r lee gunwale half-deck high
in the seething water, and I thought for a moment that she was going
over altogether with us; the foresail jibed with a loud flap, and blew
clear and clean out of the bolt-rope, and at the same instant the _Water
Lily_ plunged wildly into the boiling surf.

I braced myself for the shock which I expected would instantly follow,
accompanied by the crashing in of the poor little craft's timbers, but
she did not touch.

The water tumbled on board forward, aft, everywhere, and Bob and I were
frequently standing waist deep; and still the cutter rushed furiously
on, all my efforts and energies now being directed to keeping as much as
possible in those parts where the sea broke with least violence.

After the first half-minute or so, finding that we did not strike, hope
faintly revived within me, especially as the cutter suddenly shot into a
belt of unbroken water.

Down this channel we rushed, sheering now to port, now to starboard, as
we followed its windings, the water becoming smoother with every fathom
we proceeded.

I began to hope that our troubles were coming to an end, when suddenly
the channel took a quick bend to windward, and without sail upon the
boat it became impossible to follow it.

Selecting, as before, that part where the surf broke least heavily, I
was fain therefore once again to let the little _Lily_ drive into the
white water, and the next moment we touched, though but lightly.

Another perilous quarter of a mile was run, and then, the air being
rather clearer, I saw, some distance ahead, beyond the now much reduced
surf, clear water again; but there was an unbroken barrier of foam
between us and it, and from its appearance I greatly feared that the
reef rose everywhere in that direction dangerously near to the surface.

There was not much to choose in the way of a course just then, so I
steered for the nearest point of the new channel, and was just
congratulating myself that we should reach it without touching again,
when we plunged into the thickest of the foam, struck heavily, and
sheered broadside-to, heeling over so violently that Bob lost his
footing and his hold together, and fell into the sea to leeward.

The main-sheet was lying coiled upon the deck under my hand, and I threw
it over to him bodily. He fortunately caught it, and, exerting his
utmost strength, succeeded in clambering on board again.

As he did so, a huge roller came foaming and tumbling towa