All that day our sufferings were very great.  As we were running on during the night, our ears were assailed by the sound of breakers.  We listened; they were on our weather bow.  If we ran on we might miss the island; so we hauled down our sail, and paddled slowly on towards the spot whence the sound proceeded.  All night we remained within sound of the surf.  How anxiously we waited for daylight to ascertain that there was an island, and not merely a coral reef over which the sea was breaking!  That night was one of the most anxious we had yet passed. Slowly the hours dragged along.  It was wonderful to observe the calm and resigned manner of the islanders.  The missionaries and the chief never gave the slightest sign of distress; even the women did not complain.  "It must be near daybreak," said Mr Brand, waking up out of a sleep into which he had at last fallen.  "Look out."  We strained our eyes in the direction in which we believed the island to exist.  A few pale streaks appeared in the east; and then, oh! our hearts leaped with joy as we saw tall, thin lines appear against the sky; and, as the light increased, the stems and tops of trees were revealed to view.  But our joy was somewhat damped when we discovered that a long line of heavy breakers rolled between us and them.  At sight of the island the natives, with one accord, raised a hymn of praise and thanksgiving which put our doubts to shame; and the chief, pointing to the surf, made signs that we must go round on the other side, where we should find a place to land.  The sail was forthwith hoisted, and we quickly ran round to the lee side, where a wide opening in the surf presented itself.  We paddled through it into the inner bay or lagoon, and reaching the shore, the canoe was secured.