That
some of his companions were yet alive, he could tell by hearing their
voices, though already it seemed at some distance from each other. He
felt that, though now swimming bravely, his strength must soon fail him.
Something struck him. He stretched out his hands and grasped an oar.
He found himself carried along, even more rapidly than before, amid the
hissing foam. He judged by the sensation that he was lifted to the
summit of a wave; it rolled triumphantly on with him, and it seemed as
if he was thrown forward by it a considerable distance, for he dropped,
as it were, into comparatively smooth water. He did not stop, but he
was borne on and on till he felt his feet, for the first time, touch for
an instant something hard. It might have been the top of a rock, and he
would be again in deep water; but no--he stretched out one leg. It met
the sand--a hard beach. Directly after, he was wading, and rapidly
rising higher out of the water. He found some difficulty in
withstanding the waters as they receded, but they did not seem to run
back with the force they frequently do; and struggling manfully, he at
length worked his way up till he was completely beyond their power.
Then exhausted nature gave way, and he sank down in a state of
half-stupor on the ground. The hurricane howled over his head; the
waves roared