The Mena star., 1899-06-22
CHATTER x.


 der to avoid rousing suspicion by an all-day absence alone.
 Nearly all of my new acquaintances had sailed with me, at odd times. and my reputation as an enthusiastic yachtsman was pretty we'll estab- lished. So, early Saturday morning. l had Pope wheel my chest down to the beach, telling him that l was taking my tarpaulins and lunch. with the n- tention of sailing off and on around the island. I also said that I would eamp somewhere if l found it impos- sible to get back that evening.
 Pope was a pretty decent old chap. ss orderlies go, and seemed to have taken fancy 10 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. He also cautioned me against losing sight of the mountain, as otherwise might steer clear of it and never be able to find my way back. l assured him that l would be careful and felt easier at this indica ion that my knowledge of naviga. lion was unsuspected. The study had always been fascinating one. and in my voyages between Frisco and Yokohama had improved the op- portunities 10 know all l could of 1t. s.I it might have been difficult for me to fix ships position accurately at sea, burt Halstead had coached me on the voyage from Manila until 1 felt req sonably confident.
 Ii was an idealEoruing for the exper- iment The breeze was just fresh enough 10 send the proa scudding be- fore it, and the sky was clear blue from horizon to horizon. McPherson had made for me slot. from two pieces of copper, riveted to strip of fiat iron, to hold the log register; and this secured, by flashing, to the aftermost outrigger while I was running from Agana to Point Orote, steering with long. fat-bladed paddle which I held berween my knees. When a sufficient distance from the shore, took out the compass and placed it between my ree,. 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 ii should be handled care fully in transit from the steamer.
 As the catamaran approached Orote l took out the log, slipped the register into it's 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 get an exact bear ing. When near enough let the bow fall off a little until the proa was head ing exactly l5 degrees and 27 minutes to the westward of south-the odd three minutes being an allowance l thought best to make for leeway. My compass being but six inches ill diam eter, it was practically impossible to keep it exactly on a hair-line between IS and l6 degrees when the proa was crossing a 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, l knew the bearing they formed was exactly at right angles with an airline to the reef, and. drop- nino tba locr Snrotv a,l<oo,.1
 menced Faying out the line. being care ful that it shouldn't fall low enough to foul the rocks. Then, with the great sail shimming over the water like an aibatross, the proa flew straight for the open sea.
 For over an hour I scarcely lifted my eyes from the compass; and tbe way that frail catamaran held 10 her course would have skamed many 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 as miles; so that in little while might cxpect 10 be near the reef. For several min ntes more looked at nothing. thonobt of nothing. but the compass and loo
 Forty miles-t5 miles-50 miles ,ei,h scarcely a deviation from my l5ib de. grees. Fifty-onc miles. wastretnbiino little with excitement now. Fiitv-two miles; held the paddle between my knees while got outfhe sounding line and placed Y hA ny side. FiflN-fhree