Arizona republican., 1899-02-25
CHAPTER XXIv.
THE CRUISE or THE CoRAEIE,


 It was broad day when l awc4xe, and found myself tossing at the southwest end of Treasure island. The sun was up, but was still hid from meabehind the great bulk of the Spy-giass, Which on this side descended almost 9e 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 50 feet high and fringed with. great masses cf f4sen rock. 1 was scarce quarter of q mile to seaward, and it was my first thought to paddlesIn and land.
 That notion was soon givenV over Among the fallen rocks the breakers spouted and bellowed; loud reverbera- tions, heavy sprays flying and falling, succeeded one another from second to second, and I saw myself, if I ventured nearer, dashed to death upon the rough shore CT spending my strength in vain to sca,c the beetling crags.
 Nor was that all; for, crawling to- gether on flat tables of rock or letting themselves drop into the sea with loud reports. I beheid huge s.imy monsters soft sraiIs, as it were, of incredible bigncss-t1vo or three score of them to- gether, making the rocks echo with their barkings.
 I have understood since that they were sea liens 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 fe,t willing rather to starve at sea than % confront such perils.
 In the meantime I had better chance, as l supposed. North of Haul- bowlne 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 it 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 I was already under it's influence, I preferred to leave Haulbowline Head behind ne, and reserve my strength for an attempt to land upon the kindlier- looking Cape of the Woods
 There was q great, smooth swell upon the sea. The wind blowing steady and gentle from the south, there was no contrariety between that and the eur rent, and the pillows rose and fell un- broken.
 Had it been otherwise. I must iong ago have perished; but as it was, it is surprising how easily and securely my little and light boat could ride. Often. as I still lay at the bottom, and kept no more than an eye above the gunWale. 1 would see | big blue summit heav- ing close above me; yet the coracle would but bounce little, dance as if on springs. ard subside on the other side into the trough as lightly as bird.
 I began after little to- grow very bold. and sat up to try my skill at pad ding Put even small charge in the d9spcsitian ct the weight will produce viclent ch2r~es ia the behavior ot cor acle And I lad hardly moved before the boat. giving up at once her gentle dancing movement, ran straight down a slope of water so steep that it made ne eiGdy. and struck her nose, with a spout of spray, deep into the side Of the next ware
 Twas drerehed and terrified. and fell instantly back into my old position. whereuPon the coracle seemed 10 find her head again. and led ne softly as be- fore among he pillows. Ii was plain she was rot to he interfered with, and at that rate. since l could in no way in flneEce her course, what hope had left of reaching land?
 l began to ba horribly frightened, but kept my head. fer all that First, moving with al care. gradually bai,ed out the corac.e with my sea-cap; then getting my eye cnce more above the guHWale, I set myself to study how it