I thought that I had gone far enough, and was in a hurry to get across, so I began to direct my course athwart the current.  At first I made great progress, and laughed and shouted at the idea of thus easily accomplishing my undertaking.  When, however, I turned my head over my shoulder, I found to my dismay that I had not got so far from the shore whence I started as I had fancied, while I was still a long way from that on which Jerry stood, eager to welcome me.  I plied my paddle with all my might; but I appeared to make very little progress, and the current was evidently carrying me rapidly down the passage.  I looked seaward: I had ample cause for anxiety, if not for dismay.  A long line of huge breakers was rolling in on an outer reef, while the passage between them was so narrow that I scarcely hoped that the raft could be carried through it; and if it was, where was I to go?  Out to sea, to be starved to death!  If, on the other hand, I was thrown among the breakers, I felt certain that I should soon become the prey of the hungry shark I had just seen swimming after the shoal of fish.  These reflections gave strength to my arm, and made me paddle away even faster than before.