T H E W I N D 169 



were draped over the rail parted with rot and decay when I 

 pulled on them. Great beams and planks were strewn for yards 

 around and her woodwork was bleaching to a silvery white 

 from the sun and salt spray. There is something infinitely sad 

 about the wreckage of a beautiful ship. 



The ruins of the schooner reminded me of my own errand. 

 It also called to mind the distance I had yet to go. The sun was 

 growing hot again and the wind was gushing down the sand 

 valley with the intensity of a volcano. The water bottle was 

 practically empty and the mysterious land of Babylon had yet 

 to be crossed. There was nothing even faintly resembling a 

 waterhole. Beyond the valley the interminable limestone 

 stretched away into the center of the island. Somewhere in the 

 interior there must be water; the pigs had to drink. The idea of 

 utilizing a sow's drinking cup was not enchanting but the water 

 could be boiled. Caching the pack in an interstice of the ram- 

 part I headed inland, taking only the canteen, the gun and some 

 dust shot in the event I saw some interesting lizards. 



The wall of vegetation proved to be well-nigh impenetrable. 

 There were few lizards, fewer birds, great mazes of green tree 

 cactus, acres and acres of gray limestone, more musical rocks 

 and billions of needle-sharp thorns. Little else. Low pig trails 

 ran everywhere. I crept along several of the more used ones, 

 hoping they might take me to water. They led nowhere. The 

 vegetation sprang out of crevices and holes in the rocks. I dug 

 the dirt out of a number but the soil was dry down to the ends. 

 No rain had fallen for several months. I did find one small hole 

 with a few drops in the bottom but it was too narrow to admit 

 my hand and there was no way of withdrawing the liquid. It 

 was probably salt anyway. 



After an hovir I gave up the search and returned to the cache 

 in the rampart. I could do without water for a while, at least 

 until I reached the huts near the lagoon. In the meantime the 



