Then I went below for the
telescope, and spent nearly ten minutes of the utmost impatience in
vainly trying to get a focus, and in rubbing the skin nearly off my
eyes, before I discovered that having taken off the large glass to
examine the phosphoric water with I had omitted to put it on again.
After that I looked up impatiently at the sails, which I now regretted
having lowered so hastily, and for a moment thought of hoisting the
main top-sail again; but recollecting that it would take me full half a
day to accomplish, and that, at the present rate of sailing, two hours
would bring me to the island, I immediately dismissed the idea.
The remainder of the time I spent in making feverish preparations for
arriving and seeing my dear comrades. I remembered that they were not
in the habit of rising before six, and as it was now only three, I
hoped to arrive before they were awake. Moreover, I set about making
ready to let go the anchor, resolving in my own mind that, as I knew
the depth of water in the passage of the reef and within the lagoon, I
would run the schooner in and bring up opposite the bower. Fortunately
the anchor was hanging at the cat-head, otherwise I should never have
been able to use it. Now, I had only to cut the tackling, and it would
drop of its own weight. After searching among the flags, I found the
terrible black one, which I ran up to the peak. While I was doing this
a thought struck me.
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