It rose upwards to a height of several feet, and then disappeared.

Had this been near the sea, we would not have been so greatly surprised, as it might in that case have been the surf, for at this part of the coast the coral reef approached so near to the island that in some parts it almost joined it.

There was therefore no lagoon between, and the heavy surf of the ocean beat almost up to the rocks.

But this white column appeared about fifty yards inland.

The rocks at the place were rugged, and they stretched across the sandy beach into the sea.