The Home of the Wolverene and Beaver. 1 29 



and over this chain of sandbanks, which are con- 

 tinually shifting, the breakers roar with the greatest 

 violence, covering a vast space with a sheet of white 

 foam. The second mate was now sent to sound, 

 and had a narrow escape of being entangled in the 

 breakers, whereupon the third mate, named Aikens, 

 was sent in the pinnace with the sailmaker, 

 armourer, and two Sandwich Islanders, the mate 

 receiving orders to hoist a flag should he find three 

 fathoms and a half of water. This he was suc- 

 cessful in doing, and the ship immediately weighed 

 and stood in towards the boat, the men in the 

 latter laying on their oars in readiness to be taken 

 on board. What was the astonishment of every 

 one when Captain Thorn coolly passed within 

 twenty yards of the pinnace without offering to 

 help them, and to the remonstrances of the partners 

 replied, ' I can give them no assistance.' Even the 

 second mate ventured an appeal, but the captain 

 paid no heed, and the boat was left to its fate, the 

 ship standing on towards the bar. 



" Everything combined to endanger the vessel. 

 The time was most badly chosen, for it was within 

 less than an hour of sunset, and if a dangerous 

 passage such as this must be attempted, any one 

 with a vestige of common sense would select broad 

 daylight ; but the captain was mad or reckless, 



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