The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-06-30


then we ventured remark which
showed the drift of our thoughts. At
first the possibilities and obstacles of
the undertaking filed our minds; but
after awhile the narcotic influence of
the tobacco and our silent gliding
along through the tropic night set US
to castle-building. I've been often told
by men who are now beyond the posi-
bility of want of the relief and over
confidence which come with the first
small successes in fortune-building
They are rays of light which brighten
the years of weary effort and discour-
agement; and the eternal, irrepressl-
BILE hope that they bring with them
often stimulates q belief in continued
success which leads to many a bad
cropper in the struggles yet to come;
yet what would humanity ever accom-
plish without those same rays of hope
and sunshine?
Halstead's tastes. like those of most
seafaring men, ran to snug country
places on shore, racing studs, and good
company, though all within sight and
sound of the ocean. Mine, on the con-
trary, like most men who sail the sea
for its witching pleasure and know
nothing of topsI reefing OF foc's'le
hellishness, were centered upon thou
sand-ton steam yachts, alterations
between delightful cruises and months
in perfectly equipped town house.
He would mutter, between the puffs
of smoke, "Gad, old chap, a fellow
could have one of the finest places in
Surrey and keep house parties going
all the year round on the income Of q
millionl" To which / would grunt an
appreciative assent. followed by, "And
think of the clipper yacht, triple-ex-
pansion and celluloid bottom, that a
man could keep in commission; yes,
and the town house, too. l could build
one in the middle of Mayfair. with cleo
trio lights, modern plumbing, marble
baths, and plenty of ground around it.
for a hundred and fifty thousand" By
which you will see that the captain and
l were counting our chickens not only
before they were Matched, but even
while the eggs lay at the bottom of the
western Pacific. This realization came
to us after awhile with crushing force,
along toward midnight, when the air
had become pretty damp and we had
smoked too many cigars. could feel
my heart sink down, down, like lump
of lead. But, before turning in. I
thought: "Well, the voyage will make
a new man of me, anyhow. and the ex-
element of the attempt will be some
thing worth remembering, whether
we succeed or not,"-in which my
friend quite agreed with me.
Shortly after four o'clock l heard
HIM tumble out of his bunk. and. be-
ing too restless to sleep, l soon fol-
lowed. 1t was not yet daylight, but
the gray shadows in the east were
tinged with a rosy reflection against
which were outlined the bold promon-
tories of Point Bugui, the Northwestern
ly limit of Masbate island and Point
Sur, on Burias, the passage between be-
ing about eight miles in width. AS we
gradually altered our course around
Point Sur. heading northeast toward
Port Sorsogon, on Luzon, in order to
clear San Miguel islet at the northerly
end OF Ticao, great flames of red shot
up across the eastern horizon. The
grayness overhead lifted, like fog
bank There was a fresh and exhilarat.
ing dampness in the air. Then, as the
top rim of the sun appeared. a broad
CLEAN spread across the heavens,
tingeing every line of the steamers
rigging and the sides of her funnel a
deep crimson. Down on the main
deck. the barefooted second mate, Mo-
reno. was directing stream from the
hose over everything in sight. while
his men of the starboard watch
scrubbed and holystoned the planking.
Although there is plenty of water
ali through the San Bernardino pas.
sage, it has been but imperfectly sur
veyed and is thick with submerged
rocks, navigation among which is rem
dered still more dangerous by a rapid
current setting in from the Pacific;
aid a feverish desire to be at work
made us doubly anxious to reach open
water without accident. Halstead had
been through the strait several times
and knew his bearings perfectly, but
we were well around the end of Ticao
before he ventured below for break
fast.
At noon we were in the outer pas
sage, between Calantas Rock and
Capul, and by dinner-time were stand
ing due east in the open sea north of
Espiritu Santo. AS on the previous
evening. we stopped to chat with the
passengers, the two padres and the
Palacios especially. for an hour or so
after the meal, then went on deck to
size up the situation.