240 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



few days before we took our departure, we had 

 an opportunity of trying our speed with our 

 sister ship, the " Cameleon ;" the event was not 

 so exciting as it might have been, on account 

 of the lack of wind, still it was a pretty sight, 

 as the two smart little vessels ran alongside of 

 each other under every stitch of canvas. The 

 course was from Taboga to Panama Roads ; we 

 started in a dead calm, but after drifting about 

 for some time, a light breeze sprang up, just 

 enough to fill our sails; gradually the breeze 

 freshened, the " Reindeer " drew ahead, and 

 passed San Jose rock a quarter of a mile ahead, 

 the wind then suddenly shifted, taking us both 

 aback, and placing the " Cameleon" to windward, 

 so that she was able to reach her berth first. 



The morning after leaving Panama we were 

 becalmed in sight of Coiba Island, a place 

 strongly recommended in our sailing directions, 

 for having excellent wood and water ; we 

 anchored in Damas Bay about sundown, to lay 

 in a supply of the former, and thus economize 

 our coal. 



