He knew nothing of the sea around, and the intense darkness of the night prevented his seeing more than a dozen yards beyond the bow.
It was perhaps as well that he was kept in ignorance of what awaited him; for he was thus spared at least the anticipation of what appeared certain destruction.

He fancied that the rock over which he had been carried was the outer reef of the island.

In this he was mistaken.

The whole sea around and beyond him was beset with reefs, which at that moment were covered with foam.

Had daylight revealed the scene, he would have been appalled.