"A mist!" exclaimed Hall, in tones of horror.

Well indeed might he and we feel despair at this last extinguisher of our hopes.

With no landmark to steer by, with wind and sea dead in our teeth, with the waves breaking in over our sides, and one useless mutineer in our midst, we felt that our fate was fairly sealed.

Even Hall for a moment showed signs of alarm, and we heard him mutter to himself, "God help us now!" Next moment a huge wave came broadside on to us and emptied itself into our boat, half filling us with water.

In the sudden shock my oar was dashed from my hand and carried away overboard! "Never mind," said Hall hurriedly, "it would have been no use; put her round, Charlie, quick--here, give me the tiller!" In a moment the boat swung round to the wind (not, however, before she had shipped another sea), and then we felt we were simply flying towards the fatal rocks.
"Bale out, all of you!" shouted Hall; and we obeyed, including even Hutton, who seemed at last, in very desperation, to be awakening to a sense of his duty.
The next few minutes seemed like an age.