The Breath of the Southern Seas 101 



lift her board, and in 3 feet of water walk up 

 on the beach and land her passengers in 

 safety to them, if she lose her own life. 



That she has beautiful lines I leave her 

 picture to say. 



The only weakness of such a craft is that 

 she is not so fast as the full gaff-rigged 

 schooner in the light airs of summer. And 

 yet in four years' cruising in Virginia waters 

 I have never brushed up against any boat of 

 her size of any rig that has been able to keep 

 up with her, though I have never tried her 

 with anything except working vessels. 



It is a peculiar pleasure, as well as an ele- 

 mental education in the fundamental things 

 of life, to fit out such a boat for a month's 

 cruise. It takes her crew of three about a 

 week to fit her sails, fill her water-tanks, coal 

 and wood bunkers, and stock her refrigerator 

 and pantry. We make list after list of the 

 things needed, and when ten miles off shore 

 always find we have left behind some of the 



