me they had fixed on
having arrived, and the wind blowing as strongly and steadily as ever,
the helm was put up, and the boat was steered on the proposed course.
Although the Bonins were seen, night came on before they sighted Bailey
Islands; and Tom, afraid of running on them in the dark, steered more to
the eastward than he otherwise would have done.

Before the first watch was set he addressed his companions, urging them
one and all to keep a vigilant look out ahead, both day and night. "We
have not the advantage, recollect, of a large vessel, when a rock or
reef may be seen from the mast-head," he observed. "Should there be any
sea running, the first intimation we may have of our danger may be by
finding ourselves on the top of a coral rock. We must be always ready,
at a moment's notice, to alter our course, and get out the oars should
the wind fail us. By that means we may escape the dangers we must
expect to meet with. Remember, the chart we have got is an old one and
may be inaccurate, so that it would be unwise to trust completely to
it."

"Very important remarks, and I hope the men in my watch will remember
them, as I shall myself," said Desmond.

Though the wind was fair, they ran on all night, under the main-sail,
foresail, and mizzen, in case they should suddenly have to haul up to
avoid any danger upon which they might be running. "As soon as we have
daylight we will set the square sail, and make up for lost time," said
Tom. The wind held fair, but towards morning it began to fall, and by
daybreak it was again perfectly calm.

"Suppose the wind springs up next time from the southward, are we to run
north?" asked Billy.

"Wait until that time comes," answered Tom. "We have now laid a course
for Guam, and Guam I hope we shall reach some day or other."

As the sun rose the heat became very great, increased by the glare from
the ocean, which shone like a sheet of burnished gold. Having a second
suit of sails, Tom had the mainsail rigged as an awning, which, as the
sun got higher, served to shelter their heads, and to prevent the risk
of a sunstroke. The awning, however, could only be kept up as long as
it remained calm, when it was of course most required. Although some
progress might have been made by rowing, Tom was unwilling to fatigue
his crew, thinking it better to husband their strength for any emergency
which might occur. At the usual hour Tom piped to breakfast, which was
made to last