The moon shone out again in the star-studded sky.
It was a night of horror.
By this time the Benares had sunk down on the reef, her state-rooms being filled with water.
Shifting lights could be seen in the distance, which showed that they were not far from the land.
This revealed an additional danger to Nares.
He fancied that the pirates spoken of by Girdwood were at hand.
They must be in the vicinity of the town called Pilgrim’s Rest.
There was now an opportunity of effecting a landing, yet the danger was great.
The pirates, of course, would be hostile.
As for the Benares, she was a wreck and must be abandoned.