“Perhaps it’s my glass that is better than yours,” said the lad. “Try.”
The mate lowered his own telescope and took the little binocular handed to him, had a look, focussed it a little better for his own sight, and then cried sharply—
“Yes, sir, there’s the gap in the reef.”
“How far away?”
“About a couple of miles, sir.”
“Tut—tut—tut—tut!” ejaculated the captain; “and we shan’t make it till the wind rises at night.”
“What! be rocking out here all day again?” said the doctor.
“Yes, sir, I’m afraid so.”
“But we could land here in the boat.”
“What, through that surf, Sir John? Impossible. It looks very trifling from here, but it would be a certain capsize if it was attempted, and the boat smashed to pieces. But we must do better than that;” and giving the orders sharply, the firemen and engine-driver turned to below, and five minutes later the great wreaths of black smoke were pouring out of the funnel and rising high, forming a huge feather that was very slowly left behind.