There, in either Chili or Bolivia, they would surely find assistance, if not immediately, at least within a few days of their getting to land. It is true that if the coast were that of the Pampas, some awkward adventures were to be feared.

At the present moment the main question was, how were they to get ashore? The weather was clear enough for all the details of the coast to be made out—the beach, the cliff behind, the clumps of trees at the base of the cliff—all were plain to see. Briant even saw the mouth of a small river some way to the right of him. The aspect of the coast was not attractive, but the curtain of verdure indicated a certain amount of fertility; and beyond the cliff, and sheltered from the sea breezes, the soil might be better, and perhaps capable of tillage.

There was no sign that the land was inhabited. There was no house or hut, not even at the mouth of the river. The natives, if there were any, might perhaps prefer to live away from the shore, where they were exposed to such boisterous winds from the westward.

‘I see no smoke,’ said Briant lowering the binocular.

‘And there is no boat on the beach,’ said Moko.

‘How could there be, if there is no harbour?’ asked Donagan.

‘It is not necessary that there should be a harbour,’ said Gordon. ‘Fishing-boats could lay up the river mouth, and it might be that the storm has obliged the people to take them up the river.’

Gordon’s observation was true enough, but, anyhow, there was no sign of a boat to be seen, and the whole coast seemed uninhabited.

The tide was going out—very slowly, it is true—for the wind drove it back. But the wind was falling and edging more to the north-west, and everything ought to be in readiness when the reef offered a practicable passage.

It was nearly seven o’clock. Every one was busy bringing up on deck such things as were of first importance leaving the others to be collected when the sea washed them ashore. There was on board a large store of preserved provisions, and some of them were made up into packages for the older boys to take with them. But for this to be done the reef ought to be dry. Would the tide be low enough to leave the beach dry up to the rocks? Anxiously did Briant and Gordon watch the sea. With the change in the wind it had become calmer, and the boiling of the surf began to subside; and it was now easy to note the decrease of the water round the pointed rocks. The schooner showed the effects of this decrease by giving a stronger list to port; and it was to be feared, if the heeling continued, that she would go right over on her side, for she was narrow and deep, like all modern yachts of high speed. If she did so, if the water reached the deck before the boys could leave her, matters would be serious.

What a pity it was that the boats had been carried away in the storm! They were large enough to hold all on board, and in them Briant and his comrades could have tried to reach the shore, and afterwards take many things from the wreck, which would now have to be left. If the schooner broke up during the night, would the wreckage be of use to them after it had been knocked about among the rocks? What would become of the provisions? would the boys have to trust to the productions of the island for their food? It was indeed a pity that they had lost the boats.

Suddenly there was a shout in the bow. Baxter had made an important discovery. The yawl, instead of being washed away, was foul of the bowsprit and uninjured. It could only hold five or six, it is true, but it would be of great service if the tide did not run out far enough to leave a dry passage to land.

But here again a discussion broke out in which Briant and Donagan took opposite sides. In fact, as soon as the yawl was found, Donagan, Wilcox, Webb, and Cross had taken possession of her.

‘What are you doing?’ asked Briant.

‘What we choose,’ answered Wilcox.

‘Are you going off in that boat?’

‘Yes,’ said Donagan, ‘and it will take more than you to stop us.’

‘I will stop you,’ said Briant; ‘I and those you are going to leave behind.’

‘Leave behind!’ said Donagan contemptuously. ‘That is what you think, is it? I am going to leave nobody behind, you see! We are going to the beach, and then one of us will bring the yawl back—’

‘And if you cannot get back?’ said Briant, with difficulty keeping his temper. ‘If she gets stove on the rocks?—’

‘Come on!’ said Webb, pushing Briant aside, ‘let us get her off! ‘

Briant caught hold of the boat as they were trying to launch her.

‘You shall not go,’ he said.

‘We’ll see about that,’ said Donagan.

‘You shall not go,’ said Briant. ‘This boat is for the youngsters, if the tide is not low enough to let them walk ashore.’

‘Leave it alone,’ said Donagan angrily. ‘I tell you Briant, you shall not stop us.’

‘And I tell you, Donagan, that I shall.’

There was to be a fight over it, evidently. Wilcox, Webb, and Cross took Donagan’s part; Baxter, Service, and Garnett were backing up Briant, when Gordon intervened. He was the oldest and coolest of the lot, and he showed his good sense by intervening in favour of Briant.

‘Come, corner Donagan, don’t be so impatient! Can’t you see the water is very rough, and that there is a chance of your losing the boat?’

‘I will not stand Briant domineering over us as he has been doing lately’ said Donagan.

‘Hear! Hear!’ said Cross and Webb.

‘I am domineering over nobody,’ said Briant; ‘but I will not let anybody act for himself at the expense of all the others.’

‘We think just as much of the others as you do,’ said Donagan; ‘and when we are ashore—’

‘Which we are not just yet!’ said Gordon. ‘Come, Donagan, don’t be obstinate; leave the boat alone till there is a better chance.’

The efforts of the peacemaker were successful—as they had been more than once before—and the boys left the boat for a time.

The tide had now gone down a couple of feet. Was there a channel through the breakers? Briant went forward to see. Mounting the starboard shrouds, he sat on the cross-trees. Through the reef there was a channel, which could be traced by the points of rock sticking up out of the water on each side.