The _Adler_ had fouled with the _Olga_, and was close on the reef, some two hundred yards from where the _Eber_ struck, and like it, was approaching the shore broadside on. The suspense was prolonged and painful. For nearly half an hour she lay thus swept by the waves. Finally, a huge roller tossed her on top of the reef and turned her over on her side, throwing those on deck into the water. They struggled to regain the vessel; those who succeeded clung to guns, tackling, spars and masts; but twenty were drowned. The vessel lay with her keel to the sea and nearly her entire hull out of water; so those who clung to the rigging were fairly protected. During the day the natives succeeded in getting a line to the wreck, and a number of the sailors escaped. But the line parted while some were still on the vessel, and could not be replaced. The remainder of the crew clung to the wreck through all that terrible day and night, and were finally gotten off when at the verge of exhaustion. While the _Adler_ was drifting toward the reef, the _Nipsic_ was battling with fearful odds. Facing the wind, she was [Illustration: THE ADLER ON THE REEF.] nevertheless dragging her three anchors, and receding toward the reef. But her chief danger lay in another source. The gigantic _Olga_, which had crippled the two vessels already wrecked, threatened to crush her also. While the _Nipsic_ endeavored by skillful use of steam and rudder to avoid the _Olga_, a little schooner, the _Lily_, fell in her way and was cut down in an instant. There were but three men on board; two of whom succeeded in reaching the _Olga_. Just then it occurred to the commander of the _Nipsic_ to reinforce the anchors by attaching a hawser to one of the heavy eight-inch rifles and casting it overboard. Ere this was accomplished the _Olga_ struck her a terrible blow directly amidships. Her smoke-stack was overturned and fell on the deck with a terrible crash. One of her boats was carried away and the rail splintered. No one at first knew the extent of the damage. The frightened crew clambered into the rigging, thinking the ship was sinking. The lumbering smoke-stack dashed from side to side with the roll of the ship. It was a frightful moment. Only a few yards away the _Eber_ had disappeared. The _Nipsic_ had swung around and was rapidly nearing the spot. Only promptness and most skillful management saved her officers and crew from the fate of the _Eber_. Captain Mullane was on the bridge at the time, and took in the situation in an instant. With the smoke-stack gone it would be impossible to keep up steam; without steam the reef could not be avoided. At once the smoke-stack was chocked to prevent its rolling about the deck, and orders were given to beach the ship while a small head of steam was still available. Two hundred yards away lay the sandy beach before the American consulate.