The Island Queen | Page 5

steadily, towards the

land.
As they neared it, the heavy mass on the horizon, which they had taken
for a bank of clouds, became more distinct. A light haze cleared away
and showed it to be an island, to which the sandbank formed a barrier
reef; but any interest that might have been aroused by this discovery
was absorbed by present anxiety, for the white and gleaming surf
warned them that a serious and critical moment in their lives was fast
approaching. Pauline was awed into silence, and even Otto's
countenance became gradually solemnised.
CHAPTER TWO.
WRECKED ON A REEF.
The coral reefs, which in various shapes and sizes stud the Southern
seas, are sometimes rendered almost unapproachable by the immense
waves which fall upon them. Even in the calmest weather these huge
breakers may be seen falling with prolonged roar on the beach. The
lightest undulation on the sea, which might almost escape observation
away from land, takes the form of a grand, quiet billow as it draws near
to an islet or reef, and finally, coming majestically on, like a wall of
rolling crystal, breaks the silence suddenly by its thunderous fall, and
gives to the sands a temporary fringe of pure white foam.
To ride in on the crest of one such roller on a piece of board and leap
upon the shore, is a feat peculiar to South Sea islanders, who are trained
to the water from earliest infancy. To do the same thing in a small boat,
without oars, without strength, without experience, almost without
courage, is a feat that no South Sea islander would attempt, and the
necessity for performing which might cause the hair of any islander's
head to stand on end.
That Dominick Rigonda's hair did not stand on end, as he sat there with
pale cheeks and compressed lips, was probably due to the fact that he
had thrust his straw hat tightly down on his brows.
As the boat drew nearer to the reef, both Pauline and Otto had risen, in

the strength of their hearty meal, and were now seated on the thwarts of
the boat. Their brother had selected the thickest floor-plank, and cut it
roughly into the form of an oar with a clasp-knife. He now sat with it
over the stern, sculling gently--very gently, however, for he reserved
the little strength that remained to him for the critical moment.
The undulations of the sea, which had rocked them hitherto so softly,
had by that time assumed a decided form and force, so that the boat
rose on the oily back of each billow that passed under it, and slid back
into a watery hollow, to be relifted by each successive wave.
"You look very anxious," said Pauline, clasping her hands on her knee,
and gazing earnestly in her brother's face.
"I cannot help it," returned Dominick, curtly.
"Is our danger then so great?"
Dominick only half admitted that it was. He did not wish to alarm her,
and tried to smile as he said that the struggle would be brief--it would
soon be over.
"But tell me, where lies the danger?" persisted Pauline. "I do not quite
see it."
"`Where ignorance is bliss,' dear, `'tis folly to be wise,'" returned
Dominick, with an unsuccessful effort to look more at ease.
"Nay, brother, but I am not ignorant that danger exists--only ignorant as
to the amount and nature of it. Surely there cannot be much risk in
pushing our boat through that white foam that lines the shore with so
soft a fringe."
"I should think not," broke in the pert and inexperienced Otto; "why,
Pina," (thus he abridged his sister's name), "there's as much danger, I
should think, in pushing through a tub of soap-suds."
"Come, Dom," returned the girl, "explain it to me; for if you don't point

out where the danger really lies, if you leave me in this state of partial
ignorance, I shall be filled with alarm instead of bliss from this moment
till we reach the shore."
"Well, well, sister," said Dominick, when thus urged; "if you must have
it, I will explain."
He went on to show that when the boat came near the shore the waves
would grasp it, instead of letting it slip back; would carry it swiftly in
on their crests, so that the great difficulty in such a case would be to
keep the boat's head pointing to the land, and if he failed to do so, they
would infallibly be overturned and have to swim ashore.
"Well, that would be unpleasant, Dom," said the ignorant, as well as
innocent, Pauline, "but it would not matter much, for we can all swim--
thanks to you for insisting on teaching us long ago."
"We will try our best," said Dominick,