WhenCaptainDavenporthadexplainedthesituationandannouncedhisintentionofrunningforMangareva，anuproarbrokeout。Againstabackgroundofthroatyrumblingaroseinarticulatecriesofrage，withhereandthereadistinctcurse，orword，orphrase。AshrillCockneyvoicesoaredanddominatedforamoment，crying：\"Gawd！Afterbein’inellforfifteendays——an’nowewantsustosailthisfloatin’elltoseaagain？\"
Thecaptaincouldnotcontrolthem，butMcCoy’sgentlepresenceseemedtorebukeandcalmthem，andthemutteringandcursingdiedaway，untilthefullcrew，savehereandthereananxiousfacedirectedatthecaptain，yearneddumblytowardthegreencladpeaksandbeetlingcoastofPitcairn。
SoftasaspringzephyrwasthevoiceofMcCoy：
\"Captain，IthoughtIheardsomeofthemsaytheywerestarving。\"
\"Ay，\"wastheanswer，\"andsoweare。I’vehadaseabiscuitandaspoonfulofsalmoninthelasttwodays。We’reonwhack。Yousee，whenwediscoveredthefire，webatteneddownimmediatelytosuffocatethefire。Andthenwefoundhowlittlefoodtherewasinthepantry。Butitwastoolate。Wedidn’tdarebreakoutthelazarette。Hungry？I’mjustashungryastheyare。\"
Hespoketothemenagain，andagainthethroatrumblingandcursingarose，theirfacesconvulsedandanimal—likewithrage。Thesecondandthirdmateshadjoinedthecaptain，standingbehindhimatthebreakofthepoop。Theirfacesweresetandexpressionless;theyseemedbored，morethananythingelse，bythismutinyofthecrew。CaptainDavenportglancedquestioninglyathisfirstmate，andthatpersonmerelyshruggedhisshouldersintokenofhishelplessness。
\"Yousee，\"thecaptainsaidtoMcCoy，\"youcan’tcompelsailorstoleavethesafelandandgotoseaonaburningvessel。Shehasbeentheirfloatingcoffinforovertwoweeksnow。Theyareworkedout，andstarvedout，andthey’vegotenoughofher。We’llbeatupforPitcairn。\"
Butthewindwaslight，thePyrenees’bottomwasfoul，andshecouldnotbeatupagainstthestrongwesterlycurrent。Attheendoftwohoursshehadlostthreemiles。Thesailorsworkedeagerly，asifbymainstrengththeycouldcompelthePYRENEESagainsttheadverseelements。Butsteadily，porttackandstarboardtack，shesaggedofftothewestward。Thecaptainpacedrestlesslyupanddown，pausingoccasionallytosurveythevagrantsmokewispsandtotracethembacktotheportionsofthedeckfromwhichtheysprang。Thecarpenterwasengagedconstantlyinattemptingtolocatesuchplaces，and，whenhesucceeded，incalkingthemtighterandtighter。
\"Well，whatdoyouthink？\"thecaptainfinallyaskedMcCoy，whowaswatchingthecarpenterwithallachild’sinterestandcuriosityinhiseyes。
McCoylookedshoreward，wherethelandwasdisappearinginthethickeninghaze。
\"IthinkitwouldbebettertosquareawayforMangareva。Withthatbreezethatiscoming，you’llbetheretomorrowevening。\"
\"Butwhatifthefirebreaksout？Itisliabletodoitanymoment。\"
\"Haveyourboatsreadyinthefalls。ThesamebreezewillcarryyourboatstoMangarevaiftheshipburnsoutfromunder。\"
CaptainDavenportdebatedforamoment，andthenMcCoyheardthequestionhehadnotwantedtohear，butwhichheknewwassurelycoming。
\"IhavenochartofMangareva。Onthegeneralchartitisonlyaflyspeck。I
wouldnotknowwheretolookfortheentranceintothelagoon。Willyoucomealongandpilotherinforme？\"
McCoy’sserenitywasunbroken。
\"Yes，Captain，\"hesaid，withthesamequietunconcernwithwhichhewouldhaveacceptedaninvitationtodinner;\"I’llgowithyoutoMangareva。\"
Againthecrewwascalledaft，andthecaptainspoketothemfromthebreakofthepoop。
\"We’vetriedtoworkherup，butyouseehowwe’velostground。She’ssettingoffinatwo—knotcurrent。ThisgentlemanistheHonorableMcCoy，ChiefMagistrateandGovernorofPitcairnIsland。HewillcomealongwithustoMangareva。Soyouseethesituationisnotsodangerous。Hewouldnotmakesuchanofferifhethoughthewasgoingtolosehislife。Besides，whateverriskthereis，ifheofhisownfreewillcomeonboardandtakeit，wecandonoless。WhatdoyousayforMangareva？\"
Thistimetherewasnouproar。’mcCoy’spresence，thesuretyandcalmthatseemedtoradiatefromhim，hadhaditseffect。Theyconferredwithoneanotherinlowvoices。Therewaslittleurging。Theywerevirtuallyunanimous，andtheyshovedtheCockneyoutastheirspokesman。Thatworthywasoverwhelmedwithconsciousnessoftheheroismofhimselfandhismates，andwithflashingeyeshecried：
\"ByGawd！If’ewill，wewill！\"
Thecrewmumbleditsassentandstartedforward。
\"Onemoment，Captain，\"McCoysaid，astheotherwasturningtogiveorderstothemate。\"Imustgoashorefirst。\"
Mr。Konigwasthunderstruck，staringatMcCoyasifhewereamadman。
\"Goashore！\"thecaptaincried。\"Whatfor？Itwilltakeyouthreehourstogetthereinyourcanoe。\"
McCoymeasuredthedistanceofthelandaway，andnodded。
\"Yes，itissixnow。Iwon’tgetashoretillnine。Thepeoplecannotbeassembledearlierthanten。Asthebreezefreshensuptonight，youcanbegintoworkupagainstit，andpickmeupatdaylighttomorrowmorning。\"
\"Inthenameofreasonandcommonsense，\"thecaptainburstforth，\"whatdoyouwanttoassemblethepeoplefor？Don’tyourealizethatmyshipisburningbeneathme？\"
McCoywasasplacidasasummersea，andtheother’sangerproducednottheslightestrippleuponit。
\"Yes，Captain，\"hecooedinhisdove—likevoice。\"Idorealizethatyourshipisburning。ThatiswhyIamgoingwithyoutoMangareva。ButImustgetpermissiontogowithyou。Itisourcustom。Itisanimportantmatterwhenthegovernorleavestheisland。Thepeople’sinterestsareatstake，andsotheyhavetherighttovotetheirpermissionorrefusal。Buttheywillgiveit，Iknowthat。\"
\"Areyousure？\"
\"Quitesure。\"
\"Thenifyouknowtheywillgiveit，whybotherwithgettingit？Thinkofthedelay——awholenight。\"
\"Itisourcustom，\"wastheimperturbablereply。\"Also，Iamthegovernor，andImustmakearrangementsfortheconductoftheislandduringmyabsence。\"
\"Butitisonlyatwenty—fourhourruntoMangareva，\"thecaptainobjected。
\"Supposeittookyousixtimesthatlongtoreturntowindward;thatwouldbringyoubackbytheendofaweek。\"
