The schooner was sailing with the caution demanded by navigation in unknown seas.

There might be shoals or reefs barely hidden under the surface on which she might run aground or be wrecked.

As things stood with the _Halbrane_, and even admitting that she could be floated again, an accident would have rendered her return impossible before the winter set in.
We had urgent need that every chance should be in our favour and not one against us.
West had given orders to shorten sail.

When the boatswain had furled the top-gallant-sail, the top-sail and royal, the _Halbrane_ remained under her mainsail, her fore-sail and her jib: sufficient canvas to cover the distance that separated her from land in a few hours.
Captain Len Guy immediately heaved the lead, which showed a depth of twenty fathoms.

Several other soundings showed that the coast, which was very steep, was probably prolonged like a wall under the water.
Nevertheless, as the bottom might happen to rise sharply instead of following the slope of the coast, we did not venture to proceed out the sounding line in hand.
The weather was still beautiful, although the sky was overcast by a mist from south-east to souih-west.