This surf never ceased its roar, for, however calm the weather might be, there is always a gentle swaying motion in the great Pacific, which, although scarce noticeable out at sea, reaches the shore at last in a huge billow.

The water within the lagoon, as before said, was perfectly still.

There were three narrow openings in the reef; one opposite each end of the valley which I have described as crossing the island; the other opposite our own valley, which we afterwards named the Valley of the Wreck.

At each of these openings the reef rose into two small green islets, covered with bushes and having one or two cocoa-nut palms on each.

These islets were very singular, and appeared as if planted expressly for the purpose of marking the channel into the lagoon.