Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-02-24
THE CRUISE OF THE CoRACLE

1t was broad day when L awolle, and
found myself tossing at the southwest
end of Treasure island. The 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 Mizzenmast
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 a mile to seaward, 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-
tions, heavy sprays flying and falling,
succeeded one another from second to
second, and saw myself, If l ventured
nearer, dashed to death upon the rough
shore or spending my strength in vain
to scale the beetlng crags.
Nor was that all; for, crawling to-
gether on fiat tables of rock or letting
themselves drop into the sea with loud
L
soft snails, as it were, of incredible
bigness-two or three score of them to-
gether, making the rocks echo with
their barkings.
have understood since that they
were sea lions and entirely harmless.
But the look of them, added to the
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 had n better
chance, as 1 supposed. North of Haul
bowline Head the land runs in long
way, leaving at low tide long stretch
of yellow sand. To the north of that,
again, there comes another cape-Cape
of the Woods, as 1t was marked upon the
chart-buried in tall green pines, which
descended to the margin Of the sea.
I 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 its influence, l
preferred to leave Haulbowline Head
behind me, and reserve my strength for
an attempt to land upon the kindlier-
looking Cape of the Woods.
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 IS
surprising how easily and securely my
little and light boat could ride. Often,
as stil1 lay at the bottom, and keptno
more than an eye above the gunwale,
would see a big blue summit heav-
ing close above me; yet the coracle
would but bounce a little, dance as if on
springs, and subside on the other side
into the trough as lightly as a bird.
7 began after n little TO grow very
bold, and sat up to try my skill at pad
ding But even a small change in the
disposition of the weight will produce
violent changes in the behavior of a 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 1t made
me giddy. and struck her nose, with
spout ofspray, deep into the side of the
next wave.
Twas 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 billows. 1t was plain she
was not to be interfered with, and at
that rate, since could in no way in
fuence her course, what hope had left
of reaching land?
began to be horribly frightened,
but kept my head. for all that. First