ThingshappenedasPencrofthadpredicted,hebeingseldommistakeninhisprognostications.Thewindrose,andfromafreshbreezeitsoonincreasedtoaregulargale;thatistosay,itacquiredaspeedoffromfortytoforty-fivemilesanhour,beforewhichashipintheopenseawouldhaverununderclose-reefedtopsails.Now,asitwasnearlysixo’clockwhenthe"Bonadventure"reachedthegulf,andasatthatmomentthetideturned,itwasimpossibletoenter.Theywerethereforecompelledtostandoff,forevenifhehadwishedtodoso,PencroftcouldnothavegainedthemouthoftheMercy.Hoistingthejibtothemainmastbywayofastorm-sail,hehoveto,puttingtheheadofthevesseltowardstheland.

           Fortunately,althoughthewindwasstrongthesea,beingshelteredbytheland,didnotrunveryhigh.Theyhadthenlittletofearfromthewaves,whichalwaysendangersmallcraft.The"Bonadventure"woulddoubtlesslynothavecapsized,forshewaswellballasted,butenormousmassesofwaterfallingonthedeckmightinjureherifhertimberscouldnotsustainthem.Pencroft,asagoodsailor,waspreparedforanything.Certainly,hehadgreatconfidenceinhisvessel,butneverthelessheawaitedthereturnofdaywithsomeanxiety.

           Duringthenight,CyrusHardingandGideonSpiletthadnoopportunityfortalkingtogether,andyetthewordspronouncedinthereporter’searbytheengineerwerewellworthbeingdiscussed,togetherwiththemysteriousinfluencewhichappearedtoreignoverLincolnIsland.