There's nothing else for it." The storm lasted long enough to make a furious sea, and the boys could do nothing but hold on to the boat's gunwales.

As night came on the wind ceased, very suddenly, as it frequently does in Southern seas, but the waves still rolled mountain high.
"When the sea goes down we'll try to make land, won't we, Sam ?" asked Tom.
"Yes, but before the surf is safe for us, we can sail several hours toward Mobile, and gain that much.

Indeed, I think we can get that far west before it will be tolerably safe to run ashore.

We're hungry and thirsty, of course, but we must endure it.

There's no other way." The boat was presently headed to the west, and the sail unfurled again, but as the night advanced the wind fell to a mere breeze, and then died altogether.