Hazel looked a little surprised, but very pleased; and then she added, "I hope I shall not be in your way." He assured her, on the contrary, that she might be of great assistance to him; and now with double alacrity he ran out the little vessel and leaped into the prow as she danced over the waves.

He taught her how to bring the boat's head round with the help of an oar, and, when all was snug, left her at the helm.

On reaching the mouth of the bay, if it could so be called, he made her remark that it was closed by reefs, except to the north and to the west.

The wind being southerly, he had decided to pass to the west, and so they opened the sea about half a mile from the shore.
For about three miles they perceived it consisted of a line of bluffs, cleft at intervals by small narrow bays, the precipitous sides of which were lined with dense foliage.

Into these fissures the sea entered with a mournful sound, that died away as it crept up the yellow sands with which these nooks were carpeted.