Daily camera., 1901-09-03
CHAPTER XIV.

THE CRUISE OF THE CoRACLE.
1t was broad day when awoke, and
found myself tossing at the southwest
end of Treasure island. The sun was
up, but was still hid from me behind
the great bulk OF the spy-glass, which
on this side descended almost TO 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
so feet high and fringed with great
masses of fallen rock, was scarce
quarter of n mile to seaward. and il
was my first thought TO paddle in and
land.
That notion was soon given over
Among the fallen rocks the breakers
spou,ed and beloved; loud reverbera-
iions, heavy sprays flying and failing,
succeeded one another from second to
second, and saw myself, il ventured
nearer. dashed to death upon the rough
shore or spending my strength in vain
to scale the beeiiing crags.
Nor was that all; for, crawling to-
gether on Nat tables Of rock or letting
themselves drop into the sea with loud
reports. beheld huge Shiny monsters
soft suails, as IL were, OF incredible
bigness-two or three score of them to-
gether, making the rocks echo with
their barkings.
/ have understood since that they
were sea lions 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. l fe.t willing rather to starve
at sea than - confront such perils.
In the meantime had better
chance. as supposed. North Of Haul
bowline Head the land runs in long
way, leaving at low tide long stretch
of yellow sand. To the north Of thnt.
again, there csraes another cape-Cape
Of the Woods. as It was marked upon the
ehart-buried in tall green pines, which
descended to the margin Of the sea.
remembered what Silver had said
about the current that sets northwsrd
n,erg the whole west esast Of Treasure
island; and seeing from my position
that was already under its influence, ]
preferred to leave Haulbowline Head
behind me, 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 cur
rent, and the billows rose and fell un-
broken.
Had 1t been otherwise, must long
ago have perished; but ~ it was, 1t il
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,
| would see . big blue summit heav-
ing close above me; yet the coracle
would but BOUNCE little, dance as II on
springs, and subsids aA the other side
into the trough as lightly as bird.
began after little to grow very
bold, and sat up to try my skill 1t pad
ding. But even > small change in the
disposition Of the weight will produce
violent changes in the Behavior Of = cor
acle. And had hardly moved before
the boat, giving up at once her gentle.
dancing movement. ran straight down
a slope of water 20 stesp that It made
me giddy, and struck her nose, with .
spout Of spray, deep int the side Of the
next wave. ~. .ss,ss.::..' :; ;',..:ss; ',....:s,-i
WAS drenched and terrified, and fell
instantly back into my old position.
whereupon the eoracle seemed to find
her head again, and led me softly - BE-
fore among the billows. 1t was plain she
was not to be interfered with, and a.
that rate, since could in no way In
Auence her cour,i, wha} hops had IIeft
Of reaching landg
] began to be horribly frightened,
but ! kept my heaAs ~ III that. First
moving with oil care, srddnaq bailed
out the coraele With my searcap; then
getting my eye once more abpvs tho
gunwale, 1 set mysen 10 ttndy how =
was she managed to slip - quietly
through the rollers:
found each wave, iuatead ~ the bie,