Breakfasttimecame，andImadeshifttoswallowsomehottea。
ThenImuststaggerbelowtotakethetime，readingthechronometerwithdizzyeyes，andmarvellingthewhilewhatvaluetherecouldbeinobservationstakeninashiplaunched(asoursthenwas)likeamissileamongflyingseas。Theforenoondraggedoninagrindingmonotonyofperil；everyspokeofthewheelarash，butanobligedexperiment——rashasaforlornhope，needfulastheleapthatlandsafiremanfromaburningstaircase。Noonwasmade；thecaptaindinedonhisday’swork，andIonwatchinghim；andourplacewasenteredonthechartwithameticulousprecisionwhichseemedtomehalfpitifulandhalfabsurd，sincethenexteyetobeholdthatsheetofpapermightbetheeyeofanexploringfish。Oneo’clockcame，thentwo；thecaptaingloomedandchafed，asheheldtothecoamingofthehouse，andifeverIsawdormantmurderinman’seye，itwasinhis。Godhelpthehandthatshouldhavedisobeyedhim。
Ofasudden，heturnedtowardsthemate，whowasdoinghistrickatthewheel。
“Twopointsontheportbow。”Iheardhimsay。Andhetookthewheelhimself。
Johnsonnodded，wipedhiseyeswiththebackofhiswethand，watchedachanceasthevessellungeduphill，andgottothemainrigging，whereheswarmedaloft。Upandup，Iwatchedhimgo，hangingonateveryuglyplunge，gainingwitheverylulloftheschooner’smovement，until，clamberingintothecross-treesandclingingwithonearmaroundthemasts，Icouldseehimtakeonecomprehensivesweepofthesouthwesterlyhorizon。Thenextmoment，hehadsliddownthebackstayandstoodondeck，withagrin，anod，andagestureofthefingerthatsaid“yes“；thenextagain，andhewasbacksweatingandsquirmingatthewheel，histiredfacestreamingandsmiling，andhishairandtheragsandcornersofhisclotheslashingroundhiminthewind。
Nareswentbelow，fetcheduphisbinocular，andfellintoasilentperusalofthesea-line；Ialso，withmyunaidedeyesight。
Littlebylittle，inthatwhitewasteofwater，Ibegantomakeoutaquarterwherethewhitenessappearedmorecondensed：theskyabovewaswhitishlikewise，andmistylikeasquall；andlittlebylittletherethrilleduponmyearsanotedeeperandmoreterriblethantheyellingofthegale——thelong，thunderingrollofbreakers。Nareswipedhisnightglassonhissleeveandpassedittome，motioning，ashedidso，withhishand。Anendlesswildernessofragingbillowscameandwentanddancedinthecircleoftheglass；nowandthenapalecornerofsky，orthestronglineofthehorizonruggedwiththeheadsofwaves；andthenofasudden——comeandgoneereIcouldfixit，withaswallow’sswiftness——oneglimpseofwhatwehadcomesofarandpaidsodeartosee：themastsandriggingofabrigpencilledonheaven，withanensignstreamingatthemain，andtheraggedribbonsofatopsailthrashingfromtheyard。Againandagain，withtoilfulsearching，Irecalledthatapparition。
Therewasnosignofanyland；thewreckstoodbetweenseaandsky，athingthemostisolatedIhadeverviewed；butaswedrewnearer，Iperceivedhertobedefendedbyalineofbreakerswhichdrewoffoneitherhand，andmarked，indeed，thenearestsegmentofthereef。Heavysprayhungoverthemlikeasmoke，somehundredfeetintotheair；andthesoundoftheirconsecutiveexplosionsrolledlikeacannonade。
Inhalfanhourwewereclosein；forperhapsaslongagain，weskirtedthatformidablebarriertowarditsfartherside；andpresentlytheseabeganinsensiblytomoderateandtheshiptogomoresweetly。Wehadgainedtheleeoftheislandas(forform’ssake)Imaycallthatringoffoamandhazeandthunder；
andshakingoutareef，woreshipandheadedforthepassage……
Allhandswerefilledwithjoy。Itwasbetrayedintheiralacrityandeasyfaces：Johnsonsmilingbroadlyatthewheel，Naresstudyingthesketchchartoftheislandwithaneyeatpeace，andthehandsclusteredforward，eagerlytalkingandpointing：somanifestwasourescape，sowonderfultheattractionofasinglefootofearthaftersomanysunshadsetandrisenonanemptysea。Toaddtotherelief，besides，byoneofthosemaliciouscoincidenceswhichsuggestforfatetheimageofanunderbredandgrinningschoolboy，wehadnosoonerwornshipthanthewindbegantoabate。
Formyself，however，Ididbutexchangeanxieties。IwasnosooneroutofonefearthanIfelluponanother；nosoonersecurethatIshouldmyselfmaketheintendedhaven，thanIbegantobeconvincedthatTrentwastherebeforeme。Iclimbedintotherigging，stoodontheboard，andeagerlyscannedthatringofcoralreefandburstingbreaker，andthebluelagoonwhichtheyenclosed。Thetwoisletswithinbegantoshowplainly——MiddleBrooksandLowerBrooksIsland，theDirectorynamedthem：
