Part 45 (1/2)

It was getting dark when he awoke and crept into the c.o.c.kpit. There was a change in the motion, for the launch did not roll so much and the combers no longer broke in showers of spray against her side. She swung up with a swift but easy lift, the foam boiling high about her rail, and then gently slid down into the trough. It was plain that she was running before the wind, but Jake felt that he must pull himself together when he looked aft, for there is something strangely daunting in a big following sea. A high, white-topped ridge rolled up behind the craft, roaring as it chased her, while a stream of spray blew from its curling crest. It hid the rollers that came behind; there was nothing to be seen but a hill of water, and Jake found it a relief to fix his eyes ahead. The backs of the seas were smoother and less disturbing to watch as they faded into the gathering dark. When the comber pa.s.sed, he turned to d.i.c.k, who stood, alert and highly strung, at the helm.

”You're heading for the land,” he said. ”What are you steering by?”

”I got the bearing of a point I thought I recognized on the chart before I lost sight of the coast. There's a long reef outsh.o.r.e of it, with a break near the point. If we can get through, we might find shelter.”

”Suppose there's something wrong with your bearing, or you can't make good your course?”

”Then there'll be trouble,” d.i.c.k answered grimly. ”We'll have the reef to lee and she won't steam out again.”

Jake put a kettle on the cylinder-top and took some provisions from a locker. He was hungry and thought he might need all the strength he had, while he did not want to look at the sea. The pump was clanking hard, but he could hear the water wash about under the floorings, and the launch was very wet. Darkness fell as he prepared a meal with the fireman's help, and they ate by the dim light of the engine-lamp, while d.i.c.k, to whom they handed portions, crouched at the helm, gazing close into the illuminated compa.s.s. Sometimes he missed the food they held out and it dropped and was washed into the pump-well, but he ate what he could without moving his eyes.

Since he must find the opening in the reef, much depended on his steering an accurate course, but this was difficult, because he had to bear away before the largest combers. Moreover, the erratic motion of a short boat in broken water keeps the compa.s.s-card rocking to and fro, and long practise is needed to hit the mean of its oscillations. As a matter of fact, d.i.c.k knew he was leaving much to luck.

After a time, they heard a hoa.r.s.e roar. Since the sound would not carry far to windward, they knew the reef was close ahead, but where the opening lay was another matter. d.i.c.k had no guide except the compa.s.s, and as the launch would probably swamp if he tried to bring her round head to sea, he must run on and take the risk. By and by, Jake, straining his eyes to pierce the gloom, called out as he saw a ghostly white glimmer to starboard. This was the surf spouting on the reef and if it marked the edge of the channel, they would be safe in going to port; if not, the launch would very shortly be hurled upon the barrier.

d.i.c.k stood up and gazed ahead. The white patch was getting plainer, but he could see nothing else. There was, however, a difference in the motion, and the sea was confused. He ordered the engine to be slowed, and they ran on until the belt of foam bore abeam. They must be almost upon the reef now, or else in the channel, and for the next minute or two n.o.body spoke. If they had missed the gap, the first warning would be a shock, and then the combers that rolled up behind them would destroy the stranded craft.

She did not strike; the surf was level with her quarter, and Jake, thrusting down a long boathook, found no bottom. In another minute or two the water suddenly got smooth, and he threw down the boathook.

”We're through,” he said in a strained voice. ”The reef's astern.”

”Try the hand-lead,” d.i.c.k ordered him, as he changed his course, since he was apparently heading for the beach.

Jake got four fathoms and soon afterwards eighteen feet, when d.i.c.k stopped the engine and the launch rolled upon the broken swell. A dark streak that looked like forest indicated the land, and a line of foam that glimmered with phosph.o.r.escent light ran outsh.o.r.e of them. Now they were to lee of the reef, the hoa.r.s.e clamor of the surf rang about the boat. Unfolding the chart, they studied it by the engine-lamp. It was on too small a scale to give many details, but they saw that the reef ran roughly level with the coast and ended in a nest of shoals near a point.

”We could ride out a gale here,” Jake remarked.

”We could, if we wanted,” d.i.c.k replied.

Jake looked at him rather hard and then made a sign of resignation.

”Well, I guess I've had enough, but if you're going on---- How do you reckon you'll get through the shoals ahead?”

”I imagine some of them are mangrove islands, and if so, there'll be a channel of a sort between them. In fact, the chart the broker showed me indicated something of the kind. With good luck we may find it.”

”Very well,” said Jake. ”I'm glad to think it will be a soft bottom if we run aground.”

They went on, keeping, so far as they could judge, midway between reef and beach, but after a time the lead showed shoaling water and Jake used the boathook instead. Then the sky cleared and a half-moon came out, and they saw haze and the loom of trees outsh.o.r.e of them. Slowing the engine, they moved on cautiously while the water gradually got shallower, until glistening banks of mud began to break the surface. Then they stopped the engine, but found the launch still moved forward.

”I imagine it's about four hours' flood,” d.i.c.k remarked. ”That means the water will rise for some time yet, and although the current's with us now I think we can't be far off the meeting of the tides.”

Jake nodded. In places of the kind, the stream often runs in from both ends until it joins and flows in one direction from the shoalest spot.

”Then we ought to find a channel leading out on the other side.”

They let the engine run for a few minutes until the boat touched bottom and stuck fast in the mud. The wind seemed to be falling and the roar of the surf had got fainter. Thin haze dimmed the moonlight and there were strange splas.h.i.+ngs in the water that gently lapped about the belts of mud. The stream stopped running, but seeing no pa.s.sage they waited and smoked.

”If we can get out on the other side, we oughtn't to be very far from the lagoon,” Jake suggested.

Presently there was a faint rippling against the bows and the launch began to swing round.