Of course it was the island that the young leader was striving to see
all this while. He knew as well as anything that the one slim hope
remaining to them must rest upon their chance of finding some sort of
shelter behind this oasis in the watery waste.

At one time it had been Thad's hope that if the worst came they might
find themselves thrown on the windward side of Sturgeon Island. Now he
knew that this had been rendered an utter impossibility; because the
storm had swept down upon them so rapidly after their course was changed
that there had been no time for the cruiser to reach a position that
would bring about any such result.

And then besides, the surf must be dashing high over that exposed end of
the rocky island, so that even though they struck, it might be on an
outer reef. In such a case who could say whether any of the boys would
manage to overcome the terrible difficulties lying in wait, and be
thrown up on a sandy beach, rather than dashed ruthlessly against the
cruel rocks?

So Thad crouched there near the bow, holding on desperately, and hoping
for he hardly knew what, save that he seemed to have an inspiration
there presently would come a slender chance for them to survive the
blow.

"There's the island!" yelled Giraffe, pointing to the right.

Thad had seen it before the other thus called attention to the fact of
their being so near safety, yet unable to quite reach it.

"But we're going along past it!" shrieked Bumpus. "Thad, ain't there