The sea had grown much calmer, and the waves that now tossed about their spray over its surface were as nothing compared to those which had beat upon the ship during the night. This was probably due, as Bart thought, to the shelter of some headland which acted as a breakwater. For as he looked he saw the land now full before him. He had conjectured rightly from the sound of the surf, and he now saw that this land could not be much more than a half mile away. This confirmation of his worst fears overcame him. He started to his feet, and stood clinging to the rigging, and looking at the land. How near! how fearfully near! And every moment was drawing the ship nearer. And what sort of a shore was that? Was it all rocky, or was it smooth sand? The waves were high enough there to create a tremendous surf. Did that surf fall on breakers, or did it fall on some gentle beach? This he could not tell. In vain he strained his eyes. He could see the white line of foaming surf, and beyond this the dark hills, or cliffs, but more than this he could make out nothing definite. But the shore was so near that their fate could not be very long delayed, and he determined to wake the boys at once, leaving Pat to sleep a little longer. With this intention he prepared to descend. But scarce had he put one foot over, when he saw a shadowy figure close by. “Mas’r Bart,” said a voice. It was Solomon. “I see you a movin about, an I jes thought I’d come up to see how you was a gittin along,” said Solomon. “Did you see the land?” asked Bart, in agitated tones. “De lan! Sartin sure--seen it dese four hours. Ben a watchin it ebber so long.” “What! Why didn’t you wake us before?” “Wake you? Not me. What de use ob dat ar? I ben kine o’ watchin, an kine o’ canterin round all de time, seein dat de tings are all straight; an I got de galley stove in prime order, an if youns don’t get de bes breakfas you ebber eat, den I’m a useless ole nigga. Sho, now; go away. Leab tings to me, I tell you.” “Breakfast!” cried Bart, in amazement. “Why, we’ll drift ashore in a few minutes. Don’t you see how near we are? What shall we do? Is the boat gone?” Solomon put his head back for a few minutes, and chuckled to himself in a kind of ecstasy. “De boat? O, yes, de boat’s all right. Held on tight as a drum--de boat an de galley stove.” “O, then,” said Bart, “come, let’s wake the boys, and get her out at once. It isn’t too rough for her here. We must get some pieces of wood for paddles.” “O, dere’s lashins ob time; neber you mind,” said Solomon. “You jes lie down an finish your nap, an leab de res to me.” “But we’re drifting ashore. In a quarter of an hour we’ll be among the breakers.” “O, no, Mas’r Bart; not in a good many quarter ob an hours.” “But the shore’s only half a mile away.” “I know it,” said Solomon; “an it’s ben jes dat, ar distums off for de las four hour an more.” “What!” “Dat’s so. I ben a watchin. Hadn’t I tole you dat ar?”