On a sea of turquoise lolled the listless Doraine.
Soundings were taken from time to time.

Even the bottom of the ocean was coming up to meet the Doraine.

Its depth appreciably lessened with each successive measurement.

From fifty fathoms it had decreased to ten since the first line was dropped.
At four o'clock, Captain Trigger ordered a boat lowered and manned by a picked crew in charge of the Second Engineer.

The Doraine was about five miles off shore at the time, and was drifting with a noticeably increased speed directly toward the rock-bound coast.