“Has not the sea gone down with wonderful quickness?” observed Gerald to Nat Kiddle, who was standing near him, both of them trying to peer out through the darkness.
“I suppose it is because we are protected by the reef we passed,” answered Nat. “I only hope we shall not meet with others.”
“Breakers ahead!” shouted the look-out from forward.
“Starboard the helm, hard a-starboard!” cried the commander.
The ship came to the wind, and as she did so the white foam was seen rising directly under her lee. The threatened danger was passed, although so narrowly that her keel grated over a rock below it.
“Stand ready to let go the best bower!” was the next order heard.
“Hands aloft to furl the fore-topsail!” Scarcely had the commander uttered the words than a terrific crashing sound was heard. The ship had struck a sunken reef. The way she had on her forced her over it.
“Sound the well, Mr O’Rourke,” cried the commander.
Before, however, the carpenter could obey the order, the ship again struck and remained fixed, apparently on a reef. Soundings were immediately taken ahead and astern, and from the small depth, of water round her, it was too clear that she had been driven hopelessly on a broad reef. The sea dashed against her, sending the spray in dense showers over her decks; but it was evident that there were reefs outside which greatly protected her, and that there was no immediate danger of her being dashed to pieces, or the crew losing their lives. The darkness prevented any object from being seen round her, except black rocks and the snow-white foam which flew off from the summits of the seas. The crew behaved, as well-disciplined British seamen always do under such circumstances, with perfect coolness. The men who were going aloft to furl the fore-topsail were ordered down, and the commander directed the carpenter to cut away the remaining mast, as it threatened every instant to fall. A few strokes of the axe brought it down over the forecastle, the wind carrying it in that direction.
“I fear the old bark is lost,” said Gerald to Nat Kiddle. “I little expected to see such an ending of her.”