But the captain seemed cheerful.
"We'll make it, lads, before morning," he said.

"The storm is sinking, as you can see, and the island is there waiting for us." In another hour the sea became so much calmer that there was no longer any danger of the boat overturning.

Half of the men who had been rowing rested an hour, and then the other half took their turn.

Robert was in the second relay, and when he put down his oar he realized for the first time that his hands were sore and his bones aching.
"You've done well, Peter," said the captain.

"You've become one of us, whether or no, and we'll make you an honored inhabitant of our island when we come to it." Robert said nothing, but lay back, drawing long breaths of relief.