A   DARING DEED.	™

Now the engines were stopped altogether, and we drifted with
the current. ISTot that I could see the boat drift, for I could not, the
stars being all gone by this time. This drifting was the dismalest
work; it held one's heart still. Presently I discovered a blacker
gloora than that which surrounded us. It was the head of the island.
We were closing right down upon it. We entered its deeper shadow,
and so imminent
seemed the peril
that I was likely
to suffocate; and
I had the strong-
est impulse to do
something, any-
thing, to save the
vessel. But still
Mr. Bixby stood
by his wheel, si-
lent, intent as a
cat, and all the pi-
lots stood shoulder
to shoulder at his
back.
^6 She'll not
make it!' some-
body whispered.
* STAND  BY,  NOW I'
The water grew
shoaler and shoal-
er, by the leads-
man's cries, till it
was down to—
^1 Eight-and-a-half! . . . . E-i-g-h-t feet 1 . . . . E-i-g-h-t feet I
.... Seven-and	'
Mr. Bixby said warningly through his speaking tube to the
engineer—
' Stand by, now ! *
' Aye-aye, sir !'
^6 Seven-and-a-half! Seven feet! $7#-and	'