McCoysmiledhislarge，benevolentsmile。
\"VeryfewvesselscometoPitcairn，andwhentheydo，theyareusuallyfromSanFranciscoorfromaroundtheHorn。IshallbefortunateifIgetbackinsixmonths。Imaybeawayayear，andImayhavetogotoSanFranciscoinordertofindavesselthatwillbringmeback。’myfatheronceleftPitcairntobegonethreemonths，andtwoyearspassedbeforehecouldgetback。Then，too，youareshortoffood。Ifyouhavetotaketotheboats，andtheweathercomesupbad，youmaybedaysinreachingland。Icanbringofftwocanoeloadsoffoodinthemorning。Driedbananaswillbebest。Asthebreezefreshens，youbeatupagainstit。Theneareryouare，thebiggerloadsIcanbringoff。Goodby。\"
Heheldouthishand。Thecaptainshookit，andwasreluctanttoletgo。Heseemedtoclingtoitasadrowningsailorclingstoalifebuoy。
\"HowdoIknowyouwillcomebackinthemorning？\"heasked。
\"Yes，that’sit！\"criedthemate。\"Howdoweknowbutwhathe’sskinningouttosavehisownhide？\"
McCoydidnotspeak。Helookedatthemsweetlyandbenignantly，anditseemedtothemthattheyreceivedamessagefromhistremendouscertitudeofsoul。
Thecaptainreleasedhishand，and，withalastsweepingglancethatembracedthecrewinitsbenediction，McCoywentovertherailanddescendedintohiscanoe。
Thewindfreshened，andthePyrenees，despitethefoulnessofherbottom，wonhalfadozenmilesawayfromthewesterlycurrent。Atdaylight，withPitcairnthreemilestowindward，CaptainDavenportmadeouttwocanoescomingofftohim。AgainMcCoyclamberedupthesideanddroppedovertherailtothehotdeck。Hewasfollowedbymanypackagesofdriedbananas，eachpackagewrappedindryleaves。
\"Now，Captain，\"hesaid，\"swingtheyardsanddrivefordearlife。Yousee，I
amnonavigator，\"heexplainedafewminuteslater，ashestoodbythecaptainaft，thelatterwithgazewanderingfromalofttooversideasheestimatedthePyrenees’speed。\"YoumustfetchhertoMangareva。Whenyouhavepickeduptheland，thenIwillpilotherin。Whatdoyouthinksheismaking？\"
\"Eleven，\"CaptainDavenportanswered，withafinalglanceatthewaterrushingpast。
\"Eleven。Letmesee，ifshekeepsupthatgait，we’llsightMangarevabetweeneightandnineo’clocktomorrowmorning。I’llhaveheronthebeachbytenorbyelevenatlatest。Andthenyourtroubleswillbeallover。\"
Italmostseemedtothecaptainthattheblissfulmomenthadalreadyarrived，suchwasthepersuasiveconvincingnessofMcCoy。
CaptainDavenporthadbeenunderthefearfulstrainofnavigatinghisburningshipforovertwoweeks，andhewasbeginningtofeelthathehadhadenough。
Aheavierflawofwindstruckthebackofhisneckandwhistledbyhisears。
Hemeasuredtheweightofit，andlookedquicklyoverside。
\"Thewindismakingallthetime，\"heannounced。\"Theoldgirl’sdoingnearertwelvethanelevenrightnow。Ifthiskeepsup，we’llbeshorteningdowntonight。\"
AlldaythePyrenees，carryingherloadoflivingfire，toreacrossthefoamingsea。Bynightfall，royalsandtopgallantsailswerein，andsheflewonintothedarkness，withgreat，crestedseasroaringafterher。Theauspiciouswindhadhaditseffect，andforeandaftavisiblebrighteningwasapparent。
Intheseconddog—watchsomecarelesssoulstartedasong，andbyeightbellsthewholecrewwassinging。
CaptainDavenporthadhisblanketsbroughtupandspreadontopthehouse。
\"I’veforgottenwhatsleepis，\"heexplainedtoMcCoy。\"I’mallin。Butgivemeacallatanytimeyouthinknecessary。\"
Atthreeinthemorninghewasarousedbyagentletuggingathisarm。Hesatupquickly，bracinghimselfagainsttheskylight，stupidyetfromhisheavysleep。Thewindwasthrummingitswarsongintherigging，andawildseawasbuffetingthePYRENEES。Amidshipsshewaswallowingfirstonerailunderandthentheother，floodingthewaistmoreoftenthannot。’mcCoywasshoutingsomethinghecouldnothear。Hereachedout，clutchedtheotherbytheshoulder，anddrewhimclosesothathisownearwasclosetotheother’slips。
\"It’sthreeo’clock，\"cameMcCoy’svoice，stillretainingitsdovelikequality，butcuriouslymuffled，asiffromalongwayoff。\"We’veruntwohundredandfifty。CrescentIslandisonlythirtymilesaway，somewheretheredeadahead。There’snolightsonit。Ifwekeeprunning，we’llpileup，andloseourselvesaswellastheship。\"
\"Whatd’yethink——heaveto？\"
\"Yes;heavetotilldaylight。Itwillonlyputusbackfourhours。\"
SothePyrenees，withhercargooffire，washoveto，bittingtheteethofthegaleandfightingandsmashingthepoundingseas。Shewasashell，filledwithaconflagration，andontheoutsideoftheshell，clingingprecariously，thelittlemotesofmen，bypullandhaul，helpedherinthebattle。
\"Itismostunusual，thisgale，\"McCoytoldthecaptain，intheleeofthecabin。\"Byrightsthereshouldbenogaleatthistimeoftheyear。Buteverythingabouttheweatherhasbeenunusual。Therehasbeenastoppageofthetrades，andnowit’showlingrightoutofthetradequarter。\"Hewavedhishandintothedarkness，asifhisvisioncoulddimlypenetrateforhundredsofmiles。\"Itisofftothewestward。Thereissomethingbigmakingofftheresomewhere——ahurricaneorsomething。We’reluckytobesofartotheeastward。
Butthisisonlyalittleblow，\"headded。\"Itcan’tlast。Icantellyouthatmuch。\"
Bydaylightthegalehadeaseddowntonormal。Butdaylightrevealedanewdanger。Ithadcomeonthick。Theseawascoveredbyafog，or，rather，byapearlymistthatwasfog—likeindensity，insofarasitobstructedvision，butthatwasnomorethanafilmonthesea，forthesunshotitthroughandfilleditwithaglowingradiance。
ThedeckofthePyreneeswasmakingmoresmokethanontheprecedingday，andthecheerfulnessofofficersandcrewhadvanished。Intheleeofthegalleythecabinboycouldbeheardwhimpering。Itwashisfirstvoyage，andthefearofdeathwasathisheart。Thecaptainwanderedaboutlikealostsoul，nervouslychewinghismustache，scowling，unabletomakeuphismindwhattodo。
\"Whatdoyouthink？\"heasked，pausingbythesideofMcCoy，whowasmakingabreakfastofffriedbananasandamugofwater。
McCoyfinishedthelastbanana，drainedthemug，andlookedslowlyaround。Inhiseyeswasasmileoftendernessashesaid：
