it earlier; and yet we must be thankful."

"Why so, Ready?"

"Only, sir, as the ship forges so slowly through the water, I fear that
we shall not reach it before dark, and I should have wished to have had
daylight to have laid her nicely on it."

"There is very little wind now."

"Well, let us hope that there will be more," replied Ready; "if not, we
must do our best. But I must now go to the helm, for we must steer
right for the island; it would not do to pass it, for, Mr. Seagrave,
although the ship does not leak so much as she did, yet I must now tell
you that I do not think that she could be kept more than twenty-four
hours above water. I thought otherwise this morning when I sounded the
well; but when I went down in the hold for the beef, I perceived that
we were in more danger than I had any idea of; however, there is the
land, and every chance of escape; so let us thank the Lord for all his
mercies."

"Amen!" replied Mr. Seagrave.

Ready went to the helm and steered a course for the land, which was not
so far distant as he had imagined, for the island was very low: by
degrees the wind freshened up, and they went faster through the water;
and now, the trees, which had appeared as if in the air, joined on to
the land, and they could make out that it was a low coral island
covered with groves of cocoa-nuts. Occasionally Ready gave the helm up
to Mr. Seagrave, and went forward to examine. When they were within