NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE 149 



ing. She was literally as small as one of our whale-boats. It 

 looked as though one of the enormous pelicans might upset her 

 by landing suddenly on the rail. 



A few days later our group accepted an invitation to inspect 

 the Pedro Miguel locks. All the details of the working of gates, 

 valves, and chains, of the control-room and the tunnels were 

 explained. We stood by while liner after liner passed through — 

 some headed for Europe, some for Australasia. That evening 

 Captain Ault gave a lecture on our work before the Sojourners' 

 Club of Balboa. 



By the 25th, all was in readiness for our departure. Scott had 

 replenished the "slop-chest" with cigarettes and singlets, the 

 steward was supplied with a bulging storeroom, the tanks were 

 overflowing with fresh water, Seiwell had rejoined the party, and 

 all repairs were completed. Before we could cast off our lines 

 we must mail our Christmas cards, although it was only October 

 25 ! We could expect no mail for almost three months ourselves, 

 and would find no Post Office for the same length of time. 



We picked up a fine sailing beeze and ran 152 miles the first 

 day. This carried us clear of the dangerous coast. But for the 

 next ten days we waged our bitterest struggle against head-winds. 

 The Gulf of Panama is a notorious trap for a westward bound 

 sailing-ship. Captain xVult describes our fight to get out into the 

 Pacific : 



"For the next two weeks it rained every day and 

 every night and often in between. The wind blew 

 steadily from the southwest as if to deny us entrance into 

 the Pacific, so we made a long tack to the south, gaining 

 a little westing as the wind changed back and forth, but 

 not enough to clear the coast of Ecuador. We ran the 

 engine a few times when the breeze went light, in order 

 to keep closer to the wind. Then we made a long tack 

 to the north, hoping we could slip through, but the breeze 

 again proved stubborn. This tack carried us close to 

 Malpelo Island, an isolated barren rock, one mile long 

 and 846 feet high." 



Captain Ault gave orders to tack southward once more with 

 only fore-and-aft sails set, and the engine running continuously. 



