We bore down directly on the land, now close aboard. Robert and I braced ourselves for a shock, for we expected the Pearl to strike on the shoals.
Another minute and we saw land on both sides of us.
"Luff! Luff!" shouted Captain Marat.
The Pearl went about; the sails flapped angrily; the anchor went overboard, and we lay in the lee of a wooded hill. Bits of trees flew over us—some debris lodged in our rigging, as the fury continued overhead.
In ten minutes all our sails were snug.
"God help Wayne and Ray!" said Norris at last.
"They're safe," said Robert, pointing southward.
In the dim light we could make out a vessel lying some hundreds of yards away and in the lee of that same land.
"Thank God!" said Norris. "Then this is an islet that lies across the outside of this harbor."
"Yes," said Captain Marat. "They come in the other side."