As it was, he stood stoutly and hopefully to the helm, while the cutter rushed wildly on to her doom.
Suddenly she struck with terrific violence, and Henry was hurled to the deck.

Leaping up, he sprang again to the helm and attempted to put about, but the shock had been so great that the whole framework of the little craft was dislocated.

The fastenings of the rudder had been torn out, and she was unmanageable.

The next wave lifted her over the reef, and the gale swept her away.
Even then the hopes of the young man did not quite fail him.

He believed that the last reef had now been passed, and that he would be driven out to the open sea, clear at least of immediate danger.