\"Well，Captain，wemightaswelldriveasburn。Yourdecksarenotgoingtoholdoutforever。Theyarehotterthismorning。Youhaven’tapairofshoesI
canwear？Itisgettinguncomfortableformybarefeet。\"
ThePyreneesshippedtwoheavyseasasshewasswungoffandputoncemorebeforeit，andthefirstmateexpressedadesiretohaveallthatwaterdowninthehold，ifonlyitcouldbeintroducedwithouttakingoffthehatches。
’mcCoyduckedhisheadintothebinnacleandwatchedthecourseset。
\"I’dholdherupsomemore，Captain，\"hesaid。\"She’sbeenmakingdriftwhenhoveto。\"
\"I’vesetittoapointhigheralready，\"wastheanswer。\"Isn’tthatenough？\"
\"I’dmakeittwopoints，Captain。Thisbitofablowkickedthatwesterlycurrentaheadfasterthanyouimagine。\"
CaptainDavenportcompromisedonapointandahalf，andthenwentaloft，accompaniedbyMcCoyandthefirstmate，tokeepalookoutforland。Sailhadbeenmade，sothatthePyreneeswasdoingtenknots。Thefollowingseawasdyingdownrapidly。Therewasnobreakinthepearlyfog，andbyteno’clockCaptainDavenportwasgrowingnervous。Allhandswereattheirstations，ready，atthefirstwarningoflandahead，tospringlikefiendstothetaskofbringingthePyreneesuponthewind。Thatlandahead，asurf—washedouterreef，wouldbeperilouslyclosewhenitrevealeditselfinsuchafog。
Anotherhourpassed。Thethreewatchersaloftstaredintentlyintothepearlyradiance。\"WhatifwemissMangareva？\"CaptainDavenportaskedabruptly。
McCoy，withoutshiftinghisgaze，answeredsoftly：
\"Why，letherdrive，captain。Thatisallwecando。AllthePaumotusarebeforeus。Wecandriveforathousandmilesthroughreefsandatolls。Weareboundtofetchupsomewhere。\"
\"Thendriveitis。\"CaptainDavenportevidencedhisintentionofdescendingtothedeck。\"We’vemissedMangareva。Godknowswherethenextlandis。IwishI’dheldherupthatotherhalf—point，\"heconfessedamomentlater。\"Thiscursedcurrentplaysthedevilwithanavigator。\"
\"TheoldnavigatorscalledthePaumotustheDangerousArchipelago，\"McCoysaid，whentheyhadregainedthepoop。\"Thisverycurrentwaspartlyresponsibleforthatname。\"
\"IwastalkingwithasailorchapinSydney，once，\"saidMr。Konig。\"He’dbeentradinginthePaumotus。Hetoldmeinsurancewaseighteenpercent。Isthatright？\"
McCoysmiledandnodded。
\"Exceptthattheydon’tinsure，\"heexplained。\"Theownerswriteofftwentypercentofthecostoftheirschoonerseachyear。\"
\"MyGod！\"CaptainDavenportgroaned。\"Thatmakesthelifeofaschooneronlyfiveyears！\"Heshookhisheadsadly，murmuring，\"Badwaters！Badwaters！\"
Againtheywentintothecabintoconsultthebiggeneralchart;butthepoisonousvaporsdrovethemcoughingandgaspingondeck。
\"HereisMoerenhoutIsland，\"CaptainDavenportpointeditoutonthechart，whichhehadspreadonthehouse。\"Itcan’tbemorethanahundredmilestoleeward。\"
\"Ahundredandten。\"’mcCoyshookhisheaddoubtfully。\"Itmightbedone，butitisverydifficult。Imightbeachher，andthenagainImightputheronthereef。Abadplace，averybadplace。\"
\"We’lltakethechance，\"wasCaptainDavenport’sdecision，ashesetaboutworkingoutthecourse。
Sailwasshortenedearlyintheafternoon，toavoidrunningpastinthenight;
andintheseconddog—watchthecrewmanifesteditsregainedcheerfulness。
Landwassoverynear，andtheirtroubleswouldbeoverinthemorning。
Butmorningbrokeclear，withablazingtropicsun。Thesoutheasttradehadswungaroundtotheeastward，andwasdrivingthePYRENEESthroughthewaterataneight—knotclip。CaptainDavenportworkeduphisdeadreckoning，allowinggenerouslyfordrift，andannouncedMoerenhoutIslandtobenotmorethantenmilesoff。ThePyreneessailedthetenmiles;shesailedtenmilesmore;andthelookoutsatthethreemastheadssawnaughtbutthenaked，sun—washedsea。
\"Butthelandisthere，Itellyou，\"CaptainDavenportshoutedtothemfromthepoop。
McCoysmiledsoothingly，butthecaptainglaredabouthimlikeamadman，fetchedhissextant，andtookachronometersight。
\"IknewIwasright，healmostshouted，whenhehadworkeduptheobservation。
\"Twenty—one，fifty—five，south;one—thirty—six，two，west。Thereyouare。
We’reeightmilestowindwardyet。Whatdidyoumakeitout，Mr。Konig？\"
Thefirstmateglancedathisownfigures，andsaidinalowvoice：
\"Twenty—one，fifty—fiveallright;butmylongitude’sone—thirty—six，forty—eight。Thatputsusconsiderablytoleeward——\"
ButCaptainDavenportignoredhisfigureswithsocontemptuousasilenceastomakeMr。Koniggrithisteethandcursesavagelyunderhisbreath。
\"Keepheroff，\"thecaptainorderedthemanatthewheel。\"Threepoints——steadythere，asshegoes！\"
Thenhereturnedtohisfiguresandworkedthemover。Thesweatpouredfromhisface。Hechewedhismustache，hislips，andhispencil，staringatthefiguresasamanmightataghost。Suddenly，withafierce，muscularoutburst，hecrumpledthescribbledpaperinhisfistandcrusheditunderfoot。’mr。
Koniggrinnedvindictivelyandturnedaway，whileCaptainDavenportleanedagainstthecabinandforhalfanhourspokenoword，contentinghimselfwithgazingtoleewardwithanexpressionofmusinghopelessnessonhisface。
\"Mr。McCoy，\"hebrokesilenceabruptly。\"Thechartindicatesagroupofislands，butnothowmany，offtheretothenorth’ard，ornor’—nor’westward，aboutfortymiles——theActeonIslands。Whataboutthem？\"
\"Therearefour，alllow，\"McCoyanswered。\"FirsttothesoutheastisMatuerui——nopeople，noentrancetothelagoon。ThencomesTenarunga。Thereusedtobeaboutadozenpeoplethere，buttheymaybeallgonenow。Anyway，thereisnoentranceforaship——onlyaboatentrance，withafathomofwater。
VehaugaandTeua—raroaretheothertwo。Noentrances，nopeople，verylow。
ThereisnobedforthePyreneesinthatgroup。Shewouldbeatotalwreck。\"
\"Listentothat！\"CaptainDavenportwasfrantic。\"Nopeople！Noentrances！
Whatinthedevilareislandsgoodfor？
\"Well，then，hebarkedsuddenly，likeanexcitedterrier，\"thechartgivesawholemessofislandsofftothenor’west。Whataboutthem？WhatonehasanentrancewhereIcanlaymyship？\"
