In a few minutes, as he was swept along the shore, he was carried between it and another immense reef.

Here, the waves being broken and less powerful, he contrived to get the heavy canoe ashore again, and, jumping out, dragged her up as far as he could on the land.

When he had done this, he found to his surprise that the gale had ceased.

The tremendous burst of wind had been succeeded by a perfect calm, and the waves had already lost their violent impetus.
This was a relief, for he had feared that the canoe would be utterly broken to pieces; but soon he began to doubt if it were an unmixed benefit, as without a wind he could not move from this dismal place that evening.

He was too weary to paddle far.