The two men had risen to their feet, and to steady themselves they each laid the hand at liberty upon the berth which held their young companion.
How long they stood like this neither of them could afterwards have said, but it seemed an hour, during which the steamer was borne broadside on by the huge roller, each listener in the deafening turmoil and confusion bracing himself for the shock when she struck, till the rate at which she progressed began to slacken into a steady glide, the deafening roar of breakers grew less, and at last she rode on and on, rising and falling gently, and with a slow rolling motion each minute growing steadier.
But she did not strike.
The doctor was the first to speak.
“What does this mean?” he said, loudly, for the hissing and shrieking of the wind kept on.
“The rollers have carried her right over the reef into one of they broad lagoons, or else into the quieter water on the lee of the rocks, sir. She mayn’t strike now, only settle down, and sink in deep water.”
As he spoke there was a grinding sound, a sudden stoppage, the vessel having lifted a little and been set down with a great shock which threw the two men heavily against the bulkhead of the cabin in which they stood, and extinguished the lamp.
“We aren’t in deep water, sir,” roared Bostock, scrambling to his feet. “Hold on; here we go again.”
For the great steamer was lifted and glided steadily on for a while, to ground once more with a crashing sound.
“That’s scraping holes in her, sir,” cried Bostock.