Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-03-09
BOOK K-OF-TRAVEL SKETCHES.
a.5 No. XIII.
NIGHT IN HONDURAS.
s49 by AIToH.

Itwas beautiful day, with sun as
bright, and sky as blue as ever glad
dened a summer hour A land breeze Of
a freshness and salubrity unusual to this
cline and season, had blown steadily
since early morn, from the fruitful plains
over yonder, whence glimpses could be
had of 'checkered fields of coffee and
banana trees, begirt by the almost un-
broken forests Of the interior.
Our ship, the Miranda, was anchored
off the little island of Pamico. between
il and the mainland of Honduras. 1t
was no doubt trick of our mulish Cap
| tain, intended to prevent the few passen-
gers from going ashore. He certainly
maintained sufficiently rigorous discip-
line among the crew that resort to this
plan on their account was wholly un-
necessary.
We had come to anchor here shortly
after the second watch of the morning,
after dropping the hull Of the disabled
Dantzig mentioned in a previous sketch
Saved from Waterspout. } in safe
moorings under the lea of the island;
Happy as we were to be at last well rid
of this wretched encumbrance, which
had been the occasion of q wearlsome
prolongation of our voyage, the sight OF
land so filed our thoughts and stimulated
our desires, that we gave little heed to
the casting-of. :,
Il was midday at last. One boat had
gone ashore, long since, with the second
mate and four OF the crew. They had
given everybody else the slip, yet were
tnIlv determined to follow them in an
other boat--s half-dozen OF us, passen-
gers all hl. ,m,- -,
be left there, every mothers son OF you
to shift for yourselves. It's heave an
chor at four o'clock, and no time for
faddling around " -.
However, we were quite willing to take
the chances, if only we could get boat;
There lay the difficulty. At length Fred
Viebon. the steward, Dutchman with
soul in him, moved to compassion, no
doubt. by our forlorn appearance, IN
formed us very secretly, that the Captain
had really no intention of sailing before
the following morning; that he would
hiuself 20 ashore in the evening TO- make
purchase ofprsvisions ofthe inhabitants,
and that il we could manage to get set
Of. he would bring us aboard again In
his boat.
Fortune. having thus taken a turn, "a
vored ms very unexpectedly. A boat
was observed putting off from the Dant-
zig. She had to pass very near to us IN
heading for the outer bar, where our sec
ond mate had landed We hailed the
IN .cb submarine in charge, and his
midd,- at the stern ran the boat saaeF our
bows Blight gladly we all went doSs,
reeardless of the Captains wishes, ana
the next moment were being rapidly
rowed ashore ~ four pairs OF sturdy
arms ll- ~ 81 q - aa
II was A low sandy beach on which we
landed. a little ribbon of q desert, un-
marked save By the trail Of the alligator.
Al the river side, and the sprawhng 1901,
nrints of the iqndnd What dehghtinl
sensation of wonder and expectation It
riyes one--that first footstep on the shore
Of a strange land What new beauties
unfolding to the eye on every hand,
What unexplored mysteries beyond
t,ften as We may have bad an oPPortu-
n;,v Of experiencing this pleasant ssensa-
,;oI Il returns as fresh and Inspiring as
ever ever, =, each repetition Of the event thai
calls n forth.
We crossed the vide strip Of beach
laboring thr.,ugh the yielding send wAiss
reflected the vertical rays Of the sun Sitl