Evening star., 1942-10-13
CHAPTER XVII,

CHAPTER XVII.
The winds turned variable and
shifted us about, sending our little
boat skidding for few hours in one
direction, then likely as not it
would turn on the opposite tack
and make an equal distance the
other way. 1t was irritating to be
losing time in this way, for each
passing hour that we were not head
the way we wanted to go was in the
most literal sense an hour taken
away from our lives.
Finally steady breeze held in the
northwest. This was worse, for it
drove us back eastward about a
hundred miles, the same distance
that we had so laboriously padded
TO the west. This contrary wind
worked us about fifty miles to the
south as well. We were becoming
discouraged, when another fat calm
descended. We took up our shoe
paddles and rowed back westward
for eight hours straight before the
wind set in from the east, and took
us westward again.
Now I discovered how I had un-
consciously miscalculated my posi-
ton on our chart, in my anxiety to
work westward. About this time we
passed through the spot where /
thought a large inhabited island
should be. Actually, we were about
a hundred miles east of this island,
7 learned later. The fallibility OF
my chart was setback. l tried
to console myself with the reflection
that such an error was to be eX-
pected under the circumstances, es-
pecially since I had no navigation
instruments except the little mile
age scale Nevertheless, finding
that I couldn't tell exactly where
I was gave me disquieting feeling.
I didn't communicate my disap-
pointment to the boys, but con-
centrated. rather, on buoying up my
own confidence.
Raft in Good Condition.
Dixon" 1 said to myself, IF you
get discouraged" I didn't finish
the thought, but resolutely put it
out of my mind and turned to our
immediate concerns.
The raft was still in good condi-
ton. Our gear was holding up well
what was left of it-eXcept that
the water-catching rags were be-
coming frayed. The two lads had
lost their socks and their feet were
painfully sunburned. My own socks
were full of holes and almost rotting
from the sun and salt water, but still
gave my feet some protection.
OF us three, Gene Aldrich suffered
the most from sunburn, partly as
result of his own stubborneSs, or
carelessness, in not needing my ad-
vice to keep rags about his head
frequently advised both the boys to
keep their heads covered as we'll as
they could against the sun, but Gene
preferred to let himself burn. AS
consequence, he was always suffer-
ing and complained necessarily. His
nose and face, particularly, burned
and peeled time after time. He just
couldn't tan. With his fiery red face
and thin fringe of youthful beard he
looked like one of those spider mon
keys / used to laugh at in the ZOO.
I sympathized with his pain, but he
was the funniest-looking human be-
Ing 1 have ever seen.
Tony's darker skin tanned fairly
well, so he didn't suffer so much His
lips, however were continuing to
give him trouble I finally got him
over the habit of sucking the blood
out Of them, as convinced him that
by doing this he was literally suck
Ing out his own strength.
Frying Pan Into the Fire.
MY own skin was the swarthiest
OF all, but much as I tanned a par
ticularly hot day would take off my
hide like scales from a baked fish
Our only relief was to bail water
over each other. This was cooling
but the salt on our raw red skin
caused hours of torment.
For the first time now I became
conscious of bodily weakness. That
first long, hard session of rowing left
us all tagged for three days. We
were just beginning to regain oul
strength when we again took up thu
paddles for eight straight hours
After that we were never so Strons
as before. We lost flesh rapid,
from this time onward. 1t was not
long before our bones were sticking
out like red d-glaZed knobs.
The sun was beginning to have its
effect on our minds, too I noticed
this first in myself as shortness OF
temper. I became annoyed at the
boys over little things that !
wouldn't have noticed had I beer
normal.
1 became particularly irritated al
Gene. I would ask him a question
or tell him to do something. and
Instead of answering me he woulc
continue to stare straight ahead, az
II he had not heard. 1t was i'm
possible to tell whether he was lost
IN thought, or was just slipping into
a doze. Then I would fly into 8
violent rage, and scream at him
After a minute or two of this ]
would stop to catch my falling
paCopll, dhu usually some 1lUUle SOunC
like the tapping of wave against
the raft, or the forlorn squawk oi
a sea bird, would recall me to my
senses. At first apologized to Gene
for my unreasoned outburst. but
when I saw that he was not listen.
Ing I lapsed into morose silence
myself.
Eventually Gene would snap out
OF his trance, and become talkative
but his conversation wandered. He
would begin an anecdote, and be.
fore he had completed his thought
he would be on a different subject
When I considered Genes condition
during my own lucid moments, II
occurred to me that the strangest
phase of his behavior was the fact
that he sometimes was the sanesi
of us all. His spells of absent.
mindedness came internationally ano
without warning. AS look back,
see that my own reaction to the
starvation, thirst, confinement and
heat was no less unreasonable. One
moment I would be solicitous anc
~ornaruad for the hoyS. without