The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-12-18
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE CRUISE OF THE CoRAcLE.

cuo VI Treasure lSlluu. l he sun was
up, but was still hid from me behind
the great bulk of the Spy-glass, which
on this side descended almost to the
sea in formidable cliffs.
Haulbowline Head and NIizzenmast
Hill were at my elbow; the hill bare and
dark, the head bound with cliffs 40 or
SO feet high and fringed with great
masses Of fallen rock. 1 was scarce
quarter of q mile to seward, and it
was my first thought to paddle in and
land.
That notion was soon given over
Among the fallen rocks the breakers
spouted and beloved; loud reverbera-
tons, heavy sprays flying and falling,
succeeded one another from second to
second, and I saw myself, if ventured
nearer, dashed to death upon the rough
shore or spending my strength in vain
to scale the beetling crags.
Nor was that all; for, crawling to-
gether on fiat tables of rock or letting
themselves drop into the sea with loud
reports, 1 beheld huge Shiny monsters
soft snails, as it were, of incredible
bigness-two or three score of them to-
gether, making the rocks echo with
their barkings.
I have understood since that they
were sea lions and entirely harmless.
But the look of them, added to tho
difficulty of the shore and the high
running of the surf, was more than
enough to disgust me of that landing
place. I felt willing rather to starve
at sea than to confront such perils.
In the meantime I had o better
chance, as I supposed. North of Haul
bowline Head the land runs in long
way, leaving at low tide a long stretch
of yellow sand. To the north of that,
again, there comes another cape-Cape
of the Woods, as it was marked upon the
chart-buried in tall green pines, which
descended to the margin of the sen.
1 remembered what Silver had said
about the current that sets northward
along the whole west coast Of Treasure
island; and seeing from my position
that was already under it's influence, I
preferred to leave Haulbowline Head
behind me, and reserve my strength for
an attempt to land upon the lindier.
4ootluS Sapc OIL lllc NOOuS.
There was great, smooth swell upon
the sea. The wind blowing steady and
gentle from the south, there was no
contrariety between that and the cur.
rent, and the pillows rose and fell un.
broken.
Had it been otherwise, I must long
ago have perished; but as it was, 1t il
surprising how easily and securely my
little and light boat could ride. Often,
as still lay at the bottom, and kept no
more than an eye above the gunwale
I would see a big blue summit heav.
ing close above me; yet the coracll
would but bounce a little, dance Us if on
springs, and subside on the other side
into the trough us lightly as bird.
I began after little to grow very
bold, and sat up to try my skill at pad.
ding. But even small change in the
disposition of the weight will produce
violent changes in the behavior of cor
acle. And I had hardly moved before
the boat, giving up at once her gentle,
dancing movement, ran straight, down
a slope of water so steep that it made
me giddy, and struck her nose, with
spout Of spray, deep into the side of the
next wave.
was drenched and terrified, and fell
instantly back into my old position,
whereupon the coracle seemed to find
her head again, and led me softly as be-
fore among the pillows. twas plain she
was not to be interfcred with, and ut
that rate, since could in no way in
fiuence her course, what hope had 1 left
of reaching land?
began to be horribly frightened,
but kept my head, for all that First,
moving with oil care, I gradually bailed
out the coracle with my sca-cap; then
getting my eye once more above the
gunwnle, set myself to study how it
was she managed to slip so quietly
through the rollers.
found each wave, instead of the big,
smooth. glossy mountain it looks from
shore, or from a vessels deck, was for
all the world like any range of hills on
the dry land, full of peaks and smooth
places and valleys. The coracle, left to
herself, turning from side to side,
threaded. so to speak, her way through
~1N'> 'S'>i l'hi 90 anu dNOldcu tuo
steep slopes and higher, topping sum-
mits of the wave.
"Well, now" thought to myself, at
1s plain I must lie where am, and not
disturb the balance; but it is plain, also,
that can put the paddle over the side,
and from time to time, in smooth places,
give her a shove or two toward land"
No sooner thought upon than done.
There lay on my elbows. in the most
trying attitude, and every now and
again gave a weak stroke or two to turn
her head to shore.
1t was very firing and slow work, yet
] did visibly gain ground, and MS we
drew near the Cape of the Woods,
though I saw I must infallibly miss
that point, l had still made some hum
llred yards of casting. I was, indeed,
close In. I could see the cool, green
tree-tops swaying together in the
breeze, and I felt sure l should make
the next promonotory without fall
1t was high time, for I now began
to be tortured with thirst. The glow
of the sun from above, it's thousand
fold reflection from the waves, the sea-
water that fell and dried upon me, cals.