It was an easy matter to open the outer door and walk out on the deck.
It required some moments for both to get accustomed to the unusual pressure. But after awhile they were enabled to see and think clearly.
Then Frank began to descend from the deck to the bed of the sea. He found solid footing in the sand which covered that part of the reef.
He made his way slowly along to the bow of the Dolphin.
A glance was enough.
The steel ram of the vessel was driven deep into the reef and seemed immovable. The keel rested in a cleft of coral which bound it tightly on all sides.
So intent was Frank upon examining the position of the Dolphin that he gave no thought to anything else about him.
So it happened that Clifford, who had been engaged in looking for coral specimens, came near getting into a bad scrape.
It happened in this way:
He had caught sight of a curious coral growth jutting out from the reef, and was determined to make an effort to secure it.