Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-02-09

ment The breeze was just fresh
enough o send the proa scudding be-
fore it, and the sky was clear blue from
horizon 10 horizon. Mcpherson had
made for me a Slot, from two pieces Of
copper, rigeted to a strip of fiat iron,
10 hold the log register; ard this ]
secured, by lashing. TO the aftermost
outrigger while / was running from
Agana to Point Orote. steering with a
long. fat-bladed paddle which / held
between my knees. When d sufficient
distance from the shore, l took out the
compass and placed 1t between my
feet. Fortunately, the gobernador
had got il 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 0rote
took out the log, slipped the register
into its slot, and coiled up the line so
that il could be instantly eased away.
then steered within a hundred Yards
of the rocks so as toget an exact bear
ing When near enough let the bow
ing exactly Is degrees and p minutes
70 the westward Of south-the odd
three minutes being an allowance |
thought best 10 make for lcewav Ny
compass being but six inches in diam-
eter, it was practically impossible to
keep it exactly on hair-line between
- 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
Tiuiquio, | knew the bearing they
formed was exactly al right angles
with an air-line to the reef and, drop
ping the log screw overheard, com
meuced paying out the line. being care,
full that il shouldn't fall low enough TO
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 | scarcely lifted
my ewes from the compass; and the
way that frail catamarau held to her
course would have shamed many
deep-keeled steamer. Looking back
toward the island. the peak OF Tmiquio
was the only thing visible above The
horizon Twenty minutes more. and
there was nothing i'm sight but sky and
water. the log dial indicating - miles;
50 hat in little while might expect
TO be near the reef For several min
utes more looked ut nothing. thought
81 nothing but lie compass and log
Forty miles IS miles SO miles with
scarcely i deviation from MY 1915 de-
grecS. Fifty miles; Twas trembling
6 tittlc with excitement roW. Fiffy-two
miles; [ held the paddle between my
lnces while GOT ont the sounding line
ana placed il by my side. Fifsythree
miles; the water certainly seemed
fatter just ahead Fitty-four miles
bauled iu my log line and screw. lest
hey should catch ON the rocks and be
lost Two minutes more; I lowered
away the sail until there WAS Just
enough pulling 20 give the proa q gen
lie Roadway. over went the lead, my
heart was i'm my mouth MS I watched
the liue disappear. At r. feet the TWO
leather strips went under. then lie
ilrcc strips; then there was 3 jerk
serics OK gentle taps as The lead
dragged along she rock, aud I knew
sAat at hast ! had fouud he Santa
Rosa shoal I was absolutely atone
upon the broad Npause ot ocean not
even i euli iu sight. There was not.i-
in.r to Indicate that the ocean bottom