“Can we make it, sir,” asks Sandie, “before the vessel sinks?”
The captain’s glass was turned towards the island. He could see its golden sands, see the long white line the breakers made as they broke lazily on its beach, and see behind tall cocoa-nut trees and banks of waving palms.
“We can make it, my young friend, if——”
“If what, sir?” said Sandie, feeling somewhat uneasy at the captain’s manner.
“If, Sandie, it be an island, and not a mocking mirage.”
CHAPTER VIII
CRUSOES—PREPARED FOR ANYTHING
But that island was no mirage. Of this all hands were speedily convinced, and redoubled their efforts to pump the vessel and keep her afloat until they could reach it. Breakfast of biscuits steeped in coffee was partaken of on deck, then the steward spliced the main-brace.
Hardly half a mile now intervened between the Peaceful and the island, but her rate of sailing was very slow, and she yawed about more than was agreeable.
It must be confessed that the danger was now extreme. The ship might sink at any moment, and in a moment, with all on board. Yet the captain and crew determined to stick to her.
And they did. Ah! there is no sailor in all the wide world like the British Jack-a’-tar, whether he treads the decks of a man-o’-war or hoists sail on a merchant vessel.