None of the officers had ever landed here, and several of them obtained leave to accompany the captain on shore.

Frank was one of the party.

After what they had seen of the difficulty which the boat had in getting out, all looked somewhat anxiously at the surf as they approached the line where the great smooth waves rolled over and broke into boiling foam.

The steersman stood upon the seat in the stern, in one hand holding his oar, in the other his cap.

For some time he stood half turned round, looking attentively seaward, while the boat lay at rest just outside the line of breakers.