twolow，bush-covered，rollingstripsofsand，eachwithglitteringbeaches，eachperhapsamileoramileandahalfinlength，runningeastandwest，anddividedbyanarrowchannel。Overthese，innumerableasmaggots，therehovered，chattered，screamedandclanged，millionsoftwinklingsea-
birds：whiteandblack；theblackbyfarthelargest。Withsingularscintillations，thisvortexofwingedlifeswayedtoandfrointhestrongsunshine，whirledcontinuallythroughitself，andwouldnowandagainburstasunderandscatteraswideasthelagoon：sothatIwasirresistiblyremindedofwhatIhadreadofnebularconvulsions。Athincloudoverspreadtheareaofthereefandtheadjacentsea——thedust，asIcouldnotbutfancy，ofearlierexplosions。Andalittleapart，therewasyetanotherfocusofcentrifugalandcentripetalflight，where，hardbythedeafeninglineofbreakers，hersails(allbutthetatteredtopsail)snuglyfurleddown，andtheredragthatmarksOldEnglandontheseasbeating，uniondown，atthemain——theFlyingScud，thefruitofsomanytoilers，arecollectioninsomanylivesofmen，whosetallsparshadbeenmirroredintheremotestcornersofthesea——laystationaryatlastandforever，inthefirststageofnavaldissolution。Towardsher，thetautNorahCreina，vulture-wise，wriggledtowindward：comefromsofartopickherbones。And，lookasIpleased，therewasnootherpresenceofmanorofman’shandiwork；noHonoluluschoonerlaytherecrowdedwitharmedrivals，nosmokerosefromthefireatwhichIfanciedTrentcookingamealofsea-
birds。Itseemed，afterall，wewereintime，andIdrewamightybreath。
Ihadnotarrivedatthisrevivingcertaintybeforethebreakerswerealreadycloseaboard，theleadsmanathisstation，andthecaptainpostedintheforecross-treestoconusthroughthecorallumpsofthelagoon。Allcircumstanceswereinourfavour，thelightbehind，thesunlow，thewindstillfreshandsteady，andthetideabouttheturn。Amomentlaterweshotatracingspeedbetwixttwopierheadsofbrokenwater；theleadbegantobecast，thecaptaintobawldownhisanxiousdirections，theschoonertotackanddodgeamongthescattereddangersofthelagoon；andatonebellinthefirstdogwatch，wehadcometoouranchoroffthenorth-eastendofMiddleBrooksIsland，infivefathomswater。Thesailsweregaskettedandcovered，theboatsemptiedofthemiscellaneousstoresandoddsandendsofsea-furniture，thataccumulateinthecourseofavoyage，thekedgesentashore，andthedeckstidieddown：agoodthree-
quartersofanhour’swork，duringwhichIragedaboutthedecklikeamanwithastrongtoothache。Thetransitionfromthewildseatothecomparativeimmobilityofthelagoonhadwroughtstrangedistressamongmynerves：Icouldnotholdstillwhetherinhandorfoot；theslownessofthemen，tiredasdogsafterourroughexperienceoutside，irritatedmelikesomethingpersonal；andtheirrationalscreamingofthesea-
birdssaddenedmelikeadirge。Itwasareliefwhen，withNares，andacoupleofhands，ImightdropintotheboatandmoveoffatlastfortheFlyingScud。
“Shelookskindofpitiful，don’tshe？”observedthecaptain，noddingtowardsthewreck，fromwhichwewereseparatedbysomehalfamile。“Looksasifshedidn’tlikeherberth，andCaptainTrenthadusedherbadly。Giveherginger，boys！”headdedtothehands，“andyoucanallhaveshorelibertyto-nighttoseethebirdsandpaintthetownred。”
Wealllaughedatthepleasantry，andtheboatskimmedthefasterovertheripplingfaceofthelagoon。TheFlyingScudwouldhaveseemedsmallenoughbesidethewharvesofSanFrancisco，butshewassomethricethesizeoftheNorahCreina，whichhadbeensolongourcontinent；andaswecranedupatherwall-sides，sheimpresseduswithamountainmagnitude。Shelayheadtothereef，wherethehugebluewalloftherollerswasforeverrangingupandcrumblingdown；andtogainherstarboardside，wemustpassbelowthestern。Therudderwashardaport，andwecouldreadthelegend：
Ontheotherside，aboutthebreakofthepoop，somehalfafathomofropeladdertrailedovertherail，andbythiswemadeourentrance。
