"
"Amen!" replied Mr. Seagrave.
Ready went to the helm and steered a course for the land, which was not
so far distant as he had imagined, for the island was very low: by
degrees the wind freshened up, and they went faster through the water;
and now, the trees, which had appeared as if in the air, joined on to
the land, and they could make out that it was a low coral island
covered with groves of cocoa-nuts. Occasionally Ready gave the helm up
to Mr. Seagrave, and went forward to examine. When they were within
three or four miles of it, Ready came back from the forecastle and
said, "I think I see my way pretty clear, sir: you see we are to the
windward of the island, and there is always deep water to the windward
of these sort of isles, and reefs and shoals to leeward; we must,
therefore, find some little cleft in the coral rock to dock her in, as
it were, or she may fall back into deep water after she has taken the
ground, for sometimes these islands run up like a wall, with forty or
fifty fathom of water close to the weather-sides of them; but I see a
spot where I think she may be put on shore with safety. You see those
three cocoa-nut trees close together on the beach? Now, sir, I cannot
well see them as I steer, so do you go forward, and if I am to steer
more to the right, put out your right hand, and if to the left, the
same with your left; and when the ship's head is as it ought to be,
then drop the hand which you have raised.
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