206 ALBACORA 



came. Imagine transporting building materials here. 

 That's what made it so costly." 



To reach the Explorer, we had to ride out in a bongo. 

 Natives launched the little boats, which tipped more 

 easily than canoes, and though the Indians frequently 

 were swamped by the first breaker they hit, this was 

 regarded as a minor occupational hazard. Lou, Walt 

 and I took a less phlegmatic view as we put out to sea. 



We climbed into a bongo lying close to the beach, 

 and four bongo boys pushed us out as a big and distant 

 wave came rolling in. Then the boys jumped into the 

 bongo and began to paddle furiously. The breaker col- 

 lected all its strength and there seemed to be no hope 

 of avoiding its full fury. But the boys continued pad- 

 dling speedily and we rose swiftly up on the crest of 

 the wave. It broke hard, but behind us. Another breaker 

 picked us up — ^then a third and a fourth. Each time 

 I crouched and held my breath but the boys, paddling 

 with a simple confidence, simply ignored the waves, 

 and at length we were beyond the surf, running among 

 more gentle swells toward the Explorer. 



On board there was some general housekeeping for 

 me to do, and I worked quickly. As long as we were on 

 the boat and La Plata was only an hour or so away, 

 I decided that I might as well urge Walt Gorman and 

 Lou to make the trip. 



"What do you think?" Wah said. "You want to try 

 it, Lou?" 