Shewasaroomyshipinside，witharaisedpoopstandingsomethreefeethigherthanthedeck，andasmallforwardhouse，forthemen’sbunksandthegalley，justabafttheforemast。Therewasoneboatonthehouse，andanotherandlargerone，inbedsondeck，oneitherhandofit。Shehadbeenpaintedwhite，withtropicaleconomy，outsideandin；andwefound，lateron，thatthestanchionsoftherail，hoopsofthescuttlebut，etc。，werepickedoutwithgreen。Atthattime，however，whenwefirststeppedaboard，allwashiddenunderthedroppingsofinnumerablesea-birds。
Thebirdsthemselvesgyratedandscreamedmeanwhileamongtherigging；andwhenwelookedintothegalley，theiroutrushdroveusback。Savage-lookingfowltheywere，savagelybeaked，andsomeoftheblackonesgreataseagles。Half-
buriedintheslush，wewereawareofalitterofkegsinthewaist；andthese，onbeingsomewhatcleaned，provedtobewaterbeakersandquartercasksofmessbeefwithsomecolonialbrand，doubtlesscollectedtherebeforetheTempesthoveinsight，andwhileTrentandhismenhadnobetterexpectationthantostrikeforHonoluluintheboats。Nothingelsewasnotableondeck，savewheretheloosetopsailhadplayedsomehavocwiththerigging，andtherehung，andswayed，andsanginthedecliningwind，araffleofintortedcordage。
Withashynessthatwasalmostawe，NaresandIdescendedthecompanion。Thestairturneduponitselfandlandedusjustforwardofathwart-shipbulkheadthatcutthepoopintwo。
Theforepartformedakindofmiscellaneousstore-room，withadouble-bunkeddivisionforthecook(asNaressupposed)andsecondmate。Theafterpartcontained，inthemidst，themaincabin，runninginakindofbowintothecurvatureofthestern；
ontheportside，apantryopeningforwardandastateroomforthemate；andonthestarboard，thecaptain’sberthandwater-
closet。Intothesewedidbutglance：themaincabinholdingus。Itwasdark，forthesea-birdshadobscuredtheskylightwiththeirdroppings；itsmeltrankandfusty；anditwasbesetwithaloudswarmoffliesthatbeatcontinuallyinourfaces。
Supposingthemcloseattendantsuponmanandhisbrokenmeat，ImarvelledhowtheyhadfoundtheirwaytoMidwayreef；itwassureatleastsomevesselmusthavebroughtthem，andthatlongago，fortheyhadmultipliedexceedingly。Partofthefloorwasstrewnwithaconfusionofclothes，books，nauticalinstruments，oddsandendsoffinery，andsuchtrashasmightbeexpectedfromtheturningoutofseveralseamen’schests，uponasuddenemergencyandafteralongcruise。Itwasstrangeinthatdimcabin，quiveringwiththenearthunderofthebreakersandpiercedwiththescreamingofthefowls，toturnoversomanythingsthatothermenhadcoveted，andprized，andwornontheirwarmbodies——frayedoldunderclothing，pyjamasofstrangedesign，ducksuitsineverystageofrustiness，oilskins，pilotcoats，bottlesofscent，embroideredshirts，jacketsofPonjeesilk——clothesforthenightwatchatseaorthedayashoreinthehotelverandah；andmingledamongthese，books，cigars，fancypipes，quantitiesoftobacco，manykeys，arustypistol，andasprinklingofcheapcuriosities——Benaresbrass，Chinesejarsandpictures，andbottlesofoddshellsincotton，eachdesignednodoubtforsomebodyathome——perhapsinHull，ofwhichTrenthadbeenanativeandhisshipacitizen。
Thenceweturnedourattentiontothetable，whichstoodspread，asifforameal，withstoutship’scrockeryandtheremainsoffood——apotofmarmalade，dregsofcoffeeinthemugs，unrecognisableremainsoffoods，bread，sometoast，andatinofcondensedmilk。Thetable-cloth，originallyofaredcolour，wasstainedadarkbrownatthecaptain’send，apparentlywithcoffee；attheotherend，ithadbeenfoldedback，andapenandink-potstoodonthebaretable。Stoolswerehereandthereaboutthetable，irregularlyplaced，asthoughthemealhadbeenfinishedandthemensmokingandchatting；andoneofthestoolslayonthefloor，broken。
“See！theywerewritingupthelog。”saidNares，pointingtotheink-bottle。“Caughtnapping，asusual。Iwonderifthereeverwasacaptainyet，thatlostashipwithhislog-bookuptodate？
Hegenerallyhasaboutamonthtofilluponacleanbreak，likeCharlesDickensandhisserialnovels——Whataregular，lime-
juicerspread！”headdedcontemptuously。“Marmalade——andtoastfortheoldman！Nasty，slovenlypigs！”
Therewassomethinginthiscriticismoftheabsentthatjarreduponmyfeelings。IhadnoloveindeedforCaptainTrentoranyofhisvanishedgang；butthedesertionanddecayofthisoncehabitablecabinstruckmehard：thedeathofman’shandiworkismelancholylikethedeathofmanhimself；andI
wasimpressedwithaninvoluntaryandirrationalsenseoftragedyinmysurroundings。
