Our men unanimously declared they dared not attempt to reach the ship in their small boat, although we could see the vessel plainly riding at her old anchorage.

What followed Gladys and I gathered afterwards, just before the dreadful thing happened.

We were all safe enough on land, but, it became evident to the sailors with us that the ship could not weather the storm unless she weighed anchor and stood out to sea.

The crew watched with eager eyes to see what my father would do.

Manifestly he was in too much distress of mind about us to go right away, and I suppose he preferred to trust to the strength of his cables: "Shortly after ten o'clock in the morning, however, the ship began to drag her anchors, and in spite of all that could be done by my father and his officers, the shapely little vessel gradually drifted on to the coral reefs.