McCoycalmlyconsidered。Hedidnotrefertothechart。Alltheseislands，reefs，shoals，lagoons，entrances，anddistancesweremarkedonthechartofhismemory。Heknewthemasthecitydwellerknowshisbuildings，streets，andalleys。
\"PapakenaandVanavanaareofftheretothewestward，orwest—nor’westwardahundredmilesandabitmore，\"hesaid。\"Oneisuninhabited，andIheardthatthepeopleontheotherhadgoneofftoCadmusIsland。Anyway，neitherlagoonhasanentrance。Ahunuiisanotherhundredmilesontothenor’west。Noentrance，nopeople。\"
\"Well，fortymilesbeyondthemaretwoislands？\"CaptainDavenportqueried，raisinghisheadfromthechart。
McCoyshookhishead。
\"ParosandManuhungi——noentrances，nopeople。Nengo—Nengoisfortymilesbeyondthem，inturn，andithasnopeopleandnoentrance。ButthereisHaoIsland。Itisjusttheplace。Thelagoonisthirtymileslongandfivemileswide。Thereareplentyofpeople。Youcanusuallyfindwater。Andanyshipintheworldcangothroughtheentrance。\"
HeceasedandgazedsolicitouslyatCaptainDavenport，who，bendingoverthechartwithapairofdividersinhand，hadjustemittedalowgroan。
\"IsthereanylagoonwithanentranceanywherenearerthanHaoIsland？\"heasked。
\"No，Captain;thatisthenearest。\"
\"Well，it’sthreehundredandfortymiles。\"CaptainDavenportwasspeakingveryslowly，withdecision。\"Iwon’trisktheresponsibilityofalltheselives。I’llwreckherontheActeons。Andshe’sagoodship，too，\"headdedregretfully，afteralteringthecourse，thistimemakingmoreallowancethaneverforthewesterlycurrent。
Anhourlatertheskywasovercast。Thesoutheasttradestillheld，buttheoceanwasacheckerboardofsqualls。
\"We’llbetherebyoneo’clock，\"CaptainDavenportannouncedconfidently。\"Bytwoo’clockattheoutside。’mcCoy，youputherashoreontheonewherethepeopleare。\"
Thesundidnotappearagain，nor，atoneo’clock，wasanylandtobeseen。
CaptainDavenportlookedasternatthePyrenees’cantingwake。
\"GoodLord！\"hecried。\"Aneasterlycurrent？Lookatthat！\"
Mr。Konigwasincredulous。’mcCoywasnoncommittal，thoughhesaidthatinthePaumotustherewasnoreasonwhyitshouldnotbeaneasterlycurrent。AfewminuteslaterasquallrobbedthePyreneestemporarilyofallherwind，andshewasleftrollingheavilyinthetrough。
\"Where’sthatdeeplead？Overwithit，youthere！\"CaptainDavenportheldtheleadlineandwatcheditsagofftothenortheast。\"There，lookatthat！Takeholdofitforyourself。\"
McCoyandthematetriedit，andfeltthelinethrummingandvibratingsavagelytothegripofthetidalstream。
\"Afour—knotcurrent，\"saidMr。Konig。
\"Aneasterlycurrentinsteadofawesterly，\"saidCaptain\"Davenport，glaringaccusinglyatMcCoy，asiftocasttheblameforituponhim。
\"Thatisoneofthereasons，Captain，forinsurancebeingeighteenpercentinthesewaters，\"McCoyansweredcheerfully。\"Youcannevertell。Thecurrentsarealwayschanging。Therewasamanwhowrotebooks，Iforgethisname，intheyachtCasco。
HemissedTakaroabythirtymilesandfetchedTikei，allbecauseoftheshiftingcurrents。Youareuptowindwardnow，andyou’dbetterkeepoffafewpoints。\"
\"Buthowmuchhasthiscurrentsetme？\"thecaptaindemandedirately。\"HowamItoknowhowmuchtokeepoff？\"
\"Idon’tknow，Captain，\"McCoysaidwithgreatgentleness。
Thewindreturned，andthePYRENEES，herdecksmokingandshimmeringinthebrightgraylight，ranoffdeadtoleeward。Thensheworkedback，porttackandstarboardtack，crisscrossinghertrack，combingtheseafortheActeonIslands，whichthemastheadlookoutsfailedtosight。
CaptainDavenportwasbesidehimself。Hisragetooktheformofsullensilence，andhespenttheafternooninpacingthepooporleaningagainsttheweathershrouds。Atnightfall，withoutevenconsultingMcCoy，hesquaredawayandheadedintothenorthwest。Mr。Konig，surreptitiouslyconsultingchartandbinnacle，andMcCoy，openlyandinnocentlyconsultingthebinnacle，knewthattheywererunningforHaoIsland。Bymidnightthesquallsceased，andthestarscameout。CaptainDavenportwascheeredbythepromiseofaclearday。
\"I’llgetanobservationinthemorning，\"hetoldMcCoy，\"thoughwhatmylatitudeis，isapuzzler。ButI’llusetheSumnermethod，andsettlethat。DoyouknowtheSumnerline？\"
AndthereuponheexplaineditindetailtoMcCoy。
Thedayprovedclear，thetradeblewsteadilyoutoftheeast，andthePyreneesjustassteadilyloggedhernineknots。BoththecaptainandmateworkedoutthepositiononaSumnerline，andagreed，andatnoonagreedagain，andverifiedthemorningsightsbythenoonsights。
\"Anothertwenty—fourhoursandwe’llbethere，\"CaptainDavenportassuredMcCoy。：\"It’samiraclethewaytheoldgirl’sdecksholdout。Buttheycan’tlast。Theycan’tlast。Lookatthemsmoke，moreandmoreeveryday。Yetitwasatightdecktobeginwith，fresh—calkedinFrisco。Iwassurprisedwhenthefirefirstbrokeoutandwebatteneddown。Lookatthat！\"
Hebrokeofftogazewithdroppedjawataspiralofsmokethatcoiledandtwistedintheleeofthemizzenmasttwentyfeetabovethedeck。
\"Now，howdidthatgetthere？\"hedemandedindignantly。
Beneathittherewasnosmoke。Crawlingupfromthedeck，shelteredfromthewindbythemast，bysomefreakittookformandvisibilityatthatheight。Itwrithedawayfromthemast，andforamomentoverhungthecaptainlikesomethreateningportent。Thenextmomentthewindwhiskeditaway，andthecaptain’sjawreturnedtoplace。
\"AsIwassaying，whenwefirstbatteneddown，Iwassurprised。Itwasatightdeck，yetitleakedsmokelikeasieve。Andwe’vecalkedandcalkedeversince。Theremustbetremendouspressureunderneathtodrivesomuchsmokethrough。\"
Thatafternoontheskybecameovercastagain，andsqually，drizzlyweathersetin。Thewindshiftedbackandforthbetweensoutheastandnortheast，andatmidnightthePyreneeswascaughtabackbyasharpsquallfromthesouthwest，fromwhichpointthewindcontinuedtoblowintermittently。
\"Wewon’tmakeHaountiltenoreleven，\"CaptainDavenportcomplainedatseveninthemorning，whenthefleetingpromiseofthesunhadbeenerasedbyhazycloudmassesintheeasternsky。Andthenextmomenthewasplaintivelydemanding，\"Andwhatarethecurrentsdoing？\"
