Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-07-19
CHAPTER ".
in Which We Enter the Wilderness.

In Which We Enter the Wilderness.
Andres, as no other of the islands,
is surrounded by a ring of reefs
stretching all around its coasts. We
were inside the breakwater of the
reefs and the rolling swell of ocean
gave way at once to a millpond calm
ness. We We're at the entrance of
North blight, one of the three blghts
which, dotted with numerous low-ly-
ing Gays, breaks up Andres island in
the middle and allows a passage
through maze-like archipelago direct
to the northwest end of Cuba. Here
on the northwest shore is a small and
very lonely settlement-one of the two
or three settlements on the else-de-
serted island--Behrlngs point.
Here we dropped anchor and Char
lie, who had some business ashore,
proposed our landing with him; but
here again our passenger aroused his
suspicions-though Heaven knows
why-by preferring to remain aboard.
"Please let me off," he requested in
his most top-lofty English accent "You
can see for yourself that there's moth
ing of Understanding but a beastly
lot Of niger cabins, and dirty coral
rock that will cut your boots to pieces.
I'd much rather smoke and wait for
you in peace;" and, taking out his
case and lighting cigarette, he
waved it gaily to us as we rowed off.
He had certainly been right about
Behring's point-Charlie was absurdly
certain that he had known it before,
and had some reason for not landing
for more forlorn and poverty
stricken foothold of humanity could
hardly be conceived poor little clus-
ter of negro cabins, indeed, scram-
bling up from the beach. and with no
streets but craggy pathways in and
out among the gray clinker-like coral.
But 1t was touching to find even
here that, though the whole worldly
goods of the community would scarce
ly have fetched ten dollars, the souls
Of men were still held worth caring
for; for presently we came upon
pretty little church, with schoolhouse
near by, while from the roof of an ad-
jaeent building we were hailed by
pleasant-faced white man, busy with
some shingling.
It was the good priest of the little
place, Father SeraplOn, disguised in
0veralls and the honest CRIME of his
labor; like a true Benedictine pray
ing with his strong and skillful hands.
Father Serapion and Charlie were
old friends, and Charlie took occasion
to confide In him with regard TO To-
bias. and. TO his huge delight, discov-
cred that a man answering very close
ly TO his description had dropped In
there with a large sponger two days
before. He had only stopped long
enough to buy rum at the little store
near the landing and had been Off
again through the blight, sailing west.
Father Seraplon. who knew Charlie
Webster's shooting ground, promised
to send a swift messenger should any
thing further Of interest 10 us come
to his knowledge within the next week
or so.
Then we sailed away from Behring's
point, due west through the North
blight. Morning found us sailing
through maze of low-lying desert is
lands Of a bewildering sameness of
shape and size, with practically noth-'
ing to distinguish 0ne from another.
We had hoped to reach our camp,
ont ON the other side Of the island.
that evening, but that dodging the
shoals and sticking in the mud had
considerably delayed us. Besides,
though Charlie and the captain both
hated TO admit it, we had lost our
way. So night began to fall and, as
there is no sailing In such waters at
night, I'VE once more cast anchor un-
der a gloomy, black shape Of land. ex-
ceedingly lonesome and forgotten
Looking. which we agreed to call lit
tie Wood cay"-till morning.
Soon al were asleep except Sailor
and me. ! lay awake for a long time
watching the square yard of stars that
shene down through the hatch in our
cabin ceiling like a little window look
ing into eternity. while the waters lap
ped and tapped outside. and the night
talked strangely to itself. Next morn
Ing Charlie and the captain were
forced to own up that the island. dis
covered to the day. was not Little
Wood cay. No humiliation goes deep
er with a sailing man than having to
ask his way. Besides, who was there
to ask in that solltudef Doubtless a
cormorant flying overhead knew II,
but no one thought to ask him.
However. We were IN luck, for, after
sailing about a bit. we came upon two