The wind, too, was high and contrary, and their difficulties greater than anything they had found.

On January the 9th the wind, however, came aft, and they appeared to have found a passage out of these dangers, sailing then at full speed.
They were, at the first watch at night, filled with consternation at a crash, followed by silence; and the vessel was found to have run high upon a reef, of which the surface had presented no indication.
Not since the Golden Hind had left England had her strait been as sore as this.

The force with which she had run upon the reef seemed to have carried her beyond all hope of extrication.

All considered that death was at hand, for they hardly hoped that the ship could hold long together.

The admiral at once, to still the confusion which reigned, ordered all to prayers; and the whole, kneeling on the deck, prayed for mercy, preparing themselves for imminent death.