“We can if the island or the sand-bar that we have struck on is high enough out of water,” said the children’s father. “But sometimes these islands or bars are below the surface, in which case we naturally couldn’t land on it. But I don’t believe we shall have to go ashore. The ship struck so easily that I think we may soon be able to pull off again. I’ll go to the captain and see if I can find out what the matter is.”