ROUTES. 



337 



literally "to blaze his way" across the ocean; not, indeed, upon 

 trees, as in the wilderness, but upon the wings of the wind. The 

 results of scientific inquiry have so taught him how to use these 

 invisible couriers, that they, with the calm belts of the air, serve 

 as sign-boards to indicate to him the turnings, and forks, and cross- 

 ings by the way. 



962. Let a ship sail from J^Tew York to California, and the next 

 w^eek let a faster one follow after: they will cross each other's 

 path many times, and are almost sure to see each other by the 

 way. Thus a case in point happens to be before me. It is the 

 case of the "xircher" and the " Flying Cloud" on a recent voy- 

 age to California. They are both fine clipper ships, ably com- 

 manded. But it was not until the ninth day after the "Archer" 

 had sailed from New York that the " Flying Cloud" put to sea, 

 California-bound also. She was running against time, and so was 

 the ' ' Archer, " but without reference to each other. The ' ' Archer, " 

 with "Wind and Current Charts" in hand, went blazing her way 

 across the calms of Cancer, and along the new route, down through 

 the northeast trades to the equator ; the " Cloud" followed after, 

 crossing the equator upon the trail of Thomas of the "Archer." 

 Off Cape Horn she came up with him, spoke him, handed hini 

 the latest New York dates, and invited him to dine on board the 

 " Cloud," which invitation, says he of the "Archer," " I was re- 

 luctantly compelled to decline." 



963. The "Flying Cloud" finally ranged ahead, made her adieus, 

 and disappeared among the clouds that lowered upon the western 

 horizon, being destined to reach her port a week or more in ad- 

 vance of her Cape Horn consort. Though sighting no land from 

 the time of their separation until they gained the offing of San 

 Francisco — some six or eight thousand miles off — the tracks of 

 the two vessels were so nearly the same, that, being projected on 

 the Plate IX., they would appear almost as one. 



964. This is the great race-course of the ocean ; it is fifteen 

 thousand miles in length. Some of the most glorious trials of 

 speed and of prowess that the world ever witnessed, among ships 

 that "walk the waters," have taken place over it. Here the mod- 

 ern clipper ship — the noblest work that has ever come from the 



