At last the expected happened.

One afternoon, without any warning whatsoever, the vessel struck heavily on a reef.

I hurriedly constructed a raft out of the hatches and spare spars, and put biscuits and water aboard, after which I landed on the rocks.

When the tide reached its lowest point the stern of the _Veielland_ was left fully _twenty feet out of water_, securely jammed between two high pinnacles of coral rock.

The sight was remarkable in the extreme.