56 THE WHALEMAN ; OR, 



from the bow, and carried away one of the star- 

 board boats. 



The mate immediately reported to the captain, 

 who was below at the time, that the ship was in 

 shoal water. As soon as he reached the deck, 

 he ordered to set the fore and mizzen topsails. 

 About the same time, the fourth mate reported 

 that there were rocks and breakers just before 

 and under the bows of the ship. From the 

 house, the captain saw projecting rocks through 

 the opening waters, and land all around to the 

 leeward, while the sea was breaking with tre- 

 mendous violence between the ship and shore. 



It now became a certainty, which no earthly 

 power could change, that the ship must go 

 ashore ; and the only hope for any one on board 

 was to avoid, if possible, the fatal reef, which 

 appeared to extend out some distance from the 

 land. To strike upon that reef was certain de- 

 struction ; we saw no way of escape. 



The man at the wheel was ordered to put the 

 helm hard up, and at the same time command 

 was given to the seamen to sheet home the fore 

 topsail. The ship immediately paid off two or 

 three points, when she was struck again by 

 another sea, that threw her round on the other 

 tack. 



The ship was now in the midst of the rollers, 



