Next day, the wind still
continuing, I proposed a boating excursion and decoyed A-, L-, and
S- into accompanying me. We took the little gig, and sailed away
merrily enough round a point to a beautiful white bay, flanked with
two glistening little churches, fronted by beautiful distant
islands; when suddenly, to my horror, I discovered the ELBA
steaming full speed out from the island. Of course we steered
after her; but the wind that instant ceased, and we were left in a
dead calm. There was nothing for it but to unship the mast, get
out the oars and pull. The ship was nearly certain to stop at the
buoy; and I wanted to learn how to take an oar, so here was a
chance with a vengeance! L- steered, and we three pulled - a
broiling pull it was about half way across to Palikandro - still we
did come in, pulling an uncommon good stroke, and I had learned to
hang on my oar. L- had pressed me to let him take my place; but
though I was very tired at the end of the first quarter of an hour,
and then every successive half hour, I would not give in.
Pages:
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198