Lookoutsatthemastheadscouldreportnoland，andthedaypassedindrizzlingcalmsandviolentsqualls。Bynightfallaheavyseabegantomakefromthewest。Thebarometerhadfallento29。50。Therewasnowind，andstilltheominousseacontinuedtoincrease。SoonthePyreneeswasrollingmadlyinthehugewavesthatmarchedinanunendingprocessionfromoutofthedarknessofthewest。Sailwasshortenedasfastasbothwatchescouldwork，and，whenthetiredcrewhadfinished，itsgrumblingandcomplainingvoices，peculiarlyanimal—likeandmenacing，couldbeheardinthedarkness。Oncethestarboardwatchwascalledafttolashdownandmakesecure，andthemenopenlyadvertisedtheirsullennessandunwillingness。Everyslowmovementwasaprotestandathreat。Theatmospherewasmoistandstickylikemucilage，andintheabsenceofwindallhandsseemedtopantandgaspforair。Thesweatstoodoutonfacesandbarearms，andCaptainDavenportforone，hisfacemoregauntandcare—wornthanever，andhiseyestroubledandstaring，wasoppressedbyafeelingofimpendingcalamity。
\"It’sofftothewestward，\"McCoysaidencouragingly。\"Atworst，we’llbeonlyontheedgeofit。\"
ButCaptainDavenportrefusedtobecomforted，andbythelightofalanternreadupthechapterinhisEpitomethatrelatedtothestrategyofshipmastersincyclonicstorms。Fromsomewhereamidshipsthesilencewasbrokenbyalowwhimperingfromthecabinboy。
\"Oh，shutup！\"CaptainDavenportyelledsuddenlyandwithsuchforceastostartleeverymanonboardandtofrightentheoffenderintoawildwailofterror。
\"Mr。Konig，\"thecaptainsaidinavoicethattrembledwithrageandnerves，\"willyoukindlystepfor’ardandstopthatbrat’smouthwithadeckmop？\"
ButitwasMcCoywhowentforward，andinafewminuteshadtheboycomfortedandasleep。
Shortlybeforedaybreakthefirstbreathofairbegantomovefromoutthesoutheast，increasingswiftlytoastiffandstifferbreeze。Allhandswereondeckwaitingforwhatmightbebehindit。\"We’reallrightnow，Captain，\"saidMcCoy，standingclosetohisshoulder。\"Thehurricaneistothewest’ard，andwearesouthofit。Thisbreezeisthein—suck。Itwon’tblowanyharder。Youcanbegintoputsailonher。\"
\"Butwhat’sthegood？WhereshallIsail？Thisistheseconddaywithoutobservations，andweshouldhavesightedHaoIslandyesterdaymorning。Whichwaydoesitbear，north，south，east，orwhat？Tellmethat，andI’llmakesailinajiffy。\"
\"Iamnonavigator，Captain，\"McCoysaidinhismildway。
\"IusedtothinkIwasone，\"wastheretort，\"beforeIgotintothesePaumotus。\"
Atmiddaythecryof\"Breakersahead！\"washeardfromthelookout。ThePyreneeswaskeptoff，andsailaftersailwasloosedandsheetedhome。ThePyreneeswasslidingthroughthewaterandfightingacurrentthatthreatenedtosetherdownuponthebreakers。Officersandmenwereworkinglikemad，cookandcabinboy，CaptainDavenporthimself，andMcCoyalllendingahand。
Itwasacloseshave。Itwasalowshoal，ableakandperilousplaceoverwhichtheseasbrokeunceasingly，wherenomancouldlive，andonwhichnotevenseabirdscouldrest。ThePYRENEESwassweptwithinahundredyardsofitbeforethewindcarriedherclear，andatthismomentthepantingcrew，itsworkdone，burstoutinatorrentofcursesupontheheadofMcCoy——ofMcCoywhohadcomeonboard，andproposedtheruntoMangareva，andluredthemallawayfromthesafetyofPitcairnIslandtocertaindestructioninthisbafflingandterriblestretchofsea。ButMcCoy’stranquilsoulwasundisturbed。Hesmiledatthemwithsimpleandgraciousbenevolence，and，somehow，theexaltedgoodnessofhimseemedtopenetratetotheirdarkandsombersouls，shamingthem，andfromveryshamestillingthecursesvibratingintheirthroats。
\"Badwaters！Badwaters！\"CaptainDavenportwasmurmuringashisshipforgedclear;buthebrokeoffabruptlytogazeattheshoalwhichshouldhavebeendeadastern，butwhichwasalreadyonthePYRENEES’weather—quarterandworkinguprapidlytowindward。
Hesatdownandburiedhisfaceinhishands。Andthefirstmatesaw，andMcCoysaw，andthecrewsaw，whathehadseen。Southoftheshoalaneasterlycurrenthadsetthemdownuponit;northoftheshoalanequallyswiftwesterlycurrenthadclutchedtheshipandwassweepingheraway。
\"I’veheardofthesePaumotusbefore，\"thecaptaingroaned，liftinghisblanchedfacefromhishands。\"CaptainMoyendaletoldmeaboutthemafterlosinghisshiponthem。AndIlaughedathimbehindhisback。Godforgiveme，Ilaughedathim。Whatshoalisthat？\"hebrokeoff，toaskMcCoy。
\"Idon’tknow，Captain。\"
\"Whydon’tyouknow？\"
\"BecauseIneversawitbefore，andbecauseIhaveneverheardofit。Idoknowthatitisnotcharted。Thesewatershaveneverbeenthoroughlysurveyed。\"
\"Thenyoudon’tknowwhereweare？\"
\"Nomorethanyoudo，\"McCoysaidgently。
Atfourintheafternooncocoanuttreesweresighted，apparentlygrowingoutofthewater。Alittlelaterthelowlandofanatollwasraisedabovethesea。
\"Iknowwherewearenow，Captain。\"McCoyloweredtheglassesfromhiseyes。
\"That’sResolutionIsland。WearefortymilesbeyondHaoIsland，andthewindisinourteeth。\"
\"Getreadytobeachherthen。Where’stheentrance？\"
\"There’sonlyacanoepassage。Butnowthatweknowwhereweare，wecanrunforBarclaydeTolley。Itisonlyonehundredandtwentymilesfromhere，duenor’—nor’west。Withthisbreezewecanbetherebynineo’clocktomorrowmorning。\"
CaptainDavenportconsultedthechartanddebatedwithhimself。
\"Ifwewreckherhere，\"McCoyadded，\"we’dhavetomaketheruntoBarclaydeTolleyintheboatsjustthesame。\"
Thecaptaingavehisorders，andoncemorethePyreneesswungoffforanotherrunacrosstheinhospitablesea。
Andthemiddleofthenextafternoonsawdespairandmutinyonhersmokingdeck。Thecurrenthadaccelerated，thewindhadslackened，andthePyreneeshadsaggedofftothewest。ThelookoutsightedBarclaydeTolleytotheeastward，barelyvisiblefromthemasthead，andvainlyandforhoursthePYRENEEStriedtobeatuptoit。Ever，likeamirage，thecocoanuttreeshoveredonthehorizon，visibleonlyfromthemasthead。Fromthedecktheywerehiddenbythebulgeoftheworld。
