an hour after noon
On clearing the channel and opening up the bay we discovered the felucca some four miles ahead , or about half-way across , foaming along with her enormously long tapering yard square across her deck and the sheet eased well out , running down dead before the wind , straight for the entrance of the lagoons , apparently in the hope that we would follow her and thus ground upon one of the numerous shoals which lay between her and us . But if they hoped this they were speedily disappointed , as the moment we had cleared the end of the channel , all concealment being then impossible , we hauled our wind and headed the schooner for the first of the marks which were to pilot us safely on our difficult way . Before we had completed our first reach the felucca had arrived at the entrance to the lagoons , and had disappeared . It was half an hour after noon when we reached the same spot . Two miles further on lay the narrowest passage in the whole length of the lagoons , and here I fully expected our progress would meet with a check . Nor was I disappointed , for on reaching the spot our further progress was suddenly interrupted , and the schooner brought up all standing , by a heavy chain which had been thrown athwart the channel , just far enough beneath the surface of the water to catch our forefoot , the ends being artfully concealed among the bushes on either side . `` Down , flat on your faces on the deck , every man of you , fore and aft ! ''