Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-02-02
CHAPTER x.

By Thursday morning Twas ready to
start for the reef, but thought ii best
to wait a couple of days longer, in or
der to avoid rousing suspicion by an
all-day absence alone.
Nearly all OF my new acquaintance
had sailed with me, at odd times, and
my reputation as an enthusiastic
yachtsman was pretty well estab-
ished. So, early Saturday morning, l
had Pepe wheel my chest down 10 the
beach, telling him that 7 was taking
my tarpaulins and lunch, with the in
tention of sailing off and on around
the island. l also said that I would
camp somewhere if l found it impos-
sihle to get back that evening.
Pepe was a pretty decent old chap,
as orderlies go, and seemed to have
aiken a fancy to me for reasons of his
own-possibly my habit of giving him
cigars now and then. He had been in
the islands long enough to be some
thing of a weather prophet, and in
sisted upon bringing down an extra
supply of provisions in case the wind
should fail when l was too far out. He
also cautioned me against losing sight
of the mountain, as otherwise I might
steer clear of it and never be able to
find my way back. | assured him that
] would be careful, and felt easier at
this indication that my knowledge of
navigation was unsuspected. The
study had always been a fascinating
one, and In my voyages between Frisco
and Yokohama 1 had improved the op-
portunities to know all l could of 1t.
without the aid of a nautical almanac
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 rea-
sonably confident.
1t was an idealmorningfo for the eNper
iment. The breeze was Just fresh
enough to send the proa scudding be-
fore it, and the sky was clear blue from
horizon to horizon. Mcpherson had
made for me a slot, from two pieces of
copper, riveted to strip of fiat iron,
to hold the log register; and this
secured, by lashing. to the aftermost
outrigger while l was running from
Agana to Point Orote, steering with q
long, fat-bladed paddle which l held
between my knees. When a sufficient
distance from the shore, took out the
compass and placed 1T between my
feet. 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 1t should be handled care
fully in transit from the steamer.
AS the catamaran approached Orote
took out the log, slipped the register
into its slot, and coiled up the line SO
that 1t could be instantly eased away,
then steered within hundred yards
of the rocks so as to get an exact bear
ing. When near enough I let the bow
fall off little until the proa was head
ing exactly IS degrees and 81 minutes
to the westward of south-the odd
three minutes being an allowance I
thought best to make for leeway. Ny
compass being but six inches in diam
eter, 1t was practically impossible to
keep 1t exactly on a hair-line between
Is and 10 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 fairly true course.
When Orote rock was precisely un-
der the third northerly spur of Mount
Timiquio, I knew the bearing they
formed was exactly at right angles
with an airline to the reef, and, drop
ping the log screw overheard, com
menced paying out the line, being care
full that 1t shouldn't fall low enough to
foul the rocks. Then, with the great
sail shmming over the water like On
albatross, the proa flew straight for
the open sea.
For over an hour l scarcely lifted
my eyes from the compass; and the
way that frail catamaran held to her
course would have shamed 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 3S miles;
so that in a little while I might expect
to be near the reef. For several min
utes more looked at nothing, thought
of not hing, but the compass and log.
Forty miles-45 miles-50 miles, with
scarcely deviation from my 1914 de-
grees. Fifty-onc miles; Twas trembling
a little with excitement now. Fifty-two
miles; 1 held the paddle between my
knees while got out the sounding line
and placed it by my side. Fifty-three
miles; the water certainly seemed
fatter, just ahead. Fifty-four milesi
hauled in my log line and screw, lest
they should catch on the rocks and be
lost Two minutes more; l lowered
away the sail until there was just
enough pulling to give the proa gen
tie headway. Over went the lead: my
heart was In my mouth as watched
the line disappear. At IL feet the two
leather strips went under, then the
three strips; then there was a jerk,
a series of gentle taps as the lead
dragged along the rock, and l knew