AgainCaptainDavenportconsultedMcCoyandthechart。’makemolayseventy—fivemilestothesouthwest。Itslagoonwasthirtymileslong，anditsentrancewasexcellent。WhenCaptainDavenportgavehisorders，thecrewrefusedduty。Theyannouncedthattheyhadhadenoughofhellfireundertheirfeet。Therewastheland。Whatiftheshipcouldnotmakeit？Theycouldmakeitintheboats。Letherburn，then。Theirlivesamountedtosomethingtothem。Theyhadservedfaithfullytheship，nowtheyweregoingtoservethemselves。
Theysprangtotheboats，brushingthesecondandthirdmatesoutoftheway，andproceededtoswingtheboatsoutandtopreparetoloweraway。CaptainDavenportandthefirstmate，revolversinhand，wereadvancingtothebreakofthepoop，whenMcCoy，whohadclimbedontopofthecabin，begantospeak。
Hespoketothesailors，andatthefirstsoundofhisdovelike，cooingvoicetheypausedtohear。Heextendedtothemhisownineffableserenityandpeace。
Hissoftvoiceandsimplethoughtsflowedouttotheminamagicstream，soothingthemagainsttheirwills。Longforgottenthingscamebacktothem，andsomerememberedlullabysongsofchildhoodandthecontentandrestofthemother’sarmattheendoftheday。Therewasnomoretrouble，nomoredanger，nomoreirk，inalltheworld。Everythingwasasitshouldbe，anditwasonlyamatterofcoursethattheyshouldturntheirbacksuponthelandandputtoseaoncemorewithhellfirehotbeneaththeirfeet。
McCoyspokesimply;butitwasnotwhathespoke。Itwashispersonalitythatspokemoreeloquentlythananywordhecouldutter。Itwasanalchemyofsouloccultlysubtileandprofoundlydeep——amysteriousemanationofthespirit，seductive，sweetlyhumble，andterriblyimperious。Itwasilluminationinthedarkcryptsoftheirsouls，acompulsionofpurityandgentlenessvastlygreaterthanthatwhichresidedintheshining，death—spittingrevolversoftheofficers。
Themenwaveredreluctantlywheretheystood，andthosewhohadloosedtheturnsmadethemfastagain。Thenone，andthenanother，andthenallofthem，begantosidleawkwardlyaway。
McCoy’sfacewasbeamingwithchildlikepleasureashedescendedfromthetopofthecabin。Theewasnotrouble。Forthatmattertherehadbeennotroubleaverted。Thereneverhadbeenanytrouble，fortherewasnoplaceforsuchintheblissfulworldinwhichhelived。
\"Youhypnotizedem，\"Mr。Koniggrinnedathim，speakinginalowvoice。
\"Thoseboysaregood，\"wastheanswer。\"Theirheartsaregood。Theyhavehadahardtime，andtheyhaveworkedhard，andtheywillworkhardtotheend。\"
Mr。Konighadnottimetoreply。Hisvoicewasringingoutorders，thesailorswerespringingtoobey，andthePYRENEESwaspayingslowlyofffromthewinduntilherbowshouldpointinthedirectionofMakemo。
Thewindwasverylight，andaftersundownalmostceased。Itwasinsufferablywarm，andforeandaftmensoughtvainlytosleep。Thedeckwastoohottolieupon，andpoisonousvapors，oozingthroughtheseams，creptlikeevilspiritsovertheship，stealingintothenostrilsandwindpipesoftheunwaryandcausingfitsofsneezingandcoughing。Thestarsblinkedlazilyinthedimvaultoverhead;andthefullmoon，risingintheeast，touchedwithitslightthemyriadsofwispsandthreadsandspideryfilmsofsmokethatintertwinedandwrithedandtwistedalongthedeck，overtherails，andupthemastsandshrouds。
\"Tellme，\"CaptainDavenportsaid，rubbinghissmartingeyes，\"whathappenedwiththatBOUNTYcrowdaftertheyreachedPitcairn？TheaccountIreadsaidtheyburnttheBounty，andthattheywerenotdiscovereduntilmanyyearslater。Butwhathappenedinthemeantime？I’vealwaysbeencurioustoknow。
Theyweremenwiththeirnecksintherope。Thereweresomenativemen，too。
Andthentherewerewomen。Thatmadeitlookliketroublerightfromthejump。\"
\"Therewastrouble，\"McCoyanswered。\"Theywerebadmen。Theyquarreledaboutthewomenrightaway。Oneofthemutineers，Williams，losthiswife。AllthewomenwereTahitianwomen。Hiswifefellfromthecliffswhenhuntingseabirds。Thenhetookthewifeofoneofthenativemenawayfromhim。Allthenativemenweremadeveryangrybythis，andtheykilledoffnearlyallthemutineers。Thenthemutineersthatescapedkilledoffallthenativemen。Thewomenhelped。Andthenativeskilledeachother。Everybodykilledeverybody。
Theywereterriblemen。
\"Timitiwaskilledbytwoothernativeswhiletheywerecombinghishairinfriendship。Thewhitemenhadsentthemtodoit。Thenthewhitemenkilledthem。ThewifeofTullalookilledhiminacavebecauseshewantedawhitemanforhusband。Theywereverywicked。GodhadhiddenHisfacefromthem。Attheendoftwoyearsallthenativemenweremurdered，andallthewhitemenexceptfour。TheywereYoung，JohnAdams，McCoy，whowasmygreat—grandfather，andQuintal。Hewasaverybadman，too。Once，justbecausehiswifedidnotcatchenoughfishforhim，hebitoffherear。\"
\"Theywereabadlot！\"Mr。Konigexclaimed。
\"Yes，theywereverybad，\"McCoyagreedandwentonserenelycooingofthebloodandlustofhisiniquitousancestry。\"Mygreat—grandfatherescapedmurderinordertodiebyhisownhand。Hemadeastillandmanufacturedalcoholfromtherootsoftheti—plant。Quintalwashischum，andtheygotdrunktogetherallthetime。AtlastMcCoygotdeliriumtremens，tiedarocktohisneck，andjumpedintothesea。
\"Quintal’swife，theonewhoseearhebitoff，alsogotkilledbyfallingfromthecliffs。ThenQuintalwenttoYounganddemandedhiswife，andwenttoAdamsanddemandedhiswife。AdamsandYoungwereafraidofQuintal。Theyknewhewouldkillthem。Sotheykilledhim，thetwoofthemtogether，withahatchet。ThenYoungdied。Andthatwasaboutallthetroubletheyhad。\"
\"Ishouldsayso，\"CaptainDavenportsnorted。\"Therewasnobodylefttokill。\"
\"Yousee，GodhadhiddenHisface，\"McCoysaid。
Bymorningnomorethanafaintairwasblowingfromtheeastward，and，unabletomakeappreciablesouthingbyit，CaptainDavenporthauledupfull—and—byontheporttrack。Hewasafraidofthatterriblewesterlycurrentwhichhadcheatedhimoutofsomanyportsofrefuge。Alldaythecalmcontinued，andallnight，whilethesailors，onashortrationofdriedbanana，weregrumbling。Also，theyweregrowingweakandcomplainingofstomachpainscausedbythestraightbananadiet。AlldaythecurrentsweptthePYRENEEStothewestward，whiletherewasnowindtobearhersouth。Inthemiddleofthefirstdogwatch，cocoanuttreesweresightedduesouth，theirtuftedheadsrisingabovethewaterandmarkingthelow—lyingatollbeneath。
