The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-12-13
camp somewhere if I found it impos-
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Side TO Seb Dack InaJ evening.
Pope was pretty decent old chap,
as orderlies go, and seemed to have
taken fancy to me for reasons of his
own-possibly my habit of giving him
cigars now and then. He had been in
the islanos long enough to be some
thing of weather prophet, anu in
sisted upon bringing down an extra
supply of provisions in case the wind
should fail when was too far out. Tie
also cautioned me against losing sight
,of the mountain, as otherwise Knight
steer clear of it and never be able to
find my way back. / assured him that
I would be careful, and felt easier ut
this indication that my knowledge of
navigation was unsupported. The
study had always been fascina ting
one, and in my voyages between Frisco
and Yokoha ma had improved the cp-
portunities to know all could of 1t.
Without the aid of nautical almanac
it might have been difficult for me to
fix a ships position accurately at s@a,
burt Halstead had coached me on the
voyage from Manila until felt rea-
sonably confident.
1t was an dealmorning for the eNp~,r-
iment. The breeze was just fresh
enough to send the proa scudding fe-
fore it, and the sky wa S clear blue from
horizon to horizon. Mcpherson had
made for me slot, from two pieces of
copper, riveted to a strip of fiat irbn,
to hold the log register; and this l
secured, by flashing, to the aftermcst
outrigger while I was running from
Agana to Point Orote, steering with
long, fat-bladed paddle which held
between my knees. When a suffice MT
distance from the shore, took out the
compass and placed it between my
feet. Fortunately, the gobernador
had got it into his head that my lug
gage contained delicate scientific in
struments, so he had given strict or
ders that it should be handled care
fully in transit from the steamer.
As the catamaran approached OroSe
took out the log, slipped the register
into its slot, and coiled up the line so
that it could be instantly eased away,
then steered within hundred yards
of the rocks so as to getan e&a ct bear
ing. When near enough let the bow
fall off little until the proa was head
ing exactly Is degrees and 81 minutes
to the westward of south-the odd
three minutes being an allowance ]
thought best to make for leeway. My
compass being but six inches in diam
eter, it was practically impossible to
keep it exactly on hair-line between
Is and 16 degrees when the proa was
crossing long swell; but by keeping
it somewhere between the south by
west quarter west and the south By
west half west points felt sure OF
holding on a fairly true course.
When Orote rock was precisely un-
der the third northerly spur of Mount
Tiniquio, knew the bearing they
formed was exactly at right angles
with an airline to the reef, and, drop
ping the log screw overheard, COM
menced paying out the line, being care
full that it shouldn't fall low enough TIC
foul the rocks. Then, with the great
sail skimming over the water like an
albatross, the proa flew straight for
the open sea.
For over an hour I scarcely lifted
my eyes from the compass; and the
way that frail catamaran held to her
course would have shamed many a
deep-keeled steamer. Looking back
toward the island, the peak of Tiniquio
was the only thing visible above the
horizon. Twenty minutes more, and
there was nothing in sight but sky and
water, the log dial indicating 3s miles;
so that in little while I might expect
to be near the reef. For several min.
utes more Hooked at nothing, thought
of nothing, but the compass and log.
Forty miles-45 miles-5o miles, with
scarcely deviation from my 1874 de.
grees. Fifty-one miles; Twas trembling
little with excitement now. Fifty-twe
miles; I held the paddle between my
knees while got out the sounding line
and placed it by my side. Fifty-threl
miles; the water certainly seemed
flatter, just ahead. Fifty-four miles,
I hauled in my log line and screw, les
they should catch on the rocks and bt
lost. Two minutes more; I loweres
away the sail until there was jus
enough pulling to give the proa gen
tie Roadway. Over went the lead: Nd!
heart was in my mouth as watche,
the line disappear. At IL feet the tw,
4 leather strips went under, then til
three strips; then there was jer9
series OF gentle taps as the leas
dragged along the rock, and knee
that at last I had found the Sans
Rosa shoal. ! was absolutely alonl
upon the broad expanse of ocean
even gull in sight. There was not4
ing to indicate that the ocean botto.
was any nearer to me than the three
mile depth over which 1 had JUS
sailed. and could have tossed pebbl,
into that from where sat. Yet hat
actually found and under the impene
trable mask of these long, glass!
waves was touching, through the lead
line, a mystery of the sea which 70.
nearly century and half had BAT
fled all investigation. The fac1
seemed so wonderful that for some