"Yes, sir, that's it, on'y you pernounces it different to me. Don't make no difference in the strength on 'em," he continued testily, for his wound was evidently painful, "whether you spells it with a kay or a phoo. Why, I seed big vessels arterwards, as had been blowed a quarter of a mile inland, where they could never be got off again." "Yes, I've heard of that sort of thing," I said. "They ride in on a great wave and are left behind." "Lookye here, sir," whispered the coxswain, who seemed to ignore his wound; "I don't want to show no white feathers, nor to holler afore I'm hurt, but if I was you, I should ask Mr Brooke to run straight for the nearest shore--say one o' them islands there, afore the storm comes; you arn't got no idea what one o' them tycoons is like. As for this boat, why, she'll be like a bit o' straw in a gale, and I don't want to go to the bottom until I've seed you made a skipper; and besides, we've got lots more waspses' nests to take, beside polishing off those three junks--that is, if they're left to polish when the storm's done." "Stand up, Mr Herrick," cried the lieutenant. "Look yonder, due north. What do you see?" I held the tiller between my knees as I stood up and gazed in the required direction, but could see nothing for a few minutes in the dusk. "Can't you see?" "Yes, sir, now. Small round black cloud." "Yes, of smoke." "Ay, ay, sir, I see it," said one of the sailors. "Hooray! it's the _Teaser_ with the wind blowing hard astern and carrying the smoke of her funnel right over her and ahead." "The _Teaser_ or some other steamer; and she's running fast for harbour. Let's see: those are the Black Gull Islands to port there. Were you with us when the cutter's crew landed, Jecks?" "Yes, sir; I rowed stroke-oar, sir." "To be sure. The second one from the north had the highest ground." "Yes, sir; but you couldn't land for the surf and the shark-fin rocks, if you remember." "Exactly; and we rowed along the south channel till we found a sheltered sand-cove, where we beached the cutter, and then explored the island. We must make for that channel, and try to reach it before the storm comes down. We could not get half-way to the river, and, thank heaven, the _Teaset_ will soon be in safety." "No, sir, you couldn't make no river to-night." "It will be dark too soon." "Not to-night, sir," said Jecks sturdily. "Yes, man; there will be no moon." "No, sir; but in less nor an hour's time the sea 'll be white as milk, and all of a greeny glow, same as it is some still nights in port. There won't be no difficulty, sir, about seeing." "But you think it will be hard to make the channel?" "I hope not, sir, but I'm afraid so; we can only try." "Yes, we can only try," said Mr Brooke slowly, as he came and sat beside me. "And we must try, Herrick--our best. For this is no night to be out in almost an open boat." "Then you think there is danger, sir?" I said anxiously.