\"ThatisTaengaIsland，\"McCoysaid。\"Weneedabreezetonight，orelsewe’llmissMakemo。\"
\"What’sbecomeofthesoutheasttrade？\"thecaptaindemanded。\"Whydon’titblow？What’sthematter？\"
\"Itistheevaporationfromthebiglagoons——therearesomanyofthem，\"McCoyexplained。Theevaporationupsetsthewholesystemoftrades。Itevencausesthewindtobackupandblowgalesfromthesouthwest。ThisistheDangerousArchipelago，Captain。\"
CaptainDavenportfacedtheoldman，openedhismouth，andwasabouttocurse，butpausedandrefrained。’mcCoy’spresencewasarebuketotheblasphemiesthatstirredinhisbrainandtrembledinhislarynx。’mcCoy’sinfluencehadbeengrowingduringthemanydaystheyhadbeentogether。CaptainDavenportwasanautocratofthesea，fearingnoman，neverbridlinghistongue，andnowhefoundhimselfunabletocurseinthepresenceofthisoldmanwiththefemininebrowneyesandthevoiceofadove。Whenherealizedthis，CaptainDavenportexperiencedadistinctshock。ThisoldmanwasmerelytheseedofMcCoy，ofMcCoyoftheBOUNTY，themutineerfleeingfromthehempthatwaitedhiminEngland，theMcCoywhowasapowerforevilintheearlydaysofbloodandlustandviolentdeathonPitcairnIsland。
CaptainDavenportwasnotreligious，yetinthatmomenthefeltamadimpulsetocasthimselfattheother’sfeet——andtosayheknewnotwhat。Itwasanemotionthatsodeeplystirredhim，ratherthanacoherentthought，andhewasawareinsomevaguewayofhisownunworthinessandsmallnessinthepresenceofthisothermanwhopossessedthesimplicityofachildandthegentlenessofawoman。
Ofcoursehecouldnotsohumblehimselfbeforetheeyesofhisofficersandmen。Andyettheangerthathadpromptedtheblasphemystillragedinhim。Hesuddenlysmotethecabinwithhisclenchedhandandcried：
\"Lookhere，oldman，Iwon’tbebeaten。ThesePaumotushavecheatedandtrickedmeandmadeafoolofme。Irefusetobebeaten。Iamgoingtodrivethisship，anddriveanddriveanddriveclearthroughthePaumotustoChinabutwhatIfindabedforher。Ifeverymandeserts，I’llstaybyher。I’llshowthePaumotus。Theycan’tfoolme。She’sagoodgirl，andI’llstickbyheraslongasthere’saplanktostandon。Youhearme？\"
\"AndI’llstaywithyou，Captain，\"McCoysaid。
Duringthenight，light，bafflingairsblewoutofthesouth，andthefranticcaptain，withhiscargooffire，watchedandmeasuredhiswestwarddriftandwentoffbyhimselfattimestocursesoftlysothatMcCoyshouldnothear。
Daylightshowedmorepalmsgrowingoutofthewatertothesouth。
\"That’stheleewardpointofMakemo，\"McCoysaid。\"Katiuisonlyafewmilestothewest。Wemaymakethat。\"
Butthecurrent，suckingbetweenthetwoislands，sweptthemtothenorthwest，andatoneintheafternoontheysawthepalmsofKatiuriseabovetheseaandsinkbackintotheseaagain。
Afewminuteslater，justasthecaptainhaddiscoveredthatanewcurrentfromthenortheasthadgrippedthePyrenees，themastheadlookoutsraisedcocoanutpalmsinthenorthwest。
\"ItisRaraka，\"saidMcCoy。\"Wewon’tmakeitwithoutwind。Thecurrentisdrawingusdowntothesouthwest。Butwemustwatchout。Afewmilesfartheronacurrentflowsnorthandturnsinacircletothenorthwest。ThiswillsweepusawayfromFakarava，andFakaravaistheplaceforthePyreneestofindherbed。\"
\"Theycansweepalltheyda——alltheywellplease，\"CaptainDavenportremarkedwithheat。\"We’llfindabedforhersomewherejustthesame。\"
ButthesituationonthePyreneeswasreachingaculmination。Thedeckwassohotthatitseemedanincreaseofafewdegreeswouldcauseittoburstintoflames。Inmanyplaceseventheheavy—soledshoesofthemenwerenoprotection，andtheywerecompelledtosteplivelytoavoidscorchingtheirfeet。Thesmokehadincreasedandgrownmoreacrid。Everymanonboardwassufferingfrominflamedeyes，andtheycoughedandstrangledlikeacrewoftuberculosispatients。Intheafternoontheboatswereswungoutandequipped。
Thelastseveralpackagesofdriedbananaswerestoredinthem，aswellastheinstrumentsoftheofficers。CaptainDavenportevenputthechronometerintothelongboat，fearingtheblowingupofthedeckatanymoment。
Allnightthisapprehensionweighedheavilyonall，andinthefirstmorninglight，withholloweyesandghastlyfaces，theystaredatoneanotherasifinsurprisethatthePyreneesstillheldtogetherandthattheystillwerealive。
Walkingrapidlyattimes，andevenoccasionallybreakingintoanundignifiedhop—skip—and—run，CaptainDavenportinspectedhisship’sdeck。
\"Itisamatterofhoursnow，ifnotofminutes，\"heannouncedonhisreturntothepoop。
Thecryoflandcamedownfromthemasthead。Fromthedeckthelandwasinvisible，andMcCoywentaloft，whilethecaptaintookadvantageoftheopportunitytocursesomeofthebitternessoutofhisheart。Butthecursingwassuddenlystoppedbyadarklineonthewaterwhichhesightedtothenortheast。Itwasnotasquall，butaregularbreeze——thedisruptedtradewind，eightpointsoutofitsdirectionbutresumingbusinessoncemore。
\"Holdherup，Captain，\"McCoysaidassoonashereachedthepoop。\"That’stheeasterlypointofFakarava，andwe’llgointhroughthepassagefull—tilt，thewindabeam，andeverysaildrawing。\"
Attheendofanhour，thecocoanuttreesandthelow—lyinglandwerevisiblefromthedeck。ThefeelingthattheendofthePYRENEES’resistancewasimminentweighedheavilyoneverybody。CaptainDavenporthadthethreeboatsloweredanddroppedshortastern，amanineachtokeepthemapart。ThePyreneescloselyskirtedtheshore，thesurf—whitenedatollabaretwocablelengthsaway。
Andaminutelaterthelandparted，exposinganarrowpassageandthelagoonbeyond，agreatmirror，thirtymilesinlengthandathirdasbroad。
\"Now，Captain。\"
ForthelasttimetheyardsofthePyreneesswungaroundassheobeyedthewheelandheadedintothepassage。Theturnshadscarcelybeenmade，andnothinghadbeencoileddown，whenthemenandmatessweptbacktothepoopinpanicterror。Nothinghadhappened，yettheyaverredthatsomethingwasgoingtohappen。Theycouldnottellwhy。Theymerelyknewthatitwasabouttohappen。’mcCoystartedforwardtotakeuphispositiononthebowinordertoconthevesselin;butthecaptaingrippedhisarmandwhirledhimaround。
\"Doitfromhere，\"hesaid。\"Thatdeck’snotsafe。What’sthematter？\"hedemandedthenextinstant。\"We’restandingstill。\"
McCoysmiled。
\"Youarebuckingaseven—knotcurrent，Captain，\"hesaid。\"Thatisthewaythefullebbrunsoutofthispassage。\"
AttheendofanotherhourthePyreneeshadscarcelygainedherlength，butthewindfreshenedandshebegantoforgeahead。
\"Bettergetintotheboats，someofyou，\"CaptainDavenportcommanded。
Hisvoicewasstillringing，andthemenwerejustbeginningtomoveinobedience，whentheamidshipdeckofthePyrenees，inamassofflameandsmoke，wasflungupwardintothesailsandrigging，partofitremainingthereandtherestfallingintothesea。Thewindbeingabeam，waswhathadsavedthemencrowdedaft。Theymadeablindrushtogaintheboats，butMcCoy’svoice，carryingitsconvincingmessageofvastcalmandendlesstime，stoppedthem。
\"Takeiteasy，\"hewassaying。Everythingisallright。Passthatboydownsomebody，please。\"
Themanatthewheelhadforsakenitinafunk，andCaptainDavenporthadleapedandcaughtthespokesintimetopreventtheshipfromyawinginthecurrentandgoingashore。
\"Bettertakechargeoftheboats，\"hesaidtoMr。Konig。\"Towoneofthemshort，rightunderthequarter……WhenIgoover，it’llbeonthejump。\"
Mr。Konighesitated，thenwentovertherailandloweredhimselfintotheboat。
\"Keepheroffhalfapoint，Captain。\"
CaptainDavenportgaveastart。Hehadthoughthehadtheshiptohimself。
\"Ay，ay;halfapointitis，\"heanswered。
AmidshipsthePyreneeswasanopenflamingfurnace，outofwhichpouredanimmensevolumeofsmokewhichrosehighabovethemastsandcompletelyhidtheforwardpartoftheship。’mcCoy，intheshelterofthemizzen—shrouds，continuedhisdifficulttaskofconningtheshipthroughtheintricatechannel。Thefirewasworkingaftalongthedeckfromtheseatofexplosion，whilethesoaringtowerofcanvasonthemainmastwentupandvanishedinasheetofflame。Forward，thoughtheycouldnotseethem，theyknewthatthehead—sailswerestilldrawing。
\"Ifonlyshedon’tburnallhercanvasoffbeforeshemakesinside，：\"thecaptaingroaned。
\"She’llmakeit，\"McCoyassuredhimwithsupremeconfidence。\"Thereisplentyoftime。Sheisboundtomakeit。Andonceinside，we’llputherbeforeit;
thatwillkeepthesmokeawayfromusandholdbackthefirefromworkingaft。\"
Atongueofflamesprangupthemizzen，reachedhungrilyforthelowesttierofcanvas，missedit，andvanished。FromaloftaburningshredofropestufffellsquareonthebackofCaptainDavenport’sneck。Heactedwiththecelerityofonestungbyabeeashereachedupandbrushedtheoffendingfirefromhisskin。
\"Howissheheading，Captain？\"
\"Nor’westbywest。\"
\"Keepherwest—nor—west。\"
CaptainDavenportputthewheelupandsteadiedher。
\"Westbynorth，Captain。\"
\"Westbynorthsheis。\"
\"Andnowwest。\"
Slowly，pointbypoint，assheenteredthelagoon，thePYRENEESdescribedthecirclethatputherbeforethewind;andpointbypoint，withallthecalmcertitudeofathousandyearsoftimetospare，McCoychantedthechangingcourse。
\"Anotherpoint，Captain。\"
\"Apointitis。\"
CaptainDavenportwhirledseveralspokesover，suddenlyreversingandcomingbackonetocheckher。
\"Steady。\"
\"Steadysheis——rightonit。\"
Despitethefactthatthewindwasnowastern，theheatwassointensethatCaptainDavenportwascompelledtostealsidelongglancesintothebinnacle，lettinggothewheelnowwithonehand，nowwiththeother，toruborshieldhisblisteringcheeks。
McCoy’sbeardwascrinklingandshrivelingandthesmellofit，strongintheother’snostrils，compelledhimtolooktowardMcCoywithsuddensolicitude。
CaptainDavenportwaslettinggothespokesalternatelywithhishandsinordertorubtheirblisteringbacksagainsthistrousers。Everysailonthemizzenmastvanishedinarushofflame，compellingthetwomentocrouchandshieldtheirfaces。
\"Now，\"saidMcCoy，stealingaglanceaheadatthelowshore，\"fourpointsup，Captain，andletherdrive。\"
Shredsandpatchesofburningropeandcanvaswerefallingaboutthemanduponthem。Thetarrysmokefromasmoulderingpieceofropeatthecaptain’sfeetsethimoffintoaviolentcoughingfit，duringwhichhestillclungtothespokes。
ThePyreneesstruck，herbowliftedandshegroundaheadgentlytoastop。A
showerofburningfragments，dislodgedbytheshock，fellaboutthem。Theshipmovedaheadagainandstruckasecondtime。Shecrushedthefragilecoralunderherkeel，droveon，andstruckathirdtime。
\"Hardover，\"saidMcCoy。\"Hardover？\"hequestionedgently，aminutelater。
\"Shewon’tanswer，\"wasthereply。
\"Allright。Sheisswingingaround。\"’mcCoypeeredovertheside。\"Soft，whitesand。Couldn’taskbetter。Abeautifulbed。\"
AsthePyreneesswungaroundhersternawayfromthewind，afearfulblastofsmokeandflamepouredaft。CaptainDavenportdesertedthewheelinblisteringagony。Hereachedthepainteroftheboatthatlayunderthequarter，thenlookedforMcCoy，whowasstandingasidetolethimgodown。
\"Youfirst，\"thecaptaincried，grippinghimbytheshoulderandalmostthrowinghimovertherail。Buttheflameandsmokeweretooterrible，andhefollowedhardafterMcCoy，bothmenwrigglingontheropeandslidingdownintotheboattogether。Asailorinthebow，withoutwaitingfororders，slashedthepainterthroughwithhissheathknife。Theoars，poisedinreadiness，bitintothewater，andtheboatshotaway。
\"abeautifulbed，Captain，\"McCoymurmured，lookingback。
\"Ay，abeautifulbed，andallthankstoyou，\"wastheanswer。
Thethreeboatspulledawayforthewhitebeachofpoundedcoral，beyondwhich，ontheedgeofacocoanutgrove，couldbeseenahalfdozengrasshousesandascoreormoreofexcitednatives，gazingwide—eyedattheconflagrationthathadcometoland。
Theboatsgroundedandtheysteppedoutonthewhitebeach。
\"Andnow，\"saidMcCoy，\"ImustseeaboutgettingbacktoPitcairn。\"