As the sun went down the wind fell light, and we did not average more
than four knots an hour all through the three night-watches. I was at
first afraid that we were about to have another hurricane, as it is not
usual for the breeze to fall so light as we had it just then in the
trades. But the glass was high and steady, and the weather looked
settled, so I did not shorten sail; and when the sun rose next morning
he brought the breeze up again somewhat fresher with him.
It was my eight hours out that night; consequently I was on deck when
day broke. As morning dawned, and the obscurity of night yielded
imperceptibly before the approaches of the great day-god, I became
conscious that there was a break in the level of the horizon, about four
points on my starboard-bow; and, watching this as it continued to grow
lighter, I found that it was land, a small and low island apparently,
about nine miles distant I was rather surprised at this, as according to
our chart, which was constructed from the most recent surveys, the
nearest land was fully a day's sail distant to the westward.
I decided to take a nearer look at the place, and as this would involve
a deviation from the course which the cutter was then steering, and
would necessitate a jibe, I left the helm for a moment with a couple of
turns of the tiller-rope round the head of the tiller, and went forward
to take in the spinnaker.
Formerly we had considered it necessary that both Bob and I should be on
deck when handling this large sail; but practice had by this time taught
us both how to work the cutter alone, so that it was now only on
occasions of emergency that either called the other to assist in making
or shortening sail.
As the _Water Lily_ drew in closer with the land, I made out that it was
a small coral island, with the usual encircling reef and lagoon. It
seemed to be about two miles long, but, from the direction in which the
cutter was approaching it, I was unable to judge of its width.
I was soon near enough to distinguish the line of surf which betrayed
the presence of the surrounding coral reef, and I then called Bob to
come on deck and take the helm, whilst I went aloft, as usual, to look
out for a channel.