Here Manton suddenly put down the helm, brought his vessel up to the wind, and allowed the stranger to pass in.
"Hold on about sixty fathoms further, and then let go your anchor," he shouted, as the ship went steadily on to her doom.
"Aye, aye, and thank'ee," cried the captain, who had already taken in nearly all sail and was quite prepared to anchor.
But Manton knew that before twenty fathoms more should be passed over by the ship she would run straight on a coral reef, which rose to within about five feet of the surface of the sea.

In an exposed place this reef would have formed a line of breakers; but in its sheltered position the water gave no indication of its existence.

The gale, though not blowing direct into the bay, entered it in a sufficiently straight line to carry the ship onward with great speed, notwithstanding the reduction made in her canvas.
"Stand by to let go the anchor," cried her captain.
That was his last order.

Scarcely had the words passed his lips when the ship struck with a shock that caused her to quiver like a leaf from stem to stern.

All the top-masts with their yards and rigging went over the side, and in one instant the fine vessel was a total wreck.
The rest of the story is soon told.