westward. He told them that it was the light-house at Jupiter
Inlet, well down on the coast of Florida, and they regarded it
with great interest, as giving them their first glimpse of the
land that was so soon to be their home.

The weather had by this time become very warm and instead of
wearing the thick clothing with which they had started, the Elmers
found the very thinnest of their last summer's things all that
they could bear.

Mark had almost forgotten his sea-sickness, and spent much of his
time with Jan Jansen, who taught him to make knots and splices, to
box the compass and to steer. Both Mark and Ruth were tanned brown
by the hot sun, and Mr. Elmer said the warmth of the air had
already made a new man of him.

Before the light but steady trade-wind, that kept the air
deliciously cool, the Nancy Bell ran rapidly down the coast and
along the great Florida Reef, which, for two hundred miles, bounds
that coast on the south.

Captain Drew stood far out from the reef, being well aware of the
strong currents that set towards it from all directions, and which
have enticed many a good ship to her destruction. Others, however,
were not so wise as he, and at daylight one morning the watch on
deck sang out,

"Wreck off the starboard bow!"

This brought all hands quickly on deck, and, sure enough, about