There was a rocky shore in front of us, and another rocky island shore to our left; and between these two shores lay the channel for which we had tried to make.  But Mr Brooke's rule over the boat was at an end the moment the storm was upon us, and, as far as I could ever learn afterwards, no one thought of rocks, channel, saving his life, or being drowned.  The storm struck us, and with its furious rush went all power of planning or thinking.  Every nerve of the body was devoted to the tasks of holding